Week: February 17 - 21, 2025
In this week's newsletter, the Department of State has updated the categories of applicants eligible for a nonimmigrant visa interview waiver and announced that the department will no longer issue U.S. passports or CRBAs with an “X” marker for a person's sex.
Also, the Department of Homeland Security moves to rescind Haiti’s extended TPS designation, the Canadian government announced two new pilot programs to help rural and Francophone minority communities and Japanese authorities?announced?mandatory tuberculosis screenings for nationals of certain countries.
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DOS has updated the categories of applicants eligible for a nonimmigrant visa interview waiver, superseding the Dec. 21, 2023, interview waiver update.
DHS moves to rescind Haiti’s extended TPS, shortening the extension period from 18 months to 12 months, with a new end date of Aug. 3, 2025.
The Department of Labor reported H-2B visa processing times as of February 13, 2025.
DOS provided guidance on the use of sex markers stipulating that the department will no longer issue U.S. passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBAs) with an “X” marker.