Expedited Visas and Financial Assistance for Families of Victims
Posted Sep 27, 2001

This NewsFlash item is a service of The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. to help the families of the victims of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. Although no one can fully compensate anyone for such devastation, the U.S. Department of State has attempted to address certain practical considerations for victims’ families who are living abroad, like visa issuance to travel to the U.S. and financial assistance.

Press reports have indicated that a significant number of the victims at the WTC were foreign nationals, from countries like India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and Japan. Apparently over 250 Indian nationals were among the victims at the WTC. DOS is working with various authorities to obtain lists of victims.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued a cable to the U.S. consulates worldwide, requesting consular officers to provide every humanitarian consideration to issue visas to grieving families of the victims of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Given the sensitivity of the situation, consular officers have been encouraged by DOS to expedite visas for such family members to travel to the U.S. The DOS intends to distribute the list of all victims to consular officers, to prevent fraud among visa applicants. This list of possible victims will enable consular officers to verify the legitimacy of a visa applicant who claims that a relative was among the victims.

DOS has advised consular officers to disseminate information on financial assistance to visa-qualified family members of victims who were airline passengers of either of the American Airlines flights or the United Airlines flight involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks. Such family members may file for financial assistance to travel to the U.S. Families of victims who were not on the airlines but who express a need for financial assistance should contact the Department of Justices' Victim Assistance Program at 414-979-4800 or, from within the U.S., at 1-800-331-0075