The US State Department is discontinuing its domestic reissuance service for E, H, I, L, O, and P visas. The Department will stop accepting applications for these visa classifications. The Department will continue to process diplomatic and official visas (A, G, and NATO) in Washington and at the US Mission to the United Nations in New York.
This is being taken because Section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act requires the State Department to incorporate a biometric in every U.S. visa issued after October 26, 2004. All visa-adjudicating posts abroad will have fingerprint-scanning equipment installed before the October deadline. Persons residing in the United States in one of the affected visa classes may continue to reside in the country for the period granted by Department of Homeland Security officers at ports of entry. If these persons depart the United States and require new visas to reenter, after July 16 they must seek adjudication of a new visa application at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
(BPI Information)
