Delays in US visa applications, a phenomenon that occurs worldwide.
Waiting times for visa applicants are increasing, whether they are applying for the first time or renewing their visas. According to research conducted by the British media outlet Bloomberg, the five consulates that take the longest to issue visas are:
*Georgetown, capital of Guyana, with an average of 900 days
*Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, has an average waiting time of 874 days.
*Abuja, capital of Nigeria, with an 850-day wait.
*Kingston, capital of Jamaica, with 813 days.
*Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a 796-day wait.
The overall average wait times for citizens of these countries are over two years. According to the same research, these delays are primarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, which led to staff shortages and a reduction in consular services, resulting in long wait times.
On the other hand, in the specific case of Colombia, those who wish to travel to the United States for the first time for tourism or business trips will have to be patient, since the waiting days to obtain the American visa have increased to such an extent that there are already cases whose appointment has been scheduled for January 2025.
However, there are exceptions for visa cases in priority situations such as the death of a family member or urgent medical services. Furthermore, visas are also being prioritized for exchange students and workers.
The embassy also reported that there are visa cases that are exempt from interviews, some of which are:
-“Applicants under 14 years of age and over 79 years of age can apply for a tourist visa without an interview, provided they have not had a previous rejection of the visa application they are submitting (for those under 14 years of age, at least one of their parents must have a valid visa)”
-If it's a renewal, some visas that don't require an interview are: B1/B2 (tourism); F1 and M1 (student); J1 (exchange programs). For both of these, the first requirement is to be a Colombian resident.
Finally, it is important to highlight that if you want to reschedule your appointment, the only way is through the embassy's website; you should check it constantly, and this is free of charge.
Information taken from: Channel 1.
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