Scandinavians Part 2

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

1 hour ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

I am so curious did they contact you with a interview date yet? 

 

Also June numbers - visas issued by post, is up. It looks like they issued 8 visas in June but I don't know how many were expedited or regular. 

 

 

Our IR1 visa was issued in June at the Stockholm embassy and was expedited.

[Simone Jakobsen 8]

On 7/24/2020 at 4:57 PM, emma24 said:

Thanks so much for the update @Kl30morg!! I am actually really considering making a trip over! I just got offered a new job and if I take it and can push my start date back a month, I'd love to go see my fiance. I haven't seen him since January 6th!! 

 

One major thing holding me back was traveling on a plane. I was worried my anxiety would be through the roof with the virus, so it's good to hear that IcelandAir is taking precautions! 

I’m pretty much in the same boat as you. Today marks 6 months of not seeing each other.

 

Can you make it to Norway though? I’m very confused about where US citizens can visit and where they can’t visit. I’m in Denmark myself and my fiancé is in the states. 

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

11 hours ago, Jon & Ygritte said:

Our IR1 visa was issued in June at the Stockholm embassy and was expedited.

Oh thank you I forgot about that  And you gave me a good idea. So I went backwards into the forum a little bit and figured out that. That you and BSJ were expedited cases and LilyJ was a normal rescheduled interview.  So maybe the 8 cases were half and half maybe?

[emma24 161]

5 hours ago, Simone Jakobsen said:

I’m pretty much in the same boat as you. Today marks 6 months of not seeing each other.

 

Can you make it to Norway though? I’m very confused about where US citizens can visit and where they can’t visit. I’m in Denmark myself and my fiancé is in the states. 

Yes! Norway is allowing long term relationship partners in. You have to bring a signed declaration with you and you will be allowed in. You have to declare the place you will quarantine upon your arrival as well.  I’m not sure about Denmark but I think they may have a similar process. 

Edited July 29, 2020 by emma24

[jetties 40]

The embassy in Sweden updated their page on immigrant visas today

 

Quote

The Immigrant Visa Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm has begun a phased resumption of some immigrant visa services and offers limited appointments to those applicants who will qualify for an exception to the COVID-19 Presidential Proclamations (IR-1, IR-2, CR-1, CR-2). While the Embassy aims to process the cases as soon practicable, there is likely to be increased waiting times for completing such services due to substantial backlogs. Please note that the Embassy does not process K-1 applications unless exceptions or national interest can be sought.

https://se.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/

[Scandi 4,173]

1 hour ago, jetties said:

The embassy in Sweden updated their page on immigrant visas today

 

https://se.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/

Another disadvantage to go the K-1 route (although very much unforeseeable, unlike all the other disadvantages). 

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

10 hours ago, jetties said:

The embassy in Sweden updated their page on immigrant visas today

 

https://se.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/

Thanks so much for posting this I had been checking constantly but I've been so busy lately and I'm so happy they updated it finally. This makes me excited they'll get to June cases and be faster than we think  

[jetties 40]

Just now, OrihimeandIchigo said:

Thanks so much for posting this I had been checking constantly but I've been so busy lately and I'm so happy they updated it finally. This makes me excited they'll get to June cases and be faster than we think  

You can easily monitor any updates to their website by looking at the sitemap 🙂
It's a lot faster than manually monitoring every relevant page!
https://se.usembassy.gov/sitemap_index.xml

[SkeletonNessa 8]

I'm a little confused, so does this mean that they're not going to be doing K-1s until after December 31, 2020? 😢

[Scandi 4,173]

4 hours ago, SkeletonNessa said:

I'm a little confused, so does this mean that they're not going to be doing K-1s until after December 31, 2020? 😢

Looks like it. Someone should let the embassy know that the proclamation does NOT bar Scandinavians from entering the US on K-1 visas. It only bars people who have been in one of the restricted countries within 14 days of trying to enter the US. That means a person can still perfectly fine have their K-1 visa issued and then go to a country that isn't on the list, stay there for 14 days and then enter the US. The embassy should know this.

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

3 hours ago, Scandi said:

Looks like it. Someone should let the embassy know that the proclamation does NOT bar Scandinavians from entering the US on K-1 visas. It only bars people who have been in one of the restricted countries within 14 days of trying to enter the US. That means a person can still perfectly fine have their K-1 visa issued and then go to a country that isn't on the list, stay there for 14 days and then enter the US. The embassy should know this.

I think it means the proclamation about banning certain visas from being issued not the travel ban. It says they are not processing it. Not that already issued K1 cant travel. 

[Scandi 4,173]

1 hour ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

I think it means the proclamation about banning certain visas from being issued not the travel ban. It says they are not processing it. Not that already issued K1 cant travel. 

K-1 s are not banned from being issued.

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

16 minutes ago, Scandi said:

K-1 s are not banned from being issued.

Ok well thats a grey area for sure everyone. It depends on the Embassies, some have stated on their website and to some members personally though emails they will get to K1 applicants eventually and some Embassies have outright said they will not process them because of the ban only processing the Department of State stated mission-critical categories. It's up to individual Embassies to decide. 

 

But it says they will begin processing exceptions to the Presidential proclamation. And they say they are not processing K1 unless exceptions and national interest can be sought. So it looks like the Sweden embassy has decided that K1 dont make the exceptions to the proclamation ban it seems. Maybe after they've gotten through the backlogged of CR1, CR2, IR1 and IR2 they might begin processing K1 we don't know. Just keep checking the website to see if they change their mind. 

Edited July 31, 2020 by OrihimeandIchigo

[Ellxtdan 95]

Update: received an interview date for August 28th! We’re a bit bummed the turnaround wasn’t sooner (I am flying to see my husband and help pack/say goodbye to his friends and family soon, so it would’ve been nice to be able to fly home together!) but thankful to finally have an end date.

 

I did try asking for an earlier date, but they said they are operating at a limited capacity and were booked for all of August already. Based on the dates we’ve seen here, maybe they’re only interviewing on specific days (like Tuesdays and Fridays)? Either way, it looks like they’re working on the backlog though!

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

25 minutes ago, Ellxtdan said:

Update: received an interview date for August 28th! We’re a bit bummed the turnaround wasn’t sooner (I am flying to see my husband and help pack/say goodbye to his friends and family soon, so it would’ve been nice to be able to fly home together!) but thankful to finally have an end date.

 

I did try asking for an earlier date, but they said they are operating at a limited capacity and were booked for all of August already. Based on the dates we’ve seen here, maybe they’re only interviewing on specific days (like Tuesdays and Fridays)? Either way, it looks like they’re working on the backlog though!

Congratulations great news 😊