Scandinavians Part 2

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

Yall the US State Department at the nations capital enter Phase 2 of "Diplomacy Strong," which allows up to 80% of employees to return to work onsite. I hope this means that Embassies and consulates around the world will follow suit and begin Phase 2 also if the nations captial has entered Phase 2. This is exciting news  

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/31/politics/state-department-phase-2/index.html

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

18 hours 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!

Our interview in late May was on a Thursday.

[emma24 161]

I just bought a plane ticket! Headed to Norway on August 16th!! ❤️❤️❤️

[LilyJ 1,258]

On Friday, we emailed the embassy that we have re-prepared all our documents and are ready for my husbands interview to be rescheduled, and Monday they emailed us back that they have scheduled him for August 25!! So excited but nervous at the same time!

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

3 hours ago, LilyJ said:

On Friday, we emailed the embassy that we have re-prepared all our documents and are ready for my husbands interview to be rescheduled, and Monday they emailed us back that they have scheduled him for August 25!! So excited but nervous at the same time!

Congratulations this is exciting news  

[LilyJ 1,258]

10 hours ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

Congratulations this is exciting news  

Thank you! We are really excited. My husband is setting up his medical soon!

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

19 hours ago, LilyJ said:

Thank you! We are really excited. My husband is setting up his medical soon!

Is he going to Gothenburg or Stockholm for the medical? 

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

So some updates for my Scandinavia friends 😊 I've been home sick with a stomach virus so I've been able to surf for news 🤣 lol 

 

The US State Department lifts global 'Do Not Travel' advisory. After more than four months, the US State Department on Thursday lifted its advisory warning US citizens against traveling abroad. 

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/06/politics/state-department-level-4-advisory-lifted/index.html

 

The Us Embassy in Stockholm also updated its site to include information about:

Sweden – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

 

Reconsider travel to Sweden due to COVID-19. Read the Department of State’s  COVID-19 page  before you plan any international travel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for the Sweden due to COVID-19. Sweden has lifted stay at home orders, and resumed some transportation options and business operations.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/sweden-travel-advisory.html

 

Which I think is both good news. Hopefully this means more CO'S can come back to Sweden and more mission critical visa interviews can happen and faster 😊

[swmfly 45]

Hi again everyone -- for those who have interviewed at the embassy in Stockholm recently: 

How long can we expect the interview to take/how long should I expect my husband to be inside the embassy for his interview? 

 

For those who have traveled to Stockholm from outside Sweden: 

Are there ever any issues with returning to your residence (in our case, Denmark) without a passport? My husband is a non-EU national (Indonesian) with a Danish residence permit -- will traveling with his residence permit be sufficient? 

 

Simply trying to plan when/how to return to Copenhagen (same day). 

 

Cheers!

Edited August 7, 2020 by swmfly

[LilyJ 1,258]

13 hours ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

Is he going to Gothenburg or Stockholm for the medical? 

My husband is Danish so he is having his medical in Copenhagen on the 17th  

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

On 8/7/2020 at 4:52 PM, swmfly said:

Hi again everyone -- for those who have interviewed at the embassy in Stockholm recently: 

How long can we expect the interview to take/how long should I expect my husband to be inside the embassy for his interview? 

I'm actually very curious about this also 🤔 I've read different reports of times but most are from pre pandemic. I saw someone post that recently in Japan they were inside for a hour and half I think and if I remember right before the pandemic one person was out in like 30 to 40 minutes. So I'm curious also. 

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

Does anyone know how long the medical in either Stockholm or Gothenburg takes? I was wanting to know so I know when to book return train tickets times. Thanks so much in advance 😊

[jetties 40]

16 minutes ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

Does anyone know how long the medical in either Stockholm or Gothenburg takes? I was wanting to know so I know when to book return train tickets times. Thanks so much in advance 😊

I can’t speak for Sweden, but I had my medical in Copenhagen this week. The whole examination took about 45 minutes, including a tetanus shot, and the X-rays (separate location in Copenhagen) took 5 minutes

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

1 hour ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

Does anyone know how long the medical in either Stockholm or Gothenburg takes? I was wanting to know so I know when to book return train tickets times. Thanks so much in advance 😊

I did the medical in Gothenburg and it took about 3 hours all in all. Einar, who really is a wonderful doctor, wasn't in a hurry since I was his only visa patient due to Corona. Sure, that part may have taken about 45 -60 minutes including STD test (which you administer yourself), blood pressure and eye exam, but then I had to walk over to Carlanderska Hospital and wait there for quite a long time before I could have my X-rays taken and then wait again for a doctor to look at the X-rays before they gave me the USB-stick with them on.

 

I spent the better part of an afternoon doing the medical. Make sure to leave enough time as you can't control how long you have to wait to get the X-rays done.

Edited August 8, 2020 by Jon & Ygritte

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

11 hours ago, Jon & Ygritte said:

I did the medical in Gothenburg and it took about 3 hours all in all. Einar, who really is a wonderful doctor, wasn't in a hurry since I was his only visa patient due to Corona. Sure, that part may have taken about 45 -60 minutes including STD test (which you administer yourself), blood pressure and eye exam, but then I had to walk over to Carlanderska Hospital and wait there for quite a long time before I could have my X-rays taken and then wait again for a doctor to look at the X-rays before they gave me the USB-stick with them on.

 

I spent the better part of an afternoon doing the medical. Make sure to leave enough time as you can't control how long you have to wait to get the X-rays done.

This is amazing and so very helpful thank you so much for the information 😊. I'm so glad I know this now rather than later and my husband missing his train lol.