Impact of New Security Procedures on Visa Application & Revalidation Procedures Special Processing Requirements (SPR) on Visa Issuance for Men from Listed Countries; Suspension & Reinstatement of Visa Processing for “Third Country Nationals” in Canada or Mexico; Longer Waits for Revalidation of Visas By Mail

Special Processing Requirements

The U.S. Department of State has imposed Special Processing Requirements ("SPR") on the process of issuing visas to persons from certain nationalities post September 11, for security reasons.  Under the SPR, males between the ages of 16 to 45, who are nationals of certain countries, are now subject to a 20-day security check wait before their visas are issued.  This procedure is not unprecedented. (For example, certain Iranians have been subject to a Visas Eagle check, which is now only valid on a per visa entry basis and takes 30 days.)  However, now there is a much greater possibility that one of your employees may be affected.

Though the State Department has not officially acknowledged that the new procedures have been implemented, the 20 day check allegedly applies to the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.  There have been some reports of females being subject to these requirements as well as other countries such as Bangladesh, but it is not clear if such rumors are based on the misapplication or application of this procedure.  Please note that this list could also change.  Please also note you cannot rely on the newspaper articles for accuracy as to the countries impacted by this policy.  Some countries may be inaccurately listed or others inadvertently omitted.

In sum:  These security measures may impact the ability of certain employees to quickly obtain visas to enter the U.S.  Your employees may wish to take this into account if they need visas to re-enter the U.S. after travel abroad on business or pleasure.

Suspension & Reinstatement of Visa Processing for “Third Country Nationals” in Canada or Mexico

Normally, a foreign person is expected to apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate in his or her home country.  However, a consulate in another country can agree to accept a visa application from a “third country national.”  (Third country refers to the fact that the applicant is not from the country where the consulate is located, or from the U.S., but is from a “third country.”)  For some time now, “t