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ARTICLE · 20 SEPTEMBER 2023

State Department Testing Digital Visa Authorization To Replace Traditional Visa Foils

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart
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The U.S. Department of State recently announced that it is developing the capability to issue digital visa authorizations (DVA) instead of the traditional visas that are printed and placed in applicants' passports.

United StatesImmigration
Ashley Kerr
Ashley Kerr
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The U.S. Department of State recently announced that it is developing the capability to issue digital visa authorizations (DVA) instead of the traditional visas that are printed and placed in applicants' passports. This development would streamline the travel authorization process by automating the transfer of data from visa application, to airline verification, to border inspection, and U.S. admission. Following unprecedented backlogs for visa interviews at U.S. consulates in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DVA pilot program appears to be part of a broader effort to develop a secure system for the electronic issuance and validation of U.S. travel documents.

Quick Hits

  • The State Department is developing digital visa authorizations to replace traditional visas and conducting the proof of concept at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, Ireland.

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