Waiting for a US visa? Well, the wait will get longer

January to May appointments would gradually open up from either by this month end or in December but warned that numbers would be much lower than in the past

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

The US has removed travel restrictions to the country from India on November 8 but getting a visa to visit the US is a far cry. A senior diplomat, Donald L Heflin, the minister counselor for consular affairs that is in charge of issuing visas, has clarified that January to May appointments would gradually open up from either by this month end or in December but warned that numbers would be much lower than in the past.

While those with valid visas can travel immediately, those who require visas will have to wait. In December and January, the focus will be on F-1 (student) and H & L (employment) visa, followed by B-1/B-2 drop box cases. But wait times will be long.

“At the visa offices and consulates, the buildings were not designed with such social distancing norms in mind. Ditto for submission of drop box applications. Appointments have to be taken and that will take time because fewer appointments will be issued to ensure distancing norms are maintained and everyone is safe. For the foreseeable future, we will do significantly less number of visas and drop box cases.”

— Donald L Heflin

Explaining the reason for the delay, Heflin said the distancing regulations in several states and local governments needed to be followed.

“At the visa offices and consulates, the buildings were not designed with such social distancing norms in mind. Ditto for submission of drop box applications. Appointments have to be taken and that will take time because fewer appointments will be issued to ensure distancing norms are maintained and everyone is safe. For the foreseeable future, we will do significantly less number of visas and drop box cases,” he said.

************************************************************************

Readers

These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.

Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world.  We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.

Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.

In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.

For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com