On June 16^th, the Waiver Review Branch of the State Department sent a memorandum to the health department J-1 waiver coordinators in all the states informing them that the Conrad J-1 waiver program had sunset. On Friday, June 18, 2004, the State Department retracted the erroneous memorandum and issued a correction. The corrected memorandum affirms that a foreign medical graduate (FMG) is eligible for a J-1 Conrad waiver if the FMG acquired J-1 status by or before May 31, 2004.

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“Drop box” processing of nonimmigrant visas by the U.S. Consulates in India is ending, according to a notice received by some companies from the U.S. Consulate in Chennai, India according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.  The last day for the NIV drop-box in Chennai will be June 30, 2004.  As of July 16, all non-immigrant visa applications in Chennai will require an appointment for a personal interview with a consular officer.

The notice states that the reason for ending the drop-box facility is that beginning in July 2004, U.S. consular sections in India will start electronically collecting biometric data from all visa applicants, except those traveling on official government business or who are under age 14 or over age 79.

The notice stated a press release would come out soon outlining the details.

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A Texas woman pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to operate a marriage fraud ring that recruited people primarily from Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria.   According to the Houston Chronicle, Emma Guyton admitted to both recruiting four U.S. citizens willing to enter into bogus marriages with foreign nationals seeking green cards, and to getting involved in a conspiracy to arrange more than 200 sham marriages.  She paid each U.S. citizen $150 to $300 from fees that ranged from $1,500 to $5,000.  Guyton faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison without parole and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced in September.

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More than 16,000 people will become citizens during special 4^th of July naturalization ceremonies.  The ceremonies will be held at locations across the U.S., and will also be celebrating the nation’s 228^th birthday.