After suspending routine visa services at US Embassies/Consulates worldwide in March due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the US Department of State (DOS) announced this week that US Embassies and Consulates abroad will begin the phased resumption of routine visa services with some posts reopening for limited routine visa services as of July 15, 2020. The resumption of routine visa services will occur on a post-by-post basis, the DOS said, and each post will coordinate with the “Department’s Diplomacy Strong framework for safely returning our workforce to Department facilities.” As they have during this temporary shutdown, US Embassies/Consulates are still providing as far as they are able emergency and mission-critical visa services, as well as services for US citizens. As conditions improve for each US Embassy/Consulate, each post will eventually fully resume routine visa services. The date for each US Embassy or Consulate to resume routine visa services will depend on local conditions and will be announced on the respective US Embassy or Consulate website.
What additional visa services are US Embassies/Consulates beginning to provide?
All US Embassies/Consulates are currently providing emergency and mission-critical visa services, as they have been during the pandemic. As conditions allow, posts will phase in processing some routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa cases, including: those with urgent travel needs; students (F-1, M-1, and certain J-1 applicants); and some family members of US citizens in accord with Presidential Proclamation 10014. Local circumstances will dictate the volume and types of visa cases each post will process. US Embassies/Consulates will “resume adjudicating all routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa cases only when adequate resources are available and it is safe to do so.”
What criteria are posts using to determine when to resume routine services?
The DOS is assessing and monitoring local factors and conditions including medical infrastructure, COVID-19 cases, emergency response capabilities, and restrictions on leaving home to make decisions about the resumption of routine visa services for each post.
What steps are being taken for protection from the spread of COVID-19?
US Embassies/Consulates are implementing various safeguards including physical distancing protocols in their waiting rooms, scheduling fewer interviews at a time, frequent disinfection of high touch areas, all while following local health and safety regulations.
Do the various presidential proclamations/travel restrictions still apply, or are those lifting with the resumption of visa services?
The DOS notes that the five geographical COVID-19 Proclamations (P.P. 9984, 9992, 9993, 9996, 10041) and the two “COVID-19 Labor Market Proclamations” suspending the entry of certain foreign nationals (P.P. 10014 and 10052) remain in effect despite resumption of routine visa services.
How do I schedule an emergency appointment?
Applicants can find instructions on how to request an emergency visa appointment at the website for the appropriate US Embassy/Consulate.
What will happen to the MRV fee paid before routine services were suspended?
The Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee is still valid and may be used to schedule a visa appointment in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment.
We will post any additional updates as we receive them.