Good News For Applicants With Pending Visa Interviews From US Embassy
The consular section of the US Embassy in Accra has resumed the routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing following the reopening of their borders on the 8th November. But the question keeps popping up “what are the new rules for applying for a visa to the United States”? This is what the US embassy in Ghana has for applicant who could not attend their appointment before the pandemic struck the world.
In order to carry out worldwide prioritization guidance for consular services and to provide efficient and equitable availability of visa interviews, it may be occasionally necessary for the consular section to reschedule some appointments already on the calendar for the coming weeks and months.
Applicants affected by these actions will receive an email or text message with notice of appointment cancellation from the website that contains instructions on how to reschedule their appointment for a future date. Applicants with a qualifying need for urgent travel should follow the instructions below to request an expedited appointment.
Immigrant Visas (IV):
Immigrant Visa (IV) applications are processed according to worldwide prioritization guidance. Travel restrictions and operational constraints caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a backlog of IV cases. Recognizing how this backlog affects all of the thousands of families waiting for reunification, the consular section is not able to approve most requests for expedited IV processing, and instead works to process all cases according to their priority date.
The consular section and the National Visa Center will notify IV applicants well in advance of their scheduled interview. After receiving notification of a scheduled interview, please review and follow the provided instructions carefully to avoid delays in processing.
Nonimmigrant Visas (NIV):
Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) applications are processed for students, temporary workers, and for the traveler’s emergency medical care via expedite requests at USTravelDocs.com. Appointments for interview are subject to operational capacity and worldwide prioritization guidance.
The consular section cannot guarantee an interview date prior to any program’s start date, even with an approved expedite request. Students unable to secure an interview date before their program’s start date should work with their academic institution to update the permitted start date in SEVIS or defer initial enrollment to a later semester.
If you are a citizen or resident of Ghana who has been issued any class of nonimmigrant U.S. visa after turning 14 years of age, you may be eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview for your F, M, or J student visa application. Read here for details and visit https://ustraveldocs.com/gh/ for steps to submit your applications.
Visa holders in possession of a still valid or expired B1/B2 visa are encouraged to apply for a renewal via the Interview Waiver Program. Appointments for routine nonimmigrant visa interviews, including B1/B2 “tourist” or “visitor” visa interviews, are acutely limited and applicants should expect lengthy waiting periods for routine appointments. Expedited interview requests for business, tourism, or family visitation travel are not being considered for emergency appointments at this time.
Recommended reading……..How To Acquire A 5 Year Tourist Visa To The U.S.A
We understand that many visa applicants have paid the visa application processing fee and are still waiting to schedule a visa appointment. The validity of your nonimmigrant visa payment (known as the MRV fee) has been extended until September 30, 2023, to allow all applicants the opportunity to schedule and attend a visa appointment with the already paid fee.
The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
What do you make of these new rules from the US Embassy in Ghana? Kindly leave it in the comment section.
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