It is the second facility to be launched this year after the introduction of a similar service in Yas Mall in February
uae2 hours ago
The United States is suspending all routine visa services as of Wednesday in most countries worldwide due to the coronavirus outbreak, a spokeswoman for the State Department said, an unprecedented move that will potentially impact hundreds of thousands of people.
The Department did not say which or how many countries are halting services but U.S. missions in more than half a dozen countries including South Korea, South Africa, Germany and Spain on their web sites announced that they were either stopping or significantly reducing services.
"Embassies and consulates in these countries will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 18, 2020," the spokeswoman said.
The State Department spokeswoman said US missions abroad will continue to provide emergency visa services "as resources allow," and that the services to US citizens will remain available.
"These Embassies will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time," she said. There were no mentions of exceptions for any visa types.
In 2019, the United States has issued a total of more than 9.2 million immigrant and non-immigrant visas at its more than 160 foreign missions across the globe.
The coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year, has now infected over 212,000 people and caused 8,700 deaths in 164 nations, triggering emergency lockdowns and injections of cash unseen since World War Two.
Normal life has come to a standstill pretty much across the globe with schools shut down, flights and industries halted, sports and arts events postponed and people are advised or at times forced by their governments to remain indoors to prevent the spread.
Overnight, the US Embassy in South Korea in its own statement said the suspension would affect both immigrant and non-immigrant visa services at embassies in countries with a U.S. State Department travel advisory level of 2, 3, or 4.
As of Wednesday that includes around 100 countries for which warnings have been issued, according to the U.S. State Department website. Reasons for those warnings range from outbreaks of the new coronavirus to war to crime.
The spokeswoman said the move would not affect the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which enables most citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.
It is the second facility to be launched this year after the introduction of a similar service in Yas Mall in February
uae2 hours ago
Financial and other necessary assistance will be provided by the Philippine government for the next of kin
uae2 hours ago
ADDED signs pact with Alfahim Group to build new plant
auto3 hours ago
This conference brought together leading orthopedic experts to address the key challenges and advancements in orthopedics and sports medicine
kt network3 hours ago
Addressing the affordability challenge faced by providers is paramount in combating financial exclusion
business3 hours ago
He faced a serious condition called Stage 3 Retinopathy of Prematurity and spent nearly three months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
health3 hours ago
71% of retail investors in the UAE hold stocks in companies engaged with AI
markets3 hours ago
This decision was taken to preserve the safety of administrative staff, teachers and students
uae3 hours ago