The Hindu : International : U.S. to discontinue domestic re-issuance of six types of visas

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Friday, Jun 25, 2004

International

International

U.S. to discontinue domestic re-issuance of six types of visas

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, JUNE 24. The United States State Department has formally announced that as of July 16, 2004 it will be discontinuing the domestic re-issuance of six types of visas.

The E, H, I, L, O and P visas involve the following categories respectively: Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor; Speciality occupation workers; Media; Intra-company transferee; workers with extraordinary abilities and Athletes and Entertainers.

The department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said that last year nearly 50,000 cases of visa re-issuance were processed last year and 50 per cent of the applicants were Indian nationals. "The primary beneficiaries in the service in the United States have been foreign workers in computer and technology industries. Almost 50 per cent of the applicants were Indian nationals. Citizens of Japan, China, the United Kingdom and Korea round out the top five," Mr. Boucher said.

In a formal notification it has been maintained that the action on visa re-issuance is being taken because the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act required the State Department to incorporate a bio-metric in every visa issued after October 26, 2004 and that all visa issuing posts will have a fingerprint scanner by then.

What is being pointed out is that persons staying in the U.S. may continue to do so for as long as they have been permitted by the Department of Homeland Security Officers at ports of entry; but should people leave the U.S. and seek to re-enter after July 16, 2004 they must seek "adjudication" of a new visa application at an American diplomatic post.

"At this point we don't have the ability to carry out the kind of interviews and the fingerprints that we do at our embassies overseas," Mr. Boucher said.

This new stipulation on the visas was a part of "regularising the whole process and ... providing a way for these people to come and go, but doing it in a manner that's similar to other applicants."

He said the new processes for visas may not be convenient or simple but in the framework of secured and open borders, the priority is in protecting the U.S. and the people living there; and the second obligation will be going about this in as efficient and considerate manner possible.

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