By Dev B. Viswanath, Esq., the public charge rule was stopped because of the pandemic.
Dev Banad Viswanath, Esq.'s limited reopening of Indian consulates
The Covid 19 pandemic caused a huge mess all over the world, including visa processing in the United States. On August 17, 2020, consular sections at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and Consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata began the limited processing of applications for H1b and L1 Visas as well as student and academic exchange visitor visas after being closed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to August 12, emergency student and exchange visitor appointment requests received by the consulates will be processed before public appointments are made. H1b and L1 applicants will be treated in the same manner. Because they anticipate doing "first come, first served" and based on importance, it will be somewhat of a rat race. Due to limited capacity, numerous applicants for visa appointments will not be permitted.
Students and visitors from other countries are encouraged to make an appointment no later than three weeks before the start of their classes. Additionally, applicants for H-1B and L-1 visas should be prepared to explain why they require an appointment right away. Employers need to be ready to help these candidates. The consulates anticipate a high demand for appointments. The consulates place a high priority on student visas, but they will not be able to accommodate all requests for student visas in time for the beginning of the fall semester.
Regular services for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas will still be unavailable at the consulates. However, if the situation is dire, emergency appointments can still be scheduled. If you or someone you know needs to return to the United States right away, please get in touch with an experienced immigration attorney or start making a strong case for consideration. Nevertheless, it is a step in the right direction, and we are witnessing a step in life.
Sadly, no specific date has been set for when these services will be resumed for the other categories. However, we will undoubtedly monitor the situation and notify all of our followers of the outcome.
