how long does the visa take to travel to the United States

In recent weeks, travel agencies and airlines serving the United States have seen an increase in demand from Argentines to travel to Miami to get the coronavirus vaccine and take the opportunity to take a vacation between the beaches and shopping centers.

This trend in health tourism is also reflected in the number of tourist visa renewal applications, as the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Argentina has again processed scheduled visa renewal appointments in March 2021, after a year in which only emergency cases were dealt with due to the pandemic.

At the time, the embassy press office indicated that these were the Visas expired in the last 48 months, so those who meet the conditions to schedule a renewal appointment should go to: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ar/niv

“Applicants will be able to renew visas (B1 / B2, C1 / D, F1, H2A, some J1 and M1 programs) that expired within 48 months of submitting their renewal application. In most cases, they do not ‘will not need a personal visa interview,’ the embassy said.

Those who have never processed the nonimmigrant visa or have expired for more than four years can register on the website to start the process but will not be able to complete it: they will not be called for the interview. until further notice, they will receive an email informing them that their appointment has been postponed.

Given this current limitation and the delay in cases that could not be treated in 2020 due to the pandemic, it is likely that If someone requests a visa renewal appointment, they will have to wait until March 2022.

Because? The demand for people wishing to travel for vaccinations comes on top of procedures delayed since March 2020, when the State Department suspended the tourist and business visa service (B1 / B2) as a preventive measure against the coronavirus epidemic and only maintained a service for emergencies in our country.

It is necessary to specify that traveling for the vaccine is not considered a reason to make an emergency appointment. The embassy press office claimed Bugle that “seeking medical treatment in the United States is an authorized reason for travel for people who have a valid visa. The rules for eligibility to receive a vaccine in the United States as part of a priority group should be consulted with local health authorities “.

And he pointed out: “The criteria for allocating emergency appointments do not include travel to obtain routine medical treatment, including vaccinations.“.

Regarding non-urgent in-person appointments for travelers applying for a visa for the first time, the press office said: “They are not available until further notice. ensure the health and safety of applicants and consular staff. There is currently no estimated date by which we will be able to conduct these talks at the Embassy. “

Therefore, given the number of cases postponed (due to renewals of visas expired more than 48 months ago or for a first visa application), vacancies are generated keep in mind.

Those who have an appointment for visa renewal have the possibility to postpone the appointment in the official page. For example, if my tourist visa expired a year ago and I have an appointment to renew it in February 2022, I can try to reschedule the appointment and see if other dates have been activated. earlier. There may be a date for next month due to one of the vacancies explained.