Extra scrutiny for Iranian nationals
QA U.S. consular officer interviewed my Iranian family for their immigrant visas in June 2018 — and they are still waiting. What can I do to speed up the process? They scheduled my family’s interview in Turkey, and when I check the status of their case online, it says pending “administrative processing.”
AIt may take a while for your family to get their immigrant visas. Don’t give up! Given tensions between the United States and Iran, most cases involving Iranian nationals get scrutinized.
U.S. consuls send cases for administrative processing when they have concern about a visa application. Administrative processing is common for applicants from countries with a travel ban — including Iran. It is difficult to get the State Department to speed up delayed visa applications. Try getting help from a U.S. senator or representative. Sometimes an aggressive effort by an elected official can get a case moving.
QAli, El Cerrito, Calif.
I’m a skilled plumber. My friends work in the United States installing plumbing in houses under construction. They have invited me to join them. How can I get permission to work as a plumber in the United States?
Name withheld, Guanajuato, Mexico
ASkilled workers seeking jobs that do not require a college degree can sometimes get temporary work visas or qualify for a green card. To get either, an employer would need to sponsor you while proving that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the position. The temporary visa is called “H-2B.” The law limits how many applicants get these visas each year, and the government uses a lottery to pick the applicants.
The process is faster than applying for a green card but will not allow you to stay permanently. The law also limits green cards for employees, but visas are readily available for skilled workers from most countries. The exceptions are China and the Philippines.
Send questions and comments to Allan Wernick, New York Daily News, 7th Fl., 4 New York Plaza, New York, N.Y., 10004 or email to questions@allanwernick.com. Follow him on Twitter @awernick.