Suspension of Routine Visa Services

In response to significant worldwide challenges

related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of

State is temporarily suspending routine visa services

at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Embassies and

consulates will cancel all routine immigrant and

nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 20,

2020. As resources allow, embassies and consulates

will continue to provide emergency and mission

critical visa services. Our overseas missions will

resume routine visa services as soon as possible but

are unable to provide a specific date at this time.

Services to U.S. citizens continue to be available.

More information is available on each Embassy’s

website.

This does not affect the Visa Waiver Program.

See https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?

focusedTopic=Schengen%20Travel%20Proclamation

for more information.

Although all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa

appointments are cancelled, the Machine Readable

Visa (MRV) fee is valid and may be used for a visa

appointment in the country where it was purchased

within one year of the date of payment.

Applicants with an urgent matter and need to travel

immediately should follow the guidance provided at

the Embassy’s website to request an emergency

appointment.