US to roll out paperless visa; no stamping on passports

The US has successfully completed a pilot project for issuing paperless visas and plans to gradually roll it out. The Biden administration says it will take about 18 months for widespread use.

The Biden administration has successfully completed a pilot project for issuing paperless visas, which could soon replace the traditional US visas stamped or pasted on passport pages. The United States recently completed the small-scale program at its diplomatic mission in Dublin, Ireland, and plans to gradually roll it out to other countries.

Benefits of Paperless Visas

The paperless visa process is the same as the traditional process, except that there is no physical visa in the passport. This will eliminate the need for applicants to send their passports through the mail, reducing the risk of loss or damage. It will also make it easier for people to renew their visas without having to go through the entire application process again.

Widespread Use in 18 Months

Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services, said it will take about 18 months for paperless visas to be in widespread use. However, she is excited about the potential benefits of the new system, saying, "It will ultimately, in the future, as some other countries do, require an app or something that allows people to show their visa status without the physical paper in their passport."

Plans for Issuing Paperless Visas to Indian Nationals

In response to a question, Stufft said she hopes paperless visas will be issued to Indian nationals as well. However, she cautioned that it is a long-term project and it may take a year or longer for widespread use. She also clarified that paperless visas are not the same as e-visas issued by India to certain countries, as they require an in-person interview and follow the same visa process up to the point of the paper.

The successful completion of the pilot project for paperless visas is a significant step towards modernizing the visa application process. The elimination of physical visas will provide numerous benefits for both applicants and the US government. As the program expands to other countries, it will make the visa process more convenient and efficient for travelers around the world.