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June 12, 2003
NEW VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURE AT U.S. CONSULATE: VISA LINES TO END
Beginning
July 4, 2003, the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest will introduce a new
appointment system for visa applicants that will significantly
shorten the wait for visa interviews.
Applicants
will now be able to simply pay their $100 visa fee at any branch
of Banca Transylvania in Romania and receive an appointment date
and time that is automatically generated, using the information
supplied at the bank. This is an application fee and is non-refundable..
The date and time of the interview will be posted on the U.S.
Embassy website ( www.usembassy.ro
), which applicants should check two business days after paying
their fee. Applicants without Internet access are encouraged to
ask a friend, relative or travel agent for assistance in this
regard. As a last resort for applicants unable to obtain Internet
access, a visa appointment help line will also be established.
Applicants
may reschedule their assigned appointment dates and times if they
do so sufficiently in advance. During peak travel periods, there
may be a delay of some weeks between the date of payment and the
appointment date, so travelers are asked to consider visa processing
time when making travel plans and they should never purchase non-refundable
tickets until a visa has actually been issued to them.
Almost
all nonimmigrant visa applicants must appear for an interview
and should do so at the time of their scheduled interview. Several
categories of visa applicants may still come to the Consulate
on any business day (Monday-Thursday) at 9:00 am without an appointment.
These include people renewing student or exchange visitor visas,
and those applying for employment and crewmember visas. Applicants
must present the relevant support documentation to qualify for
these visas at that time.
The
Embassy notes that these changes are being made for the specific
benefit of those traveling to the United States. Please watch
the U.S. Embassy website ( www.usembassy.ro
), or refer to the public message board outside the consular section
at Str. Nicolae Filipescu #26 in Bucharest for more information
on the introduction of this new visa appointment system.
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