Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania Drive Visa Innovation with Next-Level Technology, U.S. Embassy in Stockholm Champions the Initiative

Friday, November 22, 2024

Starting next month, the US Embassy will discontinue immigrant visa processing at its locations in Lithuania and Latvia, directing applicants to conduct their interviews at the US Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. This change marks a shift in how visa applications from the Baltic region are handled, centralizing operations in a single location.

The decision leverages Stockholm’s advanced capabilities to manage visa applications efficiently for multiple countries. Currently serving Denmark and Norway, the Stockholm embassy will extend its services in December to include Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland. This move aims to provide a more streamlined and cohesive system for applicants from these nations.

Visa Applications to Be Centralized in Stockholm

The Stockholm embassy will take over processing immigrant visas, including those for family reunification and green card lottery winners. It will also manage fiancé(e) visas (K visas) and family asylum visas (V92/V93). However, applicants who have already completed interviews in their home countries will still receive their visas locally as previously planned.

Benefits of the New System

The transition is designed to simplify the visa process, reduce waiting times, and enhance the overall experience for applicants across the Baltic and Scandinavian regions. The US Embassy in Stockholm is equipped to handle this expanded responsibility, ensuring applicants benefit from faster service and a centralized system.

Rising Visa Approvals Across Europe

Data from the US Department of State indicates a significant increase in visas issued to European applicants in 2023. Sweden topped the list with 13,491 approved visas, followed by Denmark with 7,656, and Norway and Finland with 6,968 and 4,425 approvals, respectively.

In the Baltic states, Lithuania recorded 2,948 approved visas, while Latvia and Estonia were granted 2,291 and 1,295 visas. Altogether, over 39,000 visas were issued to applicants from these seven countries in 2023, an increase from the 34,000 approved the previous year.

Strengthening Regional Coordination

This new approach reflects a broader strategy to enhance collaboration between the US and the Scandinavian and Baltic regions. By consolidating visa services in Stockholm, the embassy seeks to create a unified and efficient process, addressing the growing demand for US visas. This change underscores the commitment to improving accessibility and streamlining the application process for applicants from smaller nations like Latvia and Lithuania.

Applicants impacted by this update are encouraged to monitor official communications for further guidance and prepare for interviews under the new system starting in December.