In general, all foreign nationals who wish to enter the United States must obtain a visa. And to make an appointment for a US Visa appointment in 2020, you will need to attend a pre-scheduled visa appointment at a US embassy or consulate near you.
However, since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, there have been certain changes regarding the booking of 2020 US visa appointments at US Embassies and Consulates around the world. In an effort to ensure the safety of residents and visitors, the United States government has implemented a number of restrictions and restrictions on visa issuance and entry into the country. If you have not been to the United States in a while, you will need to familiarize yourself with the current visa processing. This article gives you a comprehensive guide to making an S visa appointment in 2020.
How to Apply for a US Visa Appointment Appointment 2020
You will need to start your US visa application online, complete some documents, and then conduct an in-person interview at the embassy. The following are the necessary procedures.
Complete Form DS-160 of the Nonimmigrant Petition
All U.S. visa applicants, including children, must complete their own Form DS-160 visa application. The form must be filled out and submitted online. This is the first step to getting an appointment for a US visa. You can access the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-160 on this website. You must digitally sign to confirm that all information in the form is accurate and true. Misrepresentation in your application may result in visa refusal. Here are some tips for filling out the DS-160.
- You will be asked to choose a location for your interview. It is best to choose your country as the location for the interview. The location selected will be the location where your interview will be scheduled.
- Answer all questions in English only
- Once completed, the DS-160 will generate a confirmation page with a barcode. You must print the confirmation page and keep it, as it will be needed for your visa interview later.
Paying the US visa application fee
You must also pay a visa application fee before you can make an appointment for a US visa. You can do this by creating a user account on the website and providing certain personal information to complete the account creation. Other details for creating an account include your DS-160 confirmation number and the address where you want the embassy to send your documents after the whole process.
After setting up your account, you will be able to pay using any of the payment methods accepted on the site. Visa fees vary widely depending on the exact nonimmigrant visa you are applying for.
Schedule and participate Make a US Visa Appointment 2020
Usually, after completing the DS-160 form and paying, you will be able to schedule a visa appointment. You can complete your US visa appointment by scheduling an interview based on the waiting times available on the embassy or consulate’s website. And when the scheduled date arrives, you will attend your interview there.
If, after the interview, your application is approved, you will receive a visa to travel to the United States. When you land at a US airport or border, you’ll go through certain immigration checks with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). If you are granted entry by a CBP official, you will be allowed to enter the United States
However, this normal process may not be straightforward at this time due to current changes imposed by COVID-19 at US embassies and consulates worldwide. Here are some current US visa appointment scheduling procedures.
Coronavirus-induced changes to US Visa Appointment Booking in 2020
Your ability to get a US visa appointment in 2020 largely depends on the type of visa you are applying for and your location. At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the United States had various restrictions, banning and restricting foreigners from entering the country. In the early stages, the restrictions were largely country-based, banning entry from countries that were the epicenter of the virus outbreak. As the pandemic dragged on, there was a flurry of follow-up updates and about those permanent restrictions. Notable among them is the restriction based on certain visas. Many of these changes are still in effect while some have been revised to accommodate the current pandemic situation.
Make an appointment for a US Visa 2020 by country
The US country-specific coronavirus travel bans are notably in five geographic locations, namely China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Brazil. If you are applying for a visa from any of these countries, you may face certain difficulties due to current restrictive statements. According to the statements, there will be restrictions or restrictions on entry for people who have been to any of these locations 14 days before they enter or attempt to enter the United States. was done for them.
Schedule a US Visa Appointment 2020 Based on Visa Classification
On June 22, 2020, President Trump signed An announcement temporarily suspending issuance of immigrant and non-immigrant visas until the end of the year. Most work visas, student visas, as well as tourist and business visas are affected. In addition to safety reasons, one of the reasons given for this change is to protect the work and rights of American workers. However, for all of these visa bans, there are certain national interest exemptions for eligible applicants. In other words, even if there are restrictions on the visa you are applying for, your visa application may still be approved if you meet those conditions. The same applies to country-specific restrictions.
National Interest Waiver for US Visa Application
You can still make an appointment to apply for a US visa in 2020 even if the category you are applying for is generally prohibited. This privilege is in line with the US national exemptions, which remove restrictions on travelers entering for the benefit of the country. If you apply for a visa, officials at the embassy will review the purpose of your travel and decide whether it is in the national interest of the United States. And if they deem you eligible, you will be granted a visa and allow you to enter the United States.
- The purpose of your entry into the United States is important to U.S. law enforcement, diplomacy, defense, and national security.
- You are entering the United States to provide healthcare to people infected with coronavirus and are currently hospitalized.
- Your participation is deemed necessary for the economic recovery of the United States.
In addition, on May 22, DHS has issued a waiver, as a follow-up update to the above exemptions. This has given certain privileges to some foreign athletes from Iran, China, the Schengen Area, Ireland and the UK. The exemption is for those who compete in professional sporting events and their immediate relatives and support staff.
The July 22 waiver update also applies to international students from certain countries. The statement reads, “Students traveling from the Schengen Area, UK and Ireland with valid F-1 and M-1 visas do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an overseas visa. private national interest to travel.” In other words, if you have a valid US student visa, you may be eligible for a national interest exemption and be allowed to enter the US. However, if you reapply, you may still be eligible, but you must first contact the embassy or consulate to determine your eligibility.
Also, if you are traveling for business purposes, you may still be eligible for a visa. But you will need to check with the embassy first.
You can also get premium service and help with your app by subscribing to Premium US visa appointment service.
Guide to Schedule an Appointment for a US Visa 2020
Before you begin the visa application process, you should first contact the US embassy or consulate in your country of residence. They will give you information about that visa status and your eligibility for it. You will also learn how to make the application process consistent with current changes.