US Embassy London Visa Services

• Visa services will be limited during July and August for all nonimmigrant visa categories.
• Therefore, we are encouraging applicants to apply for visas during the spring and early summer as appointment availability cannot be guaranteed.
• To facilitate this, we have opened up the appointment calendar through until the end of June.

Appointments must be scheduled through the Operator Assisted Information Service.  Callers within the United Kingdom should dial 09042-450-100. Calls to this line will be charged at £1.23/min plus network extras. Callers from the United States should call 1-866-382-3589. Callers will be charged a fixed rate of $16:00 payable by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express only).

US Embassy London is also encouraging travelers who plan on entering the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program by air or sea carrier, and who do not have travel authorization approval under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), to register as soon as possible for summer travel. If an ESTA registration is denied, a visa will be required.

US Embassy London Visa Reissuance Program

• The US Embassy Visa Reissuance Program has been expanded to include H‐1B visa applicants and their H-4 visa derivatives who are renewing a visa of the same classification that has expired in the last 12 months.
• Other qualifying criteria apply for utilization of the Visa Reissuance Program. These criteria are on the US Embassy London website.
• The US Embassy London Visa Reissuance Program is also available to O-1 visa, P visa, J-1 visa C‐1 visa and D visa applicants.
• Please note that applicants must be physically present in the United Kingdom to utilize the US Embassy London Visa Reissuance Program.
• A US consular officer at US Embassy London reserves the right to request that a US visa applicant appear in person for an interview after reviewing his or her visa application.

To meet increasing demand in 2012 and beyond, we are assigning 50 new consular officers to China. And I am happy to announce that in a few months we will reopen our former Embassy consular facility located in the first Diplomatic Neighborhood of Beijing. Reopening this facility will increase our interviewing capacity in Beijing by 50%.

President Obama has set a worldwide goal to interview 80% of all visa applicants within three weeks of the request for an appointment. In China, we are already meeting this goal and intend to continue to do so.

In addition to new consular staff and facilities, under a new initiative announced by the President, in select circumstances, some qualified foreign visitors who were interviewed and thoroughly screened in conjunction with a prior visa application may be eligible to renew their visas without undergoing another interview.

This new pilot program permits consular officers to waive interviews for some qualified nonimmigrant visa applicants worldwide who are renewing their visa within 48 months of the expiration of their previously held visa, and within the same classification as the previous visa. In China, many previous holders of B (temporary visitors for business/pleasure), C1 (transit), D (crewmembers), F (students), J (exchange visitors), M (nonacademic students), and O (visitors with extraordinary ability) visas will be able to renew their visas if they have been expired less than 48 months (four years), without another interview.

We expect that this will benefit tens of thousands of applicants in China, saving them time and money, and making it easier for them to travel to the United States more frequently.

It will also free our resources to interview more first-time applicants, and to do so quickly. While this new initiative will open as many as 100,000 appointments for first time visa applicants, our consular officers continue to have the authority to interview any applicant who they determine requires a personal interview.

As China develops economically, more of its citizens will want to visit the United States as tourists, on business or for education. We know that travel to the United States will foster a better understanding of our two cultures and peoples. We welcome the challenge of meeting the explosive growth in demand for our visas. One of my top priorities as United States Ambassador is to ensure that we keep wait times short even as demand rises.

Quick Facts on US Visas in Mission China

Overview

In calendar year 2011, Mission China processed one million nonimmigrant visa applications, an increase of 34% from the previous year. China now makes up about 11% of the total visa workload for the United States around the world. Close to 90% of nonimmigrant applications from Chinese nationals were approved.

In the 2011 fiscal year, Chinese nationals applying for travel under the variety of visa categories included: more than 700,000 for B1/B2 visas for business and tourism (an increase of nearly 40% over the previous year), and more than 200,000 for F and J visas for academic studies, cultural exchanges, and research (a 30% increase over the previous year).

In the first quarter of the 2012 fiscal year, Mission China nonimmigrant visa processing increased by 48% over the same period in 2011.

Enhanced US Consular Operations, China

Mission China continually seeks to improve its operations and efficiency, and is expanding visa processing capacity by opening new consular facilities in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and adding around 50 new consular officers China-wide in 2012, representing an approximate 50% increase in consular officer staffing. The issue of lengthening visa validity for Chinese nationals has also been raised with the Chinese government, subject to visa reciprocity for US citizens seeking travel to China and other mutual cooperation.

US Visa Interview Waiver Pilot Program

On February 13, 2012, Mission China will launch a pilot program to streamline visa processing by permitting consular officers to waive interviews for some qualified nonimmigrant applicants worldwide who are renewing their visa within 48 months (4 years) of the expiration of their previously held visa, and within the same classification as the previous visa. In China, previous holders of B (temporary visitors for business/pleasure), C1 (transit), D (crewmembers), F (students), J (exchange visitors), M (nonacademic students), and O (visitors with extraordinary ability) visas can renew their visas if they have been expired less than 48 months (4 years).

Over the course of the year, this policy could open as many as 100,000 interview appointments for Chinese travelers applying for visas for the first time.

Our partners at CITIC Bank are aware of the new procedures. Applicants who qualify for interview waiver under the new guidelines can follow existing procedures to renew their visas.

Protecting our borders and national security remains the US government’s highest priority. As always, with this renewal program, some applicants who apply to renew their visa without an interview will be called in for an interview for both security and quality control reasons.

Opening Additional Beijing US Visa Processing Location

Later this year, we will reopen our former Embassy consular facility located in the first Diplomatic Neighborhood of Beijing. We anticipate that reopening this facility will increase our interviewing capacity in Beijing by 50%, as many as 150,000 visas.

Economic Impact of Increased US Visa Processing in China

Encouraging increased travel between China and the US is mutually beneficial. Not only do we learn more about each other’s culture and society, but increased tourism is good for our economies.

In 2010, more than 800,000 Chinese nationals traveled to the US, each spending an average of $6,000 per trip. The Department of Commerce expects the number of first-time Chinese travelers to the US to triple in the next 5 years.

US citizen petitioners residing in Syria should email USCIS.Amman@dhs.gov to make an appointment to file I-130 petitions in Amman for their Syrian relatives overseas.

All I-730 petitions Refugee/Asylee following to join (Visas 92/93 beneficiaries) have been transferred to US Embassy Amman. The USCIS office in Amman will take over these I-730 petitions. If your case was sent to or scheduled for interview at US Embassy Damascus, your case has been transferred to the US Embassy in Amman, Jordan. Please contact them at Amman-IV@state.gov for further information. If you are unable to enter Jordan to attend your visa interview and wish to transfer your I-730 petition to another US Embassy, you should contact that other US Embassy and seek their concurrence on processing your case at their post. If they agree, that US Embassy will communicate with US Embassy Amman to arrange for the transfer of your I-730 file to their post.

If your visa case was scheduled for interview at US Embassy Damascus, your visa case has been transferred to the US Embassy Amman, Jordan for processing. Please contact them at Amman-IV@state.gov for further information.

Effective January 20, 2012, and until further notice, DHL courier service offices throughout Syria will not accept any documents delivery submission to the US Embassy Damascus. If had your visa interview, but were asked to submit additional documents to complete the submission of your visa application, you should do so, and make your submission to a DHL courier office, by January 19, 2012.

If you wish to have your immigrant/fiancée visa file transferred to another US Embassy or US Consulate, you should contact the Immigrant Visa Unit of that US Embassy or US Consulate and obtain their agreement to process your case. After the other facility has agreed and has contacted us, the US Embassy Damascus will transfer the case. Please note that US Embassy Damascus will not provide assistance in finding another US Embassy or US Consulate on your behalf.

If your question is about a nonimmigrant visas, please e-mail NIVDamascus@state.gov. All inquiries about American citizen services may be e-mailed to ACSDamascus@state.gov.

Applicants who need to travel to the United States before resumption of full visa services in Damascus are welcome to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at any US Embassy or consulate outside Syria that provides visa services. Information on the requirements for doing so and the locations of US visa-issuing Embassies and consulates is available at www.travel.state.gov. The non-refundable MRV application fee must be paid in the country of application, according to procedures established by each US Embassy or US consulate.

To view this notice in Arabic, please click here.

“We are pleased to complete, ahead of schedule, our expansion of this important tool for employees,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas during a press conference at the agency’s field office in Orlando, Fla. “Since our initial launch in March, approximately 67,000 people have used Self Check and we anticipate that participation will dramatically increase with service now available to individuals across the country.”

eVerify Self Check was developed through a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide individuals a tool to check their own US employment eligibility status, as well as guidance on how to correct their DHS and SSA records. It is the first online eVerify service offered directly to workers. Available in English and Spanish, eVerify Self Check enables individuals to enter the same information into eVerify Self Check that employers enter into eVerify.

Since the program’s inception, thousands of individuals have used eVerify Self Check, available in English and Spanish, to access their federal employment eligibility records and for guidance on how to correct potential record discrepancies prior to the hiring process.

In August 2011, eVerify Self Check became a bilingual service available to users in both English and Spanish.

For more information on eVerify Self Check, please visit www.uscis.gov/selfcheck.

“TSA PreCheck moves us closer to our goal of delivering the most effective and efficient screening by recognizing that most passengers do not pose a threat to security,” said TSA Administrator John S. Pistole. “We are pleased to expand this important effort, in collaboration with our airline and airport partners, as we move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more intelligence-driven, risk-based transportation security system.”

TSA PreCheck is currently operating with American Airlines at airports in Dallas, Miami, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Los Angeles, and with Delta Air Lines at airports in Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas, and Minneapolis. US Airways, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are all opting in new passengers and will begin operations later this year.

As part of the initiative’s expansion, TSA PreCheck will be implemented at the following airport locations throughout 2012:

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
• Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
• Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
• Portland International Airport (PDX)
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• Tampa International Airport (TPA)
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

TSA will continue expanding TSA PreCheck to additional airlines and airports once they are operationally ready. Eligible participants include certain frequent flyers from participating airlines as well as members of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs (Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS) who are US citizens and fly on a participating airline. Individuals interested in participating in the pilot can apply via Global Entry.

If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening following the TSA PreCheck vetting process, information will be embedded in the barcode of the passenger’s boarding pass. TSA will read the barcode at the security checkpoint and then may refer the passenger to a TSA PreCheck lane, where they will undergo expedited screening, which could include no longer removing the following items:

• Shoes
• 3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on
• Laptop from bag
• Light outerwear/jacket
• Belt

TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport and no individual will be guaranteed expedited screening. As part of the agency’s risk-based security initiative, TSA is currently testing several other screening initiatives, including initiatives designed to provide positive ID verification for airline pilots and the use of expanded behavior detection techniques.

For more information about TSA’s risk-based security initiatives, visit www.tsa.gov.

The final rule sets forth federal regulations that replace the current pilot with a permanent Global Entry program. The final rule enables CBP to more readily expand the program to additional US international airports. In addition, age eligibility criteria have changed to allow more families to enjoy the benefits of the program. Persons under 18 who meet the general eligibility criteria may participate in Global Entry with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Current participants in the Global Entry pilot will not experience a break in membership, and need not re-apply when the program becomes permanent. Members currently participating in the Global Entry pilot will have their time credited to the 5 year membership as proposed in the rule.

At Global Entry kiosks, members insert their passport or lawful permanent resident card into a document reader, provide digital fingerprints for comparison with fingerprints on file, answer customs declaration questions on the kiosk’s touch-screen, and then present a transaction receipt to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers before leaving the inspection area.

To date, Global Entry has had approximately 1.8 million admissions by more than 260,000 members, and more than 1 million trusted travelers receive Global Entry benefits. Global Entry is available to US citizens and US lawful permanent residents, as well as Mexican nationals. Citizens of the Netherlands may also apply under a special reciprocal arrangement that links Global Entry with the Dutch Privium program in Amsterdam. Canadian citizens and residents may participate in Global Entry through membership in the NEXUS program.

For more information on this or other CBP Trusted Traveler programs, or for an application to enroll in the Global Entry pilot program, please visit the CBP Travel or Global Entry websites.

US Ambassador Ford has left Damascus, but he remains the United States Ambassador to Syria and its people. As President Obama’s representative, he will continue his work and engagement with the Syrian people as head of the Syria team in Washington. Together with other senior US officials, Ambassador Ford will maintain contacts with the Syrian opposition and continue efforts to support the peaceful political transition that the Syrian people have so bravely sought.

As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the UN Security Council on January 31, 2012, the US is gravely concerned by the escalation of violence in Syria caused by the regime’s blatant defiance of its commitments to the action plan it agreed to with the Arab League. The deteriorating security situation that led to the suspension of US diplomatic operations makes clear once more the dangerous path Assad has chosen and the regime’s inability to fully control Syria. It also underscores the urgent need for the international community to act without delay to support the Arab League’s transition plan before the regime’s escalating violence puts a political solution out of reach and further jeopardizes regional peace and security.

According to The New York Times (Feb 06, 2012), other Western embassies have also reduced their staffs in Syria for weeks, and on Monday Britain also recalled its ambassador for consultations.

An announcement on the US Embassy Damascus web site states:

“Effective February 6, 2012, the US Embassy has suspended operations and is not open for normal consular services. Neither US passports nor visas to the United States will be issued in Damascus. The Polish Embassy in Damascus has agreed to assist US citizens remaining in Syria by providing limited consular services. For emergency assistance, US citizens should contact the US Interests Section via telephone at 963 954 666 693 or e-mail damaszek.usint@msz.gov.pl.” For more information, please consult the US Department of State Travel Warning for Syria.

Purpose of Drivers License and Social Security Number Memorandum

One of the first things a new F-1 visa, M visa or J-1 visa holder wants to do after entering the US is to obtain a driver’s license or, where appropriate, a Social Security Number (SSN). As with many things, however, correct timing is everything. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program wants all F, M or J nonimmigrants eligible for a driver’s license or an SSN to have the easiest experience possible.

Following the 6 tips below makes the process go much more smoothly:

1. Wait 10 days after your arrival in the US. You may want to apply for a driver’s license or SSN right away, but be patient. The 10-day wait allows time for all government databases to update with your arrival information.
2. Know what you are applying for and if you are eligible. While you are waiting, talk with your school’s designated school official (DSO) or sponsor’s responsible officer (RO) or alternate responsible officer (ARO) to learn more about your state’s driving rules and regulations. If you want an SSN, have your DSO or RO/ARO confirm that you are eligible before you apply.
3. Make sure your record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is up-to-date and in Active status. SEVIS is the database that contains information for all F, M and J nonimmigrants in the United States. A DSO manages an F or M nonimmigrant’s SEVIS record. An RO/ARO manages an exchange visitor’s SEVIS record. The DSO or RO/ARO (whichever applies to you) must place your record in Active status when you report to the school or program. Talk with your DSO or RO/ARO before you apply for a license or SSN to make sure your record is Active in SEVIS. If your record is not Active when you apply, your application will be rejected.
4. Check your forms. Check all your forms to make sure your information is correct. This is data integrity. Data integrity is very important because if you have different information on different forms, it will cause delays. Specifically, check your Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” for handwritten information. If the information on your Form I-94 is different than on your passport or Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” or Form DS-2019, “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status,” please see the DMV Fact Sheet (link below) for more information.
5. Wait 2 days after your DSO or RO/ARO activates your record in SEVIS. After your DSO or RO/ARO activates your record in SEVIS, you should wait at least 2 federal business days before you apply for a driver’s license or SSN. This gives all databases time to update with your new information.
6. Bring all your paperwork. When you go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) – the common name for a state government office that issues a driver’s license – or to the Social Security office, remember to bring all your paperwork. For most states, the paperwork includes the following documents:

• Form I-20 or Form DS-2019.
• Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record.”
• Passport (with visa, if applicable).
• Proof of legal presence or residence (ask your DSO or RO/ARO what your state requires).

For an SSN, you must also bring a letter of employment and an endorsed Form I-20 (for F students). Exchange visitors should consult with their RO/ARO first to make sure the Social Security Administration requires a letter of employment for the J category.

These six tips should help you get your driver’s license or SSN without having any major problems. If you are interested in specific details about F-2, M-2 or J-2 dependents, please see page 8 of the DMV Fact Sheet. Always talk with your DSO or RO/ARO before you try to apply. Your DSO or RO/ARO may have more information about your particular state.

More information:

• Driving in the United States
• Obtaining a Social Security Number (SSN)
• DMV Fact Sheets: http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/dmv_factsheet.pdf, http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/bm1112-05-dmv-timing.pdf

USCIS E-Verify Self Check will be voluntary and available to any individual who wants to check his or her own US work authorization status prior to US employment and to facilitate the correction of potential errors in federal government databases that provide inputs into the USCIS E-Verify Employment Verification process.

When an individual uses E-Verify Self Check, s/he will be notified either that (1) his or her information matched the information contained in federal government databases, and she or he would be deemed US work-authorized; or (2) that his or her information was not matched to information contained in federal government databases, which would be considered a “mismatch.” If the information was a mismatch, he or she will be given instructions on where and how to correct his or her record(s).

The E-Verify Self Check system will be included in the DHS inventory of record systems.

E-Verify Self Check will be effective March 18, 2011, and will be rolled out in phases.

Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 32 / Wed, Feb 16, 2011. See full Federal Register Notice, 02/16/11, Vol. 76, No. 32 FR 9034-9038.

USCIS is a primarily fee-based organization, with about 90% ($2.4 billion) of its FY2011 budget ($2.8 billion) coming from fees paid by applicants and petitioners for US immigration benefits. USCIS’s fee revenue in FYs 2008 and 2009 was much lower than projected, and fee revenue in FY2010 is low. Congressional appropriations and budget cuts of approximately $160 million have not bridged the remaining gap between costs and anticipated revenue. USCIS has thus decided to institute this immigration fee increase in 2010.

See full information on USCIS immigration fee increase 2010.