DCF in London - January 2020

[Stuwoolf 44]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-notice-for-k-visa-applicants-affected-by-covid-19.html?fbclid=IwAR2qlfOaVhk-qcmmfbhnyRCBSH0lwNW4kBCwovD0VRmd90MBMSHIkJfQNzY

 

"Important Notice for K visa applicants affected by COVID-19

Last Updated: August 31, 2020

 

Effective August 28, as it becomes safe to resume more consular operations at each U.S. mission, posts are authorized to give K visa cases high priority.  Applicants should check the website of their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for updates on what services that post is currently able to offer. The I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) is typically valid for four months; however, consular officers may revalidate the I-129F petition in four month increments.  For most cases impacted by the suspension of routine visa services or COVID-19 travel restrictions it will not be necessary to file a new I-129F petition."

 

Did the wait just get longer?

[Morgan5698 58]

4 minutes ago, Stuwoolf said:

Did the wait just get longer?

I doubt it just yet. This is really good news for people holding K1's all around the world which I think have ended up with the raw end of the deal in all this. However its still dependent on local conditions and Fiances cannot presently travel from the UK to the US under the UK Coronavirus presidential proclamation ban. So it's unlikely London will be processing these in a hurry before Spouse (which can actually travel direct).  

[Stuwoolf 44]

3 hours ago, Morgan5698 said:

So it's unlikely London will be processing these in a hurry before Spouse (which can actually travel direct).  

I hope you are right. My fear is, so far, the way they are dealing with DCF post Approval, they have not covered themselves in glory.

 

Good luck everyone....tomorrow is another day🙂

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

nothing here yet. I did get a response from my congressman. They sent me a form to fill out and send back, so that they can inquire on our behalf. NO idea if it will do any good, but i'm game to try at this point. No response to the last email I sent. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, Robyn-n-Kris said:

nothing here yet. I did get a response from my congressman. They sent me a form to fill out and send back, so that they can inquire on our behalf. NO idea if it will do any good, but i'm game to try at this point. No response to the last email I sent. 

Tell them what you want them to ask. If they just inquire on the status of your visa, the answer they will get is the same old “we’re delayed because of Covid and working as fast as we can”.  I think they need to mention —My constituent is halted from further movement toward a CR1 visa because all the remaining online steps require a case number including scheduling a medical, completing the DS-260, and choosing an interview date. Most cases have case numbers assigned by NVC, but can you please expedite the consulate assignment of a case number for my constituent so the family can proceed through the steps without any further assistance. 
Then thrown in any hardships like others have mentioned like parent with cancer, house sold quickly and now homeless with a household of belongings, needing to get children enrolled in school .  I think saying it’s not fair that some people got ahead of you holds no water and should be avoided because that is just immature. Make it about the hardship to the American who is paralyzed from the rest of the process because they lack a number.

 

@The4Sands @Stuwoolf  Same advice to you. 

Edited September 2, 2020 by Wuozopo

[Wuozopo 4,293]

Edit to add something—

Most cases have case numbers assigned by NVC, but this case is consular processing, so can you please expedite the consulate assignment of a case number for my constituent so the family can proceed through the steps without any further assistance. 

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

10 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Tell them what you want them to ask. If they just inquire on the status of your visa, the answer they will get is the same old “we’re delayed because of Covid and working as fast as we can”.  I think they need to mention —My constituent is halted from further movement toward a CR1 visa because all the remaining online steps require a case number including scheduling a medical, completing the DS-260, and choosing an interview date. Most cases have case numbers assigned by NVC, but can you please expedite the consulate assignment of a case number for my constituent so the family can proceed through the steps without any further assistance. 
Then thrown in any hardships like others have mentioned like parent with cancer, house sold quickly and now homeless with a household of belongings, needing to get children enrolled in school .  I think saying it’s not fair that some people got ahead of you holds no water and should be avoided because that is just immature. Make it about the hardship to the American who is paralyzed from the rest of the process because they lack a number.

 

@The4Sands @Stuwoolf  Same advice to you. 

We’ve made sure to indicate that it is just the number we are trying to obtain. Not holding breath they can do much.

[The4Sands 67]

11 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Tell them what you want them to ask. If they just inquire on the status of your visa, the answer they will get is the same old “we’re delayed because of Covid and working as fast as we can”.  I think they need to mention —My constituent is halted from further movement toward a CR1 visa because all the remaining online steps require a case number including scheduling a medical, completing the DS-260, and choosing an interview date. Most cases have case numbers assigned by NVC, but can you please expedite the consulate assignment of a case number for my constituent so the family can proceed through the steps without any further assistance. 
Then thrown in any hardships like others have mentioned like parent with cancer, house sold quickly and now homeless with a household of belongings, needing to get children enrolled in school .  I think saying it’s not fair that some people got ahead of you holds no water and should be avoided because that is just immature. Make it about the hardship to the American who is paralyzed from the rest of the process because they lack a number.

 

@The4Sands @Stuwoolf  Same advice to you. 

I think I was pretty clear about what I wanted... I asked them to either find out what my case number was, if it had already been created or expedite creating one and sending it to me.  I am not confident they understood that my case was not with NVC though.  The concept of consular processing seems to flummox a lot of people!

[Mpere 11]

Morning guys! So I just had my interview this morning at 8:30. I was literally the first person for visa interview and there was nobody at all inside the waiting area while I was there handing over the documents and paying for the fee. It all went ok and the CO was happy with all the documents, and he only simply asked a few questions: where and how did I meet my husband, am I going to work in the US etc. He asked about my job in the UK and asked why I went to South Korea for graduate school ( I’m a chinese citizen) so after all, he asked me to send them my personal CV including my education and work experience, source of funding for college and graduate school after the interview, they will start processing my visa once they receive it. I asked particularly if he needs the evidence of my education and source of funding etc, he said no need for now, but they will inform me if they need it after receiving my CV. I’m happy because they accepted all the basic documents I prepared and submitted, at the meantime I’m frustrated as I have no idea why a personal CV is needed as it is not even listed on their website. I mean I’m moving to US with a spouse visa but a work or student visa, and I already filled out all the information in the DS-260 except the source of funding for my education. Will appreciate any comments on this, and hope my interview experience will help others who are going to have one. Thanks. 

[AlanD26 14]

14 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

I think saying it’s not fair that some people got ahead of you holds no water and should be avoided because that is just immature.

 

I think that's a slightly unfair thing to say. I got my I-130 approval on March 16th. That's nearly 6 months ago. When other people who got their I-130 approvals in June and July are getting their LND numbers and booking interview dates, you can see my frustration and worry that something isn't quite right. In the mean time I'm now sitting here waiting for a letter, which I'm pretty sure isn't coming, to arrive in the post with my LND number.

 

I've explained in my emails that one of the reason for us relocating to the US is because my wife's father has alzheimers and we dont know how long he has left, it goes on deaf ears and isn't even acknowledge. Just the same old "due to covid there are delays etc etc". I GET THERE ARE DELAYS! but can someone just take a second to actually read what I have written and take 30 seconds to just look into my case. There appears to be zero assistance to us and I really dont know where to go from here.

[Appy 38]

2 hours ago, Mpere said:

Morning guys! So I just had my interview this morning at 8:30. I was literally the first person for visa interview and there was nobody at all inside the waiting area while I was there handing over the documents and paying for the fee. It all went ok and the CO was happy with all the documents, and he only simply asked a few questions: where and how did I meet my husband, am I going to work in the US etc. He asked about my job in the UK and asked why I went to South Korea for graduate school ( I’m a chinese citizen) so after all, he asked me to send them my personal CV including my education and work experience, source of funding for college and graduate school after the interview, they will start processing my visa once they receive it. I asked particularly if he needs the evidence of my education and source of funding etc, he said no need for now, but they will inform me if they need it after receiving my CV. I’m happy because they accepted all the basic documents I prepared and submitted, at the meantime I’m frustrated as I have no idea why a personal CV is needed as it is not even listed on their website. I mean I’m moving to US with a spouse visa but a work or student visa, and I already filled out all the information in the DS-260 except the source of funding for my education. Will appreciate any comments on this, and hope my interview experience will help others who are going to have one. Thanks. 

That is odd. I read another thread about some sort of labour requirements with the I-130 visa. Maybe try posting in the IR1/CR1 spouse visa and procedures forum to get more eyes on it. 

[os306 103]

2 hours ago, Mpere said:

Morning guys! So I just had my interview this morning at 8:30. I was literally the first person for visa interview and there was nobody at all inside the waiting area while I was there handing over the documents and paying for the fee. It all went ok and the CO was happy with all the documents, and he only simply asked a few questions: where and how did I meet my husband, am I going to work in the US etc. He asked about my job in the UK and asked why I went to South Korea for graduate school ( I’m a chinese citizen) so after all, he asked me to send them my personal CV including my education and work experience, source of funding for college and graduate school after the interview, they will start processing my visa once they receive it. I asked particularly if he needs the evidence of my education and source of funding etc, he said no need for now, but they will inform me if they need it after receiving my CV. I’m happy because they accepted all the basic documents I prepared and submitted, at the meantime I’m frustrated as I have no idea why a personal CV is needed as it is not even listed on their website. I mean I’m moving to US with a spouse visa but a work or student visa, and I already filled out all the information in the DS-260 except the source of funding for my education. Will appreciate any comments on this, and hope my interview experience will help others who are going to have one. Thanks. 

This seems very odd for an IR1/CR1 visa, but looking around the forum it looks like certain nationalities (I am guessing your Chinese citizenship triggered this) and professions (typically people with advanced degrees in engineering or biology) can be asked to provide a resume by the Consular Officer. It's annoying that you have to go through this, but take a look here (the below link was posted by someone who went for a K-1 interview and was asked to provide a CV afterwards)

 

 

[Stuwoolf 44]

43 minutes ago, AlanD26 said:

 

I think that's a slightly unfair thing to say. I got my I-130 approval on March 16th. That's nearly 6 months ago. When other people who got their I-130 approvals in June and July are getting their LND numbers and booking interview dates, you can see my frustration and worry that something isn't quite right. In the mean time I'm now sitting here waiting for a letter, which I'm pretty sure isn't coming, to arrive in the post with my LND number.

 

I've explained in my emails that one of the reason for us relocating to the US is because my wife's father has alzheimers and we dont know how long he has left, it goes on deaf ears and isn't even acknowledge. Just the same old "due to covid there are delays etc etc". I GET THERE ARE DELAYS! but can someone just take a second to actually read what I have written and take 30 seconds to just look into my case. There appears to be zero assistance to us and I really dont know where to go from here.

In my view, reference to the timeline of other Petitioners is in fact being used simply to highlight the vagaries of the system currently being applied.....and that systems obvious shortcomings.

 

On another note, the email I sent to the US Ambassador bounced back as undeliverable. According to the Embassy website, the Ambassador is responsible for all that goes on in the embassy. Does anyone have an email address for the Ambassador or even his Outer Office?

Edited September 3, 2020 by Stuwoolf

[The4Sands 67]

38 minutes ago, AlanD26 said:

 

I think that's a slightly unfair thing to say. I got my I-130 approval on March 16th. That's nearly 6 months ago. When other people who got their I-130 approvals in June and July are getting their LND numbers and booking interview dates, you can see my frustration and worry that something isn't quite right. In the mean time I'm now sitting here waiting for a letter, which I'm pretty sure isn't coming, to arrive in the post with my LND number.

 

I've explained in my emails that one of the reason for us relocating to the US is because my wife's father has alzheimers and we dont know how long he has left, it goes on deaf ears and isn't even acknowledge. Just the same old "due to covid there are delays etc etc". I GET THERE ARE DELAYS! but can someone just take a second to actually read what I have written and take 30 seconds to just look into my case. There appears to be zero assistance to us and I really dont know where to go from here.

I think it's less about "fair" (which is one of those words that means different things to different people) and more about that it seems that there is no system and no order.  We are in a similar situation in that my mother's health has deteriorated significantly due a dramatic spread in her cancer over the last 4 weeks, and I have made that clear to the embassy (inasmuch as one can), but I guess when you're DCF, trying to expedite is meaningless because you don't have an organisation like NVC to push it through for you.

 

I haven't written to the embassy in a while as it didn't seem to be doing anything, but I will try again today.  My fear is that because I'm the American citizen, they just think, "well nothing is stopping you from going." But neither my husband or I could manage to have both kids and hold down our jobs on our own for an undetermined amount of time and not working obviously isn't an option either.  I don't have a problem with waiting, I have a problem with waiting for something that might not actually be coming because my petition fell through the cracks or my letter is lost in the post or something.  As you say, I appreciate there are delays, but the lack of information and transparency is maddening.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, Mpere said:

He asked about my job in the UK and asked why I went to South Korea for graduate school ( I’m a chinese citizen) so after all, he asked me to send them my personal CV including my education and work experience, source of funding for college and graduate school after the interview, they will start processing my visa once they receive it.

That is not the norm and I think those additional details are for the final security clearance they run everybody through. Your Chinese nationality is most likely the reason for the extra scrutiny. If you have any scientific background then more so. They have to rule you out as any kind of terroristic threat. There was a time that anybody interviewing in London with nationality from India, Pakistan, or the Middle East would average about four weeks in AP before the visa was issued.  I suppose tensions with China has extended scrutiny into that area.