{"id":"SEC-20-013","kind":"order","level":"federal","jurisdiction":"United States","state":"","metro":"","industry":"20","agency":"","eco":"","issuer":"Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs","authority":"INA sec. 222(h); 22 CFR 41.102 (interview waiver authority)","instrument":"Important Announcement on H2 Visas","title":"Important Announcement on H2 Visas (Last Updated March 26, 2020)","dateIssued":"2020-03-26","effective":"2020-03-26","end":"interview-waiver expansions extended through 2021 and 2022","startDate":"2020-03-26","endDate":"2021-09-30","quarters":["2020Q2","2020Q3","2020Q4","2021Q1","2021Q2","2021Q3"],"types":["TRAV"],"addressees":["H-2A and H-2B applicants; consular officers"],"clause":"the Department of State temporarily suspended routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates as of March 20, 2020... The H-2 program is essential to the economy and food security of the United States and is a national security priority. Therefore, we intend to continue processing H-2 cases as much as possible, as permitted by post resources and local government restrictions.... Consular officers can, if they so choose, now waive the visa interview requirement for first-time and returning H-2 applicants who have no apparent ineligibility","enforcement":"Administrative","functions":["LB (processing \u0027as permitted by post resources and local government restrictions\u0027)","FP","HR"],"notes":"The Government\u0027s own statement that H-2 processing was constrained by post resources and foreign restrictions.","sourceUrl":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-announcement-on-h2-visas.html","snapshot":"http://web.archive.org/web/20200401205331/https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-announcement-on-h2-visas.html","fileExists":true,"fileBytes":229119,"grade":"primary","character":"","description":"","collection":"SEC-20","url":"/library/SEC-20-013","exhibitUrl":"/exhibit/SEC-20-013","citation":"Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Important Announcement on H2 Visas (Mar. 26, 2020) (Ex. SEC-20-013)","stateName":"","related":["SEC-20-012"]}