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Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
August 7, 2013

Last week, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the Department of State would begin processing visas for same-sex couples in the same manner that it considers applications for opposite-sex spouses. On Thursday, August 8 at 1 p.m. EDT, the Department will host a Google+ Hangout to discuss what these new guidelines mean for both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants.

Press Statement

Jen Psaki
Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DC
August 4, 2013

Given that a number of our embassies and consulates were going to be closed in accordance with local custom and practice for the bulk of the week for the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan, and out of an abundance of caution, we've decided to extend the closure of several embassies and consulates including a small number of additional posts.

UNCLASSIFIED
STATE
00112850
AUG 13
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS ON DOMA

GUIDANCE FOR POSTS

The "Applications for Immigration Benefits" monthly charts listed below provide data on applications and petitions received by USCIS for immigration benefits. These charts exclude all data associated with the citizenship-related applications.

The "Naturalization Benefits" monthly charts listed below provide data on the Applications for Naturalization (Form N-400) received by USCIS as of April 2013.

• State department's cable clarifies how reciprocity fees are affected when consular officers collect anti-fraud fees and border security fees.
• Please check attached file.

If you would like to study as a full-time student in the United States, you will need a student visa. There are two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. These visas are commonly known as the F and M visas.

You may enter in the F-1 or M-1 visa category provided you meet the following criteria:

The August Visa Bulletin http://www.immigration.com/visa-bulletin shows good priority dates movement:

. India EB-2 advances from 2004 to 2008

. According to the visa bulletin there is a positive move for both spouses and children of permanent residents. Family-Based 2A category will be current for all countries as of August 1st.

. Green card holders and their spouses residing legally in the US should be able to file their I-485 packets in August

The Office of Foreign Labor Certification has posted updated program factsheets containing the Quarter 3 FY 2013 selected statistics for the Permanent Labor Certification Program,

Prevailing Wage Determination Program,

Easy-to-Use Formats: We are publishing many of our forms in a 2-column, Adobe fillable format. When completed electronically, this format restricts incorrect entries and provides informational pop-up boxes to assist customers.

User-Friendly Look and Feel: We have improved several of our naturalization forms to include clear and comprehensive instructions in plain language.