US Embassy Staff flee country, what’s next? COVID-19

[stech786 236]

75 staffers of US Embassy leave in haste for Georgia

 

What do you all think will happen when embassy staff leave from one continent to another?

 

I know they have been closing embassies almost in every country. Let’s assume, If this virus stops by end of April. Will all of these staff fly back? I mean it’s not that easy taking long flights. Will they move interviews to another country or just wait longer under that host country is fully stop the virus. 

this article doesn’t say whether visa officer left or whether these staff left without pay. No one would want to loose paycheck or life.

 

 

 

source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.brecorder.com/2020/03/23/582605/seven-5-staffers-of-us-embassy-leave-in-haste-for-georgia/amp/

Edited March 23, 2020 by stech786

[payxibka 10,047]

Sounds like they left to go to Tblisi Georgia to wait it out after an embassy staffer may have tested positive.   Sounds like an abundance of caution

[stech786 236]

21 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Sounds like they left to go to Tblisi Georgia to wait it out after an embassy staffer may have tested positive.   Sounds like an abundance of caution

 

How did you know Tblisi Georgia and not Georgia state in US? If you are correct, then I would be relief as I thought they fleeeee back to the states.

 

I totally understand this virus is no joke & everyone should take precaution

Edited March 23, 2020 by stech786

[milimelo 4,563]

Actually the article itself says to the US so I don’t think they went to Tbilisi, Georgia. 

[HRQX 4,145]

3 hours ago, payxibka said:

Sounds like they left to go to Tblisi Georgia...

They went to the US state of Georgia; from link in OP's post: "It could not be confirmed whether the patient-who had been quarantined after being diagnosed with coronavirus-also left for the US along with 75 staffers or still in Pakistan..."

[SalishSea 18,148]

4 hours ago, stech786 said:

Let’s assume, If this virus stops by end of April.

It won't...

[N400NYC 380]

One thing is clear...the global pandemic isn't going to be over by April. I think, realistically, there will be global disruption for at least the next 6 months. And it could be even longer depending on how COVID-19 plays out in each country/region. 

[stech786 236]

8 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

It won't...

 

 

8 hours ago, N400NYC said:

One thing is clear...the global pandemic isn't going to be over by April. I think, realistically, there will be global disruption for at least the next 6 months. And it could be even longer depending on how COVID-19 plays out in each country/region. 

hypothetical example

 

Thanks all for the clarification. 

 

my original concern was that what will happen. If the services of US embassy is depended on fear of the staff than the reality.  I have doctors in my family working in US. No one ran away. They were sent home because exposure after negative results, went back to work right away. I went to Costco today, they had line outside by allowing 50 ppl at a time. Embassy should do the same. Think outside the box. The ppl at oversea are paid more just because they assume more risk. Just like a doctor in hospital vs same doctor treating patient in prison. Because they take more risk. Why are these morons running away. Why are spouses of US citizen low priority. 

 

Not right now, but I hope later they invite 5 ppl at one time in the consular  for interview . Usually interview take 5 mins of questioner. They could extend that to 1 hr. Make ppl wait outside & only bring person inside once their name is being called etc. there are solution than running away! All schools are going online. They didn’t shut down school and run away. Before these ppl took jobs in that country. They assumed the risk. If someone offers me job in China or Iraq right now as a salesperson for more $$, I say NO!

 

I support the health & safety of all people.  This scares me that the staff just took off? #######?

 

 

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

4 minutes ago, stech786 said:

 

 

hypothetical example

 

Thanks all for the clarification. 

 

my original concern was that what will happen. If the services of US embassy is depended on fear of the staff than the reality.  I have doctors in my family working in US. No one ran away. They were sent home because exposure after negative results, went back to work right away. I went to Costco today, they had line outside by allowing 50 ppl at a time. Embassy should do the same. Think outside the box. The ppl at oversea are paid more just because they assume more risk. Just like a doctor in hospital vs same doctor treating patient in prison. Because they take more risk. Why are these morons running away. Why are spouses of US citizen low priority. 

 

Not right now, but I hope later they invite 5 ppl at one time in the consular  for interview . Usually interview take 5 mins of questioner. They could extend that to 1 hr. Make ppl wait outside & only bring person inside once their name is being called etc. there are solution than running away! All schools are going online. They didn’t shut down school and run away. Before these ppl took jobs in that country. They assumed the risk. If someone offers me job in China or Iraq right now as a salesperson for more $$, I say NO!

 

I support the health & safety of all people.  This scares me that the staff just took off? #######?

 

 

 

Most embassy and consular staff are considered non-essential personnel. In times of crisis or war, non essential staff and their families are sent out of the country.

 

At the end of last month I had lunch with friends that work at the US Consulate in Cebu Philippines.  They were leaving back to the states the next week as the consulate was closing the following monday.  That was 15 days before the Philippines closed international travel and locked down Manila.

 

Issuance of visas isn't essential to the US, unless that person is needed by the US Government.

[SalishSea 18,148]

3 hours ago, stech786 said:

 

 

hypothetical example

 

Thanks all for the clarification. 

 

my original concern was that what will happen. If the services of US embassy is depended on fear of the staff than the reality.  I have doctors in my family working in US. No one ran away. They were sent home because exposure after negative results, went back to work right away. I went to Costco today, they had line outside by allowing 50 ppl at a time. Embassy should do the same. Think outside the box. The ppl at oversea are paid more just because they assume more risk. Just like a doctor in hospital vs same doctor treating patient in prison. Because they take more risk. Why are these morons running away. Why are spouses of US citizen low priority. 

 

Not right now, but I hope later they invite 5 ppl at one time in the consular  for interview . Usually interview take 5 mins of questioner. They could extend that to 1 hr. Make ppl wait outside & only bring person inside once their name is being called etc. there are solution than running away! All schools are going online. They didn’t shut down school and run away. Before these ppl took jobs in that country. They assumed the risk. If someone offers me job in China or Iraq right now as a salesperson for more $$, I say NO!

 

I support the health & safety of all people.  This scares me that the staff just took off? #######?

 

 

 

Doctors are essential staff.  Most embassy/consular workers are not.  

 

 

[stech786 236]

6 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Most embassy and consular staff are considered non-essential personnel. In times of crisis or war, non essential staff and their families are sent out of the country.

 

At the end of last month I had lunch with friends that work at the US Consulate in Cebu Philippines.  They were leaving back to the states the next week as the consulate was closing the following monday.  That was 15 days before the Philippines closed international travel and locked down Manila.

 

Issuance of visas isn't essential to the US, unless that person is needed by the US Government.

 

3 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Doctors are essential staff.  Most embassy/consular workers are not.  

 

 

 

I understand essential and non essential things. Just like posting to this forum is also non essentials, but here we are still posting. My point is life goes on. Teachers are also teaching as non essentials duties. I could list dozen of other non essentials duties that people are still doing. We should now think outside the box and not run away. 

 

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

10 minutes ago, stech786 said:

 

 

I understand essential and non essential things. Just like posting to this forum is also non essentials, but here we are still posting. My point is life goes on. Teachers are also teaching as non essentials duties. I could list dozen of other non essentials duties that people are still doing. We should now think outside the box and not run away. 

 

 

Talk to your congressman. . . there are tons of things the government can do better.

[stech786 236]

15 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

Talk to your congressman. . . there are tons of things the government can do better.

I did. They seem to be more confuse than ever. 
 

not sure, if I am asking them correctly. What do you suggest I should do or ask them how?

[SalishSea 18,148]

39 minutes ago, stech786 said:

Teachers are also teaching as non essentials duties.

They are?  Maybe where you live.  All schools and universities in my state have been closed for a couple of weeks.  The closure is indefinite.  

 

 

[SalishSea 18,148]

41 minutes ago, stech786 said:

Just like posting to this forum is also non essentials, but here we are still posting.

Actually, I'm not sure that you do understand what *essential* means in the context of covid19.  Yes, we are posting on VJ, which puts NO ONE at risk of getting sick.

 

Services deemed essential in times of disaster have been very clearly listed by many states/counties/cities as they all issue edicts for who may go to work, - so, I'm not going to list them here.  You may want to check out the website for your local jurisdiction to confirm. 

 

Suffice it to say though that consular staff working on visas are not essential to life, safety, health, infrastructure.  That work can safely be put on hold until the crisis is over.