As a result of the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam, and subsequent security concerns at Embassies Tirana and Islamabad, visa processing is suspended or curtailed. In addition, the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa is closed because of local civil unrest. In an effort to handle emergency immigrant visa (IV) cases that were being processed by U.S. Embassies in Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRoC) and Albania, several posts have offered their services to help process these cases. (Kenya cases include nationals from countries formerly served by U.S. Embassy Nairobi for IV purposes, i.e., Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros.) The following information provides details concerning visa processing at the posts most affected. Unless specifically directed otherwise, all inquiries to these posts should be from the visa applicants themselves; third party inquiries will slow down the processing.
It is the responsibility of the U.S. visa applicant to make necessary travel arrangements, and to obtain permission to enter and stay in any third country until processing is completed. Many countries require entry visas for third country nationals. The U.S. visa applicant must contact the local embassy of the country to which s/he wishes to travel to determine if there are visa requirements and how to apply.
VOLUNTEER IV POSTS
IV emergency cases from Kenya/Tanzania: Addis Ababa, Harare, Johannesburg.
IV emergency cases from DRoCongolese: Yaounde.
IV emergency cases from Albanian: Athens.
EXAMPLES OF EMERGENCY IV CASES:
- DV-98 for Kenya, Tanzania, DROC/Zaire, Albania cases,
- IV applicants who have current priority dates if the applicant is unmarried and
about to turn 21 years of age,
- orphan adoption cases,
- fiancee cases, and
- urgent family reunification cases (to be determined on a case-by-case basis by the
accepting post).
WHAT EMERGENCY IV APPLICANTS SHOULD DO
Emergency IV applicants should contact the third country post BEFORE traveling. If the case is accepted at a volunteer post, the post will contact the National Visa Center (NVC) and request reconstruction of the case and transmittal of information needed for processing. If the case cannot be accepted at the volunteer post, the applicant will be advised to consider traveling to another third country post and request processing there. Such applicants should present their appointment letter from the home post or proof of a current, pending IV case, and all required documents.
The Embassy is closed to all visa processing. Third party inquiries are discouraged. NIV applicants may go to any open U.S. visa-issuing post. IV applicants must fall under the above-mentioned emergency categories and may be processed in Athens or any other post where they can travel. Non-emergency IV applicants should wait until further notice.
CAMEROON, Yaounde
First time DV applicants from DRofCongo should be at the Consular Section
8 am Mondays. Those who are turned down for further documentation may come in
Tuesdays with additional information. Emergency IV and DV cases can also call (237)
22-17-94 after 2 pm Monday-Friday. Callers from Kenya/Tanzania should specifically
identify themselves so post can assist in providing information on documentation. Cases
will be given expedited appointments.
Hours - NIV: Wednesday through Friday, 8-11 am; IV: Monday and Tuesday, 8 am-12 noon
CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF, Kinshasa
The Embassy is closed to all visa processing. Third party inquiries are discouraged. NIV applicants may go to any open U.S. visa-issuing post. IV applicants must fall under the above-mentioned categories and may be processed in Yaounde or any other post where they can travel. Non-emergency IV applicants should wait until further notice.
ETHIOPIA, Addis Ababa
Emergency cases from Kenya/Tanzania may just show up; given poor phone lines,
calling is not necessary. Visitors should clearly identify themselves as Kenyan/Tanzanian
cases to guards and staff. Expedited handling will fit cases into appointment system.
Hours - NIV and IV - Monday through Friday, 8-10 am
GREECE, Athens
Albanian DV, fiance(e), and emergency IV applicants should contact the immigrant visa unit, preferably by fax at (30)(1) 725-3025 or e-mail at consul@ibm.net. People who must phone may do so, but please only between 2-4:00 pm Athens time at (30)(1)720-2451. General inquiries are taken at the IV counter between 8:30 am-12 noon, but post strongly encourages applicants to communicate by fax or phone before coming in. Once a case is accepted for processing, post will provide instructions and an appointment.
Albanian citizens need visas for Greece. The Embassy cannot intervene with Greek authorities to obtain Greek visas for potential applicants. Applicants who successfully enter Greece without Greek visas are likely to be detained upon attempting to depart Greece.
NIV applicants from Albania should appear during regular hours; there is no
appointment system. If the NIV is approved, the visaed passport may be picked up two
working days later.
Hours - NIV: Monday through Friday, 8-11 am; IV: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8:30 am
KENYA, Nairobi
The Embassy is closed to all visa processing. Third party inquiries are discouraged. NIV applicants may go to open U.S. visa-issuing post. IV applicants must fall under the above-mentioned categories and may be processed in Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Harare, or any other post where they can travel. Non-emergency IV applicants should wait until further notice.
PAKISTAN, Islamabad
The Embassy has drawn down for security reasons and all visa processing is on an extremely limited basis. Immigrant visa services are suspended indefinitely, except for emergency cases. Nonimmigrant visa applicants will be taken by appointment only, except for properly documented (I-20/IAP-66) student and exchange visitor visa applicants who may walk in to apply between 8-10 am, Monday-Friday. To make an appointment, call (011-92-51) 276861, 277320, 826627 or 826696 only from 9am-12 noon, Monday-Friday. Appointments will not be scheduled for more than 30 days in advance. All local and TCS dropbox services and requirements remain unchanged.
SOUTH AFRICA, Johannesburg
DV and emergency IV cases from Kenya and Tanzania should contact the IV unit at 27-11-646-6900 in advance of arrival if they want to process in Johannesburg. Callers should identify themselves as from those countries. If the staff is not available, leave a voice mail. They may also fax case details to 27-11-646-6913 to get a head start. General IV inquiries, not case specific, may be made in person.
NIV applicants from Kenya and Tanzania should appear during regular hours;
there is no appointment system. Applicants should identify themselves as having come
down from Kenya/Tanzania and should plan to return the following day to pick up their
visaed passports. NOTE: NIV is closed to the public on the last business day of each
month (8/31, 9/30, 10/30).
Hours - NIV - Monday through Friday, 8:30-11:30 am; IV - Interviews on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8:30 am,
Filing petitions - Wednesday am; Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri at 2-2:30 pm,
221 (g) and Overcomes - Wednesday
TANZANIA, Dar Es Salaam
The Embassy is closed to all visa processing. Third party inquiries are discouraged. NIV applicants may go to any open U.S. visa-issuing post. IV applicants must fall under the above-mentioned categories and may be processed in Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Harare, or any other post where they can travel. Non-emergency IV applicants should wait until further notice.
UGANDA, Kampala
Third party inquiries are discouraged. The Embassy is not an IV processing post. However, it is providing nonimmigrant visa services to Ugandans and third country nationals, particularly Kenyans and Tanzanians, who are scheduled specially between 1:30-3:30 pm, Monday-Friday. As of now, the post is able to schedule most appointments for the next business day. TCN applicants must go to the Embassy directly and obtain an appointment in person. Please do not have a third party contact post for an appointment.
ZIMBABWE, Harare
DV and emergency IV cases from Kenya and Tanzania should contact the IV unit at 263-4-794-521, ext. 232 in advance of arrival if they want to process in Harare. Callers should identify themselves as being from those countries. If the staff is not available, leave a voice mail. They may also fax case details to 263-4-796-488.
NIV applicants from Kenya and Tanzania should appear during regular hours;
there is no appointment system.
Hours - NIV - Monday through Friday, 8 am-12 noon; IV - Monday through Thursday, 2-4 pm
NIV SERVICES
There are no specific posts designated to handle NIVs for applicants from countries where visa services are curtailed or suspended due to security or other concerns. Applicants may apply at any NIV-processing U.S. Embassy or Consulate where they are physically present. All posts have been asked to be responsive to third country national NIV applicants from affected countries. NIV applicants should not contact posts before traveling unless specifically told to do so in the above material.