USIA’s Waiver Review Branch Relocates to the Visa Office
On October 1, 1999, the United States Information Agency (USIA) was integrated into the Department of State. The former USIA Waiver Review Branch of the Office of the General Counsel is now the Waiver Review Division of the Office of Legislation, Regulation and Advisory Assistance in the Visa Office of the Bureau of Consular Affairs. This Division reviews applications for waivers of Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of the two-year foreign residency requirement pertaining to individuals who are in the United States on J-1 exchange visitor visas. The Division then makes recommendations to the Immigration and Naturalization Service concerning such waivers.