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VENEZUELA – Impact of the current political situation on immigration processes.
August 7, 2024
By: Merlin Delgado
The current social and political climate in Venezuela is having a significant impact on both citizens and immigrants interacting with immigration authorities. In this article we provide an update on the situation and its implications for those dealing with immigration processes.
Venezuela’s political environment is unstable.
The country is experiencing substantial instability following elections on July 28, 2024, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared re-elected as President. This outcome has sparked widespread protests across Venezuela. A significant portion of the electorate disputes the results, leading to ongoing demonstrations.
Several countries, including Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay, have officially rejected the election results, resulting in the suspension of diplomatic relations with Venezuela. Consequently, Venezuelan embassies in these countries have ceased operations. This has a direct impact on services such as passport issuance, visas, legalizations, and travel documents, leaving many Venezuelan nationals abroad without access to essential consular services.
Local immigration authority disruptions.
In Venezuela, local immigration authorities like SAIME (Servicio Administrativo de Identificación, Migración y Extranjería), MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and SAREN (Servicio Autónomo de Registros y Notarías) are not officially suspended but are mostly closed to the public. This closure severely hampers services related to immigration processes. Despite these closures, the platform for obtaining police records remains operational. However, national and international courier services are experiencing significant delays, further complicating the situation for those needing to send or receive important documents.
Impact on immigrants and citizens.
For citizens and immigrants, the current situation poses several challenges:
Access to services: With embassies and local authorities either closed or operating at minimal capacity, obtaining necessary documentation such as passports and visas is extremely difficult.
Delays and uncertainty: The delays in courier services add another layer of uncertainty, making it challenging for individuals to meet immigration requirements or deadlines.
Consular support: Venezuelan nationals abroad face the challenge of limited consular support, affecting their ability to renew documents or seek assistance for immigration-related issues.
Support and assistance is available.
Our representatives in Venezuela are doing their best to operate under the current circumstances. If you or your employees are affected by these disruptions, we are here to provide guidance and support through our network partners in Caracas and our global offices.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Case for any case- or company-specific assessments.
