Immigration Alert: Visa Processing Suspended Or Restricted At U.S. Embassy And All U.S. Consulates In Mexico

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

...