Travel Ban: The US government took my money and then changed the rules

[ForeverHopeful 7]

This on again off again travel ban is both heartbreaking and financially unfair. I started the K-1 process before Trump became president. Iran was not a blocked country. I paid a filing fee to the USCIS to apply for a petition and paid an interview fee to the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi for an interview for my fiance. We are in administrative processing. And now it is nearly (if not completely) impossible to get a K-1 visa because the law has changed mid process. How is this fair? The government took my money and then changed the rules. What if anything will the courts do for those of us in this situation? It's maddening. I feel cheated. And worse... I am heartbroken. I hope the ACLU is victorious and gets this order over turned once and for all. 

[No-Where-Man 147]

Hi,

I am sorry for what happened to you, and I totally understand where you are coming from. 

 

However,

The government did NOT take your money. The government took the money to get someone to look at your K1 petition at USCIS then also for the person who processed your papers at the NVC and then at the embassy and gave you an interview. . These persons that look at your papers and processed it at the various levels are getting paid to do this work and this is where your money went. The decision/outcome at the end of the process is merely dependent on circumstances of each case and not the money you paid. 

 

Good luck 

 

 

Edited December 6, 2017 by No-Where-Man

[geowrian 22,337]

2 minutes ago, No-Where-Man said:

Ppl from countries on the blocked list can immigrate if they have a bonafide relationship to someone in the US. Fiance visa is one of those but not as strong. Best if you marry first then file for a CR-1 visa or you can live with your fiance in his/her country if this is an option

That was the previous bans (plus a fiance was deemed to be a bona fide relationship for that exception anyway). The exception for a bona fide relationship was removed in the latest ban. Marriage won't change it.

Edited December 6, 2017 by geowrian

[No-Where-Man 147]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

That was the previous bans (plus a fiance was deemed to be a bona fide relationship for that exception anyway). The exception for a bona fide relationship was removed in the latest ban. Marriage won't change it.

True. edited. 

[Scandi 4,166]

28 minutes ago, geowrian said:

That was the previous bans (plus a fiance was deemed to be a bona fide relationship for that exception anyway). The exception for a bona fide relationship was removed in the latest ban. Marriage won't change it.

Could you please describe in simple words what the newest "travel ban" entails? Are countries banned still/again? If so, no one from those countries can come to the US?

[geowrian 22,337]

9 minutes ago, Scandi said:

Could you please describe in simple words what the newest "travel ban" entails? Are countries banned still/again? If so, no one from those countries can come to the US?

It's still the "Travel ban 3.0" from Sept. 24th...just that SCOTUS allowed it to go into full effect yesterday.

Details: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/09/24/enhancing-vetting-capabilities-and-processes-detecting-attempted-entry

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/24/politics/trump-travel-restrictions/index.html

 

The rules vary by country, but some (mostly those from the middle east) cannot issue any immigrant or non-immigrant visas. Others can only issue certain types of visas (i.e. student & exchange visas are allowed from Iran, but nothing else). One (Venezuela) only affects a very small number of individuals (government officials and their immediate family). The "bona fide relationship" exception on this order expired on Oct. 18th.

 

A waiver is available, but is only to be granted on a case by case basis (with no information on timelines or well-defined criteria for approval).

 

tldr: North Korea, Syria, Somolia, Iran, Chad, Yemen, and Libya nationals cannot be issued an immigrant (or K-1) visa. Further limits on other visas apply to a subset of those countries.

[Scandi 4,166]

9 minutes ago, geowrian said:

It's still the "Travel ban 3.0" from Sept. 24th...just that SCOTUS allowed it to go into full effect yesterday.

Details: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/09/24/enhancing-vetting-capabilities-and-processes-detecting-attempted-entry

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/24/politics/trump-travel-restrictions/index.html

 

The rules vary by country, but some (mostly those from the middle east) cannot issue any immigrant or non-immigrant visas. Others can only issue certain types of visas (i.e. student & exchange visas are allowed from Iran, but nothing else). One (Venezuela) only affects a very small number of individuals (government officials and their immediate family). The "bona fide relationship" exception on this order expired on Oct. 18th.

 

A waiver is available, but is only to be granted on a case by case basis (with no information on timelines or well-defined criteria for approval).

 

tldr: North Korea, Syria, Somolia, Iran, Chad, Yemen, and Libya nationals cannot be issued an immigrant (or K-1) visa. Further limits on other visas apply to a subset of those countries.

Thank you! 

[cyclone27 710]

Unfortunately there are no guarantees with  immigration until the process is complete and those immigrating are in the US.

[ForeverHopeful 7]

7 hours ago, No-Where-Man said:

The government did NOT take your money. The government took the money to get someone to look at your K1 petition at USCIS then also for the person who processed your papers at the NVC and then at the embassy and gave you an interview. . These persons that look at your papers and processed it at the various levels are getting paid to do this work and this is where your money went. The decision/outcome at the end of the process is merely dependent on circumstances of each case and not the money you paid. 

 

The USCIS, the NVC, and the US Embassy are all parts of the US government. The people working there are employees of the US government. The fact remains that I paid money to the US government with the expectation that it was technically possible to get approved (not guaranteed, but possible). With the latest ban it is practically impossible to get approved for a visa for someone from Iran. Money paid, process started, rules changed, success impossible. Not fair emotionally or financially. 

[TBoneTX 45,304]

Thread is closed in favor of the pinned "Trump's published immigration policies" megathread.

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