Our office is receiving reports of immigrant visa appointments in the U.S. Consulate in Montreal being canceled. It is likely that the updated policy of canceling immigrant visa appointments will be implemented Canada-wide, and possibly at U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide in areas where operations are being impacted by COVID-19. 

 

While this is not confirmed on the U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Canada web page yet, we have confirmed that clients have received emails stating that appointment(s) at the Consular Section Montreal were canceled. The email also directs clients to the official U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Service (for Canada) webpage to reschedule, but no visa appointments appear to be available at this time. Our office believes that no visa appointments will be rescheduled until normal processing and scheduling resumes. It is likely that individuals whose interviews are canceled due to COVID-19 will either be notified when they may attempt to reschedule or be rescheduled automatically once normal operations resume.

 

This follows news yesterday that nonimmigrant visa appointments would be canceled and services suspended for the indefinite future, and news earlier today that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is also suspending all in-person field office services—including interviews and naturalization ceremonies—across the U.S. through at least April 1, 2020, to combat the spread of COVID-19. 

 

Please check back on this blog for ongoing updates as COVID-19-related chances impacting cross-border travelers and visa applicants are announced and implemented.