Visa News

Translation - Español (.pdf)
On January 2nd, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens present in the United States without a visa, who are in the process of seeking immigrant visas to become lawful U.S. permanent residents, may apply and be approved for provisional unlawful presence waivers before departing the United States to attend their immigrant visa interviews. USCIS will begin accepting provisional unlawful presence waivers on March 4th, 2013.

For more information review:

• Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers webpage (USCIS Website) at www.uscis.gov/provisionalwaiver 
• Notifying the National Visa Center: Notice to Immediate Relative Applicants (Travel.state.gov Website)

On February 1, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin collecting a new USCIS Immigrant Fee of $165 from most immigrant visa recipients who receive their visas on or after February 1, 2013. (IR-3, IH-3, IR-4, IH-4, SB-1, SI, SQ, and K visa holders will not pay the fee.) Review the News Release and USCIS Immigrant Fee on the USCIS website for more information.

On October 2, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Napolitano announced the designation of Taiwan into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Eligible Taiwan passport holders can travel on the VWP beginning November 1, 2012. See DHS’s press release announcing the designation, and learn more about visa-free travel on the Visa Waiver Program.

The registration period for the United States Diversity Visa (DV-2014) Program begins Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at noon (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Saturday, November 3, 2012, at noon (EDT) (GMT-4). For more information, review the Press Release and the DV-2014 Instructions. Entrants for DV-2014 are advised to submit their entries early in the registration period because excessive demand might slow down the system as the deadline nears. There is no charge for submitting an entry in the DV Program. The Department of State strongly encourages entrants to complete and submit their own entries. There is no need to use an agent or intermediary.

The U.S. Department of State continues to streamline the visa process to encourage international visitors, build cultural ties, and strengthen our economy. See our video, "Visit America: It's Easier Than You Think."

On March 29, 2012, the Department of State published an interim final rule in the Federal Register to adjust visa processing fees. The fees for most nonimmigrant visa applications and Border Crossing Cards will increase, while all immigrant visa processing fees will decrease. The new fees are scheduled to go into effect on April 13, 2012. For more information, review the Press Release and Fees for Visa Services.

On March 30, 2012, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register about new procedures under consideration for some I-601 waiver applications. Once implemented, these changes would allow certain immediate relative immigrant visa applicants (the spouse, children, or parents of a U.S. citizen) who can demonstrate extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen spouse or parent to receive a provisional waiver of unlawful presence bars before leaving the United States. These new procedures will not apply to family-sponsored preference visa categories.

These new procedures are not in effect and will not be available to potential applicants until USCIS publishes a final rule in the Federal Register specifying the effective date. USCIS will not accept applications for provisional waivers before the effective date (not yet determined). Immigrant visa applicants are encouraged not to cancel or fail to appear for a scheduled visa interview. Please read the USCIS advisory in English and Spanish.