Immigration News
As we reported on June 16, 2004, the Department of State Visa Revalidation Division will discontinue its domestic visa revalidation. Due to new biometric requirements on most foreign passports, the domestic visa revalidation option for foreign nationals will no longer be available as of July 16, 2004. All visa revalidation applications received after 5:00 p.m. on July 16, 2004, will be returned. The deadline for filing depends on the physical receipt of the applications, not on the postmarked date of the package.
As you may know, the Visa Revalidation Division of the U.S. Department of State's Visa Office accepts applications for revalidation of employment category (E, H, I, L, O, and P) visas from applicants who hold a visa of the same category and meet certain other criteria. Revalidation is also called renewal or reissuance and saves the foreign national the trip abroad to renew the nonimmigrant visa stamp in their passport. The U.S. Department of State's Visa Office will no longer be offering this option because they do not have the capacity to process biometrics at that office. As a result, all foreign nationals will be required to seek visa renewal through U.S. Consulates abroad after July 16, 2004.
For more information about this, or other U.S. immigration issues, please contact our Miller Canfield Immigration Practice. This message is for general information only and should not be used as a basis for specific action without obtaining further legal advice.
