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January 3, 2003
U.S. Embassy Caracas, Venezuela to Suspend Non-Immigrant Visa Processing
on January 20, 2003
The U.S. Embassy in Caracas has reported the closure of the non-immigrant
visa section of the Embassy beginning January 20, 2003. According to the
press statement, the decision is a result of a reduction in staff. (All
non-essential staff and family members were placed on ordered departure
status on December 20, 2002 because of the current political climate.) This
means routine nonimmigrant visa applications (i.e. B, H, O, L visas etc.)
will not be accepted or processed until further notice.
Beginning January 20, the non-immigrant visa section will only accept
visa applications for high-level Venezuelan officials and diplomats, third-country
diplomats who are accredited to Venezuela, the spouses and minor children
of U.S. citizens who wish to depart Venezuela temporarily, and documented
emergency humanitarian and medical cases.
All visa appointments scheduled after January 20th have been
suspended and applicants will be notified of their rescheduled date when
the visa section reopens. If this suspension will affect your visa processing
please contact Greenberg Traurig to discuss your options and determine what
U.S. consulate will be able to process the visa.
For more information please visit the embassy’s
website. GT will
continue to provide updates as they become available.
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