The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has recently issued a final rule that eliminates 22 CFR §42.68, a provision that previously granted consular officers the authority to conduct informal evaluations of the family members of immigrant visa applicants. This change is scheduled to take effect on January 8, 2024, as published in the Federal Register (88 FR 85109, December 7, 2023). While this may sound like a significant alteration to the visa application process, it is essential to understand the implications and why it won’t directly affect immigrant visa applicants.
What Was 22 CFR §42.68?
Before delving into the implications of this rule change, let’s first understand what 22 CFR §42.68 entailed. This provision granted consular officers the authority to conduct informal evaluations of the family members of immigrant visa applicants to identify any potential grounds of ineligibility that might affect the visa applicant.
Implications for Immigrant Visa Applicants
If you are an immigrant visa applicant or have family members applying for immigrant visas, you might wonder how this rule change affects you. The good news is that the elimination of 22 CFR §42.68 is unlikely to directly impact your visa application process. This rule change moves towards streamlining and modernizing the visa application process.
Conclusion
The DOS final rule eliminating 22 CFR §42.68 is set to take effect on January 8, 2024, and marks a step towards simplifying the visa application process. This rule change will not directly affect immigrant visa applicants.
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