US Embassy's immigrant visa unit closed on Friday

The United States Embassy's Immigrant Visa unit will be temporarily closed on Friday, Sept. 20, according to an announcement on its website.

The Embassy said the unit's operations will resume on Monday, Sept. 23.

"The Immigrant Visa Unit will be temporarily closed on Friday, September 20, 2013. Normal operations will resume on Monday, September 23, 2013," it said in the announcement.

No explanation was given for Friday's temporary closure.

The Embassy also reiterated the DS-260 (Online Immigrant Visa Application & Registration) and DS-261 (Choice of Address and Agent) will replace the paper-based DS-230, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration and the DS-3032, Choice of Address and Agent, effective September 1.

It said the DS-260 and DS-261 are fully integrated online electronic visa application forms used to collect application information from people seeking immigrant visas.

"These online forms are completed and submitted online to the Department of State via the Internet through the Consular Electronic Applications Center (CEAC). The forms may be partially completed, saved online to finish, and submitted later; or the forms can be completed and submitted in a single session," it said. — KBK, GMA News