Non-immigrant services include interdiction, control, reporting, representation, liaison, promotion and recruitment. Staff in these offices are also responsible for reporting on local conditions, maintaining the integrity of the program at the local level, and for immigration interdiction and control functions. They continue to maintain liaison contacts with host country officials and other diplomatic, official and non-government organizations representatives. As these offices are an integral part of the Department's overseas network, they may also perform processing functions if necessary. For example, routine applications by spouses can usually be processed in about six months.
More complicated applications can take longer.
The calculation of processing times begins only when the visa office receives a properly completed application form. There are several reasons why an application would be considered non-routine. A number of self-assessment guides have been developed to assist overseas clients make applications correctly. These include guides for visitors, students, temporary workers, and family class and independent immigrants. The self-assessment guides provide specifics regarding the admissions requirements, application forms and instructions on how to complete the forms.