Skype Interviews during Coronavirus closing

[geowrian 22,337]

3 hours ago, stech786 said:

I think they should grant 30 days visa to all spouses of US citizen to have interview in USA. If they deny, give them 30 days to deport.

Yeah...I'm sure they'll all self-deport, especially during a pandemic.

[Sarah&Facundo 595]

I HIGHLY doubt this is even close to being on their list of Top 10 priorities right now. There is so much going on with people stranded and trying to get home and so many other terrible situations. I know it sucks to be away from your significant other, but remember petitioning your this person is a privilege, not a right. Their priority is to help citizens. Plus I can't even imagine the security breaches this would entail. I don't think I would want my personal information on someone's computer in their homes.

[SalishSea 17,829]

5 hours ago, stech786 said:

Don't know for sure. VO are trained for certain services and different staff for different tasks. Visa interviews  are on demand service the embassy provide. Other services include, assisting with passport renewal or lost etc types services. I doubt if those include dozen of people daily visit . Airports are open in that country, so any US citizen can buy ticket and leave if situation get worse.  If staff is hired to do certain work and that work is put on hold or moved, that staff is given LOW (line of work) which mean being laid off. 

 

I'm not saying they should continue visa service during this time, just look for alternatives

Priority is always going to be to assist USCs at embassies.  IV and NIV services go to the end of the to-do list when resources are stretched during a crisis.

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

15 hours ago, kris&me said:

 

 

Edited March 19, 2020 by boris64

[payxibka 10,045]

13 hours ago, Steeleballz said:

 

    Unfortunately, given the strain on resources that government's and economies will be facing worldwide, It's hard to see this being something USCIS would give priority to at this time.  

Not only that but the uscis doesn't issue visas so there is zero reason to expel resources

[Ortolan 381]

I know it's inconvenient, and maddening to have to wait even MORE time. But people: THIS IS DIFFERENT. Get a grip. This is a pandemic. A 'like you read about in history books' type pandemic. Try to breathe, understand that even the USCIS folks have families, have lives, some are ill, and they also probably have infrastructure support problems right now, just like your own offices, your own businesses. Things are going to be weird for a while, and then, hopefully, things will crank back up. But right now, you're going to have to sit tight. Hang in there and stay well, try to stay positive. 

[Unlockable 7,314]

@stech786,

 

I don't think anything is wrong with you coming up with ideas like Skype interviews. I think that during this difficult and confusing  time you are simply trying to be proactive. On paper, it does seem like it is something that can be put on the table. But then there is the reality of it all.

 

In reality, it is not going to happen. The reason why... like others have mentioned, immigration cases is one of the lowest priorities of the government right now. Schools are closed, people are not working, the stock market keeps dropping, and supplies are running out. In our state, so many people are trying to get unemployment that the system crashed.

 

https://www.npr.org/2020/03/18/817950024/unemployment-websites-are-crashing-across-the-country?utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com

 

The reality of it is that immigration cases will simply be put on a back burner for now. We still don't know how bad this thing can get. Best to continue to be safe and keep yourself informed on any changes that may come.

 

Hang in there.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Unlockable

[Loren Y 2,755]

14 hours ago, stech786 said:

I think they should grant 30 days visa to all spouses of US citizen to have interview in USA. If they deny, give them 30 days to deport.

And you actually believe they will leave once they get here if they have to?

[Mike E 11,739]

19 hours ago, kris&me said:

Not an option

all your personal info has to be on the computer the CO would be using and this is private.  exposing this info to a hacker by officers using home computers would be a big issue 

plus consider the additional costs of a computer tech to install the safety measures on every home based system /  you willing to pay for this?

What if this goes on for 60 days, 160 days, 260 days, 360 days, 600 days, etc?

 

When does “not an option” become an option?

[Lance27 19]

19 hours ago, stech786 said:

They can mail that in

 

They already have that info on computer anyways. I’m not asking to build a network setup in each VO house. All you need is laptop, which they already own

 

they probably use VPN at embassy & can use VPN home.

 They also need to take your biometrics. Can't do that via Skype.

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

25 minutes ago, Unlockable said:

In the future? Quite possible. In fact, I think this will change the way a lot of people work. I am fortunate to have a job where I can work from home. I have the entire set up to work, video conference, digitally sign documents,  and even do presentations online. My coworkers and I haven't missed much of a beat this week on closing out an assignment we were working on. We were talking about how this could be the way a lot of people work in the future.

I understand that not everyone has the same capability. But this may shed some light on some remote and virtual options for workers who did not have this option before.

My opinions are based on how I think things will be for the next 30 to 60-ish days. If this isolation and social distancing continues to several months or even over a year... then yeah, I would hope these options would be on the table to discuss.

I also work at home and feel extremely lucky. HOPEFULLY this will change the way way a lot of public and private organizations view their workforce. I know that the biggest problem my agency faced wasn't technological but that some members of middle and upper management giving up their traditional modes of control over workers.

[Davie92 46]

Sorry visa interviews are not job interviews and it won't work.

 

[Sarge21555 206]

The webex platform and others we are using for work at being hammered hard and not very reliable.   Skype interviews will not work if we can’t manage having a meeting  with a stable connection a anymore.     
 

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

18 hours ago, stech786 said:

Not really. They can send us a document that say visa granted. That’s how I got Dubai Visa. Sent via email, printed out & went to Dubai 

That's not how it works for US immigrant visas.....even when I immigrated to Taiwan, their "consulate" required my physical passport to attach the visa.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[Cathi 5,748]

Why would they grant temporary visas for beneficiaries to come the the U.S to interview when there is a literal ban on travel from almost everywhere in the world to the U.S. at the moment? Did you think this through at all?

 

These are not normal times and immigration is on the bottom of the list for the government right now. There world is trying to stop the spread of a global pandemic.