In light of the ongoing conflict and unrest in the region, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued the following guidance on October 16, 2023:
Due to the ongoing security situation, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and the Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv are not offering nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services at this time.
If you have an emergency need to travel to the United States and do not currently have a nonimmigrant visa, please apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate other than Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Consular sections at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide can assist with expedited appointments for emergency travel. Please make an appointment and request an expedited appointment in that country.
In effect, the statement means that services in the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, as well as the Embassy branch in Tel Aviv, are suspended until further notice. This follows the U.S. Department of State authorizing the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members from the U.S. Embassies in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on October 13, 2023.
Latest US travel advice
Travel to Israel remains severely disrupted due to ongoing hostilities in the region.
Currently, the official U.S. advice is to reconsider travel plans to Israel and West Bank “due to terrorism and civil unrest”.
U.S. citizens are also advised not to travel to Gaza “due to terrorism, civil unrest, and armed conflict… The U.S. government is unable to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Gaza as U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling there”.
Need assistance?
We will continue to monitor and update on the advice from U.S. authorities for those affected by the conflict.
Under the current circumstances, in line with the official guidance, we are advising anyone looking to travel to the U.S. from Israel to attend a U.S. Embassy in a place of safety outside of Israel – for example, traveling to the U.S. Embassy in London using an existing valid visitor visa – and to make your US visa application from there.
Our US immigration attorneys are on hand to provide advice and assistance on U.S. applications, in particular for applications through the US Embassy in London.
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.
