Enterline & Partners Consulting | info@enterlinepartners.com

Search
Close this search box.

DOS Announces Tiered Approach to Resuming Immigrant Visa Applications

In a recent announcement from the United States Department of State (“DOS”), the Bureau of Consular Affairs reaffirmed its commitment in providing the current status of worldwide immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing operations. Specifically, DOS has been updating the public on how embassies and consulates affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have started to prioritize immigrant visa applications while DOS continues to reduce the backlog as a result of local travel restrictions and operational limitations.

While embassies and consulates that process both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas have been prioritizing immigrant visa applications, the volume and type of visa applications that each post has been able to process largely depends on the conditions in each country including movement controls and gathering limitations imposed by each country’s government.

The DOS has expressed empathy and compassion for those affected by delayed processing acknowledging that petitioners and beneficiaries in the immigrant visa process are individuals and not just numbers. The agency likewise acknowledges the ongoing stress and hardship both petitioners and beneficiaries have suffered as a result of reduced U.S. embassy and consulate operational capacity. While the guiding principle on which the DOS has based immigrant visa prioritization is family reunification is of greatest importance to the U.S. government’s immigration policy, it’s current prioritization plan is based on clear direction from the U.S. Congress that DOS must adopt a policy of prioritizing immediate relative immigrant visa applicants (the spouse, parents and children of U.S. Citizens) and K-1 fiancés of U.S. citizens followed by family-based preference visa applicants.

As a result of Congress’s direction, DOS has been focusing on a tiered approach as consular operations resume and expand to pre-pandemic levels.

  • Tier One: Immediate relatives, inter-adoption, age-out cases (cases where the applicant child will no longer qualify due to their age) and certain special immigrant visas (i.e. SQ and SI for Afghanistan and Iraqi citizens working for the U.S. government).
  • Tier Two: Immediate Relatives, K-1 fiancé and returning residents.
  • Tier Three: Family preference immigrants and SE Special Immigrant Visas for certain employees of the U.S. government abroad.
  • Tier Four: All other immigrant visas including employment preference and diversity visas.

With embassies and consulates continuing to face significant backlogs in all immigrant visa categories, the prioritization plan aims to maximize limited resources to accommodate as many immediate relatives and fiancé cases (subject to available resources) with a goal of minimizing an ongoing backlog in these categories.

For more information on immigrant visa backlogs in Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan, contact us today at info@enterlinepartners.com and speak with a U.S. immigration attorney in Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Taipei.

ENTERLINE & PARTNERS CONSULTING

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Office

Suite 601, 6th Floor, Saigon Tower
29 Le Duan Street
Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tel: +84 933 301 488

Email: info@enterlinepartners.com

Facebook: Enterline & Partners – Dịch vụ Thị thực và Định cư Hoa Kỳ

Website: http://enterlinepartners.com

Manila, Philippines Office

LKG Tower 37th Floor
6801 Ayala Avenue
Makati City, Philippines 1226

Tel: +632 5310 1491

Email: info@enterlinepartners.com

Facebook: Enterline and Partners Philippines

Website: https://enterlinepartners.com/language/en/welcome/

Copyright 2021. This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. This article may be changed with or without notice. The opinions expressed in this article are those of Enterline and Partners only.

CATEGORY
time
recent posts
CTA_Collection

Over 18,000 successful customers with Enterline &
Partners, realizing the dream of immigration

Latest News

Can I send my Absentee Ballot to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for the Upcoming Presidential Election?

We have previously discussed who is eligible to vote in U.S. elections and how American citizens abroad (i.e. Vietnam, the Philippines, and Taiwan) can send their ballots by mail or use designated dropboxes to vote for their presidential and state and local candidates. U.S. citizens who are unable to physically drop off their ballots at certain locations in Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan may also mail their ballots directly to the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, the U.S. Embassy in Manila, or the American Institute in Taiwan in Taipei at the following addresses: U.S. Consulate Ho Chi Minh CityAmerican Citizen Services Unit4 Le Duan Blvd. District 1Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam U.S. Embassy ManilaAmerican Citizen Services Unit1201 Roxas Blvd.Manila, Philippines 1000 American Institute of TaiwanAmerican Citizen Services Unit100 Jinhu Road Neihu DistrictTaipei, Taiwan 114017 When sending sealed ballots to the addresses above, registered voters will need two envelopes.

Read more >

Who can vote in the U.S. Presidential Election?

With the U.S. Presidential Election just days away, American citizens in the United States and abroad will take part in electing the 47th President of the United States. Although the current front runners are Vice-President Kamala D. Harris for the Democrat Party and former President Donald J. Trump for the Republican Party, other third-party candidates are also running. These candidates include Green Party Candidate Jill Stein, M.D and former Harvard University Professor and Princeton University Emeritus Cornel West. In order to vote in the Presidential Elections, you must be a U.S. citizen either by birth or through naturalization. You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age by election day although you may be able to register to vote before election day if you will be 18 years old on election day. Please confirm with your state requirements at https://www.usa.gov/voter-registration. If you have questions about whether you may vote

Read more >