United States | Visa services suspended in Haiti

The U.S. State Department announced the suspension of routine visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince on April 15.

Key Points:

• The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has suspended routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments until further notice and is only accepting expedited nonimmigrant visa appointments for:
  • Life-or-death medical emergencies (with proof of travel plans).
  • Facilitating travel for a child with a confirmed USCIS naturalization interview appointment based on a Form N-600K. Instructions to submit an online request for an expedited NIV appointment can be found here.
• Nonimmigrant visa applicants may apply at any embassy or consulate where they are physically present and where appointments are available. A list of embassies and consulates can be found here. Applicants can request an expedited appointment once an interview has been scheduled but must describe the unique circumstances that justify such a request.
• Routine immigrant visa appointments are also suspended until further notice. Officials advise immigrant visa applicants able to travel to another U.S. embassy or consulate that processes immigrant visas to remain in that country for the duration of their visa processing and consider requesting the transfer of their case from U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince. Instructions can be found here.
• The American Citizen Services Unit in the Consular Section continues to provide services for U.S. citizens in Haiti.

Additional Information: Haitian nationals in the U.S. are reminded that the extended Temporary Protected Status re-registration period for existing beneficiaries runs through Aug. 3, 2024. The extension allows for the submission of Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, any time before Aug. 3.

BAL Analysis: The visa suspensions were implemented because of escalating gang violence in Port-au-Prince after a series of coordinated attacks initiated on Feb. 29 resulted in civil unrest and a government breakdown. The airport remains closed. BAL will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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