US Embassy Reopening - Update Thread

[Jöla 27]

  On 7/17/2020 at 9:11 AM, Dreamer#Stef said:

Hi everyone, I'm new to visajourney and will update my profile shortly (looking to enter the US on a L1-B visa, SD-160 submitted in May 2020).

Just wanted to share good news for anyone waiting for embassies in Germany to reopen - they just updated their news website:

 

"Starting the week of July 20, the consular sections in Berlin and Frankfurt will resume processing of limited categories of nonimmigrant visa applications; Munich will resume processing only F/M/J visas. At this time, we are prioritizing services for U.S. citizens and residents of Germany."

 

https://de.usembassy.gov/consular-team-germany-resumes-limited-visa-services/

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Amazing news, thank you very much for sharing. I've been checking their site every few hours lately so this must have happened in the last 3 hours.

Only they are once again not mentioning K-1s which is worrisome.

 

Also, isn't L-1B suspended through the year?

[Dreamer#Stef 3]

  On 7/17/2020 at 9:53 AM, Jöla said:

Amazing news, thank you very much for sharing. I've been checking their site every few hours lately so this must have happened in the last 3 hours.

Only they are once again not mentioning K-1s which is worrisome.

 

Also, isn't L-1B suspended through the year?

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Agree and also do not understand how K visas seem to be forgotten in the process. There's a huge movement growing of international couples trying to reunite and be exempted from visa and travel bans to be with their loved ones again after months of separation (natural human desire in my eyes).

 

That's correct, L visas are suspended until at least December 31, 2020. However I'm hoping (and I might be disappointed but taking the risk) that the visa application processing including interview can continue even if entry into the US is not possible. That would take some uncertainty away and allow for at least a little bit of planning perspective. Also would eliminate a bit of the backlog embassies and consulates might face after months of shutdowns.

[emma24 161]

Sweden embassy finally updated their website. Still not open for routine visa services.....guess it doesn't matter anyway since they won't process K1s until the travel ban is lifted or modified. 

[TiEy 69]

  On 7/17/2020 at 9:53 AM, Jöla said:

Amazing news, thank you very much for sharing. I've been checking their site every few hours lately so this must have happened in the last 3 hours.

Only they are once again not mentioning K-1s which is worrisome.

 

Also, isn't L-1B suspended through the year?

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Very worrisome for us K1s. 

[AlexaC 28]

  On 7/17/2020 at 10:57 AM, emma24 said:

Sweden embassy finally updated their website. Still not open for routine visa services.....guess it doesn't matter anyway since they won't process K1s until the travel ban is lifted or modified. 

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is that what the website says or is that speculation? just wondering bc canada has a travel ban too but i was thinking family based immigration was exempt

[emma24 161]

  On 7/17/2020 at 11:24 AM, Alexag said:

is that what the website says or is that speculation? just wondering bc canada has a travel ban too but i was thinking family based immigration was exempt

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The website says they aren't open for routine visa services. I have written them a couple emails asking for an update on K1s and they have said that they will not be processing them until the are open for routine services and the ban is lifted.

 

This is the response I received when asking about my petition expiring on the 27th.

 

"Since the case is still at the National Visa Center, you do not need to do anything at this point.   Once travel restrictions are lifted and we resume full visa operations, case will be forwarded to us.  If I-129F has expired by then, you will be asked to send us proof of your long distance relationship, and validity of I-129F can be extended by the Consular officer if she/he is convinced that you are in relationship."

Edited July 17, 2020 by emma24

[LegalAlienn 125]

Someone really needs to explain me this:

If a student can travel and attend school and probably go to parties, why then keep thousands of families apart?! Good f***ing job! 

[Cxxxxxxxxxxx 3]

  On 7/15/2020 at 10:15 PM, Davron said:

Hi everyone 👋,

 

By any chance anybody is waiting for Uzbekistan Embassy information on reopening? Looks like I'm in the minority and no one posted anything yet about embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Waiting for CR-1 interview... sigh....

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I’m Uzbek too. So far no news...:(

[OrihimeandIchigo 217]

  On 7/17/2020 at 1:45 PM, LegalAlienn said:

Someone really needs to explain me this:

If a student can travel and attend school and probably go to parties, why then keep thousands of families apart?! Good f***ing job! 

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This is what I was saying and but peoples argument to counter me was well the families would be together eventually anyways and this is the students career on the line....smh. Family's just waiting and waiting to start their new life together in America and loved ones waiting to be reunited. But where's our outcry in the media and social media and everyone writing their representatives and senators. No where. It's upsetting and very frustrating that legal family immigration is looked over again. 

[Mtu Mzuri 92]

  On 7/18/2020 at 6:38 AM, OrihimeandIchigo said:

This is what I was saying and but peoples argument to counter me was well the families would be together eventually anyways and this is the students career on the line....smh. Family's just waiting and waiting to start their new life together in America and loved ones waiting to be reunited. But where's our outcry in the media and social media and everyone writing their representatives and senators. No where. It's upsetting and very frustrating that legal family immigration is looked over again. 

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I agree 💯 but think K-1s should be included in this definition of family. Extremely upsetting and disheartening. 

[MissOphelia 50]

  On 7/18/2020 at 9:22 AM, Mtu Mzuri said:

I agree 💯 but think K-1s should be included in this definition of family. Extremely upsetting and disheartening. 

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Agreed. K1's seem to have just been forgotten about.... We filed back in October, and are just waiting for an interview to be scheduled. I don't understand how nightlife, shopping centers etc can reopen, but the consulate can't. It's ridiculous. 

[Aly123 84]

This is first embassy that I have seen specifically meantion K1 visas. It always makes me nervous when they don’t specify them at all. I hope other embassies follow their lead.
 

“As of July 15, 2020, the United States Embassy in Amman resumed processing certain immigrant visa categories, including:

• IR1/CR1 and IR2/CR2
• IR3 and IR4
• K1 (fiancée)
• Some employment-based healthcare professionals 

While the Embassy aims to process cases as soon as practicable, there is likely to be increased wait times due to substantial backlogs.  “
 

[Mtu Mzuri 92]

  On 7/19/2020 at 4:43 PM, Aly123 said:

This is first embassy that I have seen specifically meantion K1 visas. It always makes me nervous when they don’t specify them at all. I hope other embassies follow their lead.
 

“As of July 15, 2020, the United States Embassy in Amman resumed processing certain immigrant visa categories, including:

• IR1/CR1 and IR2/CR2
• IR3 and IR4
• K1 (fiancée)
• Some employment-based healthcare professionals 

While the Embassy aims to process cases as soon as practicable, there is likely to be increased wait times due to substantial backlogs.  “
 

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Thanks for this update. Every bit of positive news gives a sense of hope. It helps.

[Evelina 5]

[E&W 146]

Here we are a week later, and another update from Croatian embassy, they have now added a few more visas they are processing and expanded the explanation what isn’t processed and why. Hopefully my fellow Croatian citizens will be even more careful and get those numbers of covid cases that were rising the last week back down again, and keep it that way so we can get to processing of K visas as well.

 

Edited July 20, 2020 by E&W