Visa services suspended, appointments canceled amid changing security situation in Kabul

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul has suspended consular services and canceled visa appointments amid the Taliban’s takeover of the Afghan capital.

Key Points:

• The U.S. Embassy’s consular section has closed, and nonimmigrant visa appointments remain unavailable. Immigrant visa appointments, including for Special Immigrant Visas, have been canceled.
• U.S. citizens in Afghanistan are encouraged to fill out this Repatriation Assistance Request as soon as possible if they wish to depart the country. Spouses and minors of U.S. citizens can also complete the form.
• Immigrant visa applicants should continue monitoring official U.S. government websites, including travel.state.gov, for information. Immigrant visa applicants who are outside of Afghanistan may request to have their cases transferred to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for processing. Such requests can be submitted to the National Visa Center by competing this form.
• Afghan nationals who are eligible for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) are encouraged to submit an application, if they have not already done so, to the National Visa Center (AfghanSIVapplication@state.gov). Information on the SIV process is available on this State Department website.

BAL Analysis: The State Department says the security situation in Afghanistan “continues to change quickly,” including at the airport in Kabul. U.S. citizens in Afghanistan are encouraged to monitor the State Department’s Travel Advisories and U.S. Embassy website. BAL will continue to follow the situation in Afghanistan and will provide updates on important immigration and travel developments as information becomes available.

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

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