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[Federal Register: June 23, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 120)]
[Notices]
[Page 35121]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn04-125]
[[Page 35121]]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 4747]
Discontinuation of Reissuance of Certain Nonimmigrant Visas in
the United States
This public notice announces the discontinuation of our domestic
visa reissuance service for certain nonimmigrant visas in the United
States. Nonimmigrant visas issued under section 101(a)(15) C, E, H, I,
L, O and P of the Immigration and Nationality Act will be affected by
this suspension. We will accept no new applications from applicants
seeking to renew C, E, H, I, L, O or P visas after July 16, 2004. To be
processed, applications must be received by our application acceptance
facility in St. Louis by July 16, 2004. Any application received after
this date will be returned, using the sender's required self-addressed,
stamped envelope or pre-paid courier airbill. Please note that we
ceased processing applications for reissuance of A-3, G-5 and NATO-7
visas in the United States in September 2002. We will continue to
receive applications for reissuance of qualifying diplomatic and
official visas in Washington, DC in (classifications A-1, A-2, G-1, G-
2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5 and NATO-6).
22 CFR 41.111(b) authorizes the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa
Services or any other person he or she designates to reissue
nonimmigrant visas, in their discretion. The original purpose of this
authority was to provide nonimmigrant services to foreign government
officials and to international organization employees. Over time, the
authority was extended to include reissuances in the C, E, H, I, L, O
and P visa classifications. We recognize that the domestic reissuance
of business-related visas to applicants in the United States has been a
convenience to the international business community. However, we are
discontinuing the reissuance of visas in these categories because of
increased interview requirements and the requirement of Section 303 of
the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act (Pub. L. 107-
173, 116 Stat. 543) that U.S. visas issued after October 26, 2004,
include biometric identifiers. It is not feasible for the Department to
collect the biometric identifiers in the United States.
In order to mitigate the inconvenience to applicants, we will
direct all visa adjudicating posts to accommodate on a priority basis
applicants who would have benefited from our visa reissuance services.
Visa interview appointments may be made for some posts through Internet
sites or by telephone. Additional information regarding posts and visa
interview appointment systems may be found at http://usembassy.state.gov.
We encourage all applicants to apply in their home
countries. Our visa adjudicating posts in Mexico and Canada have some
capacity to accept nonimmigrant visa applications from stateside
applicants. In all cases, applicants should obtain an interview
appointment before traveling.
Dated: June 10, 2004.
Maura Harty,
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 04-14245 Filed 6-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P
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