The U.S. State Department announced on March 20th, 2020 that it will temporarily suspend routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies and consulates in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

What happened?

Embassies and consulates will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 20th, 2020. The department has not specified a date for resuming routine visa services at this time. Embassies and consulates will continue to provide emergency and mission critical visa services as resources allow. Services to U.S. citizens continue to be available, and 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.

Who does it impact?

Global Immigration Associates (GIA) has advised that this announcement will impact foreign nationals who are currently outside the U.S. and are waiting to apply for their visa to enter the U.S.

What do I need to do next?

Envoy and GIA will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as they become available.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.