If you are going through the immigrant visa process and are waiting for your interview to be scheduled at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy overseas, then you won’t want to miss this important video. Attorney Jacob Sapochnick shares the latest updates regarding the operational capacity of U.S. Consular posts and Embassies worldwide as of March 2024.
Overview
As the spring and summer months are approaching, U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide are accelerating the processing of immigrant visas to reduce the visa backlogs.
As we have seen, the Department of State has advanced the Final Action Dates for most employment-based categories in the April Visa Bulletin. Additionally, significant advancements were also made in the March Visa Bulletin for the family-sponsored categories.
These advancements will keep the Department of State busy in the coming months, as more and more immigrant visa cases that are documentarily complete are scheduled for interviews at U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide for those with current priority dates.
As our readers will know, during the height of the Coronavirus outbreak, there was an enormous demand for visa interviews, but not enough interview slots for applicants to be scheduled. But now things are improving.
As a reminder, please remember to tune into our monthly videos where we analyze the Visa Bulletin, explaining the availability of visas for family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories, numerical limitations, and how to know when your priority date is current during any given month.
As a reminder, certain categories of immigrants are subject to numerical limitations. The Visa Bulletin governs the availability of visas for the different categories and allows you to check your place in the immigrant visa queue.
Now let’s jump into the status of immigrant visa processing at the following Consular posts and Embassies overseas.
U.S. Embassy Lagos, Nigeria
The U.S. Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria, has not resumed routine visa processing. This Embassy is still working at a limited capacity due to staffing restrictions.
We continue to see significant delays in interview scheduling for IR-1, CR-1, and K-1 fiancé(e) cases that have been documentarily complete since early 2022.
Backlogs remain severe. Applicants continue to wait prolonged periods of time for Lagos to open more interview slots for those with cases that are documentarily complete.
Applicants are encouraged to follow up with the National Visa Center (NVC) to ensure their cases are documentarily complete and/or all civil documentation has been received by the NVC. Those with U.S. Citizen petitioners facing compelling hardships such as urgent medical need, may wish to speak to an attorney to discuss the possibility of applying for an expedite request.
U.S. Embassy Khartoum, Sudan
The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum has suspended its operations. Currently, there are no U.S. consular officers in Sudan. The embassy is unable to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Sudan. Consular services are available in neighboring countries for those who choose to depart on their own. Applicants are encouraged to apply for their visas in neighboring countries. You may review the Embassy’s webpage for instructions on applying as a third country national, or you may contact that Embassy’s immigrant visa unit by email for further information.
U.S. citizens in Sudan who need assistance should contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulate.
U.S. Embassy Accra, Ghana
The U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana, has resumed routine visa services.
They are processing K-1 fiancé(e) visas, IR-1, CR-1, IR-5 visas, and nonimmigrant visa applications. Applicants whose cases became documentarily complete in 2023 are being scheduled for interviews at this post.
Since Accra is a high-volume post, it is taking a longer period of time for interview scheduling. On the positive side, this post is responsive to email inquiries.
U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya
The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya has fully resumed routine visa services. They are processing nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas, including K-1 fiancé(e) visas, IR-1, CR-1, and visa requests from third country nationals within the surrounding geographic region. However, this post continues to experience delays in interview scheduling for applicants whose cases were documentarily complete in early 2023.
Nairobi is also accepting requests for expedited/emergency appointments for those with urgent travel needs.
If you would like to transfer your case to Nairobi as a third country national, you must follow the proper procedure and obtain permission directly from the Embassy. Once they have accepted your case, you can inform the National Visa Center that your case has been transferred to this post.
Click here for further Visa information from the U.S. Embassy Nairobi.
U.S. Embassy Asmara, Eritrea
The U.S. Embassy in Asmara, Eritrea has reduced services temporarily to the public. Nonimmigrant visa services are unavailable until further notice. When nonimmigrant visa services resume, certain restrictions on the issuance of visas to citizens of Eritrea by the U.S. Embassy in Asmara will remain in place.
The U.S. Embassy in Asmara does not process Immigrant Visas. All Immigrant Visas for Eritreans are handled at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa or Nairobi.
For more information, please contact the Embassies in Addis Ababa or Nairobi.
U.S. Embassy Dakar, Senegal
The U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, has resumed routine visa services and is currently processing immigrant and nonimmigrant visas including K-1 fiancé(e) visas, IR-1, CR-1 visas. Because this is a small post, applicants should expect longer-than-normal wait times for visa interview scheduling.
This accepts email inquiries but responses may take time.
U.S. Consulates Mexico
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico are currently processing immigrant and nonimmigrant visas on a routine basis. Applicants should expect longer-than-normal wait times for visa interviews.
Immigrant Visas
The U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez has resumed routine immigrant visa operations, scheduling thousands of socially distanced interviews each week in ALL immigrant visa categories.
Note: Those who are required to apply for a hardship waiver of grounds of inadmissibility must wait for an approval before proceeding with the immigrant visa process in Ciudad Juarez.
K-1 Fiancé(e) Visas: K-1 applicants with cases at NVC are being scheduled for appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City in the order the cases were documentarily completed.
Click here for information from the U.S. Consulates in Mexico.
U.S. Embassies Israel
Due to the ongoing security situation, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and the Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv are offering limited nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services. Those with visa appointments that have been canceled or rescheduled, will be notified by email.
These posts are scheduling visa interviews for third country nationals including Eastern Europeans, such as K-1 fiancé(e) visas. Applicants interested in applying for a visa in Israel should contact the Embassy directly to obtain permission to apply as a third country national.
Any nonimmigrant applicant who previously held a visa and whose visa expired within the 48 months prior to the date of application may be eligible for an interview waiver for a visa application.
E2 Visa Applicants
The E-2 visa unit will first review the submitted paper file and then schedule an interview for the company and employee.
Due to an overwhelming demand for this category, preliminary review of corporate files currently takes more than four months. The review is executed on a first come first served basis. All applicants are then required to attend an in-person interview which is scheduled by the Embassy.
U.S. Consulate Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is open and working at a regular capacity. The Embassy is processing both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including IR-1 and CR-1 cases. Applicants whose cases were documentarily complete in late 2022 and early 2023 are being scheduled for visa interviews.
If you would like to apply for a visa in Santo Domingo as a third country national, you must follow the proper procedure and obtain permission directly from the Embassy. Once they have accepted your case, you can inform the National Visa Center that your case has been transferred to this post. You may also contact the Embassy’s immigrant visa unit directly to obtain information about applying as a third country national.
U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand
The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand has fully resumed routine visa services. They are processing nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas, including K-1 fiancé(e) visas, IR-1, and CR-1 visas. Applicants whose cases were documentarily complete in early 2023 are being scheduled for visa interviews.
Bangkok is currently accepting third-country nationals, however there may come a time when they will stop accepting such cases. If you would like to transfer your case to Bangkok, you must follow the proper procedure and obtain permission directly from the Embassy. Once they have accepted your case, you can inform the National Visa Center that your case has been transferred to this post.
For Important Visa information from the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, please click here.
U.S. Embassy London & Consulates in the United Kingdom
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in the United Kingdom (London and Belfast) resumed routine immigrant and non-immigrant visa services; however, visa interview appointments are being scheduled slowly. Applicants should expect longer-than-normal wait times for visa interviews.
Applicants whose cases were documentarily complete in mid 2022 and late 2022 are being scheduled for visa interviews. We have not seen any cases scheduled for interviews that were documentarily complete in 2023.
If your case is waiting for an interview in London, we encourage you to follow up with the National Visa Center (NVC) and the Embassy to ensure your case is documentarily qualified and all documentation for your case has been submitted prior to interview scheduling.
U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, has resumed routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services. However, applicants should expect longer-than-normal wait times for visa interviews.
Significant backlogs remain major barriers for most visa categories and staffing shortages mean longer wait times for visa interviews. Interviews are being scheduled very slowly. Applicants whose cases were documentarily complete in late 2021 are being scheduled for visa interviews.
Due to this Embassy’s slow response time, many applicants have resorted to filing mandamus lawsuits to compel the government to act on their cases after experiencing unreasonable delays.
Those facing a life-or-death emergency and need to request expedited processing, are encouraged to contact NVCExpedite@state.gov with their expedite request.
Islamabad recently expanded interview waiver eligibility for Pakistani citizens who are renewing B1/B2 tourist and business visas. Pakistani citizens, whose B1/B2 visas are valid or have expired within the last 48 months may be eligible for interview waivers.
U.S. Embassies in Vietnam
The U.S. Embassy Hanoi and Consulate Ho Chi Minh City have resumed routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services including K-1 fiancé(e) visas, IR-1, and CR-1 visas. Applicants whose cases were documentarily complete in late 2022 and start of 2023 are being scheduled for visa interviews.
Immigrant visas to the United States are processed for citizens and residents of Vietnam at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. Nonimmigrant visas are receiving priority in Hanoi.
U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia
The U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, has resumed routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services. Applicants should expect longer-than-normal wait times for visa interviews.
Since Bogota is a smaller Consular post, it is taking a longer period for interview scheduling. On the positive side, this post is responsive to email inquiries.
Conclusion
To find out more about the operational capacity of your U.S. Embassy or Consulate, please visit their website and click on “immigrant” or “nonimmigrant” visa on the navigational tab. Remember that you can contact the National Visa Center to ensure your case is documentarily qualified and inquire on its transfer to the Consular post abroad. If you believe that you are eligible for expedited processing of your case and/or emergency visa processing, we invite you to contact our office to evaluate your case and determine eligibility.
Contact Us Today. We hope that this information was helpful. If you have any further questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204
Helpful Links
- U.S. Embassies and Consulates
- NVC Contact Information
- Visa Appointment Wait Times
- Visa Bulletin
- USCIS Processing Times
- Immigrant Visa Backlog Report
- DOS Visa Services Operating Status Update
- ImmigrationLawyerBlog
- ImmigrationU Membership
- Success stories
- Youtube channel
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