U.S. Embassy Introduces Calling Alternative for Official Visa Information Service

The Embassy of the United States of America announces that beginning on Thursday, April 15, 2004, visa applicants can call 900-6011 as an alternative to access the official Visa Information Center (VIC) and to schedule immigrant or nonimmigrant visa interview appointments.

Beginning April 15, visa applicants may now get immigrant or nonimmigrant visa information by dialing 900-6011. The call has a cost of USD$1.87 per minute plus IVA, and will be included in the caller’s phone bill. Callers to the 900 number are charged by the minute.

The number is not accessible from public phones, cellular phones and some businesses that have 900 numbers blocked. Visa applicants do not need a calling card to use the new 900 number service.

Applicants also may continue to access the official Visa Information Center by purchasing for USD$15 a Telefónica VISA-USA phone card at any Telefónica branch, and following instructions on the back of the card. Callers from the United States may continue to get access to the service by credit card, by calling 866-730-2089.

The Visa Information Center is based on similar models operating today in 21 countries across Europe and Latin America. Callers can obtain information on both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to the US, and all the information an applicant is required to have in order to apply for a visa. The Visa Information Center schedules all appointments for nonimmigrant visa interviews, and reschedules immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants who couldn’t make their initial appointments. The service is available 7:00am to 9:00pm, Monday – Friday and 9:00am to 3:00pm, Saturday.