DOS Emergency Alert: Executive Order on Visas

As a result of the Executive Order on immigration, Department of State has temporarily stopped scheduling immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as well as cancelled currently scheduled visa appointments, for those individuals who are nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

This Executive Order does not restrict the travel of dual nationals from any country with a valid U.S. visa in a passport of an unrestricted country.  Embassies and Consulates around the world will continue to process visa applications and issue nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to otherwise eligible visa applicants who apply with a passport from an unrestricted country, even if they hold dual nationality from one of the seven restricted countries.

Illegal Immigration Is Not the Only Problem—Visas Are Too

When Americans think about immigration reform, many probably think of addressing the flow of illegal immigration from Mexico. But the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and the more recent tragedy in San Bernardino, Calif., show that addressing legal immigration is far more critical to our national security.

Visa Bulletin for February 2016

This Visa Bulletin summarizes the availability of Immigrant Visa numbers during February 2016 for: “Application Final Action Dates” (consistent with prior Visa Bulletins) and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.

Visa Bulletin for October 2015

This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during October for: “Application Final Action Dates” (consistent with prior Visa Bulletins) and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.

Visa Bulletin for July 2015

This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during July. 

Department of State Alert: Technological System Issues with Overseas Passport and Visa Systems

On June 25, 2015, DOS updated their alert with the following language:

• The Bureau of Consular Affairs reports that 165 posts, representing more than 85 percent of our nonimmigrant visa demand worldwide, are now online and issuing visas.
• Posts overseas issued more than 82,000 visas on June 24.
• Posts overseas have issued more than 238,000 non-immigrant visas this week. For context, if systems had been operating normally, posts would have issued approximately 540,000 visas since the outage started.
• We will continue to bring additional posts online until connectivity with all posts is restored. All posts worldwide are now scheduling interviews with applicants, including with those who applied after the systems problems began on June 9.
• We will continue to bring additional posts online until connectivity with all posts is restored. All posts worldwide are now scheduling interviews with applicants, including with those who applied after the systems problems began on June 9.
• We deeply regret the inconvenience to travelers who are waiting for visas, as well as their families and U.S. businesses that have been affected.
• We continue to post updates to our website, travel.state.gov.