U.S. EMBASSY EXTENDS VISA HOURS and begins appointment system

Beginning April 2, 2007, all applicants for U.S. visas must have an appointment for a visa interview.  Walk-in applications will no longer be accepted.  Applicants may make an appointment through the Embassy’s web site: http://ljubljana.usembassy.gov/application_procedures__fees3.html.

The Embassy will expand its visa hours, offering appointments every day from Monday through Friday.  There will be up to 20 appointment slots available each day, which is more than the current demand for visas, even during peak times of year for travel.  With a scheduled appointment time, customers should not have to wait for an interview.  Several appointment slots each day will be reserved for emergency cases, such as urgent medical or business travel.

Also beginning April 2, visa applicants will no longer return to the Embassy to collect their passports and visas.  All applicants must bring with them to the appointment a self-addressed padded envelope with postage from Pošta Slovenija, and the Embassy will return the passport and visa to the applicant by mail.  Only in emergency cases may an applicant return to the Embassy in person to collect a passport.

“We want to make the process as quick and easy as possible for our customers,” says Consul Paul Schultz.  “We have completely redesigned our web site to explain everything step by step,” Schultz added.