Consular Post Processing Times

FOOTNOTES

[1]  For H and L visas, Beijing requests the original approval notice plus an attorney certified copy of the supporting documents. If the application is granted, the applicant can go to the last window and within 15 minutes the visa will be issued.

[2]  Basically irrelevant, as file is sent from NVC to post usually before or simultaneously with Packet 3 transmission from NVC to attorney. (What counts, of course, is file transfer from INS Service Center to NVC).

[3]  Depend on whether immediate relative or not, as no request for visa number from VO need be made of IR case. In IR cases, can be as early as 2-4 weeks after Packet 3 received if requested by attorney and post scheduling permits; normally about 4-6 weeks. Is preference category, whether family or employment based, two months after receipt of Packet 3 if Packet 3 received by 15^TH months (e.g., if Packet 3 received March 10, then interview in May).

[4] In order for Embassy London to accept an application from an individual physically present in the United States, he/she must meet the following criteria:

1.      Applicant must be normally resident in the United Kingdom;

2.      Applicant must have entered the United States in a petition – based visa category, i.e, H, L, O, or P, or in treaty / investor status.

3.      Applicant must be in valid status in the United States in one of the above visa categories.

Applicants who entered the United States in B, F, I, M, Q or R status, as well as those who entered under VWPP, are ineligible to apply for a visa from the United States.

[5] The U.S. Embassy in Manila has announced that, as of December 6, 1999, they will no longer accept nonimmigrant cases on a walk-in basis. Make an appointment by calling 1-909-101-0000 in Philippines. There is current a three-week wait for appointments, but this period will probably lengthen as we approach the holidays. Applicants may make the appointments before receiving the I-797 approval notice, but must present the original I-797 approval notice at the time of the interview (along with a copy of the I-129 and supporting documents submitted to INS). If the I-797 is not received in time for the interview, the interview may be postponed by calling the appointment line.

[6] According to the Consul, “For petitions filed here at post, we often give packets 3 & 4 simultaneously at the window, particularly in immediate relative cases; in cases where applicants appear documentarily qualified, we accept a petition, schedule an appointment, and if we have an FBI check, issue a visa, all within one week.”

[7] Interviews are generally not required. For B-1/B-2, a strong supporting letter should be submitted to show necessity of a visa in view of the fact that visa waiver is available.

[8]  E-1 processing time are generally shorter for companies that have already been issued E visas, and longer for smaller businesses involving an individual proprietor. Osaka/Kobe processes E visas in 5-10 working days.

[9]  Vice Consul Colleen F. Stack has recently replaced John Martin in the IV Section. She is ably assisted by Mr. T. Suzuki who is the Chief Clerk of the IV Section.

Both Tokyo and Osaka/Kobe will accept NIV applications by mail provided that the applicant is in status. Tokyo will accept a copy of the passport initially on these applications by mail and then will request the passports when the visa is ready to be issues. Both posts have a special bilingual OF-156 with instructions and a provision for the prepayment of the MRV fee of $45.00 payable in yen equivalent at any branch of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi.