State Department quietly begins reopening amid coronavirus pandemic

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Summary:

 

• In a three-phased approach, the nation’s top diplomat detailed how the State Department would ramp up travel and bring teams back to on-site missions across the globe.
• The plan includes policies on travel, telework, face coverings, as well as social distancing requirements for common spaces such as cafeterias.

 

https://www.axios.com/pompeo-coronavirus-state-department-reopening-ec5dc86d-6393-4614-b05f-68d3b5f6ec10.html

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/08/state-department-quietly-begins-reopening-amid-coronavirus-pandemic.html

 

 

[milimelo 4,477]

It’s mission dependent of course - each post has to decide on their own when they’re moving to phase 1, 2, 3 and numerous checks to be completed before moving forward and potentially going back to 0 depending on the situation on the ground. 

[DGF 730]

I'm almost certainly not reading this right since I'm making a lot of assumptions, but assuming that visa services would follow similar guidelines to those listed for passport services, does this imply that in order for interviews to resume at consulates (assuming again that full service would be required for interviews to resume), we need to have either a vaccine or treatment (since large events and open borders are often included in phases that won't happen until there is a vaccine or treatment and they need to be happening locally before the full service phase can happen according to the doc)? Curious to see how other people are interpreting this. 

 

This is the doc I'm reading, not sure if it's legit: https://www.axios.com/pompeo-coronavirus-state-department-reopening-ec5dc86d-6393-4614-b05f-68d3b5f6ec10.html

Edited May 9, 2020 by DGF
adding link to doc

[milimelo 4,477]

4 hours ago, DGF said:

I'm almost certainly not reading this right since I'm making a lot of assumptions, but assuming that visa services would follow similar guidelines to those listed for passport services, does this imply that in order for interviews to resume at consulates (assuming again that full service would be required for interviews to resume), we need to have either a vaccine or treatment (since large events and open borders are often included in phases that won't happen until there is a vaccine or treatment and they need to be happening locally before the full service phase can happen according to the doc)? Curious to see how other people are interpreting this. 

 

This is the doc I'm reading, not sure if it's legit: https://www.axios.com/pompeo-coronavirus-state-department-reopening-ec5dc86d-6393-4614-b05f-68d3b5f6ec10.html

You’re reading it wrong. Depending on the country and their COVID-19 situation they’ll start opening up embassy (and any consulates) in stages. 

[fewstee 46]

10 hours ago, DGF said:

I'm almost certainly not reading this right since I'm making a lot of assumptions, but assuming that visa services would follow similar guidelines to those listed for passport services, does this imply that in order for interviews to resume at consulates (assuming again that full service would be required for interviews to resume), we need to have either a vaccine or treatment (since large events and open borders are often included in phases that won't happen until there is a vaccine or treatment and they need to be happening locally before the full service phase can happen according to the doc)? Curious to see how other people are interpreting this. 

 

This is the doc I'm reading, not sure if it's legit: https://www.axios.com/pompeo-coronavirus-state-department-reopening-ec5dc86d-6393-4614-b05f-68d3b5f6ec10.html

I think you've got it almost right. If you look at page 5 of the document it says unofficial visitors are prohibited until stage 3. Stage 3 takes at minimum 42 days to reach (14 days to Phase 1, 14 Days to Stage 2, 14 Days to Stage 3), although it's unclear if countries will be assigned a stage or start from 0 as of the publishing date of this document. The visitor policy is concerning because Stage 3 requires a lot, including full school re-openings and more or less for the pandemic to be over if you really parse through the requirements to reach that level. 

 

Reading selected embassy websites shows there is a distinction between Official visitors and Consular visitors. 

 

I concede it's not entirely clear, though, because it does appear Passport Services can resume at Phase 2 which would also require unofficial visitors. 

Edited May 9, 2020 by fewstee

[Siddsgal 80]

The longer everything is closed, the more difficult it’s gonna be to open. Just like every other virus threat, this one won’t ever be totally gone so we need to learn to live with it instead of control our world. If we wait till a 100% vaccine or no new cases, that’s putting the timeframe months or years away. I’m not sure there are many countries, businesses  and airlines that can survive this lockdown much longer.
 

My opinion, which doesn’t mean much lol, is that we need to figure out a way to live with this virus cuz lockdown and a nonexistent world economy never was meant to be a long term solution, its causing more harm than help. 

It’s really getting tough having flights to be with my husband canceled over and over. Couples in this visa process need that hope of closing the distance, we need that hope of being physically together.

Idk about others but my husband and I are starting to feel the strain of the hopelessness of not knowing when or if we will be together again, our marriage is solid but mentally we are struggling, we are easily irritated and overthinking things often now. 

 

It’s gonna be interesting to see how Embassy’s handle the backlogs once they are allowed to open again. 
 

[SETETA 204]

The full reopening plan is here. Phase Two would see normal interviews. https://www.axios.com/pompeo-coronavirus-state-department-reopening-ec5dc86d-6393-4614-b05f-68d3b5f6ec10.html

[Jay&Sid 211]

16 hours ago, DGF said:

I'm almost certainly not reading this right since I'm making a lot of assumptions, but assuming that visa services would follow similar guidelines to those listed for passport services, does this imply that in order for interviews to resume at consulates (assuming again that full service would be required for interviews to resume), we need to have either a vaccine or treatment (since large events and open borders are often included in phases that won't happen until there is a vaccine or treatment and they need to be happening locally before the full service phase can happen according to the doc)? Curious to see how other people are interpreting this. 

 

This is the doc I'm reading, not sure if it's legit: https://www.axios.com/pompeo-coronavirus-state-department-reopening-ec5dc86d-6393-4614-b05f-68d3b5f6ec10.html

Well being interviewed means face to face contact.  Quebec is severely hit by covid-19. I hope MTL consulate will resume as plan and start working with full functionality. Otherwise all people will be put on hold for a long time in order to schedule interviews. MTL has already a big backlog.

They should consider allowing other consulates in Canadian provinces to schedule interviews. This will help them to reduce the workload. They can also consider virtual interviews. 

[Cilllah 476]

Australia wasn't hit badly so I hope we get to open up soon!

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

I work for another federal agency that also has a customer service component. Right now we are 100% work at home. Restoration of normal services will also be in stages also. Based on what they are telling us it will be quite some time before we are back to full normal operating status.

[usmsbow 801]

3 hours ago, boris64 said:

I work for another federal agency that also has a customer service component. Right now we are 100% work at home. Restoration of normal services will also be in stages also. Based on what they are telling us it will be quite some time before we are back to full normal operating status.

Yep, I don't think I'll be back in the office until the end of the summer. Those who interact with the public might go back sooner (but no earlier than June due to local shelter-in-place orders).