Worldwide Visa Operations- DOS Update

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced that its worldwide visa operations are quickly recovering from setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic primarily affected DOS visa processing in two ways:

1. DOS processed fewer applications as a result of limits on in-person interaction. Most visa applicants are required to attend an in-person interview. Travel restrictions and social distancing measures such as capacity limits negatively impacted DOS' ability to meet with visa applicants.
2. DOS was understaffed due to budget cuts. As a result of the near 50% decrease in visa application fees, DOS left over 300 consular officer positions empty from 2020-2021, further limiting its capacity for processing.

In response to these complications, DOS began coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to exempt several categories of visa applicants from the in-person interview requirement, including individuals renewing their nonimmigrant visas and many students and temporary workers. DOS estimates that 30% of all U.S. visa applicants are eligible for an interview waiver, which should continue to reduce the wait time for visa interviews around the world. DOS also continues to remind applicants that they are allowed to and, if possible, should travel to another U.S. embassy or consulate with shorter wait times.

Today, DOS has doubled its hiring of Foreign Service personnel and will soon return to pre-pandemic visa processing levels. Currently:

1. 96% of U.S. embassies and consulates have resumed visa interviews
2. DOS is processing nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications at 94% and 130%, respectively, of pre-pandemic monthly averages
3. From September 2021 through September 2022, DOS processed 8 million non-immigrant visas, surpassing all projections
4. DOS granted almost 180,000 F, M, and J student visas in July 2022, more than any other month since 2016

For More Information:

Read the original DOS update here

This blog post does not serve as legal advice and does not establish any client-attorney privilege. Do not take any action based on the information contained in this post without consulting a qualified immigration attorney. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our legal team directly.

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