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IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? A high volume of requests for legalization and apostillizations is causing delays for these services.
What does the change mean? Individuals requesting legalization or apostillization from Venezuelan ministries or consular missions should anticipate longer wait times of several days at each ministry. In particular, nationals of countries that are not part of the Hague Convention must go through three steps, which will lead to delays of several weeks.
Background: Nationals of non-Hague Convention countries must obtain legalization through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs and the consulate.
The high volume of requests apparently stems from a large number of Venezuelan nationals migrating abroad.
BAL Analysis: Employers and foreign nationals should leave more time for this process in the document preparation stage of their applications.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Venezuela. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2016 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.
IMPACT – HIGH
What is the change? Venezuela will hold parliamentary elections Dec. 6, following which, possible changes to government posts may cause delays in processing.
What does the change mean? Applicants are encouraged to plan for longer timelines and, where possible, to file applications early so they may obtain necessary visas or permits before December.
Background: The election will determine seats in the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional), a majority of which are currently occupied by President Nicolás Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela.
BAL Analysis: Employers are strongly encouraged to finalize all applications as early as possible.
What is the change? Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stopped accepting petitions for criminal background checks due to internal reorganization.
What does the change mean? People living in Venezuela who are trying to obtain visas or work permits for countries that require criminal background checks have had their processing delayed. It is unclear when the ministry will begin accepting petitions again.
Background: Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stopped accepting petitions for criminal background checks about two months ago. No reason was given, though the change appears to be due to internal reorganization. It is unclear when the ministry will begin accepting the petitions again. In the meantime, people who live in Venezuela who need a criminal background check should expect delays.
Other Ministry of Foreign Affairs services – such as the legalization and apostilization processes – have not changed dramatically, but remain relatively slow. Legalization and apostilization of documents required for visas and work permits currently takes about five weeks, sometimes longer.
BAL Analysis: Policies vary from country to country regarding whether criminal background checks are required from people living in Venezuela. In some cases, background checks are required even for people who lived in Venezuela years ago. The Ministry of Interior’s refusal to accept petitions for background checks has delayed visa and work permit processing for many people, and it is unclear when processing will resume.
This alert has been provided by BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Venezuela. For additional information please contact your BAL attorney.
What is the change? Venezuela has issued stringent visa requirements for U.S. nationals applying for tourist visas.
What does the change mean? The new provisions follow Venezuela’s decision to revoke visa-exempt status for American visitors. Applicants should prepare to submit extensive documentation and leave ample time to apply for visas. American business travelers, who previously relied on the visa waiver to make certain business trips to Venezuela, now must apply for a visa.
Background: President Nicolás Maduro announced in late February that Venezuela would no longer extend visa-exempt status to American visitors and would reduce the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Venezuela subsequently spelled out its specifications for Americans traveling to the country for tourism.
Visa requirements include a passport with at least six months of validity remaining; one passport-sized photo; proof of employment; documents demonstrating ownership of a home, other valuable property or a leasing contract; a bank statement with current balance or a notarized letter from a person or group that will cover the costs of the applicant’s visit; a copy of the applicant’s flight itinerary; and a $30 money order payable to the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
U.S. nationals interested in obtaining a tourist visa must apply in person at consulates in Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco or Washington, D.C. Venezuelan officials recommend submitting applications at least three months ahead of planned departure.
Those with preexisting or emergency travel plans should provide an explanatory letter describing why they need an expedited visa. Whether such requests will be approved may depend on the individual consulate officer.
The change not only affects tourists, but also some business travelers. Previously, business travelers didn’t need a visa for some business trips, including trips to sign contracts, visit potential business partners or attend conferences. Business travelers now must obtain a visa.
In the meantime, diplomatic and political sparring between the two governments continued this week. President Barack Obama issued an executive order Monday declaring Venezuela an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security” and imposing sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials. Maduro subsequently sought to secure expanded powers that would allow him to take action against threats to Venezuela.
BAL Analysis: The visa processes that have been put in place – including the requirement for extensive documentation, in-person applications and up to a three-month processing time – make traveling to Venezuela significantly more challenging. U.S. business travelers may be able to use the tourist visa for quick business trips; frequent travelers or longer business trips may require a business visa. Contact your BAL representative to determine the best option.
IMPACT – LOW
What is the change? Venezuela is no longer extending visa-exempt status to American visitors and will reduce the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.
What does the change mean? American citizens must apply for tourist visas at their nearest Venezuelan consulate and fulfill all visa requirements before traveling, including greater documentation and payment of new government visa fees.
Background: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the new restrictions Feb. 27.
In addition to removing Americans from the list of travelers who are visa-exempt, the new rules will impose visa fees on American tourists and limit the number of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Maduro said the measures reciprocate the fees (US$160) Venezuelans pay to apply for visas to enter the U.S. Previously, Americans could enter Venezuela visa-free for up to 90 days.
Relations between the two countries have soured as they continue to exchange accusations. Maduro has blamed Venezuela’s domestic instability on American meddling. In 2002, former president Hugo Chavez fingered former president George W. Bush for being behind a coup attempt that ousted him from power for 48 hours.
The U.S. recently banned several top Venezuelan officials accused of human rights abuses from traveling to the U.S. In response, Maduro will also ban a number of American politicians from entering Venezuela, including Bush, former vice president Dick Cheney, former CIA director George Tenet and Congress members Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Robert Menendez and Marco Rubio.
BAL Analysis: America travelers will have to allow more time before travel to complete the consular visa process, while Venezuelan nationals should anticipate significantly longer lines and slower processing of visa applications to the U.S.
What is the change? New regulations mandate that all travelers to and from Venezuela show proof of medical and travel insurance.
What does the change mean? Travelers must demonstrate to airlines and other transportation carriers that they are covered for medical expenses and travel losses during their stay.
Background: The regulations require all travelers to have medical insurance covering expenses for any accidents or diseases, with a minimum coverage of 26,500 SDRs (Special drawing rights), equivalent to approximately US$40,000, and travel insurance for loss or damage of baggage with minimum coverage of 600 SDRs, or roughly US$900. The insurance must remain valid for at least 45 days.
Airlines are required to check the insurance coverage of passengers leaving Venezuela beginning on March 30, and for passengers entering Venezuela starting May 1. Other types of transportation carriers will be required to check passengers’ insurance coverage as of May 1.
BAL Analysis: The new rules may impact cost for travelers who otherwise would not have medical or travel coverage.