Covid-Era Visa Application Fee Receipts Set to Expire on September 30, 2023
The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) has announced that all receipts for payment of Machine-Readable Visa (“MRV”) fees issued before October 1, 2022 will expire September 30, 2023. There will be no extensions of fee validity. Applicants must schedule an appointment or submit an interview waiver application before September 30, 2023 to avoid paying a […]
Preconceived Intent in U.S. Immigration Law: Factors and Potential Risks
The United States immigration system is designed to ensure that individuals seeking to enter the country do so lawfully and with genuine intentions. As part of this effort, one factor that U.S. immigration law considers is the concept of “preconceived intent”: the intention of individuals to engage in activities that may violate their originally proposed […]
DOS Extends Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Waivers Through 2023
The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has extended DOS consular officers’ authority to waive in-person interviews for certain nonimmigrant visa categories through December 31, 2023. The announcement made on December 23, 2022 replaces the previous policy extending nonimmigrant visa waivers through December 31, 2022 and allows DOS consular officers to continue to waive in-person […]
U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City Announces New Policy for Immigrant Visa Applicants
The U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City (“Consulate”) has announced that immigrant visa applicants with scheduled appointments beginning in June 2022 must bring ALL required documents to their interview or will be TURNED AWAY and be asked to reschedule their interview appointments. In addition to physically bringing required documentation such as birth certificates, marriage […]
U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City Cancels All Visa Appointments Until August 16
In compliance with Ho Chi Minh City’s Directive 16 which enforces additional social distancing measures, the U.S. Consulate has cancelled all immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments through August 16, 2021. Immigrant visa applicants affected by this announcement will be required to reschedule their cancelled visa interview appointments once normal operations resume. Based on the current […]
DOS Further Extends Non-Immigrant In-Person Interview Requirements
The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has announced a third extension authorizing consular officers to waive in-person interview requirements for individuals applying for a non-immigrant visa within the same category. The first extension, which expired on December 31, 2020, was further extended to March 31, 2021 and allowed for DOS to waive in-person interviews […]
Announcement – Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Waivers Temporarily Extended to 24 Months
The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has temporarily expanded the ability of DOS consular officers to waive in-person interview requirements for individuals applying for an expired nonimmigrant visa within the same category. Previously, in-person interview requirements were eligible for a waiver if the nonimmigrant visa applicant, such as a B-1/ B-2 visitor visa, applied […]
Department of States Expands Non-Immigrant Visa In-Person Interview Waivers
The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has temporarily expanded the ability of consular officers to waive in-person interviews for individuals applying for non-immigrant visas in the same visa classification. Previously, only those applicants whose non-immigrant visas had expired within the previous 12 months were eligible for an interview waiver. Now, DOS has expanded this […]
What medical conditions would cause you to be denied an immigrant visa?
Important note: This article provides general legal information based on the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It is not medical advice. Individual cases may differ depending on health status, visa type and current CDC guidelines. If you are concerned about how a health condition may affect your visa application, consult an experienced U.S. immigration […]
What Questions Will the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City Ask My Vietnamese Fiance During Their Interview?
Quick Summary: K-1 Interview at the HCMC Consulate Question Answer Where is the interview held? U.S. Consulate General in HCMC, 4 Le Duan Street, District 1 Who attends the interview? The Vietnamese fiance only; the U.S. petitioner does not attend What language is the interview conducted in? Vietnamese or English; interpreter may be provided How […]