Trump is Coming: Current Status of U.S. Visa Services by Country November 2024

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President Trump will soon return to the White House, bringing with him many changes in the world of immigration.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick shares the ways in which the Trump administration will impact the processing at visas U.S. Consulates and Embassies worldwide, including immigrant and non-immigrant visas.

This video also covers the latest updates regarding the operational capacity of U.S. Consular posts and Embassies as of November 2024.

If you are currently waiting in line for a visa interview at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad, you won’t want to miss this video.

Overview

President Trump will settle into the White House on January 20, 2024, bringing with him new appointments to cabinet level positions. His pick for Secretary of State is likely to be the Republican Marco Rubio, a known conservative who supports legal immigration and a crackdown on illegal immigration.

Nonimmigrant visa applicants may face new restrictions when applying at U.S. Consulates and Embassies. During the previous Trump administration, work visa applicants were under much heavier scrutiny than ever before. H-1B, O-1, L-1, and J visa applicants found it much more difficult to obtain approvals both at the USCIS and Consular level.

These challenges existed even for applicants seeking extensions of their work visa.

To avoid being subject to greater scrutiny, applicants should file their cases as soon as possible. If premium processing service is available for your petition, take advantage of it.

The political climate is very uncertain. It is difficult to know whether visa backlogs may increase, due to targeted executive actions that may be taken by the incoming administration, such as the infamous Muslim travel bans, which brought immigration to a screeching halt for nationals of certain countries.

Take action today to prevent delays.

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

U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, has resumed full immigrant visa processing for Lebanese family members of U.S. citizens. However, the Embassy is still working at a limited capacity due to staffing restrictions.

The National Visa Center (NVC) will directly email petitioners, beneficiaries, and representatives of spouses, children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens with approved I-130 petitions to provide an immigrant visa interview appointment date and instructions.  Applicants must check their email for updates.

Immigrant visa cases will continue to be processed according to the final action date published in the Visa Bulletin. In November/December, Beirut will schedule interviews for currently eligible family preference immigrant visa cases and nonimmigrant Fiancé (K-1) visa cases.

Routine nonimmigrant visa processing is not available in Beirut at this time. You must apply for nonimmigrant visas at a neighboring U.S. Consulate.

Immigrant visa 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. 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.

Immigrant visa applicants may apply wherever they are either resident or physically present and able to remain for the required visa processing time.  Alternately, consular sections in countries where applicants are neither resident, nor present may accept a case at their discretion in cases clearly involving hardship.

Applicants who desire a case transfer should write the immigrant visa processing section of the desired U.S. embassy or consulate through the email address or other contact mechanism provided on the Consulate’s web site.

Interview Waivers for Nonimmigrant Visas

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 Investor 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 two 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. 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.

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. However, applicants for F-1 student visas should expect delays in interview scheduling of over 8 weeks.

This post may receive cases from third country nationals who are either resident, or physically present, and able to remain for the required visa processing time.

U.S. Embassy Jakarta, Indonesia

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia 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.

New Security Regulations

Effective November 1, 2024, the U.S. Embassy Jakarta has implemented new security regulations. The Embassy will no longer allow visitors to bring large and bulky bags, such as travel bags, over the shoulder purses, backpacks, and suitcases. Those who do so will not be allowed to enter the building and will be asked to reschedule their appointment.

Visitors must limit their hand-carry items to a small purse and plastic folder containing your application documents.

Translators and Accompanying Persons at the Visa Interview

For nonimmigrant visa applicants, translators may only accompany visa applicants upon prior request by a consular officer.

For immigrant visa applicants, any accompanying person is allowed to enter the Embassy by sending a request via email to JakIV@state.gov at least one week prior to the interview date.

New Visa Appointment System

Please also note that as of September 28, 2024, this Embassy has implemented a new system for U.S. Visa Services which can be accessed here.

This will be the new system used for document submission, document pick-up, document delivery, and the collection of visa fees.

For Important Visa information from the U.S. Embassy Jakarta, please click here.

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, immigrant visa interview appointments are being scheduled slowly.

Applicants should expect longer-than-normal wait times for immigrant 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: The U.S. Consulates in Canada accept nonimmigrant visa applications from third country nationals.

Applicants who desire to apply in Canada should write the nonimmigrant visa processing section of the desired U.S. embassy or consulate through the email address or other contact mechanism provided on the Consulate’s web site.

National Canada Postal Strike

Before applying for a visa at this Embassy, please be aware that there is an ongoing national postal service strike at Canada Postal Offices. The strike is impacting the delivery of passports with visas inside. Applicants should exercise caution and explore options to apply for their visas at a neighboring U.S. Consulate.

U.S. Consulates in China

The U.S. Embassies and Consulates in China are open and working at a regular capacity. The Consulates are processing both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including K-1 fiancé(e) visas, IR-1, CR-1 cases, F-1 student visas, etc.

There are slight delays in visa processing for K-1 fiancé(e)’s.

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, and K-1 fiancé(e) cases but applicants should expect delays due to high demand for visa interviews at these Consulates

Priority is being given to F-1 student visa applicants with an average 5-week processing time.

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.

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 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 non-immigrant visa interview scheduling. On the positive side, fewer delays are being reported for immigrant visa scheduling.

This post has also hired additional Consular officers to balance their workload. As a result, applicants should expect faster visa processing in the coming months.

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. More officers have been hired at this Embassy, so we expect to see some improvement in visa processing.

In the past, there have been delays in interview scheduling for IR-1, CR-1, and K-1 fiancé(e) cases that have been documentarily complete.

Applicants are waiting prolonged periods for Lagos to open more interview slots for 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.

Employment-based green card applicants with an urgent need to enter the United States may also consider seeking an expedite request.

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 K-1 fiancé(e) cases. F-1 student visas are being processed more slowly at these Embassies.

Since these Consulates are high-volume posts, expect a longer period of time for interview scheduling.

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.

Third Country Nationals: The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok accepts nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications from third country nationals.

Applicants who desire to apply in Bangkok should write the nonimmigrant/immigrant visa processing section through the email address or other contact mechanism provided on the Consulate’s web site.

Please note that starting July 15, 2024, immigrant visa (IV) and fiancé(e) visa applicants who have not brought all their required documents to their visa interview and have not uploaded all required documents to CEAC will be turned away and asked to reschedule their visa interview. Ensure that you have gathered all necessary documents to bring to your interview, and that your case is documentarily complete.

For Important Visa information from the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, please click here.

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. This Embassy has been processing a large number of O-1 nonimmigrant visa petitions.

Third Country Nationals: The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo accepts nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications from third country nationals.

Applicants who desire to apply in Santo Domingo should write the nonimmigrant/immigrant visa processing section through the email address or other contact mechanism provided on the Consulate’s web site.

For immigrant visa transfers, once they have accepted your case, you must also inform the National Visa Center that your case has been transferred to this post.

New Visa Appointment System

The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo moved to a new visa services provider on September 23, 2024.

The new system allows visa applicants to obtain visa information, pay any required nonimmigrant visa fees, schedule a visa interview appointment, and receive document delivery services.

To access the new appointment system, please click here. 

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. 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, etc.

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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