Consular News

The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala Announces TelePunto (TELEFÓNICA) Phone Cards Will No Longer Be Used to Access Visa Information Service

Guatemala, August 8, 2007

As of August 9, 2007, Telefónica’s TelePunto prepaid phone cards will no longer be used to access the United States Embassy’s Visa Information Service. Although sales are cancelled beginning August 9, the prepaid cards will be valid for another 60 days. Two other options will still be available to visa applicants who wish to receive immigrant or nonimmigrant visa information or to schedule nonimmigrant visa interview appointments at the Embassy.

Visa applicants may obtain a PIN from any BANRURAL branch in Guatemala at a cost of Q96.00 (equivalent to USD$12), payable in cash. Applicants with an account at BANRURAL may also pay by check. They can then dial 1.800.300.0023 toll-free to access the Visa Information Service. The PIN allows applicants to call multiple times for information and appointment scheduling, for a total of 12 minutes of access to the service. Applicants may use one PIN to schedule appointments for themselves and up to four immediate family members residing in the same household. Immediate family includes a husband, wife, mother, father, son, daughter, sister or brother.

Applicants calling from the United States who would like to make an appointment for an interview at the Embassy in Guatemala may dial 1.866.730.2088 and use a credit card. The charge is approximately USD$7.

Summary of the Service

This Visa Information Service, based on similar models operating today in almost 50 countries across Europe, Africa, and Latin America, provides timely and accurate information to the public regarding how to apply for a visa to enter the United States of America. Callers are able to access information on both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to the United States as well as the documents required to apply for a visa. The Visa Information Service schedules all appointments for nonimmigrant visa interviews. Operators are available to answer questions and schedule nonimmigrant visa interview appointments, if required. The service is available to the public from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The United States Visa Information Service is provided to the public on behalf of the U.S. Embassy by Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE:CSC) in alliance with Teletech Holdings Incorporated and Citibank Guatemala.