DOS Can Reissue O and P Visas in the U.S.
Posted Mar 18, 2001

On February 28, 2001, the Department of State (DOS) issued a regulation adding O and P visas to the types of non-immigrant visas that can be reissued in the U.S. The other types of visas for which this process is available are E, H, I, and L visas.

As many readers of the MurthyBulletin are aware, while generally visas can only be issued by a Consulate abroad, it is sometimes possible to have certain types of non-immigrant visas reissued in the U.S. This process, also known as revalidation, is available when the person has previously been issued a visa in the same category and either the visa stamp will expire within 60 days or the visa stamp expired no more than one year prior. For more information, consult the article on visa reissuance in the U.S. entitled H1B : Reissue - Revalidate from the U.S. That article provides the address for submission of the application and also indicates the items to enclose. Though the article specifically discusses H1B visas, the items to enclose are similar for the other categories as mentioned below.

Please note that reissuance of a visa by the DOS does not in any way extend a person's status. The expiration date of a nonimmigrant status in the U.S. is indicated on the latest I-94 card issued by INS. The visa stamp is simply a document to facilitate re-entry to the U.S. after foreign travel.