Y2K Impact on Consular Posts

The Department of State (DOS) has informed the American Immigration Lawyers Association that consular posts will be suspending services at the beginning of the year 2000. The suspension of services is in anticipation of unpredictable system malfunctions as a result of the “Y2K bug.” DOS is focusing on providing emergency assistance to American citizens and this will impact other services provided. There will be no nonimmigrant visas services for the first two business days of 2000. Immigrant visa services will be suspended for the first two weeks of the new year. DOS would also like to discourage prospective adoptive parents going overseas early in the year.