Brokers are unable to get appointments for purchasers earlier than August 2023
People with US visas that expired inside the final 4 years will be capable to request for an interview waiver, in accordance with US embassy officers. “Anybody who has a visa that expired inside the final 4 years will be capable to renew by mail and usually gained’t want to return in for an interview,” mentioned Jonathan Webster, Consul Basic, US Embassy Abu Dhabi.
Beforehand, solely people who had a visa that expired inside the previous 12 months have been in a position to renew by mail. Chatting with Khaleej Instances on the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Webster mentioned this will likely be useful to those that have a journey historical past to the US.
“We hope that can actually profit common vacationers to america and enterprise vacationers who could regularly go to,” he mentioned. “We then work to course of these visas inside a matter of weeks.”
First time vacationers
Webster additionally confirmed that first time vacationer visa candidates can anticipate to get appointments in August 2023. “The wait time could also be substantial, even as much as one 12 months,” he mentioned. “We have already got appointments filling up in August 2023. Nonetheless, we urge everybody to examine usually as a result of typically there are openings a lot sooner because of cancellations or rescheduling. The visa utility web site is absolutely the perfect buddy for anybody trying to get a visa.”
A number of journey brokers talking to Khaleej Instances additionally confirmed that they’ve been unable to get US visa appointments for his or her purchasers earlier than August subsequent 12 months.
The US mission is engaged on decreasing the delays and clearing the backlog. “Identical to different industrial institutions, we have been impacted in the course of the pandemic,” mentioned Webster. “When it comes to workers, we struggled to fill a few of our positions for a while. However we’re returning to full ranges of staffing, and we hope to course of a minimum of 100,000 nonimmigrant visas by the tip of this 12 months in between our consulate in Dubai and embassy in Abu Dhabi. This is able to be at par with our pre-pandemic ranges.”
Quick monitor providers
These trying to journey to the USA urgently for medical causes will likely be given the choice to request fast-track providers. “We’re actually pleased with our position in facilitating medical journey and healthcare visits at US hospitals,” mentioned Webster.
Moreover, college students trying to research within the US and people who must attend essential enterprise conferences will likely be given expedited providers.
The one phrase of warning that Webster has for vacationers on the lookout for a visa is to use early. “We regularly hear from individuals who submit their utility only a few days earlier than their journey plans,” he mentioned. “It’s exhausting to allow them to realize it gained’t occur. So if individuals can plan forward and schedule early, that’s the finest wager. Additionally, we encourage individuals to examine in the event that they meet the necessities of expedited journey and in the event that they achieve this, to use for it.”
Along with issuing vacationer visas, the embassy additionally gives a variety of providers to US residents and gives immigrant visas to the US. These providers are performing at full stage of capability.
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