The Embassy of the United States in Colombia reported, this Monday, April 12, a new update on the visa services and some changes in the procedure to access the document.
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In this case, the modifications are for the non-immigrant visa application. The representative of the embassy, deputy head of Non-Immigrant Visas, indicated in a video how the procedure for scheduling interview appointments will be.
“At this moment there are many Colombians who are traveling to the United States to participate in exchange programs, students and people who are going to work with petition visas.”, explained the diplomat.
Now, the new measures stipulated that in the next 4 or 5 weeks there will be appointments available in the visa classes F, M, H, J, L, P and Owhich correspond to exchange or work programs.
“In the coming months all of our officers will be working every day at the embassy to process these types of visas.”, added the official.
On the other hand, for B1 and B2 visas, which are for business and tourism, are in the processing of documents. “In recent weeks, there were more than 1,000 people every day who were doing their interviews at the embassy”, however, given the high demand, the availability for these appointments is for 2024.
The official also explained that one of the changes in the procedure is the need for an interview for the document. In this sense, there will be people who can start the process without having to attend a face-to-face meeting at the embassy.
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“In the new process, when the person fills out their visa application in our system, the system will say if the person qualifies for the visa without an interview.”, specified the representative of the American embassy.
The embassy also explained that this new system for requesting a visa without an interview implies a delay of two to three months. The previous system consisted of people who have already had a visa of the same class or who are under 14 or over 79, they could apply for an extension.
From now on, the embassy program will offer you an appointment to leave your passport at an office in Bogotá. In this way, the entity will not retain your document for so long.
Likewise, the embassy stressed that the option of sending papers such as the passport through the DHL courier service will no longer exist, but that there will be a wait to leave these documents by means of an appointment.
“We believe that this process will offer a more convenient service for applicants, because their passports will be in the embassy for less time: it is weeks instead of months.”, stands out in the video.
Along with this, for those who completed the visa renewal process with an interview and their passport was withheld, it will be returned to them in maximum two weeks after the encounter.
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The entity also clarified that there is no charge for appointments, as it has been said that in exchange for money, they can be advanced.
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