PIMS Verification Update
Posted Dec 28, 2007
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A recent U.S. Department of State (DOS) directive to U.S. consular posts now requires consulting an electronic record for visa issuance in nonimmigrant categories H, L, O, P, and Q. This was first reported to MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers in our December 7, 2007 article, PIMS Verification Required for Certain Nonimmigrant Visas. The verification of visa petition approvals is now carried out through the Petition Information Management Service, known as PIMS, even if a beneficiary takes an original I-797 approval notice to the interview. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) asked the DOS to clarify the purpose and the functioning of this directive. In response, the DOS provided this important information to AILA members.
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USCIS Must Send KCC Petition Approvals before Visa Issuance
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The new verification system requires that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) send information on all approved petitions requiring visa issuance to the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), which is part of the DOS. KCC scans and enters all pertinent information including Form I-129, employer support letter, and beneficiary's identification documents into PIMS. KCC also conducts database checks looking for fraud, violations, or other adverse history and records. A petition must be confirmed in PIMS by the U.S. consular post before issuance of the visa. The USCIS has not been transmitting petitions filed for change of status and extension of status to the KCC. Neither have all new petitions for consular processing been transmitted to KCC, resulting in delayed visa issuance to eligible applicants.
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Benefits Provided by New Verification System
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The DOS has indicated that most of the cases approved for visa processing are being entered into PIMS in a matter of hours. As a result of the new directive requiring multiple checks for fraud and other adverse information, the DOS is able to find forged and altered I-797 approval notices for companies that no longer exist or that never existed. In addition, if a visa applicant has neither an original nor copy of an approval notice and the information has been entered into PIMS, no such notice is required for visa issuance. While some posts still require original approval notices, the DOS is developing clear guidelines to eliminate this requirement.
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Negative Effects of New System
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Visa applicants whose information has not been entered into PIMS in a timely manner sometimes have to wait longer than the two days specified for visa issuance. There have been reports from individuals who have had to alter travel plans and arrangements to account for errors and delays in having all of their relevant information entered into PIMS. To remedy this problem, AILA has requested that the DOS provide a mechanism for notifying KCC directly to make sure that all the information on an approved petition is entered into the system before a beneficiary applies for a visa.
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Conclusion
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The DOS has indicated that it is willing to develop a mechanism to address any negative effects of the new requirement to verify petition approval information before issuing a visa in certain types of nonimmigrant petitions. MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers will be updated on this important matter when there are new developments.