On November 28, 2023, the Department of State (“DOS”) announced the launch of a Pilot Program which will permit an initial Twenty Thousand H-1B visa holders to renew their visas by mailing them to the State Department rather than having to travel abroad to renew. The program which was first made public in February 2023 is set to debut in January 2024.
Read moreNew Visa Processing Fees Effective May 30, 2023
The Department of State (“DOS”) published its updated fee schedule for Consular Services – Nonimmigrant and Special Visa Fees. Beginning May 30, 2023, there will be an increase in fees charged for nonimmigrant visas (“NIVs”) and border crossing cards (“BCCs”). The good news is that the fee increases are less than “originally proposed for all categories of NIVs.”
Read moreDepartment of State Provides Update on Visa Processing Backlogs
The Department of State (“DOS”) published an update on the their efforts to tackle the visa backlogs that they have been faced with worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The DOS is committed to lowering visa interview wait times and optimistically reports embassies and consulates are “recovering faster than projected” and will return to pre-pandemic processing capacity this year.
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.”
Read more