November 5, 2003

DOS Visa Revalidation Denied For Some Nationals and/or Citizens From the List of 26 Countries

Although no written policy has been issued by the Department of State (DOS), it appears that there are important and unpublished changes to the Revalidation program. GT has been receiving revalidation denials with broad language stating that there is not enough information to issue a new visa. Passports are returned without visas issued for individuals who are nationals and/or citizens of the list of 26 countries. These include the following: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon , Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. DOS again has not issued a formal policy stating they will not accept applications from the list of 26 countries. However, a pattern of denials of applications from nationals of these countries appears to be forming.

However, the State Department has formally confirmed that it will not process any visa revalidation application from an applicant who is a national and/or citizen of one of the seven countries that have been designated as state sponsors or terrorism. These are: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Sudan.

The State Department is taking between 10-12 weeks to process revalidations from the time that the application is received and entered into the database at the Visa Office in Washington, D.C. Apparently, it takes up to four weeks to enter such information, making the entire process one which can take up to 18 weeks or longer.

GT will provide updated information on this issue as it arises.