The following materials are offered by U.S. DOS to aid in understanding the present situation of consular operations and U.S. citizen services for anyone affected by the ongoing Middle East crisis.
I. NIV & IV SERVICES FOR NON-U.S. CITIZENS: ISRAEL, JERUSALEM, THE WEST BANK, AND
GAZA
Nonimmigrant/Immigrant Visa Services
The U.S. Embassy in Israel (“The Embassy”) stated on Friday, October 13, 2023, that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and the Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv have discontinued NIV and IV services and are not providing regular visa services due to the continuing security situation. Due to Israel’s uncertain security situation, the Department approved the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and qualified family members from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and the U.S. Branch Office in Tel Aviv. The website also told visitors that if they had an urgent need to go to the United States but lacked a valid NIV, they should apply as a third-country national at any other station throughout the world and ask for an accelerated appointment there.
Additionally, it was stated on the website for visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in Israel that all visa appointments in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem would be delayed on occasion as they conducted capacity assessments.
Applicants are encouraged not to attend the initial appointment if it is rescheduled.
Travelers could enter into their accounts on this website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/) and seek an expedite online with precise information about the situation and the reason for the trip if it truly is a medical or humanitarian emergency.
Information for candidates living in Gaza who need a permit to attend their NIV interview may be found here, as can information for IV applicants and holders of green cards, should IV/NIV processing restart at the U.S. Embassy in Israel.
Contact Information for the U.S. Embassy in Israel:
• NIV Unit – [email protected]
• NIV Processing – htps://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-il/niv/information/contact_us
• IV Unit – [email protected]
• IV Processing – htps://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-il/iv/information/contact_us
Return of Passports (non-U.S. citizens with passports left at U.S. Embassy in Israel)
Since Sunday, October 8, the CSRA Document Service Center (DSC) at Shalom Aleichem Street 5 in Tel Aviv has been closed. Check the status of your application online if you have attended a visa interview but left your passport at the post office and haven’t gotten it yet.
If it reads “Ready for Pickup,” the passport is at the DSC. The DSC will open to the public on October 13, 2023, from 9:00 to 13:00, subject to no changes in the existing security situation. It will continue to operate on that schedule, Sunday through Friday, until the circumstances call for a change. Post advises applicants to wait until the status reads “Ready for Pickup” before traveling to the DSC in Tel Aviv’s Shalom Aleichem Street 5 to pick up their passports. The applicant must wait until Israel Post distributes the passport if they opt for that method of delivery.
Travel Advisories & Alerts
• Security Alert – Rafah Border Crossing, October 16, 2023
• Security Alert #10 – October 15, 2023
• Security Alert #9 – October 14, 2023
• Security Alert #8: Updated Travel Advisory October 14, 2023
• Security Alert #7: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (October 13, 2023) (13 October, 2023)
• Security Alert #6: Updated Travel Advisory October 11, 2023 (12 October, 2023)
• Security Alert #5: Information on Flight Availability from Ben Gurion International
Airport (October 9, 2023) (9 October, 2023)
• Security Alert #4: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (October 9, 2023) (9 October, 2023)
• Security Alert #3: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (8 October, 2023)
• U.S. Citizens Seeking to be in Touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel (8 October, 2023)
• Security Alert #2: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (7 October, 2023)
• Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (7 October, 2023)
Please check here for the most up-to-date Alerts and Travel Advisories issued by Mission Israel.
II. RESOURCES AND INFORMATION FOR U.S. CITIZENS IN ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK, AND
GAZA
U.S. Citizens in Israel, The West Bank, and Gaza are encouraged to take the following steps:
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You will receive travel alerts
and security updates. This will also make it easier to locate you in an emergency. - Complete the online Crisis Intake Form. Here, you can report if you need assistance
departing the region or require emergency U.S. passport services. All U.S. Citizens in
Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza should register. DOS will update U.S. Citizens who
have registered through the crisis intake form as the situation evolves.
a. NOTE: U.S. Citizens who wish to depart with U.S. government assistance must
express their interest via the crisis intake form. Do not fill out this form if you
have already completed it – duplicate requests may delay DOS’s response.
b. NOTE: US Citizens in Gaza – update from DOS on 10/13/2023: “The military
conflict between Israel and Hamas is ongoing, making departure options for U.S citizens complex. We are working on potential options for departure from Gaza for U.S. citizens. Please complete the crisis intake form at https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake to provide contact information should we need to reach out to you on short notice. We have U.S. government officials working 24/7 to try to assist.”
3. Monitor DOS and Embassy websites and social media for relevant security updates,
travel advisories, and other useful information:
a. U.S. Embassy Israel website: htps://il.usembassy.gov/
i. U.S. Citizen Services – htps://il.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/
b. U.S. Embassy Israel Security Alerts & Messages: htps://il.usembassy.gov/u-scitizen-services/security-and-travel-information/archive-alerts-messages/
c. U.S. Embassy Jerusalem on social media:
i. Twiter/X – htps://twiter.com/usembassyjlm
ii. Facebook – htps://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyJlm
iii. Instagram – htps://www.instagram.com/usembassyjlm/
d. U.S. Department of State on social media
i. Bureau of Consular Affairs Twiter – htps://twiter.com/TravelGov
ii. U.S. Department of State Twiter – htps://twiter.com/StateDept
iii. Secretary Antony Blinken Twiter – htps://twiter.com/SecBlinken
Planned Departure Assistance for U.S. citizens and their Immediate Family Members
In order to help American citizens and their immediate family members (spouses, partners, and children under 21) leave Israel on commercial aircraft and by ship, the U.S. government started providing departure assistance. The arranged conveyance will go to adjacent secure sites rather than back to the US. The next available departure will be used to determine the traveler’s final destinations and mode of transportation. Before leaving, travelers must agree to pay back the U.S. government, and they are responsible for booking their own hotel and subsequent transportation from the safe area to the ultimate destination. Officials from the U.S. Embassy will be on hand to assist.
U.S. Citizens who wish to depart with U.S. government assistance must express their interest via
the crisis intake form. Departure information is regularly posted on Mission Israel’s alerts
webpage.
• Each traveler must have a valid passport and be a U.S. Citizen or the immediate family
member of a U.S. Citizen.
• If you do not currently have your valid U.S. passport in your possession, please
immediately reply to this email so that we may assist you in making an appointment in
Jerusalem or Tel Aviv to obtain one.
• Immediate family members who are not U.S. Citizens must be eligible for entry to the
destination.
• Entry requirements can be found here: htps://mfa.gov.cy/visa-information.html
Recent departure assistance information:
• Security Alert #10: Planned Ship for Departing U.S. Citizens, October 16, 2023 – Haifa via
sea for Cyprus on October 16, 2023. Boarding begins at 0800 AM local time. U.S.
Citizens must arrive at Haifa port passenger terminal no later than 0900 AM local Time.
Boarding will proceed in order of arrival and is on a space-limited basis.
• Security Alert #9: Flights out of Ben Gurion Airport, October 14, 2023.
Useful Contact Information for U.S. Citizens in Israel, The West Bank, and Gaza:
- U.S. Passport Services
U.S. Citizens seeking to contact the U.S. Embassy regarding emergency passport services, please
fill out the crisis intake form or call 1-833-890-9595 (toll-free) or 1-606-641-0131; from within
Israel, call 03-519-7426. - U.S. Embassy Jerusalem
14 David Flusser St.
Jerusalem
Telephone: +972-3-519-7575, +972-2-630-4000, +972-3-519-7551 (emergency), 972-2-
622-7230 (after-hours)
Email: [email protected]
Contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem for information and
assistance in Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza (including the Erez Crossing), and the
Allenby/King Hussein Bridge border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank. - U.S. Embassy Branch Office Tel Aviv
71 HaYarkon St.
Tel Aviv
Telephone: +972-3-519-7575, +972-2-630-4000, +972-3-519-7551
Email: [email protected]
Contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv for information
and assistance in Israel outside of Jerusalem, and the northern (Sheikh Hussein) and
southern (Yitzhak Rabin) border crossings connecting Israel and Jordan, and the border
crossings between Israel and Egypt. - U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs
18 Agron Road
Jerusalem 9419003 Telephone: + (972) (2) 630-4000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (972) (2) 622-7230 Email: [email protected]
- U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Overseas Citizen Services Serving US Citizens Abroad: 1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444
Call Center for US Citizens in Israel: 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131 - Contact your Congressional Representative for Assistance
htps://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representarive
U.S. citizens in Israel who have family members missing in the Gaza periphery:
Go to the Israel National Police’s combined assistance center at 4 HaNegev Street in Airport
City. Additional information can be found here:
htps://www.gov.il/he/departments/news/police_08-10-23_family-center (Hebrew only at
this time). - U.S. citizens in Palestine and Gaza
The U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Gaza as
U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling there. During periods of unrest or
armed conflict, the crossings between Gaza with, Israel, and Egypt may be closed.
Although travel is extremely restricted outside of Gaza, and there is no consular presence in
Palestine, U.S. citizens in the region should should still take the following steps to report their location
and request assistance from DOS: - Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You will receive travel alerts
and security updates. This will also make it easier to locate you in an emergency. - Complete the online Crisis Intake Form.
- Contact your Congressional Representative for Assistance –
htps://www.house.gov/representatives/find-yourrepresentativehtps://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Additional Information for U.S. Citizens in Palestine and/or Gaza:
• On September 11, 2023, Israel announced new entry procedures for U.S. Citizens listed
on the Palestinian Population registry for Gaza for short-term entry and exit to and
transit through Israel.
• Entry-Exit Information for Palestinian-American residents of the West Bank and Gaza:
htps://govextra.gov.il/cogat/visa-en/entry-of-Palestinian-american-tourists-into-israel/
• If you are a U.S. citizens traveling on your U.S. passport and you were denied entry to
Israel for a short-term visit of up to 90 days, you can contact the American citizens
Services (ACS) Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem or the Embassy Branch Office in Tel
Aviv:
o Using the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem and Branch Office Tel Aviv online reporting
form.
o By phone (for denial of entry only): +972-2-630-4000
o Contact the auditor for the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority at
[email protected] to report discrimination at an airport or Port of Entry.
o Report discrimination at a checkpoint with the West Bank or Gaza to COGAT:
[email protected] or +972-03-6977577.
TRAVEL — ENTRY/EXIT TO ISRAEL
If you decide to travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, DOS advises:
• Check the most recent Alerts at the US Embassy-Israel website for the latest information
on travel in all of these areas.
• Check DOS’s Travel Advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. There is currently a Level 3 Travel Advisory for Israel – “Reconsider Travel”.
• Check flights – Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, but some commercial flights have been reduced or suspended. Some U.S. carriers have temporarily suspended flights to Israel. Please check with the airlines on the availability of flights and flight status. The status of flights and the Ben Gurion International Airport should be checked for updates.
• Check the status of land border crossings here:
• Allenby/King Hussein Bridge between Israel and the West Bank
(htps://www.iaa.gov.il/en/land-border-crossings/alenbi/) – 02-548-2600
• Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein Crossing between Israel and Jordan near Beit Shaan
(htps://www.iaa.gov.il/en/land-border-crossings/jordan-river/) – 04-609-3410
• Yitzhak Rabin/Arava Crossing between Israel and Jordan near Eilat
(htps://www.iaa.gov.il/en/land-border-crossings/yitzhak-rabin/) – 08-630-0555
• Menachem Begin Crossing between Israel and Egypt near Eilat
(htps://www.iaa.gov.il/en/land-border-crossings/menachem-begin/) – 08-636-
0999
• Learn the location of the nearest bomb shelter or other hardened shelter. Download
the Home Front Command Red Alert application for mobile devices to receive real-time
alerts for rocket attacks.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make
locating you in an emergency easier.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Make two copies of all of your travel documents in case of emergency and leave one
with a trusted friend or relative.
This article, under no circumstances, acts as legal advice; therefore, for any immigration questions, please contact your Attorney or the Ahluwalia Law Offices, P.C. (Team ALO).
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