Coronavirus Update: Some U.S. Consulates to Begin Phased Resumption of Routine Visa Services
July 13, 2020
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At a Glance
- The State Department will resume routine visa services at certain consular posts on a phased-in basis, with timelines dependent on local country conditions related to COVID-19.
- Some foreign nationals may soon be able to schedule nonimmigrant and immigrant visa appointments at certain consulates; however, consular operations could continue to be fluid based on changing country conditions.
- Those with scheduled U.S. visa appointments should monitor the relevant consulate’s website for the latest information.
The issue
U.S. embassies and consulates will gradually resume routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services, according to a State Department tweet earlier today. Visa services have been widely suspended since mid-March in light of the COVID-19 virus.
According to the agency, each consular post will begin routine visa services on its own timeline, taking into consideration the particular conditions of the host country. Individual U.S. consulate websites are recommended as the most reliable source for up-to-date information on a particular post’s timeline.
What to expect
Foreign nationals who have been waiting for the resumption of visa services in order to obtain a U.S. visa may soon be able to schedule or re-schedule their visa appointment. In some instances, where a consulate cancelled an existing appointment, the post may automatically reschedule the prior appointment.
Appointment availability at consulates is likely to remain subject to change based on local country conditions, so further cancellations may still occur in the future. Foreign nationals with upcoming U.S. visa appointments should continue to monitor their consulate’s website for the latest information at http://usembassy.gov.
Also, as a reminder, visa issuance may be subject to the recent bans and restrictions in place, including but not limited to, the presidential proclamations restricting issuance for certain immigrant and nonimmigrant (H-1B, H-2B, L-1, certain J-1) categories until December 31, COVID-related restrictions for presence in certain countries, and the recent Fall 2020 SEVP online learning policy affecting F-1/M-1 students, which is currently being challenged in court.
Where consular locations do not resume routine services, foreign nationals with an urgent matter who need to travel immediately should continue to be able to request an emergency appointment at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/.
Fragomen is closely following U.S. consular operations related to COVID-19, and will provide updates as further details are issued. For the latest information related to the coronavirus’ impact on immigration-related matters worldwide, please visit Fragomen’s Coronavirus Update Page.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
