SANTO DOMINGO.- El cierre parcial del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, lo que incluye las operaciones de la Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Santo Domingo, podría llevarse a cabo debido a una falta de acuerdo en el Congreso sobre las asignaciones actuales del presupuesto nacional.
El cierre parcial se iniciaría a partir de la medianoche de hoy, viernes, 8 de abril, y podría continuar por un período indefinido de tiempo. En caso de un cierre parcial la Embajada de los Estados Unidos continuará ofreciendo servicios de emergencia, incluyendo servicios consulares de emergencia para ciudadanos estadounidenses que los necesiten.
Sin embargo, la emisión rutinaria de visas no está considerada como un servicio de emergencia y, por ende, no sería ofrecido durante este posible cierre parcial. La Agencia Consular de Puerto Plata estaría cerrada de ocurrir el cierre parcial.
El cierre parcial se iniciaría a partir de la medianoche de hoy, viernes, 8 de abril, y podría continuar por un período indefinido de tiempo. En caso de un cierre parcial la Embajada de los Estados Unidos continuará ofreciendo servicios de emergencia, incluyendo servicios consulares de emergencia para ciudadanos estadounidenses que los necesiten.
Sin embargo, la emisión rutinaria de visas no está considerada como un servicio de emergencia y, por ende, no sería ofrecido durante este posible cierre parcial. La Agencia Consular de Puerto Plata estaría cerrada de ocurrir el cierre parcial.
Según se desarrolle la situación, todas las actualizaciones informativas serán anunciadas a través de la página electrónica de la Embajada de los Estados Unidos en www.embajadaUSA.gov.do al igual que en la página de Facebook www.facebook.com/EmbajadaUSASantoDomingo.
Todos los anuncios consulares aparecerán en la página electrónica de la Embajada bajo "Más Noticias". Debido a que el proceso de negociación del presupuesto entre la Casa Blanca y el Congreso es continuo, también recomendamos el monitoreo de las noticias. A partir del 11 de abril los siguientes servicios ofrecidos por la Embajada y la Sección Consular se ofrecerán si se confirma el cierre parcial.
Servicios para Ciudadanos Americanos: Esta sección tendría personal a su disposición y ofrecería servicios de emergencia para ciudadanos estadounidenses que involucran muertes, detenciones, hospitalizaciones y personas desaparecidas.
Se suspenderían servicios notariales, informes de nacimiento en el exterior y servicios rutinarios de pasaportes. Sólo se procesarán solicitudes de pasaportes de emergencia si algún ciudadano estadounidense enfrentara una situación de extrema dificultad, o de emergencia médica documentada. Se puede enviar preguntas y solicitudes para citas de emergencia para pasaportes a acssantodom@state.gov.
Beneficios Federales: La distribución rutinaria de cheques de la Administración de Seguridad Social (SSA) no estaría afectada. La unidad de Beneficios Federales proveería asistencia sólo a beneficiarios del SSA que tengan reclamos pendientes en situaciones extremas. Se pueden enviar preguntas y solicitudes para citas de emergencia a fbu.santodomingo@ssa.gov. Las solicitudes por la vía telefónica y las citas rutinarias no estarían disponibles.
Visas de No-Inmigrante (Visas de Paseo): Las citas rutinarias serían reprogramadas por la Embajada. Se ofrecerán servicios de emergencia. Las emisiones pendientes de visas serían completadas y devueltas a los solicitantes.
Visas de Inmigrante (Visas de Residencia): La Unidad de Visas de Inmigrante no entrevistaría a los solicitantes, en caso del cierre parcial del gobierno. Todas las citas de abril serían reprogramadas para los primeros días disponibles de junio. La Sección Consular tomaría en cuenta como una cita de emergencia cualquier caso donde la edad de un menor podría afectar la emisión de la visa.
Según lo emitido por Douglas H. Shulman, Director de Impuestos de los Estados Unidos, la fecha para el pago de los impuestos federales se mantiene para el 18 de abril. Para más información, los interesados deben consultar la página electrónica del Internal Revenue Service (IRS): www.irs.gov.
U.S. Embassy Services in the Event of a Partial U.S. Government Shutdown
A partial shutdown of the U.S. Government, to include U.S. Embassy operations in Santo Domingo, now appears possible because of a lack of agreement in Congress on current budgetary appropriations. The partial shutdown would begin tonight, Friday, at midnight, and continue for an indefinite period. In the event of partial shutdown, the U.S. Embassy will continue to provide emergency services, including emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in need. However, routine visa issuances are not considered to be an emergency service and therefore would not be provided during the possible partial shutdown. The Puerto Plata Consular Agency would be closed during a partial shutdown.
As the situation changes, all updates will be posted to the U.S. Embassy public website at www.embajadaUSA.gov.do as well as to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EmbajadaUSASantoDomingo. All Consular updates will be posted as a Consular Services Update on the Embassy website under "More News." As budget negotiations between the White House and the Congress are ongoing, we also encourage monitoring of the news. Effective April 11, the following Embassy and Consular services can be expected if a shutdown is confirmed.
American Citizens Services (ACS): ACS would be staffed and provide emergency assistance for cases involving deaths, arrests, hospitalizations and missing persons. Notarial, report of birth, and routine passport services would be suspended. Applications for emergency passport appointments would be considered only for stranded U.S. citizen visitors facing extreme hardship or those with a documented medical emergency. Questions and requests for emergency passport appointments can be sent to acssantodom@state.gov.
Federal Benefits (FBU): The routine distribution of Social Security Administration (SSA) checks would not be affected. The Federal Benefits Unit would only provide assistance to SSA beneficiaries with pending claims in dire need. Questions and requests for emergency appointments can be sent to fbu.santodomingo@ssa.gov. Telephone inquiries and routine appointments would not be available.
Non-Immigrant Visas (NIV): Routine appointments would be rescheduled by the Embassy. Emergency services, narrowly defined, would be provided. Pending issuances would be completed and returned to applicants.
Immigrant Visas (IV): If there is a government shutdown, Santo Domingo's Immigrant Visa Unit would not be able to interview any applicants. The IV Unit would reschedule any affected April appointments for the first available dates in June. The Consular Section would consider for emergency appointment any IV cases where children will age out.
Per the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner, Douglas H. Shulman, federal taxes would still be due on April 18. Any further questions should be directed to the IRS website.
A partial shutdown of the U.S. Government, to include U.S. Embassy operations in Santo Domingo, now appears possible because of a lack of agreement in Congress on current budgetary appropriations. The partial shutdown would begin tonight, Friday, at midnight, and continue for an indefinite period. In the event of partial shutdown, the U.S. Embassy will continue to provide emergency services, including emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in need. However, routine visa issuances are not considered to be an emergency service and therefore would not be provided during the possible partial shutdown. The Puerto Plata Consular Agency would be closed during a partial shutdown.
As the situation changes, all updates will be posted to the U.S. Embassy public website at www.embajadaUSA.gov.do as well as to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EmbajadaUSASantoDomingo. All Consular updates will be posted as a Consular Services Update on the Embassy website under "More News." As budget negotiations between the White House and the Congress are ongoing, we also encourage monitoring of the news. Effective April 11, the following Embassy and Consular services can be expected if a shutdown is confirmed.
American Citizens Services (ACS): ACS would be staffed and provide emergency assistance for cases involving deaths, arrests, hospitalizations and missing persons. Notarial, report of birth, and routine passport services would be suspended. Applications for emergency passport appointments would be considered only for stranded U.S. citizen visitors facing extreme hardship or those with a documented medical emergency. Questions and requests for emergency passport appointments can be sent to acssantodom@state.gov.
Federal Benefits (FBU): The routine distribution of Social Security Administration (SSA) checks would not be affected. The Federal Benefits Unit would only provide assistance to SSA beneficiaries with pending claims in dire need. Questions and requests for emergency appointments can be sent to fbu.santodomingo@ssa.gov. Telephone inquiries and routine appointments would not be available.
Non-Immigrant Visas (NIV): Routine appointments would be rescheduled by the Embassy. Emergency services, narrowly defined, would be provided. Pending issuances would be completed and returned to applicants.
Immigrant Visas (IV): If there is a government shutdown, Santo Domingo's Immigrant Visa Unit would not be able to interview any applicants. The IV Unit would reschedule any affected April appointments for the first available dates in June. The Consular Section would consider for emergency appointment any IV cases where children will age out.
Per the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner, Douglas H. Shulman, federal taxes would still be due on April 18. Any further questions should be directed to the IRS website.
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