Visa

Description

A citizen of a foreign country, who wishes to enter the United States, generally must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa (green card) for permanent residence. The type of visa required is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of travel.

Visa Reciprocity Tables Updated

For temporary visitors to the United States (nonimmigrants), reciprocity tables, available from the drop-down menu above, show applicable visa issuance fees by country and by visa classification type, and the maximum period of visa validity and number of applications, or entries, that may be authorized.

The Department of State has updated the visa reciprocity tables. Please click here to get the updated information.

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_3272.html

Administrative Processing

Question details

What is Administrative Processing?

Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant's interview by a Consular Officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply.

Policy Memorandum on Adjudication of Adjustment of Status Applications for Individuals Admitted to the United States Under the Visa Waiver Program

This policy memorandum (PM) provides guidance on the adjudication of Form I-485, Application to Register or Adjust Status, filed by immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who were last admitted under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This PM updates the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) by adding a new section (j) to Chapter 10.3 and 23.5 (AFM Update AD11-30).

For more details on the memorandum please click the attachment

Special Immigrant Visa Program for Iraqi Nationals Who Worked For or On Behalf Of the U.S. Government Extended

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces that Congress passed a bill extending the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for Iraqi nationals who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government, which the President signed into law on Oct. 4, 2013. 

Interview Protocol

Question details

May a third party (spouse, sponsor, etc.) accompany an applicant to an interview for a Nonimmigrant or Immigrant Visa?

The State Department says that on the Immigrant Visa side, the petitioner may accompany the beneficiary if the petitioner is in the Consulate city at the time of the interview.  The interviewing officer will speak to the petitioner only if he/she determines it is n

DOS Updates List of Countries with Limited or No U.S. Visa Services

Overview – What Does this List Provide?

U.S. embassies and consulates are sometimes forced to limit or, at times, suspend visa services because of natural disasters, civil unrest, war, and/or security concerns, among other reasons. The list below notes the U.S. embassies and consulates that currently provide limited visa services, locations where visa services are suspended, and countries that do not have U.S. embassies or consulates.

The list below does not include the following:

State Dept. Gives Authority To Waive Select Visa Bans To Assistant Secretary For East Asian And Pacific Affairs

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67725-67726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27547]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Delegation of Authority No. 346]

Delegation by the Secretary of State to the Assistant Secretary
for East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Authority To Waive the Visa
Ban Under the JADE Act