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ARTICLE · 28 NOVEMBER 2023

State Department Extending Visa Validity For Certain Nationalities

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The State Department has recently extended the validity of certain visas for citizens of France, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cuba.

United StatesImmigration
Carl C. Risch
Carl C. Risch
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The State Department has recently extended the validity of certain visas for citizens of France, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cuba. This trend may signal an effort is underway to adjust visa validity periods for other nationalities and visa types. Travelers are advised to monitor the State Department's website for announced changes.

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires the State Department, insofar as practicable, to "accord to such nationals the same treatment upon a reciprocal basis as such foreign country accords to nationals of the United States who are within a similar class." INA 221(c), 8 USC section 1201(c). Accordingly, when determining the maximum validity periods for the different visa types for citizens of each country in the world, the State Department is required by law to match, whenever practicable, the validity periods provided to U.S. citizens by each country. For example, the Government of India permits the issuance

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