The Department of State stressed that the proclamation signed by Joe Biden concerning the new rules of entry into the country, “unlike the previous ones, does not restrict the issuance of visas abroad in our embassies and consulates.”
The United States intends to eliminate delays in issuing visas worldwide after the new entry rules come into force. This was announced on Tuesday by First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Douglass Benning at a briefing for foreign journalists.
The diplomat stressed that the proclamation signed on Monday by US President Joe Biden concerning the new rules of entry into the country, “unlike the previous ones, does not restrict the issuance of visas abroad in our embassies and consulates.” “I also want to note that the COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, led to a deep reduction in the Department of State’s ability to issue visas. We continue to work hard to find ways to safely and efficiently process visa applications around the world in accordance with scientific knowledge and health requirements. We strive to eliminate delays in issuing visas as quickly and safely as possible,” he stressed.
Commenting on the exceptions to the new rules, Cindy Friedman, the head of one of the offices of the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who was present at the briefing, pointed out “a very limited set of exceptions to the vaccination requirements for foreign citizens” traveling to the United States. According to her, foreign citizens who have an allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccines must document this fact. “Such passengers will need to confirm this to the airlines, provide a doctor’s certificate that would talk about medical contraindications for vaccination against COVID-19,” said Friedman, who is responsible at the CDC for issues related to entry into the country.
