Possible to extend k1/k2 visa?

[onetwobomb 0]

My fiance and her son in russia were approved k1/k2 visas last fall. Their Visas expire april 28. They bought their tickets and are supposed to arrive march 30, as this was the most convenient time for me to take time off work. She is scared to fly on a plane and be at the airport at New York because of Corona virus, and my state (Michigan) has a shelter in place order. She talked to the embassy and they told her if her visa expires she will have to do the medical exam and embassy interview over again. I really cannot afford to do that right now. Does anyone have any information that will help or anyone else in a similar situation?  

 

I have attempted to email my lawyer but pretty much all she is saying is she needs to come ASAP.

Edited March 24, 2020 by onetwobomb

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

The embassy is correct.  Visas can not be extended, but there is a provision in the law that allows (at their discretion) the consulate to re-validate an expired visa.....pending a new medical exam and interview.....if inability to travel is beyond control of the visa holder...  Right now, no other guidance has been issued.

There have been a lot of others asking that question.......Your attorney is correct, imo. 

Edited March 24, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[Loren Y 2,755]

If you said you have time off, have her fly into another city and pick her up if New York is a issue. I would get her into the US as soon as possible, you don't want to deal with getting all new Visa's. I've driven across the US in under 3 days if needed( not fun, but it can be done)

Edited March 24, 2020 by Loren Y

[onetwobomb 0]

16 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

The embassy is correct.  Visas can not be extended, but there is a provision in the law that allows (at their discretion) the consulate to re-validate an expired visa.....pending a new medical exam and interview.....if inability to travel is beyond control of the visa holder...  Right now, no other guidance has been issued.

There have been a lot of others asking that question.......Your attorney is correct, imo. 

I would not need to file another petition though, correct? Because it has been more than 2 years since I have seen her

[onetwobomb 0]

10 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

If you said you have time off, have her fly into another city and pick her up if New York is a issue. I would get her into the US as soon as possible, you don't want to deal with getting all new Visa's. I've driven across the US in under 3 days if needed( not fun, but it can be done)

is there any other cities that take direct flights from Moscow?

[Loren Y 2,755]

5 minutes ago, onetwobomb said:

is there any other cities that take direct flights from Moscow?

I would have to look, let me see. 

 

Most of direct flights operating between USA and Russia originate in major US cities: New York, Washington, Los Angeles, and Miami. Moscow has three international airports (Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo), while St. Petersburg has the Pulkovo Airport.Mar 22, 2016

information is a little old, but Washington is an option, and I think Chicago would be also.

Edited March 25, 2020 by Loren Y

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

2 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Most of direct flights operating between USA and Russia originate in major US cities: New York, Washington, Los Angeles, and Miami. Moscow has three international airports (Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo), while St. Petersburg has the Pulkovo Airport.Mar 22, 2016

information is a little old, but Washington is an option, and I think Chicago would be also.

Pre-COVID-19, the only direct commercial flights between the US and Russia were from Moscow SVO to New York City JFK (2/day), LA LAX (daily),  Miami (seasonal, I think), and Washington, DC Dulles (a few times a week, I think), all on Aeroflot.

 

Last I heard, everything but one flight to JFK had been canceled for the short term. And Aeroflot is not taking any new bookings on that route from their web site, so it may not be flying anymore either.

[onetwobomb 0]

Say she does come Monday, what are they doing as far as testing when she goes through customs? What if she tests positive for the virus?

[Sparkle Sparkle 914]

Fly them out to San Jose Costa Rica. It's visa free for Russians then fly them into the USA. 

Edited March 25, 2020 by Sparkle Sparkle

[geowrian 22,337]

5 hours ago, onetwobomb said:

I would not need to file another petition though, correct? Because it has been more than 2 years since I have seen her

No. The reissuing of a visa only requires a new medical + visa fee. A new interview may or may not be required. The existing petition is used.

[Neonred 3,567]

20 hours ago, onetwobomb said:

is there any other cities that take direct flights from Moscow?

Looks like Aeroflot is still flying into Miami.  Had a friend arrive last week, and online it says tomorrow's flight is still scheduled.

[retheem 566]

23 hours ago, onetwobomb said:

My fiance and her son in russia were approved k1/k2 visas last fall. Their Visas expire april 28. They bought their tickets and are supposed to arrive march 30, as this was the most convenient time for me to take time off work. She is scared to fly on a plane and be at the airport at New York because of Corona virus, and my state (Michigan) has a shelter in place order. She talked to the embassy and they told her if her visa expires she will have to do the medical exam and embassy interview over again. I really cannot afford to do that right now. Does anyone have any information that will help or anyone else in a similar situation?  

 

I have attempted to email my lawyer but pretty much all she is saying is she needs to come ASAP.

i have said it before and will say it here; a lot of people will be shocked when things go south after this corona virus is gone and their visas are not re-issued  because they do not take time to understand the intricacies of the US immigration system as regards to visas. When the embassy issues you a visa, they give you six months and they avail the visa early enough so that you make arrangements and travel early. If you don't travel in 6 months the basic assumption is that any delay is caused by you. They may look at when the visa was issued to you and question why you didn't travel early enough. There is a real possibility they may not extend it. It is not the news you may want to hear but it is what you need to hear.

 

All this to say that the lawyer is right. Travel as soon as possible so as not to lose this chance. Otherwise you may find yourself in a bind down the line

[judyann811 39]

On 3/25/2020 at 11:24 PM, retheem said:

i have said it before and will say it here; a lot of people will be shocked when things go south after this corona virus is gone and their visas are not re-issued  because they do not take time to understand the intricacies of the US immigration system as regards to visas. When the embassy issues you a visa, they give you six months and they avail the visa early enough so that you make arrangements and travel early. If you don't travel in 6 months the basic assumption is that any delay is caused by you. They may look at when the visa was issued to you and question why you didn't travel early enough. There is a real possibility they may not extend it. It is not the news you may want to hear but it is what you need to hear.

 

All this to say that the lawyer is right. Travel as soon as possible so as not to lose this chance. Otherwise you may find yourself in a bind down the line

Actually, contrary to that - an immigration lawyer here in the UK I spoke to had been speaking to our Us embassy here who said it's more than likely K1s will be reissued providing a new medical is performed and the police certificates are valid. 

 

I dont think you have any more insight into the US immigration system intracacies and visas than any of us do, and I've seen in many of your posts about how people on K1s should have gone for a CR1 visa instead. Well, hindsight is a wonderful, but not particularly helpful thing when absolutely no one could foresee these circumstances. There are SO many factors as to why someone (myself included) opted for a K1 over a CR1 visa, and many K1s have been reissued in the past under very different and not as uncontrollable circumstances, i.e I personally know of someone who had theirs reissued as the timing didnt work out with the sale of their house so your 'insight' doesnt really hold a lot of weight.

[retheem 566]

16 hours ago, judyann811 said:

Actually, contrary to that - an immigration lawyer here in the UK I spoke to had been speaking to our Us embassy here who said it's more than likely K1s will be reissued providing a new medical is performed and the police certificates are valid. 

 

I dont think you have any more insight into the US immigration system intracacies and visas than any of us do, and I've seen in many of your posts about how people on K1s should have gone for a CR1 visa instead. Well, hindsight is a wonderful, but not particularly helpful thing when absolutely no one could foresee these circumstances. There are SO many factors as to why someone (myself included) opted for a K1 over a CR1 visa, and many K1s have been reissued in the past under very different and not as uncontrollable circumstances, i.e I personally know of someone who had theirs reissued as the timing didnt work out with the sale of their house so your 'insight' doesnt really hold a lot of weight.

Mine is not to tell you what you want to hear. Nah, not me.  Mine is to give you things as they are  or could turn out on the ground. Whether it makes sense to you or not, or whether according to you it holds much weigh or not,  is really not my problem. After all, i have nothing to gain or lose from your success or failure.

[Whitedog 1]

We have been in the same situation as you.

My fiance has been trying to get a hold of some people in USCIS for the last couple weeks so that we could get an extension of k1 and k3 visa.

But all the USCIS in america is now closed, all he was able to speak was someone in a law firm working with USCIS and he didn't get any information.

But they adviced him to contact the embassy in Japan (I'm in Japan), so I did. Here's what I got from the embassy, I hope it would help you in some way.

The person of the law firm said that we are not only one who have this problem.

I mean, who wants to fly to america right now.. especially I'm with my daughter.

I and my fiance are pretty sure that we can get an extension for our visa.