Scandinavians Part 2

[emma24 161]

Has anyone heard anything about when the embassy in Sweden might open up? I am just hoping it's soon. The wait is starting to get unbearable! 

[Simone Jakobsen 8]

On 5/28/2020 at 2:19 PM, emma24 said:

Has anyone heard anything about when the embassy in Sweden might open up? I am just hoping it's soon. The wait is starting to get unbearable! 

I agree, this is the hardest thing I ever had to deal with. I’m hoping soon as well but haven’t heard anything at all.

[BSJ 13]

Well the Embassy IS working on cases it seems. NVC denied our expedite so I tried the Embassy and they approved it and asked NVC to send over the case. That was last week. Embassy sent the check list of things they need and what he needs for interview on Thursday and has the go ahead for the medical in Oslo and has an appt next week. Once he has this complete he can go to the Embassy. 

The world has been going through a hard time and this process has been long and emotional. Glad this stressful chapter will soon be closing. 

[emma24 161]

2 hours ago, BSJ said:

Well the Embassy IS working on cases it seems. NVC denied our expedite so I tried the Embassy and they approved it and asked NVC to send over the case. That was last week. Embassy sent the check list of things they need and what he needs for interview on Thursday and has the go ahead for the medical in Oslo and has an appt next week. Once he has this complete he can go to the Embassy. 

The world has been going through a hard time and this process has been long and emotional. Glad this stressful chapter will soon be closing. 

Can I ask why you are expediting? Seems that is the only reason why the embassy would be working on your case as I have contacted multiple times and was always told that they are not processing K1s right now. Congrats though!! Plenty of us can't wait to be in your shoes!

[BSJ 13]

9 hours ago, emma24 said:

Can I ask why you are expediting? Seems that is the only reason why the embassy would be working on your case as I have contacted multiple times and was always told that they are not processing K1s right now. Congrats though!! Plenty of us can't wait to be in your shoes!

Hi Emma. 

 

We filed the I-130. Expedite is do to financial and husband's job offer. 

USCIS approved our case May 8th and NVC told me they could not expedite but the guy I spoke to said try the Embassy as they CAN expedite any case if they want. 

When was the last time you wrote the Embassy? Perhaps try again...

 

Yes, I know. It's a long process. I think a bit too long for some. 😔

[emma24 161]

On 6/7/2020 at 3:41 AM, BSJ said:

Hi Emma. 

 

We filed the I-130. Expedite is do to financial and husband's job offer. 

USCIS approved our case May 8th and NVC told me they could not expedite but the guy I spoke to said try the Embassy as they CAN expedite any case if they want. 

When was the last time you wrote the Embassy? Perhaps try again...

 

Yes, I know. It's a long process. I think a bit too long for some. 😔

It has been a few weeks, but I guess k1 applicants have to wait for the travel ban to be lifted as well to even get to the states. I am so very happy that you'll be with your spouse soon!! Hopefully we will be close behind  

[SkeletonNessa 8]

My fiance and I got our medical for the K-1 done at the tail end of January before things closed up about a month and a half later, so we're probably going to 'expire' for the 6 months validity to enter the US with... 

Has anyone been able to see anything about how they're handling those expiration with the COVID shutdowns? Kinda hoping they extend it, but also not holding my breath. 
 

[Scandi 4,166]

https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2020/06/dhs-begin-sending-furlough-notices-15000-employees-next-week/166096/

 

Although hopefully a very temporary thing (nobody knows at this point), imagine how this will affect every person in a US immigration process. USCIS have about 19,000 employees, and 15,000 of them could be affected by this. So that would only leave 4000 people to work on all immigration cases.. imagine that. 

 

For many of us it's not that big of a deal, we have our status and 10 year greencard. But what happens to those seeking adjustment of status? How massive will the backlogs become, how long will people have to wait just to get a status in the US? 

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

We got DQ at NVC on March 16th. In May we asked the US Embassy in Stockholm to be expedited due to my husband living alone in the US and belonging to a risk group for Covid19. The embassy approved the expedite and contacted NVC for transferal of our case. We've now had our interview and are approved! Passport is presently on its way from Stockholm to my house. The embassy and its personnel were very kind and helpful.

Edited June 13, 2020 by Jon & Ygritte

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

7 hours ago, Jon & Ygritte said:

We got DQ at NVC on March 16th. In May we asked the US Embassy in Stockholm to be expedited due to my husband living alone in the US and belonging to a risk group for Covid19. The embassy approved the expedite and contacted NVC for transferal of our case. We've now had our interview and are approved! Passport is presently on its way from Stockholm to my house. The embassy and its personnel were very kind and helpful.

Thats great news. Congratulations 😊  

 

I am curious because I've Googled and I can't find the answer but what are the grounds for immigrant visa expedites? Could you by chance show where you found it? I would greatly appreciate it 😊

 

I also contacted the US Embassy in Sweden the other day asking when they would be processing immigrant visas for Spouse's of US Citizens and this is what they said back.

 

 Routine visas services have been suspended at U.S. posts worldwide, but as resources allow, embassies and consulates will continue to provide emergency and mission critical visa services for applicants who are not subject to this presidential proclamation. The full text of the presidential proclamation is available on the White House website at:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-immigrants-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-economic-recovery-following-covid-19-outbreak/

Furthermore, as of March 16, 2020, the United States Embassy in Sweden is cancelling routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. Please follow www.ustraveldocs.com/se for updates.

 

 

Edited June 13, 2020 by OrihimeandIchigo

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

26 minutes ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

Thats great news. Congratulations 😊  

 

I am curious because I've Googled and I can't find the answer but what are the grounds for immigrant visa expedites? Could you by chance show where you found it? I would greatly appreciate it 😊

 

I also contacted the US Embassy in Sweden the other day asking when they would be processing immigrant visas for Spouse's of US Citizens and this is what they said back.

 

 Routine visas services have been suspended at U.S. posts worldwide, but as resources allow, embassies and consulates will continue to provide emergency and mission critical visa services for applicants who are not subject to this presidential proclamation. The full text of the presidential proclamation is available on the White House website at:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-immigrants-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-economic-recovery-following-covid-19-outbreak/

Furthermore, as of March 16, 2020, the United States Embassy in Sweden is cancelling routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. Please follow www.ustraveldocs.com/se for updates.

 

 

We just called them and asked how to go about asking for our case to be expedited. They told us to send an email to stkivinfo@state.gov , so we did asking how to proceed with requesting the expedite. They replied telling us to "provide justification of urgency and hardship" and to "attach supporting documents of hardship for consular officers review". I'm thinking it's up to the individual embassy which grounds they approve or not.

Edited June 13, 2020 by Jon & Ygritte

[Simon11221 2]

8 hours ago, Jon & Ygritte said:

We got DQ at NVC on March 16th. In May we asked the US Embassy in Stockholm to be expedited due to my husband living alone in the US and belonging to a risk group for Covid19. The embassy approved the expedite and contacted NVC for transferal of our case. We've now had our interview and are approved! Passport is presently on its way from Stockholm to my house. The embassy and its personnel were very kind and helpful.

How did you do that? Please tell me i wanna do it . I got my DQ on march 16 too. My case has been expedited. I wanna make an emergency interview appointment because my wife is pregnant and she’s due in this month. She doesn’t have anybody out there. It’s really stressing think of who would drop her at the hospital.😔😢😢😢 please help us

[SETETA 204]

2 hours ago, Jon & Ygritte said:

We just called them and asked how to go about asking for our case to be expedited. They told us to send an email to stkivinfo@state.gov , so we did asking how to proceed with requesting the expedite. They replied telling us to "provide justification of urgency and hardship" and to "attach supporting documents of hardship for consular officers review". I'm thinking it's up to the individual embassy which grounds they approve or not.

Hi, so did you ask for an emergency interview after your expedite was approved? I have an approved expedite for a month at another embassy but still no news on the interview.

 

Congrats!!! So happy for you!!!

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

6 hours ago, SETETA said:

Hi, so did you ask for an emergency interview after your expedite was approved? I have an approved expedite for a month at another embassy but still no news on the interview.

 

Congrats!!! So happy for you!!!

After the expedite was approved I received an email with instructions on how to prepare for the interview by taking the medical exam and collecting documents. When I was done with the preparations, I sent them an email informing them of that and asking them to proceed. They then sent me an interview appointment for 2 days later.

[BSJ 13]

On 6/8/2020 at 6:50 PM, emma24 said:

It has been a few weeks, but I guess k1 applicants have to wait for the travel ban to be lifted as well to even get to the states. I am so very happy that you'll be with your spouse soon!! Hopefully we will be close behind

Thanks.

I am with my spouse. Been married 20 yrs. 

He had his medical in Oslo yesterday. Took almost 3 hrs between the tests and waiting in between 🤦‍♀️

They didn't ask for any letter from the Embassy showing an appointment nor did they ask for the photos as they took a picture of him during the exam. They also tested him for the Coronavirus too.

He received a cd with his xray etc. and told him he needs to bring it to the Embassy etc. 

Total cost 5400 kr. 

Now, just have to wait for blood test results so they can send all results off  to the Embassy. 

Hoping we hear from them next week and get an appointment!