This post provides the latest update with respect to consular section operations in Israel. After closures caused by the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and subsequent security concerns, the U.S. consular posts in Israel have resumed essential U.S. citizen services and limited nonimmigrant visa services. 

The U.S. Citizen Services Unit has established daily walk-in times for U.S. citizens with immediate travel plans to obtain emergency passports. This includes emergency U.S. passport applications for first-time applicants. Furthermore, appointments can be made for all other purposes, including non-emergency travel. Appointments for renewal of lost or expired passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and notarial services are made available for the following week every Wednesday at 3 p.m. local time. Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has warned that escalated levels of violence and danger in the West Bank may make it difficult for U.S. citizens to access the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and Consular Branch in Tel Aviv, so U.S. Services will be providing regular outreach to the West Bank for affected individuals.

Additionally, limited visa services have resumed and visa appointments can be scheduled for nonimmigrant work visas such as E-1, E-2, L-1, and H-1B; dependent visas; and student visas, such as F-1 and M-1. B visitor visa appointments and immigrant visa services continue to be unavailable. Importantly, Israeli citizens are eligible for visa-free visitor entries to the United States through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for up to 90 days, subject to ESTA enrollment and approval.

Additionally, limited visa services have resumed and visa appointments can be scheduled for nonimmigrant work visas such as E-1, E-2, L-1, and H-1B; dependent visas; and student visas, such as F-1 and M-1. B visitor visa appointments and immigrant visa services continue to be unavailable. Importantly, Israeli citizens are eligible for visa-free visitor entries to the United States through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for up to 90 days, subject to ESTA enrollment and approval.

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Photo of Kate Kalmykov Kate Kalmykov

Kate Kalmykov Co-Chairs the Immigration & Compliance Practice. She focuses her practice on business immigration and compliance. She represents clients in a wide-range of employment based immigrant and non-immigrant visa matters including students, trainees, professionals, managers and executives, artists and entertainers, treaty investors

Kate Kalmykov Co-Chairs the Immigration & Compliance Practice. She focuses her practice on business immigration and compliance. She represents clients in a wide-range of employment based immigrant and non-immigrant visa matters including students, trainees, professionals, managers and executives, artists and entertainers, treaty investors and traders, persons of extraordinary ability and immigrant investors.

Kate has deep experience working on EB-5 immigrant investor matters. She regularly works with developers across a variety of industries, as well as private equity funds on developing new projects that qualify for EB-5 investments. This includes creation of new Regional Centers, having projects adopted by existing Regional Centers or through pooled individual EB-5 petitions. For existing Regional Centers, Kate regularly helps to prepare amendment filings, file exemplar petitions, address removal of conditions issues and ensure that they develop an internal program for ongoing compliance with applicable immigration regulations and guidance. She also counsels foreign nationals on obtaining greencards through either individual or Regional Center EB-5 investments, as well as issues related to I-829 Removal of Conditions.

Kate also works with various human resources departments on I-9 employment verification matters as well as H-1B and LCA compliance. She regularly counsels employers on due diligence issues including internal audits and reviews, as well as minimization of exposure and liabilities in government investigations.

Photo of Nataliya Rymer Nataliya Rymer

Nataliya Rymer focuses her practice on employment-based immigration and compliance. She represents clients in a wide range of employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant matters, including professionals, managers and executives, artists and entertainers, treaty traders and investors, immigrant investors, and persons of extraordinary ability.

Nataliya…

Nataliya Rymer focuses her practice on employment-based immigration and compliance. She represents clients in a wide range of employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant matters, including professionals, managers and executives, artists and entertainers, treaty traders and investors, immigrant investors, and persons of extraordinary ability.

Nataliya also has experience working with employers on I-9 employment verification matters as well as H-1B and LCA compliance-related issues. She counsels employers on due diligence issues, including internal audits and reviews, as well as minimization of exposure and liabilities in government investigations.

In addition, Nataliya is experienced with family-based immigration and immigration-related federal court litigation issues, as well as waivers of inadmissibility.