DOS extends 'Visas Mantis' clearance to 12 monthsOn October 7, 2003 the U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued a cable revising the Visas Mantis clearance procedure to extend the validity of all Mantis clearances to 12 months, provided the conditions

CRS report on 'Visa Policy Roles of the Departments of State and Homeland Security'A March 4, 2004 report compiled by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) discusses the division of immigration functions between DHS and DOS, and identifies current issues in

This 2005 DOS cable discusses the most common “hits” that occur in CLASS namechecks.

DOS no longer does stateside revalidation of C, E, H, I, L, O, P visas after July 16, 2004.

DOS announces its compliance with biometric visa requirementsThe Biometric Visa Program, which began as a pilot on September 22, 2003, became permanent on October 24, 2004 the DOS announced in a December 30, 2004 Federal Register notice. DOS now only

DOS cable on longer Mantis clearances for F, J, L, H, and B visasA February 11, 2005 DOS cable communicates the change in policy that allows consular officers to grant longer validity to Visas Mantis security clearances for F, J,

February 9, 2006 DOS cable instructs consular posts that persons applying for initial-entry F-1, F-2, M-1, and M-2 visas may be issued these visas up to 120 days before the program start date as listed on their I-20s. However, new F and M students can still not be admitted to the United States

2006 DOS Student Visa CableThe Department of State's annual “student visa cable,” sent to consular posts on May 3, 2006, reviews prior guidance on student visa issuance.

DOS Discontinues Use of Application Received StampA January 13, 2007 DOS cable notified consular posts to discontinue the practice of indicating nonimmigrant visa refusals with an "Application Received" stamp placed in the passport. This stamp was used to alert other