The pandemic continues to severely impact the number of visas our embassy is able to process. We are making significant efforts with constrained resources. However, capacity remains extremely limited for all non-immigrant visa interview appointments. Please note that all available non-immigrant visa appointments for August and September 2021 are filled. At this time, we do not anticipate any additional August and September 2021 appointment availability. This includes students and/or those with pending expedited appointments requests.
We recognize the important contributions international students make to U.S. college and university campuses, the positive impact they have on U.S. communities, and the rich benefits of academic cooperation in increasing cultural understanding and furthering research and knowledge. However, since limited availability for visa interview appointments may delay the adjudication and issuance of visas beyond the start of this academic year, we continue to encourage both students and U.S. higher education institutions to maintain maximum flexibility in navigating the coming academic year, which may include accepting offers of admission and negotiating academic program start dates to accommodate variability in student arrivals on campus.
Due to conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki was forced to drastically reduce the number of consular appointments, including all categories of American Citizens Services and visa services requiring in-person interviews at the Embassy. In line with the U.S. Department of State’s prioritization of services, we are prioritizing services to U.S. citizens in Finland. With respect to visa services, we are prioritizing the processing of immigrant and fiancée visas, particularly for immediate relatives and other family-sponsored applicants.