Scandinavians Part 2

[Saana 4]

Guys, I finally got my visa last Tuesday! I had my interview at the embassy in Helsinki on December 9th and they said it'd take 1-2 weeks for the visa (FX1) to be issued so I thought I would have it by Christmas. My husband came to Finland for Christmas and we were going to book our flights back together for the week after New Year but luckily we didn't. 🙏 I emailed the embassy the week after Christmas and they said the visa would be issued "early next week" but when there were no updates in the CEAC tracker on Monday or Tuesday after New Year, I emailed them again. Didn't hear anything back until the visa was issued the following Monday.... We had our flights to California this past Sunday so I was starting to get a bit anxious. 😅 It took over a month and I guess holidays are to blame. 🤷‍♀️

[tunuki 0]

On 1/17/2022 at 6:40 PM, Scandi said:

This is what I got in a link in the email from the embassy:

"IMPORTANT: The entire medical examination, the chest X-ray and the serological test for syphilis must be performed by a designated panel physician (see lists below). Medical examinations may not be done at U.S. military facilities, by physicians in the United States, or by a family physician. Chest X-rays and the serological test are normally not required for children under 15 years of age. You are responsible for making an appointment with one of the panel physicians in your country of residence." STK - Stockholm.pdf (state.gov)

It's possible it has changed, it's been a few years. 

Worst case you just won't have your medical until April, which will only cause a delay in the issuance of the visa, but if you can wait then it's not an issue at all. You can still go to your interview as scheduled.

And Einar in Gbg is amazing, highly recommend you go to him if you get the chance. He will even make sure you receive a copy of the FULL medical report if you ask for it, not just the vaccination work sheet. 

 

Thanks for that, maybe something to think about as I normally got administrative processing anyway. If we can have the interview and then just wait for the tests that I think is fine.

I have emailed the embassy to ask about it anyway. Tbh we are not in a hurry as we will wait until my sons schoolyear finishes anyway. 

Edited January 19, 2022 by tunuki

[Scandi 4,173]

9 hours ago, tunuki said:

 

Thanks for that, maybe something to think about as I normally got administrative processing anyway. If we can have the interview and then just wait for the tests that I think is fine.

I have emailed the embassy to ask about it anyway. Tbh we are not in a hurry as we will wait until my sons schoolyear finishes anyway. 

Yeah if you're not in a hurry then it's not an issue at all. Have your interview as scheduled in February and have your medical in April (if that's the earliest date), that's perfectly fine.

When I went for my interview I had only done my medical 2 business days prior so I had to wait for my visa to get issued too until they had received the medical report (took 2 weeks). The other person that was also at the embassy for a K-1 interview at the same time as me hadn't done his medical at all at that point, he hadn't even scheduled an appointment. The only thing that happens is that you pass your interview and then they put your case on "pause" until they have received all documents they need.

 

[tunuki 0]

Receptionist at the GBG medical office told us that there are 14 people in waiting list and that the embassy told them it is ok to book in the Denmark office.

[Tidusel94 0]

On 11/22/2021 at 3:07 PM, tunuki said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/visa-services-operating-status-update.html

All prioritization tiers have now been rescinded and left to the embassy to decide. 

Does this mean that EB3 (that was in the lowest tier) has a higher chance to be scheduled for an interview now? I'm confused over the meaning of this! 

[Tidusel94 0]

Hi!
I'm a Swedish EB3 applicant. From my understanding all Scandinavian people are doing their interviews for EB3 at the US embassy in Stockholm.
I'm looking for anyone who recently had his/hers interview at the US embassy in Stockholm to compare and see how much more of a wait that I can expect.

My timeline:
* June 2020 - Signed job offer
* October 2020 - Approved I-140
* December 2020 - Uploaded everything to NVC
* April 2021 - Documentarily qualified for an interview. 

I've been waiting almost 10 months now. I can see on the https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html website also that there was 1 Norwegian and 1 Danish that had their EB3 interview in October of 2021 and also 2 Danish in December 2021. It'd be great, interesting and a relief knowing their DQ's.

I've tried call the embassy and ask for what DQ's they working on but they shut down the immigrant visa phone service and are only reachable by mail. I know that CR1/IR1 that are prioritised isn't backlogged anymore since I know people that was DQ in December-2021 got their interview now in Jan-22  .. So at least a good sign for them to start working a little on the EB que. If SOMEBODY, ANYBODY have any information in the DQ's of EB they working on at the US embassy in Stockholm. Or ANY suggestion in how to find out.. please let me know.. starts to feel hopeless and I don't know how to plan my life anymore being on standby ready to move 

Thank you so much in advance.
 

17 hours ago, tunuki said:

Receptionist at the GBG medical office told us that there are 14 people in waiting list and that the embassy told them it is ok to book in the Denmark office.

I understand that you are applying in the EB category? Can you please tell me more about your timeline? I understand you are from Sweden? Im about to lose hope after this long wait  

[tunuki 0]

4 hours ago, Tidusel94 said:

 

 

Hi!
I'm a Swedish EB3 applicant. From my understanding all Scandinavian people are doing their interviews for EB3 at the US embassy in Stockholm.
I'm looking for anyone who recently had his/hers interview at the US embassy in Stockholm to compare and see how much more of a wait that I can expect.

My timeline:
* June 2020 - Signed job offer
* October 2020 - Approved I-140
* December 2020 - Uploaded everything to NVC
* April 2021 - Documentarily qualified for an interview. 

I've been waiting almost 10 months now. I can see on the https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html website also that there was 1 Norwegian and 1 Danish that had their EB3 interview in October of 2021 and also 2 Danish in December 2021. It'd be great, interesting and a relief knowing their DQ's.

I've tried call the embassy and ask for what DQ's they working on but they shut down the immigrant visa phone service and are only reachable by mail. I know that CR1/IR1 that are prioritised isn't backlogged anymore since I know people that was DQ in December-2021 got their interview now in Jan-22  .. So at least a good sign for them to start working a little on the EB que. If SOMEBODY, ANYBODY have any information in the DQ's of EB they working on at the US embassy in Stockholm. Or ANY suggestion in how to find out.. please let me know.. starts to feel hopeless and I don't know how to plan my life anymore being on standby ready to move 

Thank you so much in advance.
 

I understand that you are applying in the EB category? Can you please tell me more about your timeline? I understand you are from Sweden? Im about to lose hope after this long wait  

 

Yes, from Sweden, EB2-NIW (so not worried about job offer). We were DQ'ed (or documentarily complete according to NVC) Nov 2020, and just got our interview for February 2022. 

 

Those EB's you see on there were generally people who were exempt from interviews as I understood it. Currently (from November) they are starting processing EB's (a couple a month) but they are still sticking to the priority list even though DoS said they can stop using it if they want. So while our processing time was very long for us, mainly because the embassy was closed for a large part of it, since most tier 1-2s are almost no longer backlogged that much, hopefully you should get a time by late Spring, but probably not before if I were to guess. They announce in batches, I think Jan-Feb has been announced and the March April one should be announced soon.

 

Good luck!

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by tunuki

[Tidusel94 0]

1 hour ago, tunuki said:

 

Yes, from Sweden, EB2-NIW (so not worried about job offer). We were DQ'ed (or documentarily complete according to NVC) Nov 2020, and just got our interview for February 2022. 

 

Those EB's you see on there were generally people who were exempt from interviews as I understood it. Currently (from November) they are starting processing EB's (a couple a month) but they are still sticking to the priority list even though DoS said they can stop using it if they want. So while our processing time was very long for us, mainly because the embassy was closed for a large part of it, since most tier 1-2s are almost no longer backlogged that much, hopefully you should get a time by late Spring, but probably not before if I were to guess. They announce in batches, I think Jan-Feb has been announced and the March April one should be announced soon.

 

Good luck!

 

Hey!

Thank you so much for answering - I have some follow up questions, hope that's alright! But you seem very knowledgeable about the process, so I wanna try get as much info as I can haha!

1.) Is there EB visas that are exempt from interviews? In that case what kind of EB visa? And where did you that information that the EB visas that were issued late last year were exempt from interview, or like how can you/we make that assumption?

2.) I've also understood it like they aren't that backlogged in those tiers anymore, like I said I've spoken to a few people that was DQ in December-2021 got their interview now in Jan-22 and their case is normal processed not expedited. In regards to your timeline.. It would make sense if we got our interview in May sometime? Then we have been waiting for 13 months which is about the same amount that you've been waiting. 

3.) You are talking about that they announce batches, what do you mean by that? Like how many interviews of each visa that is held during those months? If so where can I find that information?

Jesus, it feels so hard to plan ones life after this interview which can pop anytime now..  

[tunuki 0]

3 hours ago, Tidusel94 said:

Hey!

Thank you so much for answering - I have some follow up questions, hope that's alright! But you seem very knowledgeable about the process, so I wanna try get as much info as I can haha!

1.) Is there EB visas that are exempt from interviews? In that case what kind of EB visa? And where did you that information that the EB visas that were issued late last year were exempt from interview, or like how can you/we make that assumption?

2.) I've also understood it like they aren't that backlogged in those tiers anymore, like I said I've spoken to a few people that was DQ in December-2021 got their interview now in Jan-22 and their case is normal processed not expedited. In regards to your timeline.. It would make sense if we got our interview in May sometime? Then we have been waiting for 13 months which is about the same amount that you've been waiting. 

3.) You are talking about that they announce batches, what do you mean by that? Like how many interviews of each visa that is held during those months? If so where can I find that information?

Jesus, it feels so hard to plan ones life after this interview which can pop anytime now..  

There are no EB visas that are exempt, but some individuals who did not have to have interviews with the embassy at this time (they had one earlier but visa couldn't be issued).

 

I would guess so, can't be sure what is going on though and may even be earlier.

 

They announce all the interviews of Jan-Feb at the same time roughly, not one at a time. And I meant they send out the invitation emails to the applicants not publicly how many.

[Tidusel94 0]

3 minutes ago, tunuki said:

There are no EB visas that are exempt, but some individuals who did not have to have interviews with the embassy at this time (they had one earlier but visa couldn't be issued).

 

I would guess so, can't be sure what is going on though and may even be earlier.

 

They announce all the interviews of Jan-Feb at the same time roughly, not one at a time. And I meant they send out the invitation emails to the applicants not publicly how many.

I see! Thanks for your quick response! Please keep me somehow in the loop.. with the covid cases increasing in Sweden it feels like maybe the embassy is gonna start cancel appointments again.. It would just be good to know that you're on track! 

And I'll just beg to the universe they announce our interview asap!

[tunuki 0]

Embassy said that we can do the medical in Norway or Denmark if we are Swedish residence, and that they are trying to set up a Stockholm office too.

[tunuki 0]

Does anyone know how long interviews are these days during the Covid era? If we are scheduled for 8:30 am, would we be able to return to GBG in the afternoon? Looking to buy return train tickets. 

[mcjp 3]

10 hours ago, tunuki said:

Does anyone know how long interviews are these days during the Covid era? If we are scheduled for 8:30 am, would we be able to return to GBG in the afternoon? Looking to buy return train tickets. 

My interview (ir1) was 16th of november. I was scheduled for 8.30, I was second in line for security, but they didn't start letting people in until 9.15. I then waited another 30 minutes or so inside after handing them my originals. The interview itself didn't even take 5 minutes. I was out by 10, possible a smidge before.

Edited February 8, 2022 by mcjp

[lemlem 18]

Hi guys! 

Just want to write a bit about my journey, in case someone will be in the same boat as me, and is looking for information. 

 

My situation is a little unique, since I was born in Iraq, and came to Denmark as a refugee when I was 3 years old. I am a Danish citizen only, and don't have an Iraqi birth certificate, but we submitted my Person Attest. It will be super interesting to see if I will be processed as a Dane or as an Iraqi. Will keep everyone updated, and if anyone is in the same situation, don't hesitate to reach out! 😊 

[Orion22 3]

Hello Scandinavians ☺️

My wife (USC) is petitioning for me and my son. PD is May 20th 2021, Vermont Service Center. We're still waiting for approval on the I 130's, no movement since NOA1. Our lawyer sent in a K3/K4 last week, we'll see if that helps any.