The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has updated its website to indicate that U.S. embassies and consulates will begin resuming routine consular services in a phased approach that will occur on a post-by-post basis. The update states that “As post-specific conditions improve, our missions will begin providing additional services, culminating eventually in a complete resumption of routine visa services.”
The DOS notes, however, that it is not able to provide specifics dates for when each consular post will resume specific visa services or when they will again be able to resume processing at full, pre-COVID levels, as these will largely be dictated by local conditions. All posts will continue to provide emergency and mission critical services consistent with what has been provided since the suspension of routine visa services in March 2020.
For further information on the specific services being offered by a consular post, individuals should check that post’s website. Finally, the announcement confirms that the resumption of routine visa services is still limited by the COVID-19 Proclamations, including those restricting travel from certain countries and those put in place under the guise of protecting the U.S. labor market.
D&S will continue to monitor this developing situation and provide updates as they become available.