NEW DELHI: The US embassy and consulates have cancelled routine immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments from March 16 onwards in the light of the global coronavirus threat, said the embassy in a statement. While it said it will resume routine visa services as soon as possible, it added that it wasn’t possible to provide a specific date at this point of time.“Your visa appointment stands as cancelled. Once Mission India resumes regular consular operations, appointments will be made available and you will be able to reschedule,” said the embassy.Meanwhile, some Schengen countries like Austria , the Czech Republic , Poland and Slovakia are also not accepting fresh visa applications in India due to the coronavirus outbreak. VFS Global has implemented “discounted courier return of passport” to reduce footfall at its centres.“Currently, as per mandates of the governments of Austria, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, we are not accepting applications on their behalf at the visa application centres in India. Our other visa application centres in India continue on schedule,” said Vinay Malhotra , VFS Global’s regional group COO (South Asia, West Asia and North Africa, Americas ).“We are taking steps to assuage the concerns of people about visiting busy public areas…. for visa customers who want to avoid returning to the visa centres to pick up their passports, we are offering discounted rates on courier services so their processed passports can be delivered to their home or office instead. With the government of Ireland’s approval, we have already implemented mandatory courier service for passport return (at reduced rates), so that customers are not required to come to the visa application centre to pick up their passports,” Malhotra said.VFS is considering to lower fees for its “visa at your doorstep service” for customers requesting for an alternative to visiting the centres to submit visa applications.