Scripps Research Logo

International Office

Latest Immigration News Button

Contents

Travel Alert to Mexico
Worldwide Deployment of the DS-160
Diversity Visa Lottery
USCIS Creates Page for 2012 Fiscal Year H-1B Petition Season
ESTA for Visa Waiver
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the TN Visa

Travel Alert to Mexico

February 8, 2012

The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens about the security situation in Mexico.  This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Mexico dated April 22, 2011 to consolidate and update information about the security situation and to advise the public of additional restrictions on the travel of U.S. government (USG) personnel.

Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day. The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) have targeted U.S. visitors and residents based on their nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes.

Nevertheless, U.S. travelers should be aware that the Mexican government has been engaged in an extensive effort to counter TCOs which engage in narcotics trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout Mexico. The TCOs themselves are engaged in a violent struggle to control drug trafficking routes and other criminal activity. As a result, crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country and can occur anywhere. U.S. citizens have fallen victim to TCO activity, including homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking and highway robbery.

According to the most recent homicide figures published by the Mexican government, 47,515 people were killed in narcotics-related violence in Mexico between December 1, 2006 and September 30, 2011, with 12,903 narcotics-related homicides in the first nine months of 2011 alone. While most of those killed in narcotics-related violence have been members of TCOs, innocent persons have also been killed. The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico increased from 35 in 2007 to 120 in 2011.

It is imperative that you understand the risks involved in travel to Mexico and how best to avoid dangerous situations. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where criminal activity might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.

» Please read the full alert for more information.


Worldwide Deployment of the DS-160

http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/telegrams/telegrams_4601.html

Reference Document: STATE 121866, 11/09

1.  Summary.  As another step in our ongoing modernization of the visa application process, CA will deploy the DS-160 fully web-based nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application form worldwide.  The DS-160 has been used with great success at 24 posts so far and will be expanded in phases with the goal of complete global usage for all NIVS except K’s by April 30, 2010.  The DS-160 replaces the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF).  Paragraph 5 lists first-phase posts and directs consular section managers to contact the Visa Office's Post Liaison Division (CA/VO/F/P) to inform their respective liaison officers of their planned DS-160 implementation dates.  Separate messages will cover the details of employing the web-based form at posts; lessons learned from pilot posts including impacts on workflow and work requirements (particularly for locally engaged staff (LES); fraud prevention potential for web-based forms; and the DS-260 web-based immigrant visa (IV) application.  End Summary.

-------------------------------
THE FUTURE OF VISA APPLICATIONS
-------------------------------

2.  The web-based DS-160 application form, the first component or module of the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC), will provide users with the ability to review NIV application data before a visa applicant physically appears for an interview.  The current DS-160 pilots have already provided feedback on the importance of collecting complete and accurate data prior to the interview.

3.  The DS-160 application form combines all information previously collected on the DS-156, 157, and 158 for appropriate applicants, and the DS-3052.  Applicants for "E" class treaty trader NIVs will complete the DS-160 and have to fill out a hard copy DS-156E until the DS-160E electronic form is fielded in the near future. Until further notice, K visa applicants should continue to use the DS-156 and DS-156K instead of the DS-160.

--------
TIMELINE
--------

4.  Our goal is to replace completely the EVAF application with the DS-160 no later than April 30, 2010.  This will be done in two main phases.  First phase posts are listed in paragraph five and must adopt the DS-160 prior to March 1, 2010, for all applicants, with the exception of K’s.  All remaining posts not listed below should implement the DS-160 between March 1, and April 30, 2010 for all applicants, with the exception of Ks.  VO has posted a checklist on CAWeb to prepare for CEAC implementation.  Consular section managers should consult CAWeb information and contact their CA/VO/F/P liaison to advise when they plan to implement the DS-160.  CEAC instruction is available on the Consular Application Training Center website as part of NIV 04.06.00 training [redacted].  Experience from the pilot program demonstrated that most posts can make the DS-160 transition in a matter of weeks, rather than months.

5.  While the target completion date is still five months away, we face a technical challenge in meeting our deployment goal.  This involves development and testing of new foreign language translations.  CST requires 64 hours of development time to deploy a new translation of the DS-160 at a cost of $8,000 per language, which limits how quickly the DS-160 can be deployed to posts where English is not widely spoken.On October 29, CA approved translation of 22 languages. VO will monitor this process carefully and will request additional funding and resources if necessary to avoid implementation delays.

6.  CA systems can support the world-wide use of the DS-160 within the time frame established by VO.  Sometime between March and May 2010, CST anticipates an even greater level of system reliability as the new data center, ESOC East, comes on line.  In order for the CEAC system to perform at full capacity, IRM needs to deploy a systems security infrastructure known as a DMZ at the new data center.  IRM estimates completing this project sometime in the April/May, 2010 time frame.  We will continue to keep posts updated on the progress of this effort.

7. Posts listed below have been identified as priority posts to implement the DS-160.  These posts must use the DS-160 no later than March 1, 2010:

Algiers, Algeria
Vienna, Austria
Manama, Bahrain
Minsk, Belarus
Beijing, China
Chengdu, China
Guangzhou, China
Shanghai, China
Shenyang, China
Havana, Cuba
Djibouti, Djibouti
Cairo, Egypt
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Paris, France
Frankfurt, Germany
Chennai, India
Hyderabad, India
Kolkata, India
Mumbai, India
Delhi, India
Jakarta, Indonesia
Surabaya, Indonesia
Tel Aviv, Israel
Jerusalem
Amman, Jordan
Nairobi, Kenya
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Casablanca, Morocco
Muscat, Oman
Islamabad, Pakistan
Karachi, Pakistan
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Singapore, Singapore
Khartoum, Sudan
Damascus, Syria
Taiwan, Taiwan
Kyiv, Ukraine
Dubai, UAE
Abu Dhabi, UAE
London, United Kingdom
Caracas, Venezuela
Sana'a, Yemen

Posts not listed above must implement CEAC between March 1 and April 30, 2010.  Any post which anticipates difficulty in meeting the proposed schedule should contact the appropriate liaison officer in CA/VO/F/P as soon as possible.

8.  We strongly encourage posts to consider an outreach plan to advise applicants and other stakeholders of the CEAC implementation.  Talking points, press guidance, and sample Powerpoint presentations are available on CA/P's intranet website [redacted]. DS-160 Worldwide Roll-Out megatalker is posted on CA Web [redacted]. Should you have any questions or need any ideas about outreach, please contact CA/P [redacted].  We also welcome any feedback on successful outreach activities you conduct.

9.  For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about CEAC and to explore the DS-160 Consular Consolidated Database (CCD) reports to see what the new online form looks like, please use the following Internet link: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/forms/forms_1342.html.  This is a live link, so do not submit a test application using this form. For technical questions about the DS-160 and the CCD report, contact the CA Support Desk. For specific questions about the program contact your post's CA/VO/F/P officer.

Diversity Visa Lottery (Green Card Lottery)

DV Lottery 2013 - Registration Opens October 4, 2011

DV Lottery Program Information

DV-2012 Entrant Status Check

2011 Results (By Country)

Each year, the State Department conducts a Diversity Visa Lottery ("green card lottery").  Individuals selected in the lottery are eligible to submit an application for permanent residence.  Foreign nationals enter the lottery by completing an online application at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov, the State Department's official lottery website.  Applications must be submitted during the designated application period in the fall.  There is no fee for the application. After the application period closes, the State Department conducts a lottery to randomly select the individuals who will be able to file a green card application for the following fiscal year.  The State Department notifies lottery winners between May and July following the fall application period.  Winners are notified directly by U.S. mail from the State Department's Kentucky Consular Center.  Applicants can also check the status of their lottery entry at the official lottery website.

Foreign nationals should be aware that the State Department does not use or authorize any outside individual or entity to accept lottery applications or operate the Diversity Visa Lottery program. Unfortunately, fraud in connection with the lottery is common. Unscrupulous individuals set up fraudulent websites that pose as official government sites or that purport to be authorized by the State Department to accept lottery applications, sometimes for very high fees. These individuals may also send e-mails, faxes or letters to foreign nationals, falsely claiming that the recipient has been selected in the lottery and requesting the recipient to send personal information and money.

Foreign nationals who have entered or plan to enter the lottery should take precautions to avoid becoming the victims of fraud. Though applicants may seek legal counsel or other assistance in preparing their applications, they should be wary of commercial websites that purport to register applicants in advance of the official lottery period or any individual or entity that claims to be authorized by the State Department.  Foreign nationals should also be wary of any communication that is not sent directly from the State Department or that looks suspect in any way.  No fees or personal information should be sent to a questionable individual or entity. See http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt003.shtm for detailed information on Diversity Visa Lottery fraud from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Diversity Visa Lottery Registration Opens on October 4
September 16, 2011

Executive Summary
Online registrations for the next Diversity Visa lottery are due by noon EDT on November 5, 2011. Applicants need to follow the State Department’s official instructions carefully to avoid being disqualified. 

The registration period for the FY 2013 Diversity Visa lottery will open on October 4, 2011 at noon EDT. Foreign nationals will have until November 5, 2011 at noon EDT to submit their online registration forms and accompanying photographs.

The State Department makes 50,000 immigrant visas available each fiscal year through the DV lottery. Foreign nationals selected in this year’s lottery will be eligible to submit a green card application during the 2013 fiscal year.

Though the lottery continues this year, there is a legislative effort to abolish it. In July, the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would end the program. The Senate has not indicated whether it will take up the bill.

Who Is Eligible to Enter the Lottery?

The DV lottery is open to natives of countries that have historically low rates of immigration to the United States. Entrants must also have a high school education (or equivalent) or at least two years of qualifying work experience.

Individuals from countries with high rates of U.S. immigration are not eligible to register. This year, natives of the following countries are ineligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Bangladesh, which was an eligible country in previous years, is no longer because its rate of U.S. immigration has exceeded the limit for the program.

People born in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can participate. Unlike last year, natives of Poland and South Sudan can also register for the FY 2013 lottery.

People who cannot register because of their country of birth may be able to qualify through a spouse who was born in an eligible country or, in certain circumstances, through a parent’s country of birth.

Registering for the Lottery

To register, a foreign national must submit an online form and a digital photo through the official DV lottery website. Only one entry is permitted per person. If there are multiple registrations on behalf of one person, all of them are disqualified.

Applicants must carefully follow the State Department’s official lottery instructions. Lottery entries and digital photos that do not precisely conform to the instructions will be disqualified.

How Are Lottery Winners Chosen and Notified?

The State Department chooses lottery winners by random computer selection. Results will be available starting May 1, 2012 on the official DV lottery entry status website.

Foreign nationals can find out whether they were selected only by visiting the official website and entering their registration number. The State Department does not notify entrants by letter, e-mail, fax or telephone. The official website is the only legitimate source of information about lottery results.

Guarding Against Lottery Fraud

Unfortunately, DV lottery fraud is very common. However, foreign nationals can and should take a few precautions to protect themselves.

» Look out for deceptive lottery websites. The only authorized DV lottery website is http://www.dvlottery.state.gov. The State Department does not use or authorize any outside individual or company to accept lottery applications or operate the lottery. But websites posing as official government sites or claiming to have State Department authorization abound. They should be avoided.

» The State Department does not charge a fee for lottery registrations. A website, individual or company claiming there is a government fee to enter the lottery is fraudulent.

» If lottery assistance is needed, seek competent advice. Though applicants may use a lawyer or other representative to prepare a lottery registration, they should be wary of commercial websites that claim to register applicants outside of the registration period or purport to be authorized by the State Department to accept registrations for a fee.

» Beware of lottery e-mails, letters or faxes that claim to be from the State Department. The State Department does not send e-mails, letters or faxes about the DV lottery. The official website is the only legitimate source of information about lottery results and the only place to submit a lottery registration.

» Be skeptical of any communication claiming a foreign national has won the DV lottery when he or she did not register, or registered in a previous year.

» Avoid sending money or personal information to questionable individuals or companies.

» Learn more about DV lottery fraud by visiting the websites of the State Department and the Federal Trade Commission.

 

USCIS Creates Page for 2012 Fiscal Year H-1B Petition Season

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has created a page on their website to provide updates on the 2012 H-1B filing season which began on April 1, 2011.

» Read here for the latest updates

 

ESTA for Visa Waiver Program

Effective January 12, 2009, citizens or nationals from ALL Visa Waiver Program countries will be required to obtain an approved travel authorization via ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) in order to be eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. In order to apply for an ESTA, travelers must go to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/, follow the instructions to answer all of the required questions, and submit an application for travel authorization. Travelers will not be able to submit ESTA applications at a U.S. port of entry or a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding TN Visa

The USCIS has announced an increased period of stay for trade NAFTA professional workers from Canada or Mexico. More information can be found at this link.