COVID-19 – Frequently Asked Questions

Below is an overview of the frequently asked COVID-19-related questions. Please review them before contacting us.

​Due to local conditions,  the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion, Paraguay ​​is currently offering only emergency services for U.S. citizens in Paraguay, including passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, as well as notarial services.  These services are offered by appointment only. To make an appointment for a passport or notary, please visit the Embassy’s U.S. Citizen Services Page and follow the instructions.  ​If you have an urgent need to schedule an appointment, please email ParaguayACS@state.gov.  For life or death emergencies, please call 021-213-715 and follow the prompts if you are calling from Paraguay, or 1-888-407-4747 if you are calling from the United States.

Due to local conditions, the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion is canceling all non-emergency visa appointments in all visa classes through the end of March. As local conditions permit, the Consular section will increase available appointments. U.S. Embassy Asuncion is only processing visa applications from Paraguayan nationals and residents. Appointments made by third-country nationals who do not meet these requirements will be canceled. Please see our Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa web pages for the latest status of those services.

The Consular section provides information on upcoming repatriation flights via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and updates on the U.S. Embassy COVID-19 page. The STEP program allows the Embassy to communicate important information via email or text message. Please register with STEP here to receive alerts and updates.

Please note that charter flights publicized by the U.S. Embassy are operated by commercial companies and remain available subject to Paraguayan government permissions and ability to meet minimum passenger loads.

There are no restrictions on entrance to the United States for legal permanent residents and foreign nationals with a valid U.S. travel document coming from Paraguay.

However, please note that you will not be permitted entry into the United States if you were present or attempted entry into the following countries (including transiting an airport) within 14 days prior to your arrival:

  • Brazil;
  • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe;
  • The Republic of Ireland;
  • The 26 countries that comprise the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland);
  • The Islamic Republic of Iran.

The latest travel restriction does not apply to American citizens, legal permanent residents, most immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.

Please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for more information on requirements for foreign nationals traveling to the United States. Travelers are also advised to visit travel.state.gov for information on U.S. travel restrictions and possible exceptions.

Entry is suspended, per Presidential Proclamation 9994 and its Amendment, of non-Legal Permanent Resident foreign nationals who were present in Brazil within 14 days prior to their arrival at the port of entry in the United States. Any foreign national who transits an airport (even without leaving the airport) in Brazil will be subject to the entry restrictions set forth in this Proclamation.

Additionally, you will not be permitted entry into the United States if you were present in or attempted entry into the following countries within 14 days prior to your arrival:

  • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe;
  • The Republic of Ireland;
  • The 26 countries that comprise the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland);
  • The Islamic Republic of Iran.

The latest travel restriction does not apply to American citizens, legal permanent residents, most immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation. If you do not fall into of these categories, you cannot connect via Brazil to enter the United States. For more information, please see the U.S. Embassy Brazil Fact Sheet regarding this Presidential Proclamation.

Current travel restrictions do not apply to legal permanent residents. If you are not in possession of your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) and wish to travel to the United States, you may apply for a Transportation Boarding foil in order to facilitate boarding by the airline to transport you back to the U.S. Please see our website for more information about how to apply for a boarding foil.

Information about travel and maintaining permanent resident status is provided through the USCIS website.  For specific questions where the answer is not available from USCIS, please contact us at ParaguayIV@state.gov.

The CDC currently recommends that travelers self-quarantine in their homes for 14 days after arrival at their final destination in the United States. Please visit the CDC website for more information on quarantine requirements and preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Currently, travelers with a valid ESTA may travel to the United States. However, you will not be permitted entry into the United States if you were present in or attempted entry into the following countries within 14 days prior to your arrival:

  • Brazil;
  • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe;
  • The Republic of Ireland;
  • The 26 countries that comprise the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland);
  • The Islamic Republic of Iran.

Please note that these restrictions are based on physical presence in these countries, not passport nationality.  An Italian national living in Paraguay would not be subject to the restrictions but a Paraguayan national living in Italy would.

Any traveler with a valid ESTA who is subject to the Proclamation and who attempts to travel to the United States in violation of the Proclamation will have their ESTA canceled. ESTA will not refund applicants that are canceled due to this Proclamation. Information about the status of ESTA registrations at this time is provided through the ESTA website.

 

As of July 15, 2020, the U.S. Embassy resumed emergency and mission critical visa services. If you have urgent travel plans, please visit the Embassy visas page for guidance on how to request an expedited appointment. Please make sure you include your report date or start date as per on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 within your expedite request.

We strongly recommend that all current and prospective students and study abroad advisers review the comprehensive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) FAQ. This includes important new information about full course of study requirements and online learning, Form I-120, employment, and the SEVIS fee.

Please note that you will not be permitted entry into the United States if you were present in or attempted entry into the following countries within 14 days prior to your arrival:

  • Brazil;
  • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe;
  • The Republic of Ireland;
  • The 26 countries that comprise the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland);
  • The Islamic Republic of Iran.

If your visa is valid and you intend to resume your studies in the United States, you can travel directly to a United States Port of Entry to apply for admission. Admission to the United States is a matter for CBP officials at the U.S. Port of Entry and all travelers are subject to questioning. No assurances are given in advance. Please be sure to carry your annotated Form I-20 or DS-2019 in addition to your visa.

We strongly recommend that all current and prospective students and study abroad advisers review the comprehensive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) FAQ. This includes important new information about full course of study requirements and online learning, Form I-120, employment, and the SEVIS fee.

Please note that you will not be permitted entry into the United States if you were present in or attempted entry into the following countries within 14 days prior to your arrival:

  • Brazil;
  • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe;
  • The Republic of Ireland;
  • The 26 countries that comprise the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland);
  • The Islamic Republic of Iran.

If you are in the United States, please visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website for information about how to apply to extend your stay. While you are in the United States, any questions about your status are a matter for USCIS, not the Embassy. Information and contact details can be found on the USCIS website.

As explained at the time of fee payment, visa fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

If you have paid the fee but not yet attended the visa interview, please note that fees are valid for 12 months from the date of payment.

If you have attended your visa interview, the application fee was levied to cover the costs of adjudicating and processing the application. No refund is possible. Please see the relevant specific section for information about visa validity, provided that your new purpose of travel is consistent with the type of visa you hold.