Routine NonImmigrant Visa Processing Paused

Antiguans and Barbudans seeking to go through the routine of renewing their nonimmigrant visa will have to wait as the services have been paused- effective Tuesday, October 12- due to COVID-19 local conditions in Barbados.

However, the embassy will continue to provide emergency and mission-critical nonimmigrant visa services. These appointments, however, are extremely limited.

Persons are being advised that if their appointments cannot be honoured they will receive an email providing instructions on how to reschedule the appointment for a later date.

The embassy is promising that it will resume routine visa services as soon as possible, but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.

Those persons who have already paid the MRV fee, which is non-transferable, are being advised that it will remain valid until September 30, 2022. 

“The Embassy continues to process Interview Waiver (IW) and Renewal Interview Waiver (RIW) cases,” the embassy says in a release. 

Officials say that they have recently expanded the eligibility of this programme, and that persons may now qualify to renew their visa by mail. 

However, applicants who have not previously held a valid visa will continue to require an interview, the embassy says.