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2004

  • Possible Forward Movement in Employment-Based Third Preference Cut-Offs (12/17/2004)
    State Department comments to AILA's DOS Liaison Committee on possible movement of the per-country employment-based third preference quota.
    AILA Doc. No. 04121711.
  • DOS Answers to AILA Questions (10/13/04) (12/7/2004)
    State Dept. answers questions submitted by AILA in connection with the 10/13/04 liaison meeting. Numerous issues were explored, including revaidations, termination of registration, CSPA, DV lottery, J-1 skills list, security checks, the Kentucky Consular Center, and application withdrawals. Further clarifications will be forthcoming.
    AILA Doc. No. 04120760.
  • Nogales Consulate Bars Attorneys from Interviews (11/17/2004)
    The U.S. consulate in Nogales, Mexico has advised AILA that it will no longer allow attorneys to accompany clients to interviews. New procedures are outlined. AILA's DOS Liaison Committee continues to press the Visa Office on the importance of attorney representation.
    AILA Doc. No. 04111761.
  • DV 2004 Numbers Still Available Today (9/30/2004)
    The Department of State reports that there are still numbers available for DV 2004 lottery winners whose numbers are within the cut off dates. Practitioners should follow up with local District Offices and Consular Posts for completion of DV cases today.
    AILA Doc. No. 04093064.
  • Warning Re DV Lottery Scam (9/14/2004)
    AILA members report that an email is being sent to some people purporting to be from "dvlottery.state.gov", telling people that are "one of the lucky winners" of the DV2004 visa lottery, and requesting that they send $349.67 in "clearance/acceptance fees". These emails are fakes, and should be ignored.
    AILA Doc. No. 04091412.
  • DOS Website Includes NIV Processing Times for Individual Posts (8/24/2004)
    The State Department now provides information on waiting times for interview appointments and visa processing for nonimmigrant visas at individual posts. AILA Doc. No. 04082470.
    AILA Doc. No. 04082470.
  • New Delhi Clarifies 60-Day Presence Requirement (8/24/2004)
    The consulate at New Delhi responds to questions posed by AILA member Allen Kaye regarding the policy of requiring 60 days' presence in India by the petitioner prior to filing an immediate relative petition at the post.
    AILA Doc. No. 04082469.
  • State Dept. Addresses Rescheduling of IV Interviews at Addis Ababa (8/4/2004)
    A response from the State Dept. to AILA liaison indicates that Addis Ababa had been rescheduling immigrant visa appointments set by the NVC because it had more cases than it could process, but is now back on schedule.
    AILA Doc. No. 04080466.
  • How to Inquire about Security Checks at DOS (8/2/2004)
    Inquiries regarding security advisory opinions at least 60 days old should be addressed to the Visa Office Public Information Office at 202-663-1225 or legalnet@state.gov. Please do not use the number given in the AILA Annual Conference handbook.
    AILA Doc. No. 04080268.
  • Practice Advisory - Additional Information on Termination of Visa Revalidations (6/23/2004)
    AILA's Department of State (DOS) Liaison committee was advised by the DOS Visa Office Revalidation Unit that the DOS website should be updated today with details on the termination of revalidations, and that the 7/16/04 deadline is for receipt, not postmarking, of revalidation applications.
    AILA Doc. No. 04062363.
  • Erroneous Conrad 30 Waiver Information Rescinded (6/22/2004)
    On 6/16/04, State Dept. sent a memo to J-1 state coordinators informing them that the Conrad 30 waiver program had sunset. On 6/18, it rescinded the memo and issued a corrected memo affirming that an FMG is eligible for a Conrad waiver if he acquired J-1 status by 5/31/04.
    AILA Doc. No. 04062261.
  • State Dept. to End Visa Revalidations (6/16/2004)
    The State Dept. announced at the AILA annual conference on June 11, 2004, that July 6, 2004, will be the last day that it will accept applications within the U.S. for visa reissuance.
    AILA Doc. No. 04061661.
  • PRC Appointment System Back in Operation (6/4/2004)
    AILA's State Dept. liaison committee has been advised that the new appointment system for consular posts in China should be back in operation as of June 4, 2004, following resolution of concerns raised by the host government.
    AILA Doc. No. 04060410.
  • I-130 Direct Filing Procedure Tightened in India (6/4/2004)
    Courtesy of Allen Kaye, the DOS Liaison Committee has learned that the New Delhi DHS suboffice will now require US citizens seeking to directly file I-130s to show 60 days of presence in India prior to filing, generally by showing an entry stamp in the passport.
    AILA Doc. No. 04060463.
  • Practice Advisory - Visa Interview Scheduling in China Shut Down (5/14/2004)
    AILA's Department of State (DOS) Liaison committee was advised by the DOS Visa Office that they are currently unable to schedule visa interviews in China. When the appointments that had been scheduled on or before 4/23/04 are exhausted, applicants will be seen on a first come, first served basis.
    AILA Doc. No. 04051410.
  • Tips for Using Electronic DS-156 (4/28/2004)
    The AILA State Dept. Liaison Committee provides tips, based on discussions with DOS, on misunderstandings and pitfalls in using the electronic DS-156 form, and provides some pointers for optimizing its use.
    AILA Doc. No. 04042861.
  • DOS Answers to AILA Questions (3/4/04) (4/21/2004)
    State Dept. answers questions submitted by AILA in connection with the 3/4/04 liaison meeting. Numerous issues were explored, including L blankets, I-130s, security checks, DV lottery, the possible demise of visa revalidation, and readjudications at posts.
    AILA Doc. No. 04042164.
  • Update from DOS Liaison: Electronic DS-156 Is NOT Required (3/25/2004)
    The State Dept. Visa Office has advised the AILA DOS Liaison Committee that the electronic DS-156 form (which generates a bar code on the first and third pages when printed) is preferred, but NOT required. Please advise AILA if you have problems with the form.
    AILA Doc. No. 04032512.
  • DOS Changes Phone Number for Security Advisory Opinion Inquiries (3/12/2004)
    The Visa Office has advised AILA's State Department Liaison Committee that all telephonic inquiries respecting late Security Advisory Opinions (SAOs)--generally, those aged at least 60 days--should be addressed to the VO's Public Information Office, at 202/663-1225. Any phone numbers given previously by the VO should NOT be used.
    AILA Doc. No. 04031263.
  • DOS E-mail for Security Advisory Opinion Inquiries Changed (Amended 3/13/04) (3/11/2004)
    The Visa Office has advised AILA that inquiries respecting Security Advisory Opinioins delayed more than 60 days should be addressed to the Public Information Office, at 202/663-1225, or via LegalNet, legalnet@state.gov. The SAO inquiry email address previously provided should not be used.
    AILA Doc. No. 04031167.
  • Provide Feedback on the DV-2005 Lottery Program (3/11/2004)
    State Dept. seeks, by April 5, the feedback of AILA members on the technical aspects of the DV-2005 lottery registration process. This solicitation is for operational issues only--they are not seeking a discussion of the wisdom or fairness of the program.
    AILA Doc. No. 04031166.
  • New E-Mail Inquiry Box at NVC for Attorneys (3/11/2004)
    The National Visa Center now provides an email box to which attorneys (no clients, please, just attorneys) can send case inquiries. An outline of the information that must be included in an inquiry is provided.
    AILA Doc. No. 04031161.
  • DOS's Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation Answers AILA's J-1 Questions (3/10/2004)
    The DOS's Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation (ECD) in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) answers questions on J-1 interns, the Education Department, regulations, training for students moving to teacher status, graduate medical training duration, and designated training for healthcare professions.
    AILA Doc. No. 04031061.
  • Practice Advisory - DOS Waiver Review Division Guidance (3/10/2004)
    AILA's Department of State Liaison Committee instructs in this practice advisory on waiver applications for J-1 program participants, including information on procedures, G-28s, No Objection Letters, submission of supplemental documentation, and requests for agency views.
    AILA Doc. No. 04031064.