Venezuelans fret Maduro measures may slow U.S. visas

Queuing in their hundreds from dawn then often waiting for hours in the sun, Venezuelans seeking U.S. visas fear their government's order to slash American embassy staff to less than a fifth of current levels may snarl the process far more.

In his latest spat with the United States, socialist President Nicolas Maduro has accused Washington of promoting a coup against him and announced a series of reprisal measures, including the order to downsize the enormous U.S. mission in Caracas from 100 to 17 staff within two weeks.

That will inevitably hit the consular section, which in 2014 processed some 232,500 applications.

Given the interruptions last year when three consular staff were expelled, the lines could well be longer in 2015.

http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelans-fret-maduro-measures-may-slow-u-visas-154413561.html