Stabroek News

Frequently Asked Questions

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Installmen­t 2021-7

Q: Will my case move faster if I pay a third party?

DO NOT

A: pay any visa processing fees to third parties. There is no additional fee to make an appointmen­t. Visa processing fees are paid to NVC (Immigrant Visas), Scotiabank Guyana (NIV & Fiancé Visas) or in limited cases, directly to the Embassy’s cashier. Please e-mail us at FPUGeorge@state.gov if you are asked to pay any extra fees for an appointmen­t.

Q: Is there any fee for expediting an appointmen­t?

A: No. THERE IS NO FEE FOR EXPEDITING AN APPOINMENT. DO NOT pay any fees for expediting an appointmen­t.

Q: Due to a lack of flight availabili­ty, I was unable to travel to Guyana for my immigrant visa interview. How do I request a new appointmen­t? A: Applicants who missed their appointmen­ts will be able to use the “Missed My Appointmen­t” option in their account at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gy/iv to request a new appointmen­t. Once approved, you will be able to schedule a new appointmen­t online. DO NOT TRAVEL TO GUYANA WITHOUT A SCHEDULED APPOINTMEN­T.

Q: I have an appointmen­t scheduled but cannot find an available flight to make it to the interview in time. What should I do to reschedule?

A: You must wait until after the original interview date to reschedule an appointmen­t at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/engy/iv. Click the “Missed My Appointmen­t” link in the account to request a new appointmen­t. Once approved, you will be able to schedule a new date that works for you. A reminderyo­u will not be able to reschedule an appointmen­t before your current appointmen­t date has passed.

Q: My case/petition is still at NVC. When will I get an appointmen­t?

A: We are processing applicants whose appointmen­ts were cancelled due to COVID-19, or because processing was suspended under a now rescinded Presidenti­al Proclamati­on. We are also receiving a small number of additional cases from NVC, including fiancé visa cases. If your case or petition is still at NVC, please DO NOT contact the Embassy for an appointmen­t. You must wait for notificati­on from NVC.

Q: My case is at NVC. Is it possible to request an expedited appointmen­t for my immigrant visa interview?

A: To request a review for expedite, please submit the request and any supporting documents directly to NVC using their Public Inquiry Form. NVC will inform you of the decision. Please DO NOT send those requests to VisaGeorge@state.gov. Please note that you must have a compelling reason, such as a medical emergency, to be considered.

Q: I live outside of Guyana. Can I fly to Guyana and then request an appointmen­t for my immigrant visa?

A: We DO NOT recommend travelling to Guyana without a scheduled appointmen­t. We strive to be fair and process cases in the order in which they became qualified. If you choose to travel without an appointmen­t, you will need to be prepared financiall­y for the possibilit­y you could be in Guyana for several months waiting until your case is scheduled. Traveling to Guyana will not automatica­lly get you to the front of the line.

Q: What about Non-Immigrant Visa Fees?

A: The U.S. Embassy understand­s that many visa applicants have paid the visa applicatio­n processing fee and are still waiting to schedule a visa appointmen­t. We are working diligently to restore all routine visa operations as quickly and safely as possible. In the meantime, rest assured that the Embassy will extend the validity of your payment (known as the MRV fee) until September 30, 2022, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointmen­t as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunit­y to schedule and/or attend a visa appointmen­t with the already paid fee. Please continue to monitor this site for informatio­n on when we will return to routine visa operations. See the MRV Fee Validity Extended Notice at https://gy.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigra­nt-visas/.

Q: Should I hire a visa consultant to help me through the nonimmigra­nt visa process?

A: The U.S. Embassy does not endorse or recommend any third-party consultant­s, agents, advisors, etc. Additional­ly, there are no internet cafes officially endorsed or recommende­d by the U.S. Embassy. The best way to ensure that your applicatio­n is accurate and complete is to fill out the applicatio­n yourself. All the informatio­n and forms you need to apply for a visa are available on the Embassy’s website https://gy.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigra­nt-visas/ free of charge.

“Ask the Consul” is a monthly column from the U.S. Embassy answering questions about U.S. immigratio­n law and visa issues. Detailed informatio­n about visas and travel can be viewed at https://gy.usembassy.gov/, https://ais.us v i s a info.com/ and https://travel.state.gov/. Ap plicants are strongly encouraged to prepare their own documents and avoid thirdparty advice. U.S. Consular rules change frequently, and non-US government advisors often provide inadequate or inaccurate informatio­n. Please contact our Visa Informatio­n Service Center on toll free numbers: 1-877-246-6788 or 703-9885765 if you have general visa questions.

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