US Embassy Reopening - Update Thread

[Morgan5698 58]

London is opening 27th July 

 

https://uk.usembassy.gov/information-for-nonimmigrant-visa-applicants-following-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/

 

[eirinlinn 105]

US embassy in B&H Facebook pages says that they are apparently going to start helping reissue expired Cr-1 visas and visas like it from April. So I think is a step in a good direction for b&h filers?  

[knightrider 6]

All the embassy that are opening or opened mention this on their website "there is likely to be increased wait times for completing such services due to substantial backlogs". Does this imply that the passports submitted for stamping before COVID-19 will be released during this initial reopening phase. Did anyone here have success in retrieving their passports. Any help is appreciated. thanks

[LegalAlienn 125]

3 hours ago, eirinlinn said:

US embassy in B&H Facebook pages says that they are apparently going to start helping reissue expired Cr-1 visas and visas like it from April. So I think is a step in a good direction for b&h filers?  

Yes.. seems like they are following what Croatia is doing. The numbers are quite going down so we are hoping for the best. 
However, I still can’t schedule a new appointment, as it says no appointments available right now. 

Edited July 20, 2020 by LegalAlienn

[LegalAlienn 125]

6 hours ago, E&W said:

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.

 

Can you by chance, if you paid MRV fee, schedule an interview on the ais website? 

[sscanus 15]

Embassy in Guatemala has announced resumption of visa services for K1s. 

[eirinlinn 105]

7 hours ago, LegalAlienn said:

Yes.. seems like they are following what Croatia is doing. The numbers are quite going down so we are hoping for the best. 
However, I still can’t schedule a new appointment, as it says no appointments available right now. 

This is what they posted on their fb but strangely they didn’t post anything on the “news” section of their official website! 

[E&W 146]

@LegalAlienn sorry, I haven’t payed the fee yet, so can’t check.

@eirinlinn I know that the Croatian embassy always needed a few days from proclaiming something on their social media and it being added to the website. Websites updates can take a while depending on what kind of platform they are built and until the IT section can get to it, especially with government sites. Might be they don’t even have direct access, they need someone in the US to do it. Anyway, I’m sure the site will be updated eventually.

[sl1pstream 551]

I've emailed Brussels to figure out if they're going to do K1s or not because of the travel ban. If they're not, I'm going to start looking for a job. Ugh.

[Mtu Mzuri 92]

1 hour ago, sl1pstream said:

I've emailed Brussels to figure out if they're going to do K1s or not because of the travel ban. If they're not, I'm going to start looking for a job. Ugh.

Thanks for the update. Please keep us posted on what they say.

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

I didn't know if others knew about this but the State Department updated their visa news to talk about Phased Resumptions of Routine Visa Services a week or so ago. I thought this might be helpful to some asking questions. 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/phased-resumption-routine-visa-services.html

Last Updated: July 14, 2020

 

Phased Resumption of Routine Visa Services

• The Department of State suspended routine visa services worldwide in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As global conditions evolve, U.S. Embassies and Consulates are beginning a phased resumption of routine visa services.
   
• The resumption of routine visa services will occur on a post-by-post basis, in coordination with the Department’s Diplomacy Strong framework for safely returning our workforce to Department facilities.  U.S. Embassies and Consulates have continued to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services since March and will continue to do so as they are able.  As post-specific conditions improve, our missions will begin providing additional services, culminating eventually in a complete resumption of routine visa services.
   
• We are unable to provide a specific date for when each mission will resume specific visa services, or when each mission will return to processing at pre-Covid workload levels.  See each individual U.S. Embassy or Consulate’s website for information regarding operating status and which services it is currently offering.
   
• Our missions overseas continue to provide all possible services to U.S. citizens. More information is available on each post’s website.
   
• This does not affect travel under the Visa Waiver Program. See https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?focusedTopic=Schengen%20Travel%20Proclamation for more information.
   
• Applicants with an urgent matter who need to travel immediately should follow the guidance provided on their nearest embassy or consulate’s website to request an emergency appointment.

FAQ

Q.  Which additional visa services are embassies/consulates beginning to provide?

• All of our missions are continuing to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services.  As post-specific conditions permit, our missions will phase in processing some routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa cases, for example: travelers with urgent travel needs; students (F-1, M-1, and certain J-1); and some family members of U.S. citizens consistent with Presidential Proclamation 10014.  We expect the volume and type of visa cases each post will process to depend on local circumstances.  An embassy or consulate will resume adjudicating all routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visa cases only when adequate resources are available and it is safe to do so.
   

Q.  What criteria are missions using to determine when to resume routine services?

• We are closely monitoring local conditions in each country where we have a U.S. presence. Local conditions that may affect when we can begin providing various public services include medical infrastructure, COVID-19 cases, emergency response capabilities, and restrictions on leaving home.

[sl1pstream 551]

15 hours ago, Mtu Mzuri said:

Thanks for the update. Please keep us posted on what they say.

Not a whole lot. No mention of the travel ban, so I don't know at this point. I'm trying to think of a reply to send them to get more information, but I have no idea what to send. I'm wondering if it's because of the caseload or because of the EO, but I don't know how to ask for that without sounding too pushy.

 

Dear Mr. [Name],

 

K-1 visa processing is still suspended.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Visa Section

U.S. Embassy, Brussels

 

 

Edited July 22, 2020 by sl1pstream

[Sparkle Sparkle 914]

37 minutes ago, sl1pstream said:

Not a whole lot. No mention of the travel ban, so I don't know at this point. I'm trying to think of a reply to send them to get more information, but I have no idea what to send. I'm wondering if it's because of the caseload or because of the EO, but I don't know how to ask for that without sounding too pushy.

 

Dear Mr. [Name],

 

K-1 visa processing is still suspended.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Visa Section

U.S. Embassy, Brussels

 

 

Because there is a ban still in effect

[sl1pstream 551]

1 hour ago, Sparkle Sparkle said:

Because there is a ban still in effect

Not on issuing K-visas according to the letter of the proclamation.

Either way, just got a response that it's because of the proclamation. I guess I'm going to look for a job again from September until the end of the year.

Edited July 22, 2020 by sl1pstream

[knightrider 6]

US Embassy Singapore is opening on July 27

https://sg.usembassy.gov/visas/