On July 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) announced updates to more efficiently process employment-based nonimmigrant waivers for certain foreign nationals. In an effort to ease the process of obtaining a waiver of a ground of inadmissibility for foreign nationals who have graduated from colleges and universities in the US, have a job offer, and are applying for employment-based nonimmigrant visas, DOS streamlined its guidance in the Foreign Affairs Manual (“FAM”).
Read morePhysical Presence in Country of Application Required when Mailing in Visa Applications
US Embassies and Consulates are staffed with Foreign Service Officers who are responsible for visa processing. The Foreign Affairs Manual (“FAM”) and associated Handbooks (FAHs) are “a single, comprehensive, and authoritative source for the Department's organization structures, policies, and procedures that govern the operations of the State Department, the Foreign Service and, when applicable, other federal agencies.” The FAM contains general policy, whilst the FAH outlines procedures. In unison, the FAM and FAH provide codified information to officers and local staff to carry out their duties “in accordance with statutory, executive and Department mandates.”
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