Notice on Visa Services

Negative COVID19 Test Required for Travel

Effective January 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all air passengers entering the United States to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours of departure.  Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers before boarding.  ​Airlines must deny boarding of passengers if they do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery.  This requirement is separate from the visa application process.  All Presidential Proclamations restricting travel due to COVID-19 remain in place, and continue to apply to subject potential travelers regardless of their test results or vaccination status.  Travelers holding a National Interest Exception also remain subject to all applicable pre-departure testing requirements.  For more information on waivers to the testing requirement please click here.

Service Availability:

As of now, the United States Embassy Phnom Penh is resuming certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services, including K, CR1, CR2, IR1, IR2, SB1, EB5, B1/B2, F, M, and J. While the United States Embassy Phnom Penh aims to process cases as soon as practicable, there is likely to be increased wait times for completing such services due to substantial backlogs. The MRV fee (for nonimmigrant visa) is valid and may be used to schedule an interview appointment in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://ustraveldocs.com/kh/kh-niv-expeditedappointment.asp for nonimmigrant visa or email IVPhnomPenh@state.gov for immigrant visa to request an emergency appointment.

MRV Fee Validity Extension:

The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia understands that many visa applicants have paid the visa application processing fee and are still waiting to schedule a visa appointment.  We are working diligently to restore all routine visa operations as quickly and safely as possible.  In the meantime, rest assured the U.S. Mission will extend the validity of your payment (known as the MRV fee) until September 30, 2022, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment with the already paid fee.  Please continue to monitor this site for information on when we will return to routine visa operations.

Suspension of Entry of Certain Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market:

On December 31, 2020, the President signed a Presidential Proclamation on Suspension of Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Who Continue to Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market.  This proclamation extends Presidential Proclamations (P.P.) 10014 and 10052 through March 31, 2021.  P.P. 10014 suspends the entry to the United States of certain immigrant visa applicants, while P.P. 10052 suspends the entry to the United States of certain nonimmigrant visa applicants who present a risk to the U.S. labor market during the economic recovery following the novel coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, the suspension of P.P. 10052 applies to applicants for H-1B, H-2B, and L-1 visas; J-1 visa applicants participating in the intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel programs; and any spouses or children of covered applicants applying for H-4, L-2, or J-2 visas.  U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and aliens who are or were inside the United States or those holding valid nonimmigrant or immigrant visas on the effective date are not subject to the Proclamation.

Presidential Proclamations on Novel Coronavirus:

Presidential Proclamations on Novel Coronavirus:

Entry of foreign nationals who were physically present within the following list of countries within 14 days prior to their entry or attempted entry into the United States is suspended, per Presidential Proclamations 9984, 9992, 9993, 9996, and 10041, the Presidential Proclamation issued on January 25:

-South Africa;
-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; and
-The People’s Republic of China, not including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau

There are certain exceptions to the suspension of entry, including exceptions for U.S. lawful permanent residents and certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, among other exceptions listed in the proclamations. If you reside in, have traveled recently to, or intend to transit or travel to the above list of countries prior to your planned trip to the United States, we recommend you postpone your visa interview appointment until 14 days subsequent to your departure from the subject country(ries). Additionally, if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, or believe you may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, you are strongly encouraged to postpone your appointment by at least 14 days.

Rescission of Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983

On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed a Presidential Proclamation titled “Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States.”  This proclamation ends the travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983 that had suspended entry into the United States of certain nationals, based on visa type, from Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen.  Click here from additional information.