Beginning November 5, 2015, U.S. Consulates were instructed by the Visa Office to send notices to visa holders informing them that their visas had been revoked due to a report that they had been arrested for driving while under the influence within the last five years, unless the arrest was addressed within the context of a visa application.
The revocation does not require a conviction or admission of guilt. The notice instructs the visa holder to reapply for a visa. They will then be referred to a panel physician for a medical examination prior to visa issuance to rule out a medical ineligibility.
Thus, any visa holder in the U.S. who has been arrested within the last five years may find they are unable to return to the U.S. after a departure for even a weekend holiday or vacation and even without receiving notice or having a conviction.
Please contact us with questions.
Joel Paget is an attorney in Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC’s Immigration Group and can be reached at 206.654.2215 or paget@ryanlaw.com.
