The Tribune

THE US Embassy in Nassau has issued a reminder to travelling Bahamians that a new visa appointment service will be launched on March 11.

This new service will affect all non-immigrant visa applicants throughout the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

There will be no fee increase as a result of these changes.

“The US Embassy strongly advises all visa applicants who have purchased a scratch card but have not scheduled an appointment to schedule an appointment before the card expires on March 7, 2013.

“Scratch cards and PINs currently required to make a visa appointment will be available for purchase and appointment scheduling through March 7, 2013 only. Please visit the following website: www.usvisascratchcards.info/) for a list of locations where scratch cards/PINs are available for purchase,” said the embassy in a statement.

Visa applicants who plan to apply for a visa on March 11, 2013 or after should wait to use the new service, the statement said.

Specific details on the new visa appointment scheduling and payment service will be announced prior to the official launch on March 11, 2013.

The implementation of this new service is part of the Department of State’s global systems integration to standardise the visa application process, the embassy said.

For the most up-to-date information on how to apply for a visa, visit http://nassau.usembassy.gov.