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DOS Provides Information on Immigrant Visa Prioritization

AILA Doc. No. 20071435 | Dated April 30, 2021

April 30, 2021

DOS announced U.S. embassies and consulates are using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications and to address the backlog in the processing of immigrant visas. DOS identified four priority tiers listing the main categories of immigrant visas in each:

  • Tier One: Immediate relative intercountry adoption visas, age-out cases (cases where the applicant will soon no longer qualify due to their age), and certain Special Immigrant Visas (SQ and SI for Afghan and Iraqi nationals working with the U.S. government)
  • Tier Two: Immediate relative visas; fiancé(e) visas; and returning resident visas
  • Tier Three: Family preference immigrant visas and SE Special Immigrant Visas for certain employees of the U.S. government abroad
  • Tier Four: All other immigrant visas, including employment preference and diversity visas

Per DOS, “consular sections, where possible, are scheduling some appointments within all four priority tiers every month.”

April 13, 2021

On Facebook, DOS provided FAQs on the immigrant visa backlog, including on what DOS is doing to reduce the backlog, reapplication procedures for individuals who were refused an immigrant visa due to Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983, K visas, diversity visas, employment visas, and more.

View FAQs on Facebook

April 6, 2021

DOS provided an updated announcement and FAQ on the status of visa services, noting that it is working to reduce the significant backlog of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants awaiting an interview. Per DOS, consular sections that have the capacity are prioritizing the processing of immigrant and fiancée visas, along with immigrant visa cases previously refused under rescinded Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983.

Embassies and consulates that process nonimmigrant visas are prioritizing travelers with urgent needs, foreign diplomats, mission-critical categories of travelers, followed by some students, exchange visitors, and some temporary employment visas.

April 1, 2021

DOS updated its announcement and FAQs on the phased resumption of visa services following the expiration of Presidential Proclamation 10052, which suspended the entry of certain nonimmigrant visa applicants into the United States. DOS noted that resumption of visa services would occur on a post-by-post basis, but there are no specific dates for each mission.

February 24, 2021

DOS updated its announcement and FAQs on the phased resumption of visa services following the rescission of Presidential Proclamation 10014, which suspended the entry of certain immigrant visa applicants into the United States. DOS noted that resumption of visa services will occur on a post-by-post basis, but there are no specific dates for each mission.

December 30, 2020

DOS updated its announcement and FAQs on the phased resumption of visa services, noting that resumption will occur on a post-by-post basis, but that there are no specific dates for each mission. DOS also announced that it has extended the validity of Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fees to September 30, 2022.

November 12, 2020

DOS updated its announcement and FAQs on the phased resumption of visa services, noting that it will resume routine visa services on a post-by-post basis, but is unable to provide a specific date for when each mission will resume specific visa services, or when each mission will return to processing at pre-COVID levels.

DOS also announced that it has extended the validity of Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fees until December 31, 2021, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment due to the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment with the fee they already paid.

July 14, 2020

DOS announced that it will resume routine visa services on a post-by-post basis, but is unable to provide a specific date for when each mission will resume specific visa services, or when each mission will return to processing at pre-COVID levels. DOS also provided an FAQ on resumption of services.

Cite as AILA Doc. No. 20071435.