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9 FAM 601.8��3
NONIMMIGRANT VISA REFERRAL PROCEDURES


9 FAM 601.8��3(A)
Overview

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)
(Previous Location: 9 FAM Appendix K, 201; CT:VISA��2218; 10��30��2014)

a. Senior management is responsible,
        a) in conjunction with the consular section,
        b) to develop formal written visa referral procedures
                i) consistent with the instructions
                        A) in this section of the FAM.

Individual referral policies are not authorized;

1) however, all posts should have procedures
        a) tailored to the individual and special circumstances
                i) of each mission.

These procedures are not meant
        a) to circumvent the official referral policy process
        b) but rather
                i) assist in the communication and
                ii) transfer of referrals
                        A) between
                                I) mission sections and
                                II) the consular section.

b. Only specified individuals are eligible
        a) to make visa referrals and
        b) approve them.
See 9 FAM 601.8��3(B)(1) and (2).

c. If a referring officer is approached
        a) by a foreign national
        b) for assistance in obtaining a U.S. visa,

1) the officer must decide
        a) whether a referral is merited and
        b) if so,
                i) whether a Class A or Class B referral is most appropriate.

The officer then follows the referral submission procedures
        a) in the Worldwide Visa Referral Policy
(9 FAM 601.8��3(D)).


9 FAM 601.8��3(B)
Who May Make an NIV Referral


9 FAM 601.8��3(B)(1)
Referring Officers

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)

(Previous Location: 9 FAM Appendix K, Exhibit I(in part); CT:VISA��2290; 06��02��
2015)

a. Only qualified and approved individuals may make visa referrals.

"Referring officer"
        a)refers to a role
                i) in the process and
        b) does not reflect on the individual's rank or title
                i) within the mission.

(Note:

Eligible Family Members and members
        a) of household

1) may not submit referrals.)

No one may be compelled
        a) to refer an applicant.

To qualify
        a) as a referring officer

1) you must:

        (1) Be a U.S. citizen,
                i) direct hire,
                ii) encumbering an NSDD��38 authorized position or
                iii) serving in a long��term TDY role
                        A) (of more than 121 days)
                        B) in place of a permanently stationed direct hire
                                I) who
                                        (a) falls under Chief of Mission (COM) authority and
                                        (b) encumbers an NSDD��38 position
                                                (i) as defined by the Human Resources section
                                                        (A) at post;

        (2) Attend a referral briefing
                i) with the consular section; and

        (3) Submit a signed and dated Worldwide NIV Referral Policy Compliance Agreement
                i) to the consular section.


CONTRACT, TEMP TO PERM, DIRECT HIRE – WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?
As a job seeker, are you unsure of what  job ads are saying? Do you know the difference between the employment types offered? If you don��t, that��s ok. Many current job search candidates don��t know either.

Below are definitions of terms to help you understand what employment ads are actually offering. The definitions are short, general and meant to give you an idea of the types of positions you will see on job boards. You may find some variations with  how other companies define these terms.

Contract
Typically a position that is not permanent, and has a specific time frame attached to it. Contract work might be needed to complete a project, or to cover a permanent employee��s leave of absence. This type of position does not usually offer any benefits.

Temporary
a.k.a. Temp Work
These are positions ranging from one afternoon, to full time work for up to a year.  The important thing to know is that there is no promise of the position turning into a permanent position with benefits. Often, though, temp positions are extended past the original end date. And sometimes temporary positions can turn into temp to perm positions or open up the door to a full time permanent job later on. A temporary employee is generally considered an employee of the staffing agency and paid by the staffing agency.

Temp To Perm
a.k.a. Right To Hire
These are positions where the employer would like a full time employee, but does not want to commit to a permanent offer up front.  During the temp to hire period, the employee is considered working for the staffing firm and paid by the staffing firm. Clients seeking temp to hire candidates through Emerson are sincere in their desire to hire permanent staff members and not just ��kicking tires.��  This can be a benefit to job seekers as well as companies. Read more about how temp to hire can be a benefit in this Emerson Success Story.

Direct Hire
Direct hire positions are permanent, usually full time positions with benefits. A direct hire position is one in which the client company utilizes the staffing company to find the talent, then hires them directly. A candidate offered a direct hire position is not an employee of the staffing company, but goes directly on the client company payroll.


b. Personnel
        a) meeting the above requirements
        b) at a multilateral U.S. mission overseas
                i) (NATO, OECD, etc.)

1) may make referrals
        a) to the consular section
                i) with jurisdiction
                        A) over their geographic region.

c. Personnel
        a) at posts
                i) where there are no visa services
        b) who are otherwise eligible
                i) to refer

1) may submit referrals
        a) to the designated consular section(s)
                i) where host country applicants are directed
                        A) to apply for visas.

Implementing instructions are found below
        a) in "Multi��post Missions and Posts with No Visa Services."

d. Officers
        a) with regional responsibilities
                i) (such as Legal Attaches, Regional Medical Officers, etc.)

1) may submit qualified referrals
        a) to the various consular sections
                i) within their region.

Implementing instructions are found below
        a) in "Multi��post Missions and Posts with No Visa Services."

e. State Department personnel
        a) based in
                i) the United States or
                ii) a third country

1) are not authorized
        a) to submit referrals or
        b) send official messages
                i) (including emails)
                ii) to consular sections
                iii) advocating for visa issuance
                        A) on behalf of
                                I) an applicant or
                                II) an incoming referral recipient.

Department personnel may communicate general information
        a) to their primary contacts
                i) at overseas posts
                ii) (such as an officer
                        A) in the political section),
                iii) who can share the details
                        A) with
                                I) the consular chief or
                                II) NIV chief,

1) as they would other general information.


9 FAM 601.8��3(B)(2)
Approving Officers

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)
(Previous Location: 9 FAM Appendix K, Exhibit I(in part);CT:VISA��2290; 06��02��
2015)

a. The chief of section/agency head
        a) of the referring officer's section or agency

1) must approve each referral
        a) (and must
                i) attend the briefing and
                ii) sign the compliance document
                        A) in order to do so).

In the absence
        a) of
                i) a section/agency head or
                ii) acting head,

1) the Principal Officer (PO) (if at a consulate),
2) the DCM or
3) ambassador

    must approve the referral.

For consulates,

where
        a) the consul general (CG) or
        b) PO

    is the referring officer,

1) the
        a) COM or
        b) DCM
                i) of the overall mission

   must be the approving officer.

Only
        a) the Ambassador,
        b) the DCM, or
        c) Chargé d'Affaires

1) may serve
        a) as both
                i) the referring and
                ii) approving officer
                        A) on the same referral.

DCMs and POs may not ask their section heads
        a) to submit referrals
                i) for them
                
1) in order to avoid seeking an Ambassador or DCM approval signature.

The approving authority need not know the applicant
        a) personally.

b. In signing the referral,

the approving officer certifies that
        a) the case meets the criteria
                i) set forth in this Policy.

For Class A referrals,

1) the approving officer's signature also
        a) attests that
                i) to the best of his/her knowledge
                ii) the applicant does not constitute a threat
                        A) to the safety or national security
                                I) of the United States and
        b) serves as a request for issuance of the visa.

c.         a) The COM,
        b) DCM, or
        c) PO
                i) (of the post
                        A) making the referral)

1) must approve all referrals
        a) from posts
                i) where there are no visa services.


9 FAM 601.8��3(C)
Classes of NIV Referrals

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)
(Previous Location: 9 FAM Appendix K, Exhibit I(partial);CT:VISA��2290; 06��02��
2015)

There are two types
        a) of visa referrals:

        a. Class A and
        b. Class B.

Both are appropriate

1) only when they further U.S. government interests
        a) as discussed in detail below.

Referrals may not be submitted
        a) for domestic staff,
                i) i.e., nannies, medical assistants, etc.,
                ii) including those
                        A) working for mission personnel.

Additionally,

a personal friend
        a) whose travel is not in the national interest

1) may not be referred.


9 FAM 601.8��3(C)(1)
Class A Criteria and Procedures

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)
(Previous Location: 9 FAM Appendix K, Exhibit I(partial); CT:VISA��2290; 06��
02��2015)

a. Class A Referrals are a request
        a) for
                i) an expedited appointment
                        A) with a consular manager and
                ii) issuance of a visa.

All relevant immigration law and policy applies;

1) the consular section will take
        a) the support
                i) of the referring office and
        b) the national interest
                i) prompting the referral

        c) into consideration.

b. To Qualify for a Class A Referral, the Following Three Conditions Must be Met:

(1) The referring officer must certify that
        a) assisting the applicant
        
           directly furthers U.S. national interests;

(2) The applicant
        a) (except for dependents)

1) must be
        a) personally and favorably
        b) known to the referring officer.

"Personally and favorably known" means
        a) the referring officer attest
                i) in writing
                ii) that s/he has ongoing contact with the applicant, and
                iii) that the applicant does not constitute a threat
                        A) to the national security of the United States.

A single meeting
        a) for the sole purpose of an A referral

1) is not sufficient
        a) to meet this requirement; and

(3) The applicant must not have been refused a visa        
        a) within the past two years

1) (unless that refusal was subsequently overcome or waived,
        a) i.e., the applicant subsequently received a visa).

The referring officer must review this requirement
        a) with the applicant
        b) before submitting the Class A referral.

b. It is appropriate
        a) to submit Class A referrals
                i) for applicants
                        A) who
                                I) meet the criteria above and
                                II) fall into at least one of the following:

        (1) Individuals
                i) who directly further U.S. national interests,                
                ii) including
                        A) high��level post contacts, and
                        B) influential and prominent figures
                                I) in
                                        (a) the government,
                                        (b) professional,
                                        (c) business,
                                        (d) scientific, and
                                        (e) academic communities;

        (2) Individuals
                i) who significantly promote U.S. public diplomacy efforts
                        A) in the host nation,
                ii) which could include
                        A) distinguished members of
                                I) the government,
                                II) professional,
                                III) business,
                                IV) scientific, and
                                V) academic communities
                                        I) who warrant special consideration;

        (3) Locally Employed staff
                i) (LE staff)
                ii) traveling to the United States
                        A) for official U.S. Government purposes; or

        (4)        i) Spouses, same��sex domestic partners
                        A) (as described in 9 FAM 402.3��4(J) (3)),
                ii) children and
                iii) parents
                        A) (of both the individual referred and his/her spouse)
                        B) of individuals
                                I) described in the above three points.

                "Children" are unmarried persons
                        A) under twenty��one years of age,
                                I) consistent with the legal definition of "child"
                                        (a) as described in 9 FAM 102.3.

                Derivative applicants may be referred
                        A) independently

                1) so long as
                        A) the all of the above criteria are met and
                        B) the principal��s qualifications are clearly documented,
                                I) i.e. the contact already has a visa, or
                                II) his/her family is traveling
                                        (a) without the contact.

                The referring officer need not know
                        A) the parents or children
                                I) of the contact or
                        B) his/her spouse.

                Nannies and other household help are not eligible
                        A) for a referral.

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