I would not bet on it.

Note that the information DownandOut has reported having happened (or not happened) to date is factual. It is true that no CF has been hired for over a year now and it is true that there are no plans to bring on any new CFs in 2021. (This was reported from a email given to to a candidate, who posted it on Reddit.)

It sounds brutal, but that’s how it is. Other hiring hasn’t stopped, but CF has and as of now, there are no plans to resume this year.

The OP here had asked if there were any CF classes to be added in 2021. The answer to that, based on the copied-and-pasted email in a thread called “Status of Consular Fellows Program” on Reddit from just over two weeks ago, is no. “A flat-out no,” as DaO put it.

It would have been nice for the green checks to point out what or how much of the DownandOut post on the other thread was inaccurate, but that didn’t happen. The one thing that s/he posted that is in direct contradiction to the official email posted to Reddit is that those currently on the register may have a loophole to extend their time on the register. Just that statement rendered DaO’s post inaccurate.

Note that saying the program will continue does not guarantee *when* it will continue, or if it will be as robust as it is now. There is a conversion program I wanted to apply to that hasn’t been offered since 2016. It still exists but also isn’t available. The CF program could resurface again in 2023 with only Spanish as an option — I have no idea, but I noted the green check’s wording didn’t mention when and in what capacity, it was just reported that it would resume. (And in fairness to the green checks, it’s probably not known yet.) However, note that DaO’s thorough post also left open the possibility that Spanish may resume.

Visa applications are down and people are not traveling as much internationally. The purpose of the CF program is to deal with the heavy visa application load; if that’s not there, there’s no reason to bring anyone one. There’s also no reason to kill the program because two, three, five or 15 years from now, the demand might surpass what it was two years ago, so when Chris’s contact at the State Department says the program will be back, it most certainly can be, but perhaps not on the timetable that current candidates are hoping for.

It’s also entirely within reason to think that if someone would be interested in applying as a CF, then that person may also be interested in a career as an FSO. While those OAs have been on hold for a year (though starting back now, it seems), the hiring hasn’t ceased. I’d suggest that anyone hoping for a CF spot also apply as an FSO.

No applicant should ever count on a job with the State Department. Apply and forget about it, whether that’s FSO, CF, FSS or LNA. Never count on this as a career. the CF program, especially, is only five years. Don’t hold out for it. Live your life, gain more experience and keep it on the back burner. The good thing about there being no CF OAs now means that people aren’t getting on the register to time off.

It would be nice if the green checks would be cleared to post more information, but it seems there’s not much that’s available for the public. (I’d prefer the green checks start deleting all the spam bots that have been attacking the forum. I see the “What happens after your CF tour?” from 2018 has been resurrected with six straight spam messages, which sprinkle this forum constantly now.)