Fw: OIS Update (06/28/2004): Visa Stamp Renewals
IMPORTANT UPDATE (06/28/2004): VISA STAMP RENEWALS
** PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE MESSAGE CAREFULLY AND FORWARD TO OTHERS WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM THIS INFORMATION.
STATE DEPARTMENT WILL NO LONGER RE-ISSUE MOST NONIMMIGRANT VISA STAMPS IN THE UNITED STATES
The State Department announced that it is ending its domestic visa stamp re-issuance service for most nonimmigrant visa stamps. In a public notice issued in the Federal Register on June 23, 2004, the Department stated that after July 16, 2004, it would no longer accept new applications from visa holders in the United States seeking to renew their C, E, H, I, L, O or P visa stamps inside the U.S. Any applications for renewal of visa stamps in these categories received at the Department's St. Louis processing facility after July 16, 2004 will be returned. In its notice, the Department explained that it had to end its re-issuance service for most nonimmigrant visa stamps because it could not meet the requirements imposed by the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act that biometric identifiers be collected and, in almost all cases, applicants interviewed before a visa is issued. To mitigate the inconvenience caused by this change of policy, the State Department has directed all visa adjudicating posts to give priority to applicants who would have benefited from the visa stamp re-issuance service. For most posts, appointments can be made through their Internet sites or by telephone. Applicants can also consult http://usembassy.state.gov . The State Department encouraged applicants to apply for visa stamps in their home countries. Applicants should always make an interview appointment before traveling if at all possible.
The State Department announced that it is ending its domestic visa stamp re-issuance service for most nonimmigrant visa stamps. In a public notice issued in the Federal Register on June 23, 2004, the Department stated that after July 16, 2004, it would no longer accept new applications from visa holders in the United States seeking to renew their C, E, H, I, L, O or P visa stamps inside the U.S. Any applications for renewal of visa stamps in these categories received at the Department's St. Louis processing facility after July 16, 2004 will be returned. In its notice, the Department explained that it had to end its re-issuance service for most nonimmigrant visa stamps because it could not meet the requirements imposed by the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act that biometric identifiers be collected and, in almost all cases, applicants interviewed before a visa is issued. To mitigate the inconvenience caused by this change of policy, the State Department has directed all visa adjudicating posts to give priority to applicants who would have benefited from the visa stamp re-issuance service. For most posts, appointments can be made through their Internet sites or by telephone. Applicants can also consult http://usembassy.state.gov . The State Department encouraged applicants to apply for visa stamps in their home countries. Applicants should always make an interview appointment before traveling if at all possible.
As always, please feel free to share this information with others who may be interested. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
You can continue to remain well informed about workshops and training sessions offered by our office; recent changes in U.S. immigration law affecting international students, faculty, and staff at the JHMI; changes in our office policies and/or procedures; and much more by regularly visiting our Internet site. You will be notified of any changes to the site via this e-mail listserv. Please encourage other internationals who are in the U.S. as non-immigrants to subscribe to this e-mail listserv. Also, please encourage JHMI faculty and staff members who deal with internationals to subscribe to this list as well.
To subscribe, an individual simply needs to send an e-mail to listproc@lists.jhmi.edu. In the body of the message type the following: sub intl-services Fname Lame (example: sub intl-services Jennifer Kerilla) Important Note: Do no send message with signature attached OR with rich text fonts enabled.
Jennifer L. Kerilla
Assistant Director
The Office of International Services
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
1620 McElderry Street, 1st Floor Reed Hall
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: 410.955.3371 / Fax: 410.955.0871
Internet: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/intlsvcs/
You can continue to remain well informed about workshops and training sessions offered by our office; recent changes in U.S. immigration law affecting international students, faculty, and staff at the JHMI; changes in our office policies and/or procedures; and much more by regularly visiting our Internet site. You will be notified of any changes to the site via this e-mail listserv. Please encourage other internationals who are in the U.S. as non-immigrants to subscribe to this e-mail listserv. Also, please encourage JHMI faculty and staff members who deal with internationals to subscribe to this list as well.
To subscribe, an individual simply needs to send an e-mail to listproc@lists.jhmi.edu. In the body of the message type the following: sub intl-services Fname Lame (example: sub intl-services Jennifer Kerilla) Important Note: Do no send message with signature attached OR with rich text fonts enabled.
Jennifer L. Kerilla
Assistant Director
The Office of International Services
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
1620 McElderry Street, 1st Floor Reed Hall
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: 410.955.3371 / Fax: 410.955.0871
Internet: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/intlsvcs/
