DOS

All U.S. consulates and embassies will soon require nonimmigrant visa applicants to use Form DS-160, the Department of State’s fully electronic nonimmigrant visa application, instead of Form DS-156, the paper-based application. Form DS-160 has been in use at selected U.S. diplomatic posts for some time, but the State Department announced late last year that all U.S. posts will require the online form by April 30, 2010 at the latest. Many posts have already adopted the form, and more will begin to require it as April 30 approaches.

[Federal Register: December 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 245)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 68200-68208]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23de09-23]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 62

[Public Notice: 6853]

RIN 1400-AC56

Exchange Visitor Program--Secondary School Students

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comment.

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Q: Why has it taken the United States so long to implement changes for non-U.S. citizens who are HIV-positive to visit or live in the United States?

On December 14, 2009, the Department of State published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to increase the nonimmigrant visa application processing fees, also called the Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee, and Border Crossing Card (BCC) fees. The proposed rule also establishes a tiered structure with separate fees for different visa categories. 

Nonimmigrant visa application to be available via web-based by April 30, 2010.

DOS Bureau of Consular Affairs announced that it will deploy the DS-160 fully web-based nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application form worldwide. Complete global usage of DS-160 for all NIVS except K’s is expected by 04/30/10. DS-160 replaces the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF).

[Federal Register: November 25, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 226)]
[Rules and Regulations]              
[Page 61517-61524]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25no09-9]                        

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The Department of Homeland Security headquarters seeks motivated students looking to contribute their unique insight, skills and talents to support the important mission of securing the homeland.

Our headquarters offices offer paid summer internship opportunities for full-time and part-time college or university students.

 Washington, DC

On August 14, 2009, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas approved the Settlement Agreement in Castelano, et al. v. Clinton, et al. This settlement may affect individuals whose births were registered by a midwife or birth attendant in Texas and who applied for a U.S. passport in the United States between April 8, 2003 and August 14, 2009, and did not receive a passport.

In the first week of the 2011 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV‐2011), applicants from around the world submitted over 900,000 entries—a 63 percent increase over the same period last year.  More than 13,000,000 entries are expected before the registration period ends.