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Visas
What's New?
The U.S. Department of State announced that registration for the 2009 Diversity Visa Lottery will be held October 3, 2007 to December 2, 2007.
The program, designed to bring greater racial and ethnic diversity to the United States, offers permanent residency visas to citizens of nations that have a traditionally low level of immigration to the United States. Persons seeking to enter the lottery program must register online through the designated Web site (www.dvlottery.state.gov) during the registration period. Registration is free of charge.
The U.S. Department of State has revised the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services. The new schedule will be effective March 8, 2005, at which time the fees for certain services provided by the Department of State and by U.S. embassies and consulates abroad will change.
As of October 26, 2004, all travelers from the 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must present either a machine-readable passport or a valid U.S. visa upon entry to the United States. All VWP travelers are also required to enroll in US-VISIT, a program involving a digital photograph and fingerscans.
Croatia is not a Visa Waiver Program country. Croatian citizens traveling to the United States must obtain a non-immigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy located near Buzin. Third country nationals visiting or living in Croatia who are citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries and plan to visit the United States must now either obtain a visa or have a machine-readable passport.
Passport Application for Minors Under 14: Notarized consent statement now required for non-appearing parent
The Department of State has amended the rule requiring the consent of both parents to obtain a passport for a minor child. In the past, when only one parent has appeared at the Embassy to apply for the minor's passport, we required a written statement of consent from the other parent. Starting November 1, 2004, the Department will require that such statements be notarized. This additional safeguard is necessary to help prevent child abduction or other interference with the non-applying parent's rights. As before, both parents are encouraged to appear when submitting a passport application for a minor child under the age of fourteen. For more information, click here.
U.S. Discontinues Domestic Re-issue Service on Certain Visas, July 16, 2004
Starting July 16, 2004, the Department of State discontinued domestic re-issue service for E,H,I,L,O, and P visas because it is not feasible to collect biometric identifiers in the United States. Holders of these visas should apply for renewal in their home countries at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Journalists Need "I" Visa to Travel to United States While on Assignment, issued on June 7, 2004
U.S. Embassy Introduces Fingerprint Scan Requirement for Visa Applicants, issued on May 26, 2004The U.S. Government launched a new security program January 5, 2004, that serves the dual purpose of speeding the entry of legal foreign visitors into the United States while keeping out potential security threats. The new procedures require most visitors traveling on visas to the United States to have two fingerprints scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken by immigration officials upon entry at U.S. air and seaports. The program minimizes the possibility of document fraud and identifies individuals who are on a terrorist watch list with the goal of preventing them from entering the country.
Faster Processing for Applicants with Electronic Visa Application Forms
Non-Immigrant Visa applicants can now expedite the application process by submitting a specially bar-coded version of the application form, available on the Internet.
To enhance the accurate identification of passport applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking, the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs now requires the personal appearance of all minors applying for U.S. passports.