H1B Visa Lawyer Blog
When there are severe disturbances in countries, such as natural disasters, civil unrest, war, or security concerns, U.S. embassies can be forced to change the manner in which they provide their visa services. Currently, visa services are limited in Cote D’Ivoire, Finland, Montenegro, Netherlands Antilles, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.
The U.S. Embassy Abidjan in Cote D’Ivoire is providing limited nonimmigrant visa services for applicants with emergency travel needs. The U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, Finland is undergoing renovations, but provides the options for appointments to be scheduled at the U.S. Embassy Tallinn in Estonia, while its services are limited. In Montenegro, priority is being given to Montenegrin students, business people, and emergency cases. They too offer appointments elsewhere, namely at the U.S. Embassy Podgorica. The U.S. Consulate General Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles is currently providing nonimmigrant visa services to applicants with Dutch passports, and only those who are applying for certain categories of nonimmigrant visas. For all other nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications, they are being processesd at U.S. Embassy Caracas, Venezuela. The U.S. Consulate General Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is processing A, G, J, F, and B-1/B-2 visas for diplomats and government officials, employees and representatives to international organizations, government sponsored international exchange visitor programs, students, and businesses and tourists, respectively. Immigrant visa services for all residents of the country are provided at U.S. Embassy Riyadh and other nonimmigrant visa categories are being handled at U.S. Embassy Riyadh as well as U.S. Consulate General Dhahran. In Syria, U.S. Embassy Damascus is providing limited immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services.
Visa services are suspended in Minsk, Belarus until further notice, but nonimmigrant visa applicants resident in Belarus may apply in person at these suggested locations: U.S. Embassy Moscow, Russia; U.S. Consulate General St. Petersburg, Russia; U.S. Embassy Warsaw, Poland; U.S. Embassy Kyiv, Ukraine; and U.S. Embassy Vilnius, Lithuania. Similarly, full visa services are suspended until further notice in Asmara, Eritrea, but nonimmigrant visa applications are being processed for limited categories including A, G, F, and J visas for diplomats and government officials, employees and representatives to international organizations, students, and exchange visitors, respectively. Nonimmigrant visa applicants residing in Eritrea may apply in person at these suggested locations: U.S. Embassy Cairo, Egypt, and U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya. Immigrant visa services for residents of the country are provided at the same locations. All visa services are suspended indefinitely at the U.S. Embassy Tripoli, in Libya.
The United States does not have diplomatic relationships with Iran or North Korea, therefore, there are no U.S. embassies or consulates in these countries. Immigrant visas for residents of Iran are processed at: U.S. Embassy Vienna, Austria; U.S. Embassy Ankara, Turkey; U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, Germany (family-based applicants only); and U.S. Consulate General Naples, Italy. North Korea has no designated U.S. embassy or consulate to accept immigrant or nonimmigrant visa applications. U.S. Embassy Beijing, China has generally processed those requests from North Korea because it is the most convenient location.