Immigration Updates: May 29, 2023 – June 2, 2023

USCIS Changes Filing Location and Documentation Requirements for Certain Affirmative Asylum Applications Using Form I-589

Effective immediately, when you submit Form I-589, you no longer need to submit a passport-style photo, multiple copies of the form, or multiple copies of the supporting documentation. Learn more here.

Tashkent and Almaty Added as Processing Posts for Russian IR-5 Cases

Due to the suspension of immigrant visa services in Moscow, Russian nationals were designated as homeless nationals. The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw became the processing post for Russian nationals. However, restrictions in Poland and EU countries have caused difficulties in visa processing.

As of February 16, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent and the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty have been added as processing posts for Russian IR-5 immigrant visa applicants. Applicants should contact these posts for case transfers. The transfer is subject to approval.

For applicants in the IR-5 category who haven’t been scheduled for an interview, their cases will be automatically reassigned from Warsaw to Tashkent or Almaty for processing. For applicants whose I-130 has been approved and are still designated to Warsaw, inquiries should be submitted to the National Visa Center (NVC) for a transfer request.

IR-5 applicants who have already been scheduled for an interview in Warsaw should directly contact Tashkent or Almaty for a case transfer. Approval from the alternate post should be forwarded to Warsaw for the transfer to take place. It’s important to note that this announcement only applies to IR-5 cases. Other visa categories and nonimmigrant visas are not affected. The Department of State is actively seeking ways to accommodate Russian applicants and is evaluating further expansion of visa services. For student visa applicants in Russia, alternative posts include Mission Kazakhstan, U.S. Embassy Belgrade, and U.S. Embassy Yerevan. The DOS Liaison Committee will provide updates on the situation.