visa processing
ensuring Effective and Secure Processing of Exchange Visitor and International Student Visa
The Alliance works closely with partner organizations and the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs to support U.S. consular officers in their work to provide visas to qualified and fully vetted international applicants. Learn more about our work on visa processing.
tHE LATEST
Visa interviews for F, M, and J applicants resume after three week pause
On Wednesday, June 18, the State Department announced that it will start accepting F, M, and J visa interview appointments, effectively ending the pause put in place on May 27. According to a cable sent to all embassies and consular posts, regular scheduling of FMJ visa applications are permitted to resume at all posts. The June 18 cable also unveiled new social media vetting guidance that kicked off this pause and stated that embassies should resume scheduling interviews but cited multiple ways the new vetting guidance may complicate this process, including potentially scheduling fewer FMJ appointments due to the workload that will come from the additional screening efforts.
Alliance Efforts
The Alliance works with our members and partner organizations to ensure effective and secure processing of exchange visitor and international student visas by the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. The continued mobility of non-immigrant exchange participants and international students to the U.S. ensures that our country continues to benefit from the economic and diplomatic impact of these programs.
Our work in this area focuses on three key strategies:
Monitoring Visa Trends and Challenges
We collect and analyze data on visa issuance and denials from our members to identify patterns and emerging issues. This information informs engagement with both the Bureau of Consular Affairs and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
Advocating for Policy Improvements
We support measures such as interview waivers for qualified, fully vetted applicants to streamline the visa process, reduce barriers for participants, and ease pressure on consular resources.
Engaging with
Consular Affairs
Through regular communication and collaboration, including a dedicated session at the Alliance Annual Conference, we maintain strong relationships with officials to ensure ongoing dialogue and shared problem-solving.
Resources
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Every year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides data on departures and overstays, by country, for foreign visitors to the United States who were expected to depart in each Fiscal Year.
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SEVIS by the Numbers is an annual report that highlights key SEVIS data. The data illustrates trends, values, and information specifically on F and M foreign students studying in the United States and J exchange visitors participating in U.S. Department of State-designated exchange visitor programs. The report includes the following sections:
FOREIGN STUDENTS– Data on F-1 and M-1 foreign students who come to the United States to study.
SCHOOLS – Data on SEVP-certified schools that enroll foreign students in the United States.
STATES AND TERRITORIES – Data about foreign student demographics within individual U.S. states and territories.
EXCHANGE VISITORS – Data on J-1 exchange visitors who come to the United States to participate in an exchange visitor program designated by the U.S. Department of State.
Below are links to the most recent reports:
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The Bureau of Consular Affairs provides data on global wait times for nonimmigrant visas, including the estimated wait time until the next available interview appointment and the average time nonimmigrant visa applicants waited for an interview in the previous month.
The information is updated monthly.