"Some consulates don't have appointments available for many months, typically consulates in large cities that generally handle more visa requests," she noted. "Many consulates continue to have a shortage of available appointments for routine visa services, so employees can still get stuck overseas if there are no appointments available," Borovska said. "In some categories, such as if the employee is directed to schedule a 221g appointment, there are simply no appointments available at some consulates." Mdivani is advising foreign nationals to not travel abroad, if it can be avoided. "We see progress in places such as Chennai,, where DOL reduced appointment wait time to 120 days for visitor visas and 60 for all others, but not in Mumbai,, where the wait for an appointment is 248 days or Vancouver,, at 420 days." "The Department of State clearly is trying to come up with solutions, such as allowing more employment-based visa applications, such as H-1B, to be adjudicated without in-person appointment through a drop-box process," Mdivani said. Then they must visit consulates for a 221g appointment. in order to return.Īs those with visas in their passports are boarding planes to return, they sometimes are stopped and told there's a problem with their documents. Those with approved positions who don't have a visa on their passport must go to a consulate abroad after they leave the U.S. "One cannot underestimate the impact that war conditions have by creating uncertainty and confusion when it comes to planning," said David Grunblatt, an attorney with Fragomen in New York City.Įven before the war, foreign national employees were getting stranded overseas if they did not qualify for a visa interview waiver, Borovska said. Consulates in Poland, Moldova and the U.K. "Everyone needs to be prepared for a squeeze on consulates in Europe," said Mira Mdivani, an attorney with Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm in Overland Park, Kan. These consulates will have to process additional cases from affected areas, she said. The Ukraine war could affect the processing times at consulates closest to Ukraine and Russia, said Yova Borovska, an attorney with Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney in Tampa, Fla.
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