Coronavirus Embassy closed

[frannyj2492 3]

3 hours ago, Pavli said:

I just had my ir1 interview at a 'closed' consulate.

 

If you have received a cancelation notice but for whatever reason need to travel to the US soon, email your consulate asking for emergency services. We briefly explained our predicament and I ended up having my interview the same day it was originally scheduled. Best thing : no lines, I was the only one there!

 

Obviously their response will depend on visa type and the consular officer's discretion. 

Congrats!! I'm still waiting for them to schedule my interview in Dakar. I was waiting to get an appointment date before all this start so I don't think that can do this. Best of luck to you 

[Mark Weston 3]

Well, I re-checked my application online today (IR-1 via DCF in London), and there were appointments available in June.  So I’m rebooked for an interview on June 8th at the Embassy.

 

Im not sure what to think.  I figure my new appointment is subject to cancellation at any time.  But there’s at least some chance of getting my visa before the petition expires, or the medical does, or they finally stop processing DCF altogether...  Then the next question is, does it even make sense to emigrate during such uncertain times?

 

Time for a drink.

[Snb3189 7]

On 3/18/2020 at 5:57 PM, Aaron&Clari said:

Hello,

 

We have an application for a K1 underway for London. I’m yet to schedule an interview and a medical, but I’d have to do so by May before the petition expires. Would we be able to request an extension to this should this situation goes beyond that and the embassy is still closed for interviews? Or may it even be granted automatically?

 

Thank you.

I am wondering the same thing, but for Stockholm! When you login to schedule your interview, does it show no appointments available at this time?

Edited April 14, 2020 by Snb3189

[frannyj2492 3]

8 hours ago, frannyj2492 said:

Congrats!! I'm still waiting for them to schedule my interview in Dakar. I was waiting to get an appointment date before all this started so I don't think that can do this. Best of luck to you 

 

[Zaichik&Miska 44]

On 4/14/2020 at 6:04 AM, Pavli said:

I just had my ir1 interview at a 'closed' consulate.

 

If you have received a cancelation notice but for whatever reason need to travel to the US soon, email your consulate asking for emergency services. We briefly explained our predicament and I ended up having my interview the same day it was originally scheduled. Best thing : no lines, I was the only one there!

 

Obviously their response will depend on visa type and the consular officer's discretion. 

What was your reason? 

[Jöla 27]

I thought this might interest some of you in and outside of Germany as well, so sharing a response I got from the Frankfurt consulate here.

I had asked them yesterday if they have an estimate on when visa processing might resume, and if they could confirm they received my P3 response packet that I sent in late February. Here is their email:

 

Quote

 

Dear Mr. xxxxx:

In reference to your email, unfortunately, we have suspended visa operations due not only to the Presidential Proclamationhttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/Presidential-Proclamation-Coronavirus.html affecting visa applicants, but also because of our limited capacity to issue visas except in the most emergent circumstances. 

At this time, processing times have increased and therefore we are unable to confirm that your documents have reached the Immigrant Visa Unit at this time.

Please monitor our website https://de.usembassy.gov/visas/ to stay apprised of the latest information on our visa operations.  

You may contact us again after we have resumed normal operations. 

Sincerely,

 

 

The embassy website does not help at all, neither do their social media accounts. The link to the proclamation is broken so I am not sure which one they are talking about, but I suspect they are referring to the one from mid-March on the Schengen states travel ban.
All in all, a disappointing response. But I didn't have high hopes, just wanted to at least try.

[ghostfoxgoddess 160]

Unfortunately, a lot of their links are buggy  

 

They are posting pretty "good" updates weekly at https://de.usembassy.gov/news-events/ , so that one gets more updates than the "/visas" page they linked you to (to be fair, there hasn't been anything but "still suspended" updates, but they're at least posting at least once a week, so it's a good place for keeping track of updates, though most of them seem rather unhelpful right now).

As for the presidential proclamation, it could be either the one from March about the Schengen travel ban, or the one from April 23rd, "Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak", but going by the link it should be the Schengen one (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/presidential-proclamation-coronavirus.html has the same ending/post title in it).

 

On the "bright side", they were super fast at replying to your email - thank you for sharing, despite their email's disappointing nature - I'm hoping that the easing of restrictions in Germany won't backfire, and that they'll be able to resume processing soon! *fingers crossed*

Edited May 7, 2020 by ghostfoxgoddess
typo correction

[Jöla 27]

1 hour ago, ghostfoxgoddess said:

Unfortunately, a lot of their links are buggy  

 

They are posting pretty "good" updates weekly at https://de.usembassy.gov/news-events/ , so that one gets more updates than the "/visas" page they linked you to (to be fair, there hasn't been anything but "still suspended" updates, but they're at least posting at least once a week, so it's a good place for keeping track of updates, though most of them seem rather unhelpful right now).

As for the presidential proclamation, it could be either the one from March about the Schengen travel ban, or the one from April 23rd, "Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak", but going by the link it should be the Schengen one (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/presidential-proclamation-coronavirus.html has the same ending/post title in it).

I agree, they are most likely referring to the March 13 Schengen travel ban.

I really wonder when that one gets cancelled, since it's hard to argue that someone coming to e.g. Nebraska from Germany would pose a higher risk of being infected than someone living in NYC. Also, Schengen borders are almost entirely shut down, which was also a point of argument in that proclamation. But right now it's still a waiting game I'm afraid.

 

1 hour ago, ghostfoxgoddess said:

On the "bright side", they were super fast at replying to your email - thank you for sharing, despite their email's disappointing nature - I'm hoping that the easing of restrictions in Germany won't backfire, and that they'll be able to resume processing soon! *fingers crossed*

I know, I was also positively surprised by that! Silver linings...

I really hope DJT lifts that Schengen proclamation soon so that the consulates can resume processing. My understanding is that even if Germany lifted all lockdown measures, as long as that Schengen ban is active, there won't be any visas issued.

[sl1pstream 551]

4 minutes ago, Jöla said:

My understanding is that even if Germany lifted all lockdown measures, as long as that Schengen ban is active, there won't be any visas issued.

This is correct. And if it's based on actual numbers (although I doubt it), it's going to take a serious permanent dip in every country's cases for them to lift it.

[Princess101111 5]

On 3/16/2020 at 2:55 PM, Adeal said:

F4

Do you know anything about when its gonna open?

[Just Paul 4,595]

7 minutes ago, Sumavia said:

Do you know anything about when its gonna open?

For F4 not until the dated in the proclamation expires - assuming it is not extended.

[Princess101111 5]

On 4/14/2020 at 9:04 AM, Pavli said:

I just had my ir1 interview at a 'closed' consulate.

 

If you have received a cancelation notice but for whatever reason need to travel to the US soon, email your consulate asking for emergency services. We briefly explained our predicament and I ended up having my interview the same day it was originally scheduled. Best thing : no lines, I was the only one there!

 

Obviously their response will depend on visa type and the consular officer's discretion. 

What emergency did u say you have ?

[Princess101111 5]

10 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

For F4 not until the dated in the proclamation expires - assuming it is not extended.

No i was waiting interview for Cr1 visa. Peitioner is a us citizen. Islamabad embassy. Any idea ?

[Jöla 27]

On 4/14/2020 at 3:04 PM, Pavli said:

I just had my ir1 interview at a 'closed' consulate.

 

If you have received a cancelation notice but for whatever reason need to travel to the US soon, email your consulate asking for emergency services. We briefly explained our predicament and I ended up having my interview the same day it was originally scheduled. Best thing : no lines, I was the only one there!

 

Obviously their response will depend on visa type and the consular officer's discretion. 

Am I correct to assume that this possibility does not extend to Schengen consulates, or other countries that have been banned by the presidential proclamation for that matter?

[Just Paul 4,595]

20 minutes ago, Jöla said:

Am I correct to assume that this possibility does not extend to Schengen consulates, or other countries that have been banned by the presidential proclamation for that matter?

They are being issued even from Schengen consulates - but it is very rare.  In this case for a DCF

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Paul & Mary