Update post 09/21/2021
DOS provides an update stating that consular sections, where possible, are scheduling some appointments within all four priority tiers every month.
Also, the guidance states that,
“Recognizing the emergence of the COVID Delta variant and the continued demand for healthcare professionals during the pandemic, U.S. embassies and consulates were instructed that they may prioritize as emergencies on a case-by-case basis the immigrant visa cases of certain healthcare professionals who will work at a facility engaged in pandemic response.”
Original Post 09/02/2021
On August 30, 2021, the Department of State (DOS) released a status update on how they are handling the current immigrant visa backlog.
Currently, consular appointments are scheduled using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications and consular sections, where possible, are scheduling some appointments within all four priority tiers every month.
- Tier One: Immediate relative intercountry adoption visas, age-out cases (cases where the applicant will soon no longer qualify due to their age), certain Special Immigrant Visas (SQ and SI for Afghan and Iraqi nationals working with the U.S. government),and emergency cases as determined on a case-by-case basis.
- Tier Two: Immediate relative visas; fiancé(e) visas; and returning resident visas
- Tier Three: Family preference immigrant visas and SE Special Immigrant Visas for certain employees of the U.S. government abroad
- Tier Four: All other immigrant visas, including employment preference and diversity visas
DOS also notes that,
“Recognizing the emergence of the COVID Delta variant and the continued demand for healthcare professionals during the pandemic, U.S. embassies and consulates were instructed that they may prioritize as emergencies on a case-by-case basis the immigrant visa cases of certain healthcare professionals who will work at a facility engaged in pandemic response.”
Related Post: FAQs on the Immigrant Visa Backlog