Visa News 2010

Diversity Visa Lottery (DV-2012) Registration

The registration period for the United States Diversity Visa (DV-2012) Lottery begins Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at noon (EDT) and continues until Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at noon (EDT). For more information, review the Press Release and the DV-2012 Instructions. Entrants for DV-2012 are advised to submit their entries early in the registration period because excessive demand might slow down the system as the deadline nears. There is no charge for submitting an entry in the DV Lottery. The Department of State strongly encourages entrants to complete and submit their own entries. There is no need to use an agent or intermediary.

Department of Homeland Security Announced ESTA Fee Implementation, Effective September 8

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security announced the ESTA Fee Interim Final Rule.  Effective September 8, 2010, all Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) registration applications or renewals on or after that date will require a $14.00 fee payment by credit or debit card.  Existing ESTA registrations remain valid through their expiration date. For more information, please visit the ESTA Webpage on the CBP website.

Immigrant Visa Application Fees to Increase July 13, 2010

On June 28, 2010, the Department of State published an interim final rule in the Federal Register to change immigrant visa application processing fees, which will be in a tiered fee structure, and other immigrant visa services fees. The new fees are scheduled to go into effect on July 13, 2010. For more information, visit our Fees for Visa Services webpage.

Nonimmigrant Visa Application Fees to Increase June 4

On May 20, 2010, the Department of State published an interim final rule in the Federal Register to increase nonimmigrant visa application processing fees, also called the Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee, and Border Crossing Card (BCC) fees. The new fees, now in a tiered fee structure, are scheduled to go into effect on June 4, 2010. For more information, review the Press Release and visit our Fees for Visa Services webpage.

Proposal to Change Some Fees for Consular Services

On February 9, 2010, the Department of State announced a proposed rule to change the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services. To learn more, review our Press Release. To view the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register and submit comments, please go to www.regulations.gov.

This proposed rule to change fees is different than the Press Release regarding proposed increases for nonimmigrant visa application fees. That proposed rule was published on December 14, 2009 and the comment period ended on February 12, 2010.

Effective January 4, 2010 HIV Infection is Removed from the CDC List of Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance

On November 2, the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC), published a Final Rule in the Federal Register, titled Medical Examination of Aliens - Removal of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection from Definition of Communicable Disease of Public Health Significance (HIV Final Rule). This Final Rule amends Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 34, and will remove HIV infection from the list of communicable diseases of public health significance and remove references to HIV from the scope of medical examinations for foreign citizens seeking to travel to the United States. Review the CDC website guidance and Federal Register Final Rule which will go into effect January 4.

Therefore, starting January 4, 2010, HIV infection will no longer be an ineligibility when foreign citizens apply for a visa to travel to the United States. Additionally, HIV testing will no longer be required for medical examinations for visa purposes. Further, applicants who are HIV-positive will no longer require waiver processing by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Review the HIV Questions & Answers to learn more.