14 July 2020

On July 11, 2020, the Department of State announced via Twitter that US Embassies and Consulates abroad “may begin the phased resumption of routine visa services depending on local conditions,” beginning on July 15, 2020.

Will the US Embassy or Consulate in my country begin moving forward with visa appointments on July 15?
The Department of State announced that the reopening of US Embassies and Consulates for nonimmigrant visa services will depend on the local conditions in each country so each post is likely to have its own individual reopening plan. As of July 13, 2020, only a handful of US Embassies and Consulates have publicly announced they will resume visa services (with some limitations) on July 15. The countries where US Embassies and Consulates have announced the date nonimmigrant visa services will resume include Austria, Bermuda, Greece, Jamaica, Mauritius, Thailand and Seychelles. Some posts are only accepting student visa appointments (F, M or J visas) and others are moving forward with appointments for certain business categories. The majority of US Embassies and Consulates abroad have not publicly announced when they plan to resume routine visa services, but we can expect dates to be revealed in the coming days and weeks.

Will appointments resume for the visa category to which I am applying?
As of July 13, 2020 it appears that applications for student visas (F, M or J) and those who may benefit the US economy, such as E treaty traders or investors, will be prioritized during the first phase of the resumption of visa services. The Presidential Proclamation of June 22, 2020 which extended the immigrant visa ban and banned visa issuance for L, H-1B, H-2B, and some categories of J-1 and their dependents continues to be in effect.

Additionally, the Presidential Proclamations suspending entry into the US of those physically present in China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brazil are still in effect and will remain so until revoked.  Any traveller who has been in one of these counties in the prior 14 day period may not enter the US.

Please see our previous updates on the June 22, 2020 and April 22, 2020 Presidential Proclamations for more information.

Get in touch
For answers to US immigration queries following the COVID-19 outbreak or for further information on recent and forthcoming changes to US immigration law, visit the COVID-19 FAQs on our website, or contact your assigned LDA lawyer or enquiries@lauradevine.com.