Visa Appointment Cancelled at the last minute :-(

[nearlythere 0]

Hi,

I was supposed to have my visa interview tomorrow but got a call from the embassy(Dublin, Ireland) to tell me my appointment was cancelled until further notice. The lady said there was further processing that needed to be done (some new rules or directive I think) and the petition needed to be sent back to the states. I was told all visas in my category had to be sent back and I was told that a timelline was not know for this "further processing".

I will contact them again tomorrow and try get more information but I was fairly stunned when they called me to tell me this so I didn't get any more information than that.

Anyone else heard of this particular scenario or similiar scenarios in the past?

Yours in limbo....nearlythere.

[kitkat1 5]

If you can post your timeline or include it in your message, we might be able to shed some light. Depending on your dates, it sure sounds like IMBRA.

[nearlythere 0]

Hi Kitkat1,

I don't think there is anything special about my timeline....petition submitted begining of Jan 2006. All relevant NOAs and packages received.....I've done the medicals, all paperwork gathered and appointment letter received from Embassy.

Excuse my ignorance but what's IMBRA?

[TracyTN 237]

There could be something special about your timeline. All of this depends on when you received your NOAs.

[irishgirl73 0]

I posted about this earlier-same thing happened to my fiance this morning. I called NVC & the visa office in Washington. I was told that we are NOT supposed to be part of the IMBRA law. I also called Dublin this morning & the woman assured me that we were not going to be held-up, even though they called Gavin & told him that he WOULD be delayed.

We(all of us affected) should call back tomorrow & tell them that they made a mistake-our noa2 was approved way before this law went into effect(although the guy from NVC said it could be any petition approved AFTER Jan 1 2006).

They are making a huge mistake by sending them all back-when was your petition approved? I am sure you were approved a while ago as well-definetly call them tomorrow-I know I WILL Someone else posted on the embassy forum about this-they were meant to go in Thurs & now the interview has been cancelled-we have to do something before it gets really out of hand there

Edited June 12, 2006 by irishgirl73

[kitkat1 5]

Hi Kitkat1,

I don't think there is anything special about my timeline....petition submitted begining of Jan 2006. All relevant NOAs and packages received.....I've done the medicals, all paperwork gathered and appointment letter received from Embassy.

Excuse my ignorance but what's IMBRA?

Since your petition was submitted in January, you surely received your NOA1 before March 6. This was the date the International Marriage Broker Act went into effect. No petitions received after this date will move forward or be approved until USCIS provides petitioners with a form to provide additional information necessary to comply with the law. This shouldn not affect you at all, but there were 1100 approved petitions returned and interviews cancelled due the the law, but those people received their NOA2s after March 6 (for the most part). That's why your timeline might have made a difference. But based on Irishgirl's experience, I have zero idea what is going on now.

[irishgirl73 0]

Hi Kitkat1,

I don't think there is anything special about my timeline....petition submitted begining of Jan 2006. All relevant NOAs and packages received.....I've done the medicals, all paperwork gathered and appointment letter received from Embassy.

Excuse my ignorance but what's IMBRA?

it a new law that was passed(I believe it is mosty about marriage brokers-basically it requires a more extensive background check on the US citizens). I could be way off-someone here will clarify. There seems to be some confusion about dates-I have read here that it only applies to people that applied for the k-1 AFTER 3/6/06......................the guy from NVC told me it applies to all petitions that weren't approved before Jan 06.

I think Dublin is making a HUGE mistake & we need to se them straight. when did you receive your noa2?

[Billy 0]

Hi

I do agree with Iris. The Consulate has made a huge mistake for sending all petitions back to the States.

Bill

[nearlythere 0]

NOA1 received - March 13th

NOA2 received - March 31st

[Billy 0]

NOA1 received - March 13th

NOA2 received - March 31st

Hi Nearlythere!

If your NOA1 is March 13. You are subjected to IMBRA law.

Billy

[kitkat1 5]

NOA1 received - March 13th

NOA2 received - March 31st

Then this is due to IMBRA. The law requires petitioners to provide information regarding their "possible criminal background". It affects any petition filed after March 6.

The big problem is that USCIS has not yet created a form for petitioners to use to provide this information. As a result, we are all in a holding pattern until they actually create a form, make it available, and provide information.

So sorry this has happened to you. But read through some of the threads - you are NOT alone.

[irishgirl73 0]

NOA1 received - March 13th

NOA2 received - March 31st

I think you may fall under IMBRA b/c of your noa1 date??????????????????I don't know much- but I am pretty sure the Dublin embassy is making a HUGE mistake they shouldn't be sending ALL the petitions back I am calling first thing in the morning.

according to IMBRA our petition shouldn't have been sent back...........

noa1 12/14

noa2 3/7

Edited June 12, 2006 by irishgirl73

[nearlythere 0]

NOA1 received - March 13th

NOA2 received - March 31st

Then this is due to IMBRA. The law requires petitioners to provide information regarding their "possible criminal background". It affects any petition filed after March 6.

The big problem is that USCIS has not yet created a form for petitioners to use to provide this information. As a result, we are all in a holding pattern until they actually create a form, make it available, and provide information.

So sorry this has happened to you. But read through some of the threads - you are NOT alone.

Thanks for the info but our petition went in at the beginning of Jan? Also, I thought they did a criminal background check anyway?

Good to know we're not alone.

[hockeygal 0]

NOA1 received - March 13th

NOA2 received - March 31st

sorry this happened, but wow - you got NOA1 and NOA2 in 3 weeks from Nebraska?? SOmeone there was being very efficient and not realizing they weren't supposed to be.

[Billy 0]

This is very confusing, you sent in your petition in Jan 2006, and your NOA1 was March 13 2006. Why is it too long to receive your NOA1?