Some U.S. Consulates Start Reopening Phase
Gabriela Ungo • July 16, 2020
On July 14, 2020, the Department of State issued an official announcement confirming that US Embassies and Consulates may resume of routine visa services on a post-by-post basis.
On March 2020, the Department of State (DOS) suspended routine visa services worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic with immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services restricted to emergencies and those deemed mission critical. As of June 15, 2020, some U.S. Embassies and Consular posts worldwide may begin a "phased reopening of normal consular services including routine visa services, depending on local conditions".
Which U.S. Consulates are scheduling visa appointments as of July 15, 2020?
According to DOS, the reopening of each specific consular post will depend on the conditions of each country. You may check specific U.S. Embassies and Consular visa services and appointment availability at USEmbassy.gov.
The countries where U.S. Embassies and Consulates have announced that nonimmigrant visa services will resume include Austria, Bermuda, Greece, Jamaica, Mauritius, Thailand
and Seychelles.
Furthermore, visa services offered by the various posts as they reopen are also likely to vary. As of the writing of this update, it seems like U.S. Consulates are prioritizing visas which benefit the U.S. economy, such as E treaty traders or investors. Below you may find a list of important worldwide U.S. consulates and their nonimmigrant visa appointment availability*:
- Belgium is scheduling E1/E2 visa appointments for July
- Canada is scheduling E visa appointments for July
- China (Beijing) is scheduling B1/B2 visa appointments for late August and F-1 visa appointments for late December
- China (Guangzhou) is scheduling B1/B2 and F-1 visa appointments for late November
- China (Shanghai) is scheduling B1/B2 appointments for November (no F-1 visas)
- China (Shenyang) is scheduling B1/B2 appointments for November (no F-1 visas)
- France is scheduling B1/B2 , E2 and appointments for September
- Spain is scheduling B-1/B-2 visa appointments for January 2021
- U.K. (London) is scheduling B1/B2 and O-1/O-2 visa appointments for August
What types of nonimmigrant visa appointments are being scheduled by U.S. Consulates?
As of June 15, 2020, some U.S. Consulates may schedule appointments for visitors with urgent travel needs; students
(F-1, M-1, and certain J-1);
and some family members of U.S. citizens consistent with the June 22, 2020 Proclamation.
Are previously issued Presidential Proclamations/travel restrictions still in effect?
Yes. According to DOS, the five geographical COVID-19 Proclamations and the two COVID-19 Labor Market Proclamations suspending the entry of certain aliens remain in effect.
The travel bans still in place are:
- COVID-19 related restrictions on citizens of China (January 31, 2020), Iran (February 29, 2020), the Schengen Area (March 11, 2020), Ireland and the UK (March 14, 2020), and Brazil (May 24, 2020), unless the applicant qualifies for a “national interest” exemption under Section 3(b)(iv).
- Proclamations limiting entry based on economic considerations include a 60-day restriction on immigrant entries (April 22, 2020) extended to December 31, 2020.
- Proclamations limiting entry based on economic considerations (June 22, as amended on June 29, 2020) banning issuance of H-1B, H-2B, L-1 and certain J-1 (au pair, camp counselor, intern, summer work travel, teacher and trainee programs) nonimmigrant visas through December 31, 2020 . DOS has confirmed that H-1B physicians who cannot demonstrate that they will be treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients may argue for an exception in the national interest under Section 3(b)(iv).
* List courtesy of the American Immigration Lawyers Association
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