Immigration Alert: Visa Processing Suspended or Restricted at U.S. Embassy and All U.S. Consulates in Mexico
4/29/2009
The Department of State recently announced that it was suspending all non-essential nonimmigrant visa appointments scheduled between April 27 and May 5, 2009 in response to the coordinated efforts to stem the spread of the recent influenza outbreak, and the Center For Disease Control’s subsequent travel advisory recommending that U.S. citizens limit travel to Mexico. The offsite visa appointment scheduling center has announced that it will be calling or emailing everyone with a scheduled visa appointment between those dates to reschedule for some time after May 5. Individuals with appointments who have not yet heard from the visa scheduling center can call 01-800-719-2525 to reschedule their appointments without charge. Individuals with emergency visa issues are encouraged to email visas_mexico@state.gov for assistance.
In addition to the suspension of all non-essential nonimmigrant visa appointments at all U.S. Consulates in Mexico, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City has also announced that it will be limiting its services for U.S. citizens to citizenship requests (passports and consular reports of birth abroad, or CRBAs) and emergency assistance only, and are strongly encouraging individuals with passport or CRBA appointments to reschedule if at all possible. The Federal Benefits Unit is also encouraging all persons to postpone interviews on Social Security claims.
The U.S. Embassy will post additional information as it becomes available at www.usembassy-mexico.gov. American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/.
For assistance in this area, please contact one of the attorneys listed below or any member of your Mintz Levin client service team.
Susan J. Cohen
Chair‚ Immigration Section
(617) 348-4468
SCohen@mintz.com
Jeffrey W. Goldman
Manager‚ Immigration Section
(617) 348-3025
JGoldman@mintz.com
Reena I. Thadhani
(617) 348-3091
RThadhani@mintz.com
Molly Carey
(617) 348-4461
MCarey@mintz.com
William L. Coffman
(617) 348-1890
WCoffman@mintz.com
Brian J. Coughlin
(617) 348-1685
BJCoughlin@mintz.com
Lorne M. Fienberg
(617) 348-3010
LFienberg@mintz.com
Marisa C. Howe
(617) 348-1761
MHowe@mintz.com
Bethany S. Mandell
(617) 348-4403
BSMandell@mintz.com
Timothy P. Rempe
(617) 348-1621
TRempe@mintz.com
