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floridapete
08-08-2006, 05:19 PM
The question of visa renewals and the need to return to home country US. Embassies to have them processed caused me to think it might be a good idea if I could find the original notice of this change of policy which I received from the US Embassy in London quite some time ago (I am on their e-mailing list) this might be helpful to people finding themselves in, or about to be in, this situation.

So here it is:

35121 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 23, 2004 /
Notices.

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 selfaddressed,
stamped envelope or prepaid
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.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I hope that may help someone understand the situation better - or find alternatives than to have to travel back to the UK !

florida
08-08-2006, 11:22 PM
hello folks,

can i ask the obviouse question, one of the final paragraphs on florida petes information, mentions capacity in canada, and mexico.
could you please expand on that, (say if you just renewed in canada, or mexico).??????

regards
florida

InnVic
08-08-2006, 11:28 PM
I ssecond that request....if I were able to renew in Canada (only five hours drive from Us in VT) it would be a huge benefit (both financial and time wise) IF you do have that information then can you post it...if not then as my renewal in due in 6 months or so I'm happy to check it out.

chris
08-09-2006, 12:14 AM
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Canada, Mehico and the Bahamas are off limits. I tried Canada, but was told sorry but we are not processing E2 applications for TCN's (3rd Country Nationals) as we are too busy with the Canadians. Mexico state it on their website - Adios Gringos go somewhere Nos renewus E2 Visas. The Bahamas last year actually told me in an email that we could tuirn up on a Monday and get out Visa that afternoon, but they did only walk-ins and you had to queue. 6 months later and all that changed. Their website now states they prefer you to go back to your home country as it could take longer for them to do it than your home country. Question is - is there anywhere that could actually take LONGER than London?
On the Florida Forum site, they have recently had 3 embassies do renewals as follows: London now quotes 24 weeks, Madrid can do it in 21 days and wowee Brussels did one 2 weeks ago in 7 business days!! Who says we have consistency????
All roads I am afraid lead back to London.
I have to say the bit about getting the biometrics is a load of hog wash. How many times does your eye scan or finger print change. Answer it doesn't, unless you lose one of those appendages. The biometrics could and should be a 1 time exercise and they could easily re-introduce the renewal process. The talk about time is another load of hog wash. Recent folks to London have told how their wait ran to several hours whilst the interview lastly circa 5 minutes.
On the biometrics, personally I would have no problems giving my biometrics to Homeland Security here for them to share with DOS and them selves if it is for the common good. It would save me an airfare x 4!
Quite simply, they want you out of the country. You are an easier problem to deal with when you are on your own soil rather than theirs.

Susie
08-09-2006, 02:38 AM
Hi Peter

As I mentioned before I thought that the reason for the change in system was because of 911 and was wrong

I cannot find what the real reason for the change was, does anyone know?

Sharon
08-09-2006, 02:46 AM
Hi

Does anyone know if when you enter the US embassy doors you are on American or British soil?

Just a thought

Ray10
08-09-2006, 05:50 AM
American Soil........