Visa Re-Issuance Update from U.S. Department of State
Posted Nov 20, 1999

As readers of The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. Bulletin are aware, it is often possible to reissue (formerly "revalidate") certain types of nonimmigrant visas by sending the passport, visa application and supporting documentation to the U.S. Department of State Visa Office ("VO") in Washington DC. Only the following visa categories are eligible: A, G, NATO, E, H, I, L, O and P. The procedure and details to reissue the H1B multiple entry visa stamp in the passport, for whose who have previously been issued the visa, are available at our website located at website.

In an October 25, 1999 meeting with representatives of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), VO officials indicated that the current average processing time for visa re-issuance is at least eight (8) weeks. This processing time varies over the course of the year and, as would be expected, slows down during peak travel seasons. VO reports that it is making efforts to eliminate its backlog. While VO will no longer expedite cases, when an applicant has an urgent need to travel, it has always been possible to request VO to immediately return the passport (without having the visa issued) so the person can travel abroad immediately. In such cases, the applicant would then have to apply for the visa at the consulate abroad in the usual manner, if the visa stamp has expired.

A visa can generally be reissued if the visa stamp will expire in 2 months or if the visa stamp in the passport has expired within the past 1 year. Most other categories or visa applicants like the full time students on F-1 or J-1 status whose visas will expire or have expired have to apply for the visa stamp at a consular post outside the U.S.