October 11, 2005
| US EMBASSY LAUNCHES A NEW SYSTEM FOR NON IMMIGRANT VISA INFORMATION AND APPOINTMENTS |
On Wednesday, October 19, 2005 the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania will introduce its new Visa Information Service (VIS). The VIS uses live operators who will provide timely, accurate information on U.S. visas and personal, flexible scheduling of U.S. visa interviews for people in Romania. The VIS is based on similar models operating successfully today in more than 30 countries across Europe, Latin America and Asia. The VIS will be operated on behalf of the Embassy by the American firm Computer Sciences Corporation, in partnership with the Transcom Call Center, a Romanian company located in Bucharest.
To use the VIS, when applicants pay the usual U.S. Machine Readable Visa processing fee ($100) at any branch of the Bank of Transylvania they will pay an additional $11 (in RON) to receive their individual Personal Identification Number (PIN) printed on the Bank’s receipt. After 1:00 p.m. the following business day, the applicant will call the toll free number: 0800 88 8472 (0800 88 VISA) or the local toll number, (021) 202-9999 from any phone, including a mobile phone, then follow the automated instructions to enter the PIN and speak to a live operator. Callers may use one PIN to schedule, reschedule or cancel appointments for themselves and up to four other immediate family members. The PIN is valid for seven minutes of calling time, beginning when the caller reaches the live operator, and may be used for more than one call. Operators will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday – Friday except on Romanian holidays. Operators are available in Romanian, Hungarian or English. Callers from abroad may dial the local number, (40) (21) 202-9999, provide the PIN and speak to the operator.
While the Visa Information Service is the only authorized source of U.S. nonimmigrant visa information by telephone in Romania, this information is also available for free on the U.S. Embassy's website at http://www.usembassy.ro or the U.S. Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov.
The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce this improved Visa Information Service to better meet the needs of visa applicants in Romania. The Embassy strongly urges all individuals to apply for their visa a minimum of two months in advance of planned travel.
11 Octombrie 2005
| Ambasada SUA lanseaza un nou sistem de informare si programare pentru obtinerea vizelor temporare |
Ambasada Statelor Unite la Bucuresti lanseaza miercuri, 19 octombrie 2005, noul sistem de programare si informare a solicitantilor de viza temporara. Sistemul pune la dispozitie operatori care ofera informatii exacte si la timp despre vizele pentru Statele Unite. De asemenea, prin intermediul acestui sistem, va fi pusa la punct o programare flexibila si personala a interviurilor pentru viza in Statele Unite pentru cetatenii din Romania. Noul sistem se bazeaza pe modele similare care functioneaza cu succes in peste 30 de tari din Europa, America de Sud si Asia. Sistemul este administrat in numele ambasadei de catre compania americana Computer Sciences Corporation, in colaborare cu Transcom Call Center, o companie romaneasca cu sediul in Bucuresti.
Pentru a putea folosi acest nou sistem, in momentul in care solicitantii platesc obisnuita taxa de procesare (100 USD) la orice sucursala a Bancii Transilvania, acestia vor plati 11 USD (platibili in RON) pentru a primi propriul Numar Personal de Identificare (PIN), tiparit pe chitanta primita de la banca. In urmatoarea zi lucratoare, dupa ora 13:00, solicitantul poate suna la numarul gratuit 0800 88 8472 (0800 88 VISA) sau la numarul local gratuit (021) 202-9999 de la orice post telefonic, inclusiv mobil, urmand apoi instructiunile automate pentru a introduce codul PIN si a vorbi direct cu operatorul. Solicitantii isi pot folosi PIN-ul pentru a programa, reprograma sau anula programari pentru ei insisi si pentru maxim patru rude apropiate. PIN-ul este valabil pentru o convorbire telefonica cu durata de 7 minute, cu incepere din momentul in care solicitantul are legatura cu operatorul, si poate fi folosit pentru mai multe convorbiri telefonice. Operatorii vor lucra in intervalul 8:00-18:00, de luni pana vineri, cu exceptia sarbatorilor nationale romane; acestia vor vorbi in romana, maghiara sau engleza. Apelantii din strainatate pot forma numarul local (40)(21) 202-9999, introducand apoi codul PIN pentru a vorbi cu operatorul.
Desi noul sistem de programare si de informare a solicitantilor de viza temporara este singura sursa autorizata de informatii prin telefon referitoare la vizele pentru Statele Unite, aceste informatii sunt disponibile gratuit si pe site-ul Ambasadei Statelor Unite, la http://www.usembassy.ro sau pe site-ul Departamentului de Stat, la www.travel.state.gov.
Acest sistem imbunatatit are menirea de a satisface mai bine nevoile solicitantilor de viza. Ambasada incurajeaza toate persoanele interesate sa depuna cererea pentru viza cu cel putin doua luni inainte de calatorie.