Our thoughts go out to our clients, colleagues and their families in India as the country struggles with rising COVID-19 rates.
Please be advised that the State Department has updated information regarding U.S. consular post operations in India as a result of the public health situation. Please see https://in.usembassy.gov/visas/.
LAC recommends that individuals who must obtain a visa stamp to return to the U.S. postpone their travel to India if possible. At this time India is not among the countries for which a ban currently applies to non-immigrants returning to the U.S. However, this could change with little notice.
Effective April 22, 2021, Canada has banned passenger flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in that region.
U.S. Consular Post Update: INDIA
Mumbai: Due to rising COVID rates and for the safety and protection of our customers and staff, the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai currently is only providing essential services to U.S. citizens and limited and emergency nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services until further notice.
New Delhi: All U.S. Embassy New Delhi’s in-person visa appointments and interview-waiver appointments are cancelled from April 26 – May 9 in light of current pandemic conditions. We will make every attempt to honor scheduled emergency appointments. If you do not have a scheduled emergency appointment and appear at the embassy during this time, you will be turned away. The New Delhi VAC is able to honor emergency biometrics appointments only. Emergency services for U.S. citizens will continue.
Chennai: All routine services at the U.S. Consulate General Chennai are cancelled from April 26 through May 15th, including all routine non-immigrant visa interview appointments, interview-waiver appointments, and routine American Citizen Services appointments. Emergency appointments will continue to the extent that local conditions allow. If you do not have a scheduled emergency appointment and appear at the consulate during this time, you will be turned away. The Chennai VAC is open for emergency biometrics appointments only.
The consulates in Hyderabad and Kolkata continue to offer limited visa appointments, but may cancel certain appointments as local conditions require. Applicants not notified of an appointment cancellation should plan to attend their interview appointment on the scheduled date and time.
Advisory from Department of State: Due to limited appointment availability, we are currently unable to reschedule any cancelled appointments. We are also unable to speculate on or respond to inquiries regarding potential future cancellations or appointment availability.
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This update was prepared by Fausta M. Albi, Partner, Larrabee Albi Coker LLP.
Legal Disclaimer: This e-blast is provided for informational purposes only and does not substitute for legal advice based on the circumstances of a specific matter. Immigration laws and policies change frequently, often without notice. It is therefore important to seek direct legal counsel based upon individual circumstances.