DOS Cable on Visas 92 and 93 Procedures

Ref: 9 FAM Appendix D, Services for INS-Refugees Case Processing

1. Begin Summary: Effective immediately, the Department will no longer be transmitting visas 92 and 93 cables, except in extremely time sensitive cases.

2. Due to the reorganization of CA [Bureau of Consular Affairs] and the abolishment of CA/VO/F/RAP, the Visa Office will no longer be reviewing I-730 petitions or sending the appropriate visas 92 and 93 authorizations. The Department will pouch I-730 petitions to post. Posts will be responsible for verifying that all correct documentation has been submitted and that beneficiaries are entitled to following to join benefits.

3. In priority cases, the Department may still transmit visas 92 or 93 cables in some types of emergent situations such as when the beneficiary will be turning 21 in the near future and no longer qualify to follow to join.

4. Refugees-When an I-730 is received, post should treat I-730 beneficiaries as regular refugees. This effectively means that post is now responsible for developing and transmitting a biodata/request for sponsorship assurance to the Refugee Data Center (RDC). Biodata should conform to the format and data fields contained in Exhibit IV of 9 FAM, Appendix D. Where certain data fields do not apply to visas 93 beneficiaries, please still include those data fields but specify "not applicable" or "N/A". If the I-730 and supporting documentation does not provide answers to a specific data field, then cite "unknown" for that applicable field.

Not included in the present version of 9 FAM is the new requirement for biodatas to cite the alien registration number assigned to each case member. Department suggests that posts place an A number next to each case member's name. Please do not send biodatas without this A number information, unless there is emergent reason. Post continues to be responsible for contacting INS, IOM [International Organization for Migration], or other established contacts for assistance related to regular refugee processing.

In producing a biodata, post is also to assign a case number. To distinguish between old visas 93 system managed by CA and new case processed by post, RDC suggests posts assign sequential case numbers beginning with 940001. As with biodata for regular refugee cases, the country tag code is to be cited as the prefix to the case number. It would be additionally helpful for post to highlight in the bio that "this is a derivative status case." Since CA will no longer be producing authorization cables with VO numbers, the case number assigned by post takes on prime importance as the main identifier for RDC and post to track a case.

The initial request and any follow-up communication on refugee sponsorship should be sent by fax or cable to the RDC. Cables should be slugged for RF/A (Refugee Programs/Admissions). The RDC's direct relay address is RDC/ICMC, 200 Park Avenue South, Room 801, New York, NY 10003. Cables may also be addressed "RDCICMC/200 Park Avenue South." RDC's fax number is 212-979-8149. As with any routine refugee cases, RDC will acknowledge receipt of any biodatas. As with routine refugee cases, post should allow about a 12-week turnaround time after biodata sent for an I-730 beneficiary sponsorship assurance to be received by post.

5. Asylees-There are no additional actions for posts in the cases of asylees following to join. Post will be notified by pouch and treat such cases as before.

6. Any questions concerning the above change in procedures should be directed toward CA/VO/F/P.

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