The Department of State has issued a cable advising consular posts on the procedures for handling Iraqi non-immigrant visa applications.
Consular officers are first advised that they need to determine that an applicant is otherwise eligible for a visa. If this requirement is met, than the consular officer is required in most cases to submit a request for clearance from the Department of State in Washington. In cases where an applicant is over age 16 and coming to the US in a non-official capacity and the applicant is a member of one of the following classes, then the clearance will normally be issued in 30 days:
- applicants for student visas
- present or formet members of the Iraqi Baath Party
- present or former members of the Iraqi government
- present or former member of the Iraqi military.
Such clearances are valid for two years. Clearances are only expedited in cases of a medical emergencyor a compelling US government interest.
For applicants over age 16 who are applying for A, C-3 and G visas or who are coming to work in a diplomatic capacity for the Iraqi government or as a household employee of an Iraqi A or G visa holder (regardless of the nationality of the employee), then 15 days is the normal turnaround time on the clearance.
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