COVID-19: Visa appointments limited in India, Mexico and the UK

U.S. embassies and consulates abroad continue to operate at a reduced capacity due to COVID-19, with U.S. consulates in India, Mexico and the United Kingdom among those that have recently announced new or extended service limitations.

India:

• Due to the suspension of nonimmigrant travel from India, routine nonimmigrant-visa appointments and Visa Application Center appointments remain extremely limited at the U.S. embassy and consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
• Effective on June 7, the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai is reopening Immigrant Visa Unit appointments for:
  • Rescheduling of canceled appointments.
  • SB-1 status and visa applications.
  • Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) services (boarding foil).
  • Reissuance of expired visas.
  • K applications.
• For additional updates, please check the U.S. embassy website.

Mexico:

• Routine visa appointments are being canceled and are not currently available for applicants who are not ordinarily residents in Mexico.
• Immigration visa units in Mexico cannot grant expedited appointments for applicants who are currently located in the U.S.
• U.S.-based applicants who want to extend their legal stay should contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services here.

United Kingdom:

• The U.S. Embassy in London has canceled routine appointments that were not previously approved for an expedited appointment from August to October 2021, including appointments for B1 and B2 visas.
• Applicants whose appointments were canceled can request any regular appointment available on the calendar portal and then make a request for an expedited appointment as eligible for National Interest Exemption (NIE).
• The latest U.S. visa information for those from the U.K. can be found here.

BAL Analysis: Consulates continue to operate at reduced capacity, and applicants should expect significant delays in obtaining visa appointments. Foreign nationals should continue to consult their BAL professional before planning international travel.

​​​This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.