As reported by Chaim V’Chessed, just last week the US Embassy rolled out troubling new rules, ending the issuance of emergency passports for babies born to US citizens residing in Israel. These rules greatly limited the ability of American families residing in Israel to travel to the USA for Pesach.
This difficulty came in addition to the fact that the average wait time for appointments for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and first-time passports for newborns in Israel is now a disturbing four to five months. Emergency passports were a solution for those with immediate travel plans who could not obtain a CRBA appointment.
Chaim V’Chessed has been working intensely for an immediate resolution to this issue, along with other community organizations, such as Amudim and Agudath Israel. Additionally, numerous public officials have intervened in this matter. Notably, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), penned a scathing letter on this matter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. He also tweeted about the issue, saying: “US citizens in Israel are encountering inexplicable difficulties obtaining passports. These seemingly unnecessary obstacles are deeply frustrating before the Passover holiday. I am demanding that the State Department end these delays.”
Chaim V’Chessed is pleased to relate that today, the US Embassy reversed last week’s announcement. Effective immediately, the Embassy has reinstated emergency passport appointments for newborns. Though only a limited number of appointments are available, some Chaim V’chessed clients have already received emergency appointments this afternoon.
We salute the elected officials who raised this matter at the highest levels of government, and we thank Embassy officials for implementing this change. At the same time, it is important to note that it is still quite difficult to obtain any type of passport appointment, and wait times are still very long. Chaim V’Chessed will continue to advocate for a complete resolution to this issue, for the benefit of US citizens living in Israel.
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8 Responses
Why they hire additional staff still remains an unanswered question! If the need is there, then they must do it! Americans may absolutely never be barred entry into America!
It is critically important to comprehend {especially on 11/5/2024} that sleepy joe gets exactly Zero credit, for this partial resolution, and was in no way involved in reversing last week’s scandalous behavior at the American Embassy.
Why they don’t hire additional staff still remains an unanswered question! If the need is there, then they must do it! Americans may absolutely never be barred entry into America!
Traveling for Pesach is not an emergency in any sense of the word.
TODAH HASHEM!!!! TODAH HASHEM!!!!
TODAH HASHEM!!!! TODAH HASHEM!!!!
TODAH HASHEM!!!! TODAH HASHEM!!!!
TODAH HASHEM!!!! TODAH HASHEM!!!!
TODAH HASHEM!!!! TODAH HASHEM!!!!
I do not personally know anyone who suffered from this problem, but all Yehudim are Guf Echad, so when they are rescued from their troubles, I rejoice, and thank HaShem.
“Traveling for Pesach is not an emergency in any sense of the word…”
And it would be a real chilul hashem if those with real emergencies find themselves unable to obtain the visas because the appointments are all booked by those whose definition of an “emergency” is doing the sedorim with the family.
I am curious as to whether this issue was caused by lack of staff, or a lack of secure paper.
In recent months, there have been many reports from different states that the delay in receiving the title to your car or other documents, using these specialty security papers has been growing (in some states can take as long as 12 to 14 weeks now.).
The cause of the shortage seems to be a merger between a few of the paper mills that produce these papers.
As anybody who has held both a passport, and a title to a car, can tell you, the paper used for passports is a more complex paper with more watermarks, magnetic filaments, and other security features than a car title.
I suspect that the shortage may have played a role in this issue with the passports
Dora,
There are differing levels of emergency.
But the 23 year old who just had her second child would not do very well if she needed to make Pesach. It would create great difficult for her and her husband, especially when this had never been an issue before and her decision to have the baby in EY was based on the assumption that she could come how for Pesach. She’s not spoiled, and she just had her baby 3 months ago, so there was no time to schedule a regular appointment.
Of course, this need is not the same as someone needing emergency surgery, but it’s still legitimate and I don’t think it’s frivolous.
I don’t think there is call to be derisive about it. Do you have kids in EY?