Reports of visa processing delays caused by the Department of State’s (DOS) implementation of the Petition Information Management Service (PIMS) at U.S. Consulates worldwide continue. Last November, DOS began requiring a PIMS verification before any petition-based nonimmigrant visa (e.g., H-1B, L-1) could be issued. As PIMS lacked complete data on all petition approvals, delays in visa issuance resulted and PIMS problems continue to linger. On March 21, 2008, USCIS and DOS reached an agreement regarding amendment, extension of stay and change of status petitions that will hopefully reduce visa processing problems, though visa applicants still need to be prepared for potential delays. For more information, visit the firm’s immigration website (www.visatrax.com).
Note: This article was published in the May 2008 issue of the Immigration eAuthority.
