Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Barry announced
at the AILA Annual Conference that applications for visa
revalidations (for classifications C, E, H, I, L, O and P) will
no longer be accepted by the Department of State after July 6, 2004.
However, we understand that the cut-off date has now been changed
to July 16, 2004, but that an exception will be made for applications
pending at that point for which additional information has been
requested under INA Section 221(g).
The ostensible rationale for terminating visa revalidations is
that DOS lacks the capacity domestically to acquire the biometric
identifiers all visas will be required to contain as of October
26, 2004. Ms. Barry further stated that DOS has no current plans
to revive the revalidation service.
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