DOS Cable on Revocation of the Burroughs Indefinite Visas

Refs: (A) 94 State 066807 (B) 94 State 337972

1. Reftel A described the procedures for the revocation of the Burroughs indefinite visa. This ALDAC will describe what actions INS ports-of-entry (POE) officials and posts' consular officers should take upon the revocation of the visas February 1, 1995.

2. The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs has signed the "Certificate of Revocation" revoking all Burroughs indefinite visas (B-1, B-2 and B-1/B-2 categories) issued on or before February 2, 1985 effective February 1, 1995. All Burroughs indefinite visas issued after February 2, 1985 will become invalid on the tenth university of their date of issuance. As stated in Reftel A anyone seeking admission to the United States on a revoked Burroughs indefinite visa will be granted one admission providing the applicant is otherwise qualified--upon which INS POE officials will physically cancel the applicant's visa.

3. As INS POE officials cancel the indefinite Burroughs visas, they will distribute the following information to the alien on behalf of the Department:

"A notice from the Department of State revocation of indefinite nonimmigrant visas over ten years ago you were issued a visitor nonimmigrant visa with indefinite validity. These visas are now being gradually replaced with a machine- readable visa (MRV) which includes a photograph of the bearer and is valid only for a maximum of ten years. In order to make our visa practices consistent the Department of State, effective February 1, 1995, has revoked all the old-style indefinite visas on the tenth anniversary of their issuance, and requires travelers to replace them with a new ten-year visa.

We have requested that the Immigration and Naturalization Service physically cancel all of these indefinite visas if encountered at a port-of-entry. The cancellation of your indefinite visa in no way reflects on your eligibility as a nonimmigrant visitor to the United States.

Before again seeking admission as a visitor, if you are required to present a visa for entry, you must obtain a new nonimmigrant visa. You should apply for a new visa at the U.S. Embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your place of residence. We regret any inconvenience this change-over in visas cause.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the U.S. Embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your place of residence."

4. Posts are requested to provide the same information to holders of Burroughs indefinite visas and to emphasize that the cancellation of their visa in no way casts aspersions on their eligibility for a visa to the United States. Posts should also share this information with local travel agencies and airlines. Department appreciates posts assistance in this matter.

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