How Long Will it Take to Receive My Visa?

Travelers to the United States are strongly encouraged to schedule visa interviews well in advance of travel plans. The Consular Section is in the midst of peak demand during the summer months. Also, once your visa is approved, it will take a least seven business days to arrive from the post office.

The State Department website displays visa appointment wait times for all non-immigrant visa processing posts.

View current wait times at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html.

Vice Consul Speaks to Students at Israel’s Model UN Conference

On August 18, 2010, one of the Consular Section’s Vice Consuls spoke to more than 200 university students from around the world at Israel’s 2010 Model UN Student Conference, ISRAMUN.

Model United Nations is an academic simulation that teaches partici-pants about civics, effective communication, globalization and multilat-eral diplomacy.

The panel focused on careers in diplomacy and included speakers from the Irish, Egyptian, German and Mexican embassies. The Vice Consul spoke about how to join the U.S. Foreign Service and how to prepare for a career in international relations.

For more information about careers in the Foreign Service, visit http://careers.state.gov.

IDF Briefs Consular Section Staff on Keva Corps

Captain Shuki Hassan of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Personnel Division, briefed the Consular Section on the IDF’s Keva program on July 22. Keva is the Hebrew word for the IDF’s permanent corps.

Army service is an important part of the Visa Section’s evaluation of young Israelis’ ties to Israel. Vice Consuls had the opportunity to learn more about the criteria for entrance and contrac-tual obligations of soldiers serving in keva.

Lt. Col. Michael Murphy of the Embassy’s Defense Attaché Office facilitated the briefing.

Easing of U.S. HIV Rule Benefits Applicants

Due to recent changes to U.S. immigration rules, HIV-positive visa applicants are no longer required to answer “yes” to the DS-160 application question: “Have you ever been afflicted with a communicable dis-ease of public health significance?”

Last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a final rule that removed HIV from the list of commu-nicable diseases of public health significance.

Learn more at the following link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/telegrams/telegrams_4631.html.

Passport and Citizenship Services Fees Increase

The Department of State recently announced increases in consular services fees, including passport and notarial fees, effective July 13.

The new fees are:

- An adult passport (using form DS-82) will change from USD 75 to USD 110.
- A minor passport (under age 16, using form DS-11) will change from USD 85 to USD 105.
- An adult passport (using form DS-11) will change from USD 100 to USD 135. Please refer to www.travel.state.gov to determine which form is appropriate.
- The application fee for passport cards will increase, from USD 20 to USD 30 for adults, and from USD 10 to USD 15 for minors.
- A new fee of USD 82 for additional passport pages will be imposed.
- The fee for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad will change from USD 65 to USD 100.

Find the complete list of fee increases online at http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_5079.html.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July to all our American citizen friends!

The Consular Section of U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv extends best wishes to all our American and Israeli friends for a fun-filled independence day celebration.

Consul General Visits Migdal Ohr Youth Village

Consul General Andrew Parker and several Embassy staff members visited Migdal Ohr, one of Israel’s largest youth villages, in Migdal HaEmek on June 21, 2010.

Under the direction of Rabbi Yitz-chak David Grossman, Migdal Ohr houses and educates more than 6,500 orphaned and impoverished children. The organization also runs prisoner rehabilitation programs and a soup kitchen that produces 15,000 meals a day.

Parker and Embassy staff toured the facility and learned about the good work of Rabbi Grossman and his staff.

Learn more about Migdal Ohr at www.migdalohr.org. Check out more photos from the visit at our Facebook album.