US VISA REGULATIONS
FYI
US VISA REGULATIONS
By Ambassador Robert D. Blackwill
> A message from CONSMDRINFO-IN (information ListServ from the U.S.
Consulate
> in Chennai, India). Ambassador Robert D. Blackwill addresses Indians\'
> concerns over proposed U.S. visa regulations in a May 2, 2002 eMail
message.
>
> Close ties bind India and the United States. There are about two million
> people of Indian origin in America. They are US citizens, participants in
> American commerce, students at university or visitors. It is because of
> this constant interchange that there has been keen interest in the
proposed
> new visa regulations by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS).
>
> Despite much coverage in the media, some misconceptions about the INS
> proposals exist. I hope I can put many people\'s minds at ease: the vast
> majority of visitors from India to the United States will experience no
> disruption to their travel because of the proposed new regulations. Let
me
> tell you why:
>
> First, there will be no changes in the way visas are issued by the US
> Embassy and Consulates in India. Visa applicants will still use our
> appointment system and courier pass-back services to receive their visas
> before traveling to the United States. And the long lines for visas are a
> thing of the past.
>
> Second, the proposals will not reduce the number of visas granted to
> Indians. Some two thirds of all applicants from India are granted
visas --
> over 300,000 last year -- and travel between the United States and India
> seems certain to grow further in coming years. Americans certainly
welcome
> this trend.
>
> Third, immigrant visas, the permanent Green Card work permit and the
> temporary H1B visa work permit will not be affected.
>
> Two changes to INS visa regulations may affect Indians seeking US visas.
One
> change has already occurred, and approval of the other is pending. The INS
> has implemented a procedure that will limit student visa adjustments
within
> the US, but will not affect legitimate student visa applicants applying
> abroad. In the past, foreign students could visit the US on a tourist
visa
> and, while in the United States, could apply to change from a tourist
(B-2)
> to a student visa (F-1). This is no longer allowed. Indians wishing to
> study in America should have their student visas issued in their country
of
> residence before they go to the United States. This will not affect a
> person\'s ability to study at his or her chosen university.
>
> In its continuing effort to enhance national security and strengthen
> immigration controls in the United States, the INS has proposed modifying
> the current admission period for B-1/B-2 non-immigrant visitors. In the
> past, the INS allowed most visitors a six-month stay in the US, regardless
> of the time they required. Now, the INS proposes to base the admission
> period on the amount of time the visitor requests in order to accomplish
the
> purpose of his or her trip. This modification has been wrongly described
as
> allowing visitors "only" a thirty-day visit to the US. That is not
> accurate.
>
> If this change of rule is accepted, the INS inspector at the port of entry
> in the United States would ask all visitors how much time they require to
> complete their visit. If a visitor does not request more than thirty days
> in the US, then he or she would generally be granted a stay of 30 days.
If
> the visitor needs more than thirty days, the longer period would normally
be
> approved.
>
> In addition to these two INS regulations, the Senate has approved
> legislation (still to be passed by the House of Representatives and signed
> into law by the President) that would require universities to notify the
INS
> of individuals who have entered the country claiming to be students but
who,
> in fact, have not pursued their course of study. This legislation would
not
> affect genuine students, but should help the INS find those who would use
> the liberal US visa system to enter America for illegal purposes.
>
> I believe these changes strike the appropriate balance between INS\'s
mission
> to stop illegal immigration, and our desire to welcome legitimate visitors
> to the United States. Indians and Americans of Indian origin play an
> increasingly important part in American life. President Bush welcomes
this.
So do I.
