Important Advice about Granting Visas

With the consequent terrorist attacks of September 11 2001, the State Department, along with other United States agencies, realized that there needed to be a revision of the procedures on granting visas; they are directly related to the security of our nation.

Visa applications are now subject to a more thorough review than in the past, requiring, among other measures, to complete additional forms. This entails, in some cases, that processing may take longer than usual. We understand that these new procedures may cause some inconveniences and we will do all that we can to satisfy the legitimate needs of the travelers, while sticking to our security and legal responsibilities.

While the consular officers try to offer a service that is as efficient and fast as possible, their first responsibility consists of following the established laws and to guarantee the security of the United States and its people. This responsibility will be taken into account and will prevail over any other consideration concerning the granting of a visa. 

We are aware that these security measures can affect visa applicant travel plans, especially for those who intend to enroll or continue their university studies. Given this situation, we recommend to applying for your visa as soon as possible. 

Some visa applicants will be affected by special security procedures.  Our objective is to guarantee the security within a system that meets the needs of all persons wishing to visit the United States. However, delays continue to occur in the processing of visas due to the need for coordination of computer systems among various government agencies.   After the September 11 attacks, the United States Congress ordered the identification and correction of defect in safety, which should be completed within one year since the attacks, a process that is still currently underway.

Nevertheless, it will remain difficult to predict the time required to obtain a visa, while new procedures are being refined. Affected visa applicants will be informed of any additional requirements that they need to submit with their application, and need to take into account substantial waiting periods between six to eight weeks, or more, before they can be granted a visa.

We trust that the visa applicants comprehend that this transitional period is necessary in order to guarantee the security of all the people within the United States.