Venezuelan consular services unavailable in US

IMPACT – HIGH

Venezuelan consular services have been suspended in the U.S.

Key points:

• The Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, D.C. has posted a notice to its website indicating there will be no consular services at that location until further notice.
• Other Venezuelan consulates have been reported closed and applicants in the U.S. should expect a suspension in consular services.
• The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory warning U.S. citizens against traveling to Venezuela.

Background: Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro announced Jan. 23 he was cutting diplomatic ties with the U.S. and expelling all U.S. consular staff. The following day he announced that the Venezuelan Embassy and all consulates in the U.S. would be closed.

BAL Analysis: Applicants in the U.S. seeking Venezuelan consular services, including U.S. nationals and others applying for Venezuelan visas as well as Venezuelan nationals seeking travel documents from their embassy or consulates in the U.S., should anticipate a potentially lengthy suspension in services and plan accordingly.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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