US Plans to Change Visa Issuance System

The United States is preparing to change its visa issuance system, as visas will no longer be paper-based. This is reported by Business Standard, citing information from gazeta.ru.

It has been noted that the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has decided to abandon the issuance of paper visas attached to travelers' passports and has announced the launch of a digital visa authorization system (DVA). This decision follows the results of an experiment conducted at the American Embassy in Dublin.

According to Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services Julie Stasft, individuals will need an app or another means to demonstrate their visa status without a physical document in their passport. It has been clarified that the process for obtaining entry authorization will remain the same.

Experts indicate that this does not abolish the interview process at diplomatic missions.

Previously, UK Home Secretary James Cleverly stated that the department would tighten the rules for obtaining entry visas and work permits to reduce the annual legal immigration flow to the Kingdom by 300,000 people.