9 FAM 504.8

9 FAM 504.8 (U) IMMIGRANT VISA CLEARANCES (CT:VISA-2074; 09-18-2024) (Office of Origin: CA/VO) 9 fam 504.8-1 (U) Statutory and Regulatory Authorities .8-1(A) (U) Immigration and Nationality Act (CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015) (U) INA 105(b) (8 U.S.C. 1105(b ; INA 222(a) (8 U.S.C. 1202(a ; INA 222(e) (8 U.S.C. 1202(e . .8-1(B) (U) Code of Federal Regulations (CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015) (U) 22 CFR 42.62; 22 CFR 42.63; 22 CFR 42.67. .8-2 (U) “Clearance” Defined (CT:VISA-1410; 11-03-2021) Unavailable .8-3 (U) Clearing Immigrant Visa Applicants (CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015) a. (U) Upon Electronic Submission of Form DS-260, Online Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration: (1) (U) You must initiate all appropriate clearances called for in 9 FAM 303 ; (2) (U) You must send instructions for accessing Form DS-260 to derivative applicants along with the interview appointment letter and medical forms. (See .4-2(C) paragraph c.); and (3) (U) Also, see .4-5 for additional discussion of determination that an applicant is documentarily qualified. b. (U) Visa Lookout Accountability (VLA) responsibility applies to IVs and NIVs. The adjudicating officer (the officer who approves the visa for issuance in the system) is responsible for conducting as complete a clearance as is necessary to establish the eligibility of an applicant to receive a visa. See 9 FAM 307 for additional information on VLA issues. .8-3(A) Unavailable (CT:VISA-1673; 12-21-2022) Unavailable .8-3(B) Unavailable (CT:VISA-1076; 05-06-2020) a. Unavailable (1) Unavailable (2) (U) 9 FAM 304.5 , Special Clearance and Issuance Procedures, specifically requires a clearance of applicants from that country. b. (U) In every case, you must make an entry in the IVO system to show the date and type of background check initiated and the date and result of completion. .8-3(C) (U) Biometric Clearances .8-3(C)(1) (U) Facial Recognition Screening (CT:VISA-48; 02-19-2016) Unavailable .8-3(C)(2) (U) Fingerprint Requirement (CT:VISA-48; 02-19-2016) (U) See 9 FAM 303.7 for fingerprinting requirements. .8-3(C)(3) Unavailable (CT:VISA-2074; 09-18-2024) Unavailable .8-3(D) (U) U.S. Criminal Records Checks (CT:VISA-1673; 12-21-2022) Unavailable (1) Unavailable (2) Unavailable .8-3(E) Unavailable (CT:VISA-1410; 11-03-2021) Unavailable .8-4 Unavailable (CT:VISA-1076; 05-06-2020) Unavailable