DOS Releases 2007 Data on Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas Issued at Foreign Service Posts
VIA Department of State
Report of the Visa Office 2007 Table of Contents
Statistical Tables
Tables also available as Excel spreadsheets
- Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas Issued at Foreign Service Posts: Fiscal Years 2003-2007 (preliminary data)
- Classes of Immigrants Issued Visas at Foreign Service Posts: Fiscal Years 2003-2007 (preliminary data)
- Immigrants Visas Issued (by Foreign State of Chargeability or Place of Birth): Fiscal Year 2007
- Summary of Visas Issued by Issuing Office : Fiscal Year 2007 (preliminary data)
- Immigrant Visas Issued and Adjustments of Status Subject to Numerical Limitations (by Foreign State Chargeability): Fiscal Year 2007 (preliminary data)
Part 1 (Family Preferences) (preliminary data)
Part 2 (Employment First through Fourth) (preliminary data)
Part 3 (Employment Fifth and Totals, Grand Totals) (preliminary data)
- Preference Immigrant Visas Issued (by Foreign State Chargeability): Fiscal Year 2007 (preliminary data)
Part 1 (Family Preferences) (preliminary data)
Part 2 (Employment 1st through 3rd) (preliminary data)
Part 3 (Employment 4th) (preliminary data)
Part 4 (Employment 5th, Schedule A, Grand Total) (preliminary data)
- Immigrant Number Use for Visa Issuances and Adjustments of Status in the Diversity Immigrant Category: Fiscal Years 1998 – 2007 (preliminary data)
- Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas Issued (by Area of Birth): Fiscal Year 2007
- Special Immigrant Visas Issued (by Area of Birth): Fiscal Year 2007 (preliminary data)
- Immigrant Visas Issued Under the Vietnam Amerasian Category: Fiscal Years 1988 – 2007 (preliminary data)
- Immigrant Issuances in the “SM” Special Immigrant Category for Certain U.S. Armed Forces Personnel and Their Families: Fiscal Year 2007 (preliminary data)
- Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas Issued (by Area of Birth): Fiscal Years 1998 – 2007 (preliminary data)
- Significant Source Countries of Immigrant Orphans (Totals of IR -3 and IR -4 Immigrant Visas Issued to Orphans): Fiscal Years 1998 – 2007 (preliminary data)
- Immigrant Visas Issued by Foreign State Chargeability (All Categories): Fiscal Years 1998 – 2007
- Immigrant Visas Issued by Issuing Office (All Categories): Fiscal Years 1998 – 2007 (preliminary data)
- (A) Classes of Nonimmigrants Issued Visas (Including Crewlist Visas and Border Crossing Cards): Fiscal Years 2003 – 2007 (preliminary data)
(B) Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Classification (Including Crewlist Visas and Border Crossing Cards): Fiscal Years 2003 – 2007 (preliminary data)
- Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Classification and Nationality (Including Border Crossing Cards): Fiscal Year 2007 (preliminary data)
- Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Nationality (Including Border Crossing Cards): Fiscal Years 1998 – 2007 (preliminary data)
- Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Issuing Office (Including Border Crossing Cards): Fiscal Years 1998 – 2007 (preliminary data)
- Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa Ineligibilities (by Grounds for Refusal Under the Immigration and Nationality Act): Fiscal Year 2007 (preliminary data)
DOS Publishes Final Rule on Exchange Visitor Program Fees
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 61800-61801]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01no07-4]
—————————————
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
22 CFR Part 62
RIN 1400-AC38
[Public Notice 5977]
Exchange Visitor Program–Fees and Charges for Exchange Visitor Program Services
AGENCY: Department of State.
ACTION: Final rule.
—————————————
SUMMARY: On June 22, 2007, the Department of State published a Proposed Rule to revise its regulations regarding fees and charges for Exchange Visitor Program services. These proposed regulations are adopted without change. The fees permit the Department to recoup the cost of providing such Exchange Visitor Program services.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective December 3, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stanley S. Colvin, Director, Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 734, Washington, DC 20547; 202-203-5096 or e- mail at jexchanges@state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department published a proposed rule, Public Notice 5837 at 72 FR 34419-34424, June 22, 2007, with a request for comments, removing regulations presently set forth at 22 CFR Part 62, Subpart H–“Fees”, Sec. 62.90 and adding a new Sec. 62.17 (“Fees and Charges”) containing all of the fees and charges for Exchange Visitor Program services. The rule was discussed in detail in Public Notice 5837, as were the Department’s reasons for the other changes to the regulations. The Department received eight comments and is now promulgating a final rule with no changes from the proposed rule.
Comment Analysis
The Department received eight comments. One was from a private organization, and due to rising costs found the new fees wholly acceptable. One comment had no relevance to the proposed rule. Six comments were from academic institutions that opined that the new fees may prove problematic due to their institutional budget cycles. The Department is of the opinion that the new redesignation fee of $1,748, due every two years, imposes little or no hardship on the U.S. higher education community and notes that only six of more than 900 such institutions responded to this notice.
Regulatory Findings
Administrative Procedure Act
This regulation involves a foreign affairs function of the United States and, therefore, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1), is not subject to the rule making procedures set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553.
Regulatory Flexibility Act/Executive Order 13272: Small Business.
This rule is not subject to the notice-and-comment rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act or any other act and, accordingly it does not require analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) and Executive Order 13272, section 3(b).
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UFMA), Public Law 104-4, 109 Stat. 48, 2 U.S.C. 1532, generally requires agencies to prepare a statement before proposing any rule that may result in an annual expenditure of $100 million or more by State, local, or tribal governments, or by the private sector. This rule will not result in any such expenditure, nor will it significantly or uniquely affect small governments.
The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
This rule is not a major rule as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804, for purposes of congressional review of agency rulemaking under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, Public Law 104- 121. This rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of United States-based companies to compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and import markets.
[[Page 61801]]
Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Review
The Department of State has reviewed this rule to ensure its consistency with the regulatory philosophy and principles set forth in Executive Order 12866 and has determined that the benefits of the proposed regulation justify its costs. The Department does not consider the rule to be an economically significant action within the scope of section 3(f)(1) of the Executive Order, since it is not likely to have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or to adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities.
Executive Orders 12372 and 13132: Federalism
This regulation will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with section 6 of Executive Order 13132, it is determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to require consultations or warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities do not apply to this regulation.
Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform
The Department has reviewed the proposed regulations in light of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order No. 12988 to eliminate ambiguity, minimize litigation, establish clear legal standards and reduce burden.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule does not impose information collection requirements under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C., Chapter 35.
List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 62
Cultural Exchange Programs.
Accordingly, 22 CFR part 62 is amended as follows:
PART 62–EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM
1. The Authority citation for part 62 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J), 1182, 1184, 1258; 22 U.S.C. 1431-1442, 2451-2460; Pub. L. 105-277, Div. G, 112 Stat. 2681-761 et seq.; Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1977, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp. p. 200; E.O. 12048 of March 27, 1978; 3 CFR, 1978 Comp. p. 168; Pub. L. 104- 208, Div. C, 110 Stat. 3009-546, as amended; Pub. L. 107-56, Sec. 416, 115 Stat. 354; and Pub. L. 107-173, 116 Stat. 543.
2. Section 62.17 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 62.17 Fees and charges.
(a) Remittances. Fees prescribed within the framework of 31 U.S.C. 9701 must be submitted as directed by the Department and must be in the amount prescribed by law or regulation.
(b) Amounts of fees. The following fees are prescribed for Fiscal Years 2008-2009 (October 1, 2007–September 30, 2009):
(1) For filing an application for program designation and/or redesignation (Form DS-3036)–$1,748.
(2) For filing an application for extension beyond the maximum duration, change of category, reinstatement, reinstatement-update SEVIS status, ECFMG-sponsorship authorization, and permission to issue–$246.
Subpart H [Removed]
3. Remove Subpart H consisting of Sec. 62.90.
Dated: September 20, 2007.Stanley S. Colvin,
Director, Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E7-21472 Filed 10-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P
Combating Criminal Gangs from Central America and Mexico
VIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
July 18, 2007
Combating Criminal Gangs from Central America and Mexico
Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. today announced the Strategy to Combat Criminal Gangs from Central America and Mexico. Under this comprehensive strategy, the United States will work with partner countries to combat transnational and other gangs that commit crimes in Central America, Mexico, and the United States through both prevention and enforcement. It will help prevent youth from entering gangs and strengthen the fight against gang-related violence and other crimes. This strategy is one component of a larger regional security plan that was discussed by President George W. Bush, Guatemalan President Oscar Berger Perdomo, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon and now is under development by the Central American countries.
Criminal gangs are a threat to the security and stability of the communities in which they operate. Gang members prey on communities, families, and children by employing tactics such as extortion, murder, and other crimes. Gangs move with impunity across borders, and gang violence threatens fragile democracies.
The strategy sets forth five areas in which the United States will work with our neighbors to combat criminal gangs:
1. Diplomacy: The United States will work with partner countries, the international community, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to identify resources and make legal and policy improvements that help protect youth and combat crime.
2. Repatriation: The United States will work with our partners in Central America and Mexico to share information and improve the process of returning gang members who have come to the United States illegally and, where feasible, help returning gang members be productive members of their communities.
3. Law Enforcement: Regional police and justice officials will collaborate to track down criminal gang members, including by working through a new Central American Fingerprinting Exploitation initiative, and to pursue criminal gang members through joint law enforcement efforts such as the new Transnational Anti-Gang Unit in El Salvador.
4. Capacity Enhancement: The United States will share knowledge and tools with countries to improve law enforcement and prevention. This includes providing training, knowledge, and tools through mechanisms such as the Regional Gangs Program, The Organization of American States’ Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS/CICAD), and the International Law Enforcement Academy in El Salvador.
5. Prevention: The United States will work with our neighboring countries to develop prevention programs and national and regional policies that protect our youth by providing alternatives to joining criminal gangs and helping members leave gangs.
2007/607
Released on July 18, 2007
Combating Criminal Gangs from Central America and Mexico Page 1 of 1
VISA BULLETIN FOR JUNE 2007
Number 106
Volume VIII
Washington, D.C.
VISA BULLETIN FOR JUNE 2007
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS:
1. This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during June. Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security reports applicants for adjustment of status. Allocations were made, to the extent possible under the numerical limitations, for the demand received by May 11th in the chronological order of the reported priority dates. If the demand could not be satisfied within the statutory or regulatory limits, the category or foreign state in which demand was excessive was deemed oversubscribed. The cut-off date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who could not be reached within the numerical limits. Only applicants who have a priority date earlier than the cut-off date may be allotted a number. Immediately that it becomes necessary during the monthly allocation process to retrogress a cut-off date, supplemental requests for numbers will be honored only if the priority date falls within the new cut-off date. 2. Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets an annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit of 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.
3. Section 203 of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of immigrant visas as follows:
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First : Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.
Second : Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, and any unused first preference numbers:
A. Spouses and Children: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;
B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older): 23% of the overall second preference limitation.
Third : Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.
Fourth : Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First : Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second : Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third : Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to “Other Workers”.
Fourth : Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.
Fifth : Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of P.L. 102-395.
4. INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES.
5. On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); “C” means current, i.e., numbers are available for all qualified applicants; and “U” means unavailable, i.e., no numbers are available. (NOTE: Numbers are available only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below.)
| Fam-ily | All Charge- ability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPP-INES |
| 1st | 01JUN01 | 01JUN01 | 01JUN01 | 01JAN91 | 22APR92 |
| 2A | 22APR02 | 22APR02 | 22APR02 | 01MAY01 | 22APR02 |
| 2B | 01DEC97 | 01DEC97 | 01DEC97 | 08MAR92 | 01OCT96 |
| 3rd | 15MAY99 | 15MAY99 | 15MAY99 | 08FEB88 | 01JAN85 |
| 4th | 08JUN96 | 08JAN96 | 22JAN96 | 15JUL94 | 01MAR85 |
*NOTE: For June, 2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 01MAY01. 2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 01MAY01 and earlier than 22APR02. (All 2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit; there are no 2A numbers for MEXICO subject to per-country limit.)
All | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIP-PINES | |
| Employ-ment -Based | |||||
| 1st | C | C | C | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01JAN06 | 01APR04 | C | C |
| 3rd | 01JUN05 | 01JUN03 | 01JUN03 | 01JUN03 | 01JUN05 |
| Other Workers | 01OCT01 | 01OCT01 | 01OCT01 | 01OCT01 | 01OCT01 |
| 4th | C | C | C | C | C |
| Certain Religious Workers | C | C | C | C | C |
| Iraqi & Afghani Translators | 18SEP06 | 18SEP06 | 18SEP06 | 18SEP06 | 18SEP06 |
| 5th | C | C | C | C | C |
| Targeted Employ-ment Areas/ Regional Centers | C | C | C | C | C |
The Department of State has available a recorded message with visa availability information which can be heard at: (area code 202) 663-1541. This recording will be updated in the middle of each month with information on cut-off dates for the following month.
Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category: Section 203(e) of the NACARA, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105 – 139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW cut-off date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002.
B. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY
Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides a maximum of up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit immigration opportunities for persons from countries other than the principal sources of current immigration to the United States. The Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. This reduction has resulted in the DV-2007 annual limit being reduced to 50,000. DV visas are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.
For June, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2007 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 27,000 | Except: |
| ASIA | 6,800 | |
| EUROPE | 19,000 | Except: Ukraine 11,850 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 7 | |
| OCEANIA | 1,100 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 1,750 |
Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2007 program ends as of September 30, 2007. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2007 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2007 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2007. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2007 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.
C. ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN JULY
For July, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2007 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 35,500 | Except: |
| ASIA | 7,750 | |
| EUROPE | 23,000 | Except: Ukraine 13,000 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 12 | |
| OCEANIA | 1,800 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 2,500 |
D. EMPLOYMENT THIRD PREFERENCE “OTHER WORKER” CATEGORY FOR JUNE
A few “Other Worker” numbers which had been allocated for April were returned unused at the end of the month. As a result, a very small June allocation has been possible, for applicants with priority dates before October 1, 2001. The category will become “Unavailable” once again beginning in July and will remain so for the remainder of FY-2007.
E. EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA AVAILABILITY DURING THE COMING MONTHS
The current level of demand in many of the Employment-based categories has been much lower than anticipated. As a result, the June cut-off dates have been advanced significantly in an effort to maximize number use under the annual numerical limits. At this time it appears likely that there will be additional advances during the coming months.
All readers should be aware that such cut-off date movements should allow for action to be finalized on a significant number of Citizenship and Immigration Services adjustment of status cases. Once that level of demand begins to exceed the supply of available numbers it will be necessary to make “adjustments” to the cut-off dates. At this time is in not possible to estimate when this is likely to occur, but it is expected.
F. OBTAINING THE MONTHLY VISA BULLETIN
The Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs offers the monthly “Visa Bulletin” on the INTERNET’S WORLDWIDE WEB. The INTERNET Web address to access the Bulletin is:
From the home page, select the VISA section which contains the Visa Bulletin.
To be placed on the Department of State’s E-mail subscription list for the “Visa Bulletin”, please send an E-mail to the following E-mail address:
listserv@calist.state.gov
and in the message body type:
Subscribe Visa-Bulletin First name/Last name
(example: Subscribe Visa-Bulletin Sally Doe)
To be removed from the Department of State’s E-mail subscription list for the “Visa Bulletin”, send an e-mail message to the following E-mail address :
listserv@calist.state.gov
and in the message body type: Signoff Visa-Bulletin
The Department of State also has available a recorded message with visa cut-off dates which can be heard at: (area code 202) 663-1541. The recording is normally updated by the middle of each month with information on cut-off dates for the following month.
Readers may submit questions regarding Visa Bulletin related items by E-mail at the following address:
VISABULLETIN@STATE.GOV
(This address cannot be used to subscribe to the Visa Bulletin.)
Department of State Publication 9514
CA/VO:May 11, 2007
Travellers report no problems at US Immigration (Bermuda)
| By Tim Smith |
The first day of new US passport regulations appeared to go smoothly at Bermuda Airport yesterday.
Under new rules drawn up in the wake of the 9/11 terror strikes, US-bound Bermudian travellers now have to present a passport to enter America.
From midnight yesterday, in order to benefit from the visa waiver allowed under US law for Bermudians, passports must have a Bermuda Status Stamp.
The move has led to such a crush of Bermudians rushing into the Office of Immigration over the past few months that Ministry officials are considering a permanent change to the way the official Register of Bermudians is kept.
However, commuters and their families and staff at the airport said there had been no teething problems in the first day of the new system.
More than 30,000 Bermudians have filed through the Ministry offices for the new stamp since the United States Department of Homeland Security announced the new travel regulations last November.
E Visa Consular Processing in Italy
Via AILA
The Department of State informed AILA’s DOS Liaison Committee that consular posts in Italy have decided to consolidate E visa processing in Rome and Milan, effective Jan 1, 2007. E visa applicants in the Florence and Naples consular districts will be asked to apply in Rome, but may also apply in Milan providing they are residents, or are physically present in Italy.
2008 Diversity Visa Lottery Registrations
Over 6.4 million entries for the 2008
Diversity Visa Lottery were received during the two-month electronic
registration period, from October 4, 2006, through December 3, 2006.
This is an increase from the more than 5.5 million applications
received in the 2007 Diversity Visa Lottery. Taking into account
dependents, there are more than 10 million participants in the 2008
Diversity Visa Lottery.
Most of the applications
were from Africa and Asia with 41 percent of the total from Africa, 38
percent from Asia, 19 percent coming from Europe, and 2 percent coming
from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The largest
number of applicants came from Bangladesh (more than 1.7 million
applicants) followed by Nigeria (684,735) and Ukraine (619,584). The
number of winning entries by country will be available after the random
lottery process is conducted next year.
The electronic registration
process makes it easier for applicants to apply and continues to
increase the Department’s ability to screen against duplicate and other
fraudulent entries. Anti-fraud technology using facial recognition and
data mining will be used to eliminate duplicate cases.
Winners will be notified with
a letter mailed from the Kentucky Consular Center confirming the name,
date of birth, and country of chargeability for the registrant, as well
as a time/date stamp when entries were registered. Notification will be
sent to the winning entrants by mail only between April and July 2007
and will provide further instructions, including information on fees
connected with immigration to the United States.
There have been several
attempts to defraud Diversity Visa Lottery entrants. Lottery entrants
selected as winners in the Diversity Visa random drawing are notified
only by the Department of State’s Kentucky Consular Center. No other
organization or company is authorized by the Department of State to
contact winning entrants.
2006/1121
Released on December 15, 2006
U.S. Eliminates Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance Fee For All Indian Applicants
November 9, 2006
NEW DELHI – U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford announced today that the U.S. Government has eliminated the US $50 reciprocal issuance fee for all non-immigrant visas for Indian citizens, effective immediately. The result will be a 33% reduction in the cost of obtaining a visa.
“I am pleased to announce this reduction in charges, effective immediately,” said the Ambassador. “I hope it encourages more Indian business people and tourists to travel to America.”
Visa applicants will still be required to pay an application fee of US $100 at a designated HDFC bank branch prior to scheduling a visa interview.
Last month, the Embassy and Consulates General implemented procedures eliminating the visa appointments backlog for Indians who plan travel to the United States. Appointments are currently available for non-immigrant visa applications at all U.S. consular offices in India.
For a complete list of visa fees and more information about visas to the United States, or to make an appointment for a Visa using the new VFS system, please visit one of the following links:
U.S. Embassy and Consulates
http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov
http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov
http://chennai.usconsulate.gov
http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov
U.S. Department of State – Priority Dates for Family Based Preferences, October 2006
U.S. Department of State – Priority Dates for Family Based Preferences, October 2006
NOTE: This information has been obtained
from the Department of State visa bulletin.
|
Family |
All |
CHINA-mainland |
INDIA |
MEXICO |
PHILIP-PINES |
|
1st |
01MAY00 |
01MAY00 |
01MAY00 |
01JAN93 |
01NOV91 |
|
2A |
22APR01 |
22APR01 |
22APR01 |
15OCT99 |
22APR01 |
|
2B |
01JAN97 |
01JAN97 |
01JAN97 |
15FEB92 |
22JUL96 |
|
3rd |
22OCT98 |
22OCT98 |
22OCT98 |
01JAN94 |
01AUG90 |
|
4th |
15SEP95 |
01FEB95 |
01AUG95 |
15SEP93 |
01APR84 |
|
1st: |
Unmarried Sons and Daughters of |
|
2A: |
Spouses and Children: 77% of the |
|
2B: |
Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 |
|
3rd: |
Married Sons and Daughters of |
|
4th: |
Brothers and Sisters of Adult |
The US Department of State Announces 2008 Diversity Visa Lottery Program Registration
09/22/2006
The US Department of State (DOS) announced that applications for the 2008 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will be accepted between Wednesday, October 4, 2006, 12 pm EST and Sunday, December 3, 2006, 12 pm EST. Applicants may access the electronic Diversity Visa entry form online. Paper entries will not be accepted. Applicants are encouraged not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter since heavy demand may result in website delays.
Visit the DOS website for more information
Streamlined Program Makes Getting a U.S. Visa More Efficient
Students, as always, are welcomed to the United States, official says
Washington — U.S. efforts to improve its visa process are paying
off: Nearly 97 percent of visa applications are processed within just
two or three days of the interview, and worldwide almost 80 percent of
visa applications are approved. In 2006, the United States expects to
process some 7.5 million visa applications.
Tony Edson, deputy
assistant secretary of state for visa services, brought this good news
to an international audience during a September 6 webchat.
Students in particular are welcome, as they always have been, Edson said.
“The
United States and our consular officers everywhere around the world
value highly the exchange of international visitors and ideas,” he
said. “We do our best to ensure America remains a welcoming
destination for international travelers while administering U.S. law
and safeguarding our borders.”
GETTING A STUDENT VISA
“There
is a widespread perception in some countries that it has become more
difficult to qualify for a student visa to the United States,” Edson
said. “In fact, although we have made significant changes to the
application process by incorporating additional security checks,
fingerprinting and greatly expanded interview requirements, the basic
requirements for a student visa have not changed.”
Students
now are required to go to the U.S. embassy or consulate to be
fingerprinted and interviewed, but if they are bona fide students and
are able to fund the education they plan in the United States, they are
likely to qualify for visas, Edson said.
Edson did emphasize,
however, that the major mandate under U.S. law is that student visa
applicants must prove that they intend to return to their home country
after a temporary stay in the United States.
“We recognize,”
Edson said, “that the very best advertisement for America is America
and look forward to each and every international student who arrives at
our shores. We have added some additional security measures to the visa
process since 9/11, but even as we strive to make our country safer, we
have never stopped trying to make those security measures as efficient
and effective as possible.”
He urged students to apply for
their visas as early as possible and noted that students are given
priority in scheduling visa interviews.
U.S. VISA LAWS TREAT ALL EQUALLY
“The
United States government,” Edson emphasized, “does not discriminate
based on religion or any other factor in processing visas.
“U.S.
visas are processed everywhere around the world using the same
standards and requirements, most of them stipulated in U.S. law,” he
said.
He acknowledged that in some countries a higher
percentage of applicants might fail to qualify than in other
countries. “This is not because of their nationality, but because of
their inability, as individual applicants, to meet the requirements of
U.S. law, Edson said.
One important law governing the visa
process, he said, is Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and
Nationality Act. The presumption under that law, Edson explained, is
that every visitor visa applicant is intending to immigrate to the
United States.
Therefore, applicants for visitor visas, he
said, must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that that they
have ties abroad that would compel them to leave the United States at
the end of their temporary stay. Among the ties that bind a person to
his or her country of residence are possessions, employment and social
and family relationships. U.S. consular officers make the
determination, but the burden of proof is on the applicant, he said.
“In
cases of students or younger applicants who may not have had an
opportunity to form many ties, consular officers may look at the
applicant’s specific intentions, family situations, and long-range
plans and prospects within his or her country of residence,” Edson
said. “Each case is examined individually and is accorded every
consideration under the law.”
“Denial under Section 214(b) of
the law is not permanent,” Edson said, “and a consular officer will
reconsider a case if an applicant can show further convincing evidence
of ties outside the United States. Unfortunately, some applicants will
not qualify for a nonimmigrant visa, regardless of how many times they
reapply, until their personal, professional, and financial
circumstances change considerably. “
Under the Visa Waiver
Program, Edson noted, travelers from countries that have met criteria
specified in U.S. law can travel for tourism and business to the United
States without applying for a visa. Visa Waiver Program travelers can
stay in the United States for no longer than 90 days.
THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers must have secure passports, and all passports must be machine-readable.
Many
passports are now equipped with security features, such as digital
photographs and contactless chips that can be read without being
touched to a sensor.
VWP travelers who obtained
machine-readable passports (MRPs) before October 26, 2005, are not
required to have the digital photograph or contactless chip, Edson
said. The traveler who obtained, renewed or extended an MRP before
October 26, 2005, will not be required to get another passport for
travel until his or her MRP expires.
Passports issued, renewed or extended on or after October 26, 2006, must be machine-readable and include the integrated chip.
For more information, see the online journal “See You in the USA,” the IIP web site Immigration Reform and the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Web site.
A transcript of Edson’s remarks is available at IIP’s Webchat Station.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
New U.S. Policy Aims To Support Cuban Families’ Reunification
United States continues to discourage massive influx of Cuban refugees
Washington — The Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) has announced changes to its existing policy that will
support the reunification of families separated by the regime of Cuban
dictator Fidel Castro by reducing the backlog for those waiting for
family-based immigrant visas, according to the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS).
USCIS, which is a division of the
DHS, issued a statement August 11 on the new policy and reaffirmed its
ongoing commitment to assist Cuban migrants and refugees who succeed in
reaching U.S. shores. At the same time, however, the Bush
administration is urging the Cuban people to remain on their native
soil “so that they may work for their freedom and a democratic
society,” said DHS Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson.
Immigration
processing in Cuba is regulated by the 1994 Joint Communique that
allows the United States to process a minimum of 20,000 migrants for
travel to the United States each year. Historically, three classes —
family-based immigrant visas, refugees and the Special Cuban Migration
Program, referred to as the Cuban Lottery — have made up that goal,
but there has been a significant backlog of individuals that have
applied for family-based immigrant visas. The Homeland Security plan
aims to reduce this backlog by recognizing a fourth class of migrants
— Discretionary Family Reunification (Backlog) Parolees.
In
support of its goal to reunify families split apart by the Castro
regime, USCIS said it “will exercise its discretion to increase the
numbers of Cuban migrants and refugees admitted to the United States
each year who have family members in the United States.”
Approximately
21,000 Cuban migrants are admitted into the United States annually.
Even though that total number will not change, a significantly larger
portion of the total will be Cubans with family members in the United
States, according to the agency.
Since the recent transfer
of power from an ailing Castro to his brother Raul, U.S. officials have
been anticipating a potential influx of migrants from Cuba. Although
“we discourage anyone from risking their life in the open seas in order
to travel to the United States, … if a Cuban chooses to reunite with
their [U.S.-based] family, … we support a safe, legal and orderly
migration,” said Jackson.
To help ensure that any migration
from Cuba meets the “safe, legal and orderly” requirement, Homeland
Security has pledged to work closely with Congress to develop
legislation that will increase both criminal and civil penalties for
maritime alien smugglers. Modeled on current maritime drug-smuggling
laws, the proposed legislation will enhance prosecution of those who
repeatedly endanger innocent lives.
The agency noted that some
of Cuba’s medical professionals also might qualify for immigrant
status. “Using existing parole authority, the United States will allow
Cuban medical personnel currently conscripted to study or work in a
third country under the direction of the Cuban government to enter the
United States,” said USCIS. This policy will also apply to the
families of these professionals, who often must remain in Cuba.
The full text
of a press release on the USCIS measures relating to Cuban migrants and
refugees is available on the Department of Homeland Security Web site.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
The U.S. Immigration Law Blog by Ashwin Sharma 