Current Status of Visas at U.S. Embassies By Country – June 2024

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If you are currently 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. In this video attorney Jacob Sapochnick shares the latest updates regarding the operational capacity of U.S. Consular posts and Embassies worldwide as of June 2024.

Annual Numerical Limits – Visa Bulletin

Please note that certain categories of immigrants are subject to annual numerical limits which means that applicants must wait until an immigrant visa becomes available to them, before they can be scheduled for an immigrant visa interview at a Consulate overseas.

These include unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens, spouses and children of permanent residents, unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or older) of permanent residents, married sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens, and brothers and sisters of adult U.S. Citizens.

Additionally, all employment-based immigrant visa categories are subject to annual numerical limits.

If any of the above-mentioned categories apply to you, you must check the Visa Bulletin every month to determine whether your priority date is current according to your preference category and country of nationality. Only once your priority date is current on the final action date chart of the Visa Bulletin, can your case be scheduled for a visa interview.

Applicants should also be aware that even if their priority date is current for final action, they may experience delays in visa interview scheduling, if their local Consulate has a high volume of traffic. This is because for some Consulates, the high number of applicants waiting for interviews outweighs the availability of interview appointments. In such cases, the National Visa Center (NVC) will not forward your case to the Consulate for interview scheduling, until they are notified that an available interview appointment is open for you.

Now let’s jump into the status of immigrant visa processing at the following Consular posts and Embassies overseas.

Overview

U.S. Embassy Moscow, Russia

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia has suspended nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services due to the Russian government prohibiting the Embassy from employing foreign nationals. Russian nationals may continue to apply for nonimmigrant visas at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate where they can obtain an appointment.

The State Department has designated the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland to process immigrant visas for nationals of Russia.  The U.S. Embassy Tashkent, Uzbekistan and U.S. Consulate Almaty, Kazakhstan are processing posts for Russian IR-5 immigrant visas (parents of U.S. Citizens).

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 and is scheduling interviews each week in ALL immigrant visa categories. However, applicants should be aware that this is a high traffic Consulate which means that applicants should expect delays in visa interview availability.

Note: Those who are required to apply for a hardship waiver of grounds of inadmissibility must wait for an approval from USCIS before proceeding with their immigrant visa process in Ciudad Juarez.

K-1 Fiancé(e) Visas:  K-1 applicants with cases at the National Visa Center (NVC) are being scheduled for appointments at the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez in the order the cases were documentarily completed.

Click here for more information from the U.S. Consulates in Mexico.

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 K-1 fiancé(e) visas, IR-1, and CR-1 cases.

Third Country Nationals: 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 via email to obtain information about applying for a visa as a third country national.

U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand has resumed routine visa services. They are processing nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas, including K-1 fiancé(e) visas, IR-1, CR-1 visas, and F-1 student visas.

Third Country Nationals: 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. Consulates and Embassies Brazil – Rio de Janeiro, São Paolo

The U.S. Embassies in Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo have resumed routine visa services.

They are processing nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas, including IR-1, CR-1 visas, and F-1 student visas. K-1 fiancé(e) visas are being processed very slowly at these Embassies.

Since these Consulates are high-volume posts, it is taking a longer period of time for interview scheduling, therefore visa applicants should expect delays.

 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 also 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 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, IR-5, CR-1, and K-1 fiancé(e) cases that have been documentarily complete.

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 expedited processing.

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. Embassy Bogota, Colombia

The U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, has resumed routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services.

They are processing nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas, including H-1B renewals, IR-1, CR-1 visas, and F-1 student visas.

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. Applicants should expect delays in visa scheduling.

U.S. Consulate Mumbai, India

The U.S. Consulate in Mumbai, India has resumed routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services.

They are scheduling visa interviews for IR-1, IR-5, CR-1, K-1 fiancé(e) cases, and priority is being given to F-1 student visa applicants.

If your case has been documentarily qualified, your priority date is current, but you have not yet received notice of your case being transferred to the Consular post, you should contact the National Visa Center by phone or email to inquire about the status of your case.

U.S. Embassies in Vietnam – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh

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. We have seen some processing delays for F-1 student visa applications.

Immigrant visas are currently being 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. Consulates Canada

The U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Canada (Toronto and Montreal) have 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.

If your immigrant visa case is waiting for an interview in Canada, 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.

Third Country Nationals: If you would like to apply for a visa in Canada 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 via email to obtain information about applying for a visa as a third country national.

U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines

The U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines has fully resumed routine visa services. They are processing nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas, including K-1 fiancé(e) visas, IR-1, CR-1 visas, F-1 student visas.

Since this Consulate is a high-volume post, it is taking a longer period of time for visa interview scheduling, therefore visa applicants should expect delays.

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. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-569-1768 or call 619-819-9204.

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