DOS Fact Sheet on Visa Waiver Program
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Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 20, 2015
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.
DOS Eliminates Visa Page Inserts for U.S. Passports
- Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCNovember 19, 2015
The U.S. Department of State will no longer add visa pages into U.S. passports beginning January 1, 2016. Previously, U.S. passport holders had the option to pay for the insertion of additional 24-page visa inserts when valid passports lacked adequate space for entry or exit visa stamps. The decision to discontinue this service was made to enhance the security of the passport and to abide by international passport standards.
DOS Notice of New Visa Fees Effective from 9/12/2014
Important Notice - New Application Fees: Nonimmigrant and immigrant visa application fees for certain visa categories will change on September 12, 2014. All visa applicants must pay the fee amounts in effect on the day they pay, with the exception of Immigrant Visa application processing fees paid domestically to the National Visa Center (NVC), which will be effective as of the date of billing.
Fees that will decrease are not refundable. If you paid a visa fee before September 12, 2014 and that fee decreased, we cannot give you a refund.
Waiver of Visa Fees for 2014 Special Olympics Summer Games - DOS
Deputy Secretary Burns has authorized a waiver of application (i.e., MRV) and visa issuance (i.e., reciprocity) fees for participants in the 2014 Special Olympics Summer Games Invitational taking place in Los Angeles, CA, from June 6 to 8, 2014, and the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games taking place in Los Angeles, CA, from July 25 to August 2, 2015.
Revised Reciprocity Schedule for China
Effective February 18, 2014, the reciprocity schedule for Chinese nationals is revised for the A-2, C- 3, and G-2 nonimmigrant visa (NIV) categories. All other visa validities for nationals of China will remain unchanged.
Please click the attachment for more information
Revised Reciprocity Schedule For Mauritania
Effective February 11, 2014 The Department authorizes a reduction in reciprocity for business and tourist visa categories for Mauritanian visa applicants.
For more information please click on the attachment
USCIS Announces 63 Countries Eligible to Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs
USCIS announced the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, has added Austria, Italy, Panama, and Thailand to the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs for the coming year.