Visa

Progress Report on Improvements to Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC
September 19, 2012

Today, the Administration released a 180 Day Progress Report on its efforts to build capacity, leverage resources, and improve the visa application and entry process – without compromising security – as directed by the President in a January 2012 Executive Order.

• What GAO Found

The United States Embassy in India today announced it is implementing a new visa processing system throughout India that will further standardize procedures and will simplify fee payment and appointment scheduling through a new website at www.ustraveldocs.com/in.  Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, Julia Stanley, announced at a press conference here today that beginning September 26, 2012 U.S.

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52379-52380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21326]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Delegation of Authority No. 344]

Delegation by the Secretary of State to the Assistant Secretary
of State for Consular Affairs the Authority to Determine That it is
Necessary To Waive a Visa Interview as a Result of Unusual or Emergent
Circumstances

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44642-44647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18552]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DHS-2012-0045]

Department of State online resource where people can select a U.S. embassy or consulate by city or country for specific wait time information, which includes typical wait times for interview appointments and visa processing.

Please click here to view the link.

Press Statement

 Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
July 26, 2012

Question: Is the issuance of a waiver during the visa process protected under visa confidentiality as part of the visa process?

Answer: Yes, we maintain waiver requests and decisions as part of our visa records, and visa records are confidential under Section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). For the purposes of INA Section 222(f), a “record” includes information or documents pertaining to an individual visa applicant.

A “record” may consist of:

U.S. Department of State Releases "Visit America" Video as Visa Interview Wait Times Remain Low

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
June 13, 2012

USCIS Reminds the Public to Avoid Scams and Unauthorized Practitioners of Immigration Law