Visa Services SUSPENDED!!

[mrs.jayb 0]

Hi All,

Just a little update. My husband is Ivorian and I am a USC and also 5 months pregnant. We were about to start the DCF processes when the Visa services here in the Ivory Coast were suspended because the Embassy was hit by a grenade and there has been political instability due to the presidential elections. Anyways, now we're stuck here. My parents were going to joint sponsor with me, since I make 25,000USD before taxes and I've lived here for over 6 months. We can show a bonified marriage, and before he was a refugee because his village was attacked and he had to run from the rebels. Anyways, this is what the embassy is saying...

Notice of visa suspension

NOTICE: All visa services are suspended until further notice. Only emergency visa applications can be processed at this time. Visa appointments will only be given to those deemed to meet very strict and well-documented emergency criteria, generally life-threatening emergencies. If yours is such a case, send details and scanned documents to AbjConsular@state.gov. Note that personal business or leisure travel does not qualify as an emergency. Please keep checking this website each day to determine when the suspension will be lifted.

Do you think we would qualify because he is also in jeopardy because he is married to an American and his soon to be child will obviously be American. Is that too much of a stretch? What do you guys think?

Thanks!

[james&olya 1,121]

Hi All,

Just a little update. My husband is Ivorian and I am a USC and also 5 months pregnant. We were about to start the DCF processes when the Visa services here in the Ivory Coast were suspended because the Embassy was hit by a grenade and there has been political instability due to the presidential elections. Anyways, now we're stuck here. My parents were going to joint sponsor with me, since I make 25,000USD before taxes and I've lived here for over 6 months. We can show a bonified marriage, and before he was a refugee because his village was attacked and he had to run from the rebels. Anyways, this is what the embassy is saying...

Notice of visa suspension

NOTICE: All visa services are suspended until further notice. Only emergency visa applications can be processed at this time. Visa appointments will only be given to those deemed to meet very strict and well-documented emergency criteria, generally life-threatening emergencies. If yours is such a case, send details and scanned documents to AbjConsular@state.gov. Note that personal business or leisure travel does not qualify as an emergency. Please keep checking this website each day to determine when the suspension will be lifted.

Do you think we would qualify because he is also in jeopardy because he is married to an American and his soon to be child will obviously be American. Is that too much of a stretch? What do you guys think?

Thanks!

I am far from an expert on this but it seems to me that it is well worth trying! Only the CO at the embassy can decide this. Good luck!!

On a separate note, I think you meant 'bonafide' marriage but maybe bonified is better! (Sorry, couldn't resist)

Edited December 16, 2010 by james&olya

[mrs.jayb 0]

lol thanks...

sorry spelling isn't a priority for me at the moment! Thanks!

[mrs.jayb 0]

i don't even know how to start writing them....

blah... writer's block. stresss......

any suggestions?

[Anh map 2,098]

From what you posted from the embassy your husband must be in imminent danger to qualify. Is he being pursued by people looking to do harm to him?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Try completing all of the necessary application paperwork first - it sometimes helps to find out what to want to say when you have something already in progress.

In your cover letter, identify yourself as an American citizen currently living in Ivory Coast with your husband (name, date of birth) of XXX years, a citizen of Ivory Coast and you are expecting your first child on XXX date. Explain his circumstances - that he was a refugee from where and when, and then state you were getting ready to file for DCF so you could all move back to the US, when visa services were suspended. State how you believe that his safety, your safety and the safety of your unborn child are at risk if you remain in Ivory Coast. Provide any documentary evidence that you have or can get showing any information about his village being attacked, him fleeing from it, and what has happened to him or others who fled. If you can find other evidence or documents that show he is at risk from retribution or attacks, include them. If he has experienced any sort of discrimination or safety issues because he is married to you, an American, itemize these, and if you have can provide evidence (eg. sworn affidavits from people who know, police reports, etc.), include those. Try to make your application as complete as you can make it to show that he, you and your child are at risk if you cannot proceed with Direct Consular Filing asap and ask them if they will please give your application consideration as qualifying for emergency processing under the current unstable political situation. Start gathering all of the other evidence you will need for the next stage of the process - the affidavit of support, the police/security checks, passport, birth certificates, etc.

If they say no, then start the proceedings for the CR-1 application through the normal means of filing in the US. You can mail the application from overseas and take it from there.

Good luck!

Edited December 17, 2010 by Kathryn41

[mrs.jayb 0]

Thank you so much!! That really helped! I am getting started on this right now!