Effective January 8, 2024, the Department of State (DOS) is amending its immigrant visa regulations by removing the section allowing a consular officer to conduct an informal evaluation of the family members of an immigrant visa applicant to identify potential grounds of ineligibility.
DOS explained that the existing regulation was promulgated in 1952, when a consular officer could more readily assess a family member's potential qualification for a visa without a formal visa application. "Assessing eligibility for an immigrant visa is now a more complex task and not one which can be accomplished accurately with an informal evaluation," DOS said.
Details:
- DOS Final Rule, 88 Fed. Reg. 85109 (Dec. 7, 2023).
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
