Suspension of Operations of Certain U.S. Consulates in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

(Updated - March 17, 2020, @ 12:00 PM) 

The U.S. Consulates serve a vital function in administrating the immigration laws of the U.S.  Included among many of the duties they perform, the U.S. Consulates interview visa applicants, process visa adjudications, and, where appropriate, issue visas to foreign nationals so that they may be admitted to the U.S. for a variety of purposes from vacation to business visits to work-related activities.  As part of the U.S. Government’s effort to address the outbreak of Coronavirus, we have learned that the following U.S. Consulates will be suspending services: 

• S. Consulate in London, England, United Kingdom suspended visa interview services from March 17, 2020. It is unclear whether emergency services for U.S. citizens and emergency visa processing will be available but the Consulate is requesting to follow the guidance provided at  www.ais.usvisa-info.com/en-GB, or call +44 20 3608 6998 to request an emergency appointment if necessary. (See https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/)
• The U.S. Consulate in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic suspended routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services effective March 16, 2020and will provide only emergency services to U.S. citizens on Monday through Thursday of the week. (See https://do.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-will-temporarily-offer-limited-consular-services/)
• The U.S. Consulate in Casablanca, Morocco has suspended all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa appointments until further notice effective March 16, 2020. Only emergency services for U.S. citizens will be available. (See https://ma.usembassy.gov/news-events/)
• The U.S. Consulate in Mexico City, Mexico and all U.S. Consulates in Mexico will suspend all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa appointments effective March 18, 2020, until further notice.  Only emergency services for U.S. citizens and emergency visa processing will be available. (See https://mx.usembassy.gov/status-of-u-s-consular-operations-in-mexico-in-light-of-covid-19/.)
• The U.S. Consulate in Santiago, Chile is canceling immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments for the period of March 16, 2020 to March 31, 2020.  The Consulate is further stating the following. “If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-cl/niv/information/faqs#need_earlier_apptto request an emergency appointment. Please note there are travel restrictions for certain countries. Please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html  and read the section ‘Presidential Proclamations Regarding Novel Coronavirus’ for more information.” (See https://cl.usembassy.gov/information-for-visa-applicants-regarding-covid-19/)
• S. Consulate in Rome, Italy will be suspending visa interview services from March 10, 2020 to April 3, 2020.  Only emergency U.S. citizen services and emergency visa services are available as of March 11, 2020. (See https://it.usembassy.gov/health-alert-u-s-embassy-rome-italy-march-12-2020/)
• The U.S. Consulates in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona and the U.S. Consular Agencies in the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Malaga, Sevilla, and Valencia) will be suspending most services and provide only emergency services effective March 13, 2020. (See https://es.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/)
• The U.S. Consulates in Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich) will have limited operations effective March 16, 2020. Only emergency services for U.S. citizens and emergency visa processing will be available. (See https://de.usembassy.gov/mission-germany-change-in-operations/.)
• The U.S. Consulate in Dublin, Ireland will limit services as of March 16, 2020.  Only emergency services for U.S. citizens and emergency visa processing will be available. (See https://ie.usembassy.gov/limited-consular-services/.)
• The U.S. Consulates in India are canceling immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments from March 16, 2020, and onward.  It is unclear whether emergency services for U.S. citizens and emergency visa processing will be available. (See https://in.usembassy.gov/alert-cancelling-of-immigrant-and-nonimmigrant-visa-appointments/).
• The U.S. Consulate in Paris, France is canceling routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. They are sending out the following e-mail to visa applicants with upcoming appointments.
  • Dear Applicant, Information for visa applicants regarding novel coronavirus:  As of March 16^th2020, the United States Embassy in Paris France is canceling routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. The MRV fee is valid and may be used for a visa application in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-fr/niv/information/faqs#need_earlier_appt , or contact us at fae_contactus+fr+mrv+en@visaops.net or call +33 1 82 88 29 57 (Local Number) or dial +1 703 543 9342 (If you are calling from within the United States), to request an emergency appointment.
  • It is unclear whether emergency services for U.S. citizens and emergency visa processing will be available.
• The U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam, The Netherlands is canceling routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. They are sending out the following e-mail to visa applicants with upcoming appointments.
  • Dear Applicant, Information for visa applicants regarding novel coronavirus:  As of March 16, 2020, the United States Consulate General in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is canceling routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. The MRV fee is valid and may be used for a visa application in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment.  If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-nl/niv/information/faqs [click.icptrack.com]to request an emergency appointment.
  • It is unclear whether emergency services for U.S. citizens and emergency visa processing will be available.

As the situation involving the service availability at U.S. Consulates throughout the world continues to evolve, we will update this page as more information becomes available. 

Linda Armstrong
313.983.7476
armstrong@butzel.com

Bushra Malik
248.258.4470
malik@butzel.com

Reggie Pacis
313.983.6929
pacis@butzel.com