Applicants for U.S. Visa Do NOT Need to Leave Passport

APS Meeting with State Department

There have been many reported instances of physicists applying for a U.S. visa and being unable to travel for long periods because their passport is retained at the U.S. Consular Office while their visa application is processed.

Amy Flatten, Director of International Affairs for  APS, met with Tony Edson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services of the U.S. State Department, to discuss this problem. Mr. Edson clarified State Department visa application procedures.

• Consular Officers do not need to retain an applicant’s passport
  
  
• Applicants should feel free to ask for their passport instead of leaving it with the Consular Officer
  
  
• Requesting one’s passport will not delay visa processing
  
  
• Any delay would only involve the applicant transporting the passport back to the Consular Office (in person, via courier, etc.) to have the visa inserted

APS - State Department Email Exchange

Mr. Edson emphasized that an email exchange between him and Flatten to clarify these policies could be posted on the APS website. Applicants for a U.S. visa may find it useful to bring a copy of the exchange with them to their visa interview. In addition, Edson indicated that he would take steps to ensure Consular Officers were aware of these policies.


>>> "Edson, Tony A" <*****@state.gov> 10/25/2006 11:08 AM >>>

Amy:

Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight on this issue.  Of
course a passport must be submitted at the time of visa application, and we
will in many cases retain the passport for the duration of processing just
so that when any required clearances are completed we are prepared to
immediately visa and return the passport to the applicant.  This is not
necessary, however, and travelers should feel free to ask for their
passports back if their case is deferred for additional processing.  The
only, relatively minor inconvenience, will be the for applicants to return
their passports to the consular section once they are cleared so that the
visa can be issued.  No traveler should ever have to defer or miss travel
because we are holding their passport for visa issuance.  Please ask you
members to just ask.

Stephen A. "Tony" Edson
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Visa Services
Bureau of Consular Affairs
US Department of State



-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Flatten [mailto:flatten@aps.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 5:53 PM
To: *****@state.gov
Cc: irwin@aps.org; Rhonda M Clegg
Subject: Visa Application Policy


October 24, 2006


Dr. Amy K. Flatten
Director of International Affairs
The American Physical Society
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, Maryland 20740-3844


Mr. Stephen A. Edson
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520


Dear Mr. Edson,

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you last week.  As I
mentioned during our meeting, many members of the international physics
community would appreciate clarification regarding the need to leave
one's passport with the Consular Officer when applying for a visa to
travel to the United States.

As Director of International Affairs for the American Physical Society,
an organization representing over 45,000 physicists worldwide, I am
hearing of many instances where physicists are unable to travel for long
periods, since their passport is retained at the U.S. Consular Office
while their visa application is processed.  

As physics is an international endeavor, physicists must travel
extensively to attend conferences and participate in ongoing
collaborations with colleagues across the globe.  Any extended period
without a passport will create a professional hardship for most
physicists.  Consequently, your insights and guidance regarding this
concern would be most appreciated.

Thank you for your efforts.

Sincerely,

Amy K. Flatten