K1 Visa Issuance Affected by EO after all?

[Sarahbmalvin 49]

3 minutes ago, goldhex said:

A positive update on the US Embassy London website 

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

Oh that’s good news. So if I am reading this right it seems like the only thing holding this back is the routine visa processing being suspended, not the travel ban or the proclamations. 

[Angela & Brendon 160]

23 minutes ago, goldhex said:

A positive update on the US Embassy London website 

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

I spoke to an immigration attorney last night who basically clarified:

1) K1 visas are exempt from the EOs issued on both April and June. 

2) Until countries open up from lockdown on a larger scale, it's unlikely that non-mission critical visas will be processed.

3) The fact that interviews are being scheduled could be seen as a positive sign, and the fact that they are moving dates indicates that they are reacting in real time to when they will be able to resume larger scale operations. Obviously this annoying for people who are waiting, but it does indicate that once services resume, things will pick up with a quicker pace as it relates to the visas that are still able to be processed. 

 

Hope this helps! 

Edited June 23, 2020 by Angela & Brendon

[visasammy 1]

29 minutes ago, goldhex said:

A positive update on the US Embassy London website 

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

Is that sarcasm or is there an actual silver lining I'm missing here?

[Angela & Brendon 160]

2 minutes ago, visasammy said:

Is that sarcasm or is there an actual silver lining I'm missing here?

The concern from most people on this post was that K1 visas had been flat out banned by the EO because interviews had been rescheduled, but this clarified that the reason for this happening is because the embassies are not currently processing non-mission critical visas. The silver lining is that once routine visa operations return, K1 visas will be able to be processed. Hope this helps!

[powerpuff 6,748]

3 minutes ago, visasammy said:

Is that sarcasm or is there an actual silver lining I'm missing here?

 

It means that K-1 visas will be processed and issued once the consulates open. I think it's positive news. 

[Sarahbmalvin 49]

3 minutes ago, visasammy said:

Is that sarcasm or is there an actual silver lining I'm missing here?

The silver lining being that it seems like the only thing holding K1 visas back from being processed is the routine services being suspended, they are not affected by any of the proclamations. The embassies are phasing back into operating so once they are fully phased back in the processing should start again. 
 

Given we are able to schedule appointments and dates have been moving in real-time it seems as though there is some kind of plan in place at least. 

[visasammy 1]

8 minutes ago, Sarahbmalvin said:

The silver lining being that it seems like the only thing holding K1 visas back from being processed is the routine services being suspended, they are not affected by any of the proclamations. The embassies are phasing back into operating so once they are fully phased back in the processing should start again. 
 

Given we are able to schedule appointments and dates have been moving in real-time it seems as though there is some kind of plan in place at least. 

Okay, cool - thanks everyone for the replies! Very much hope so. Interview is scheduled for August.

[sl1pstream 551]

3 hours ago, goldhex said:

A positive update on the US Embassy London website 

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

I mean, sort of? It kind of says that they're not processing because of the suspension order, not because of any local conditions. They're not allowed to process other visa, no matter what the local conditions are like.

[Angela & Brendon 160]

7 minutes ago, sl1pstream said:

I mean, sort of? It kind of says that they're not processing because of the suspension order, not because of any local conditions. They're not allowed to process other visa, no matter what the local conditions are like.

Some countries, like Australia, have processed some K1 visas. To be fair these were done in emergency cases, but Australia also has a very low number of cases in comparison to places like Europe; that could be a sign that consulates in countries with improved conditions are processing some visas, but we will probably have to wait and see how things play out. 

 

Edited June 23, 2020 by Angela & Brendon

[goldhex 21]

31 minutes ago, sl1pstream said:

I mean, sort of? It kind of says that they're not processing because of the suspension order, not because of any local conditions. They're not allowed to process other visa, no matter what the local conditions are like.

Not how I interpreted it at all. Routine visa processing isn't suspended due to an EO, it's due to the embassy being closed. 

 

From the US Embassy Website:

 

Is the U.S. Embassy in London closed/Has my visa interview appointment be cancelled?

In response to significant worldwide challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of State has temporarily suspended routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

Edited June 23, 2020 by goldhex

[Sarahbmalvin 49]

14 minutes ago, goldhex said:

Not how I interpreted it at all. Routine visa processing isn't suspended due to an EO, it's due to the embassy being closed. 

 

From the US Embassy Website:

 

Is the U.S. Embassy in London closed/Has my visa interview appointment be cancelled?

In response to significant worldwide challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of State has temporarily suspended routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

Agree with this, embassies were closed due to Covid before Any PP was made or EO was signed. 

[Ermehgerdd 172]

1 hour ago, goldhex said:

Not how I interpreted it at all. Routine visa processing isn't suspended due to an EO, it's due to the embassy being closed. 

 

But the email from the embassy canceling K1 interviews specifically cited the Proclamation as the reason why they were "significantly restricted" and unable to continue with our interviews.  

[Sarahbmalvin 49]

5 minutes ago, Ermehgerdd said:

But the email from the embassy canceling K1 interviews specifically cited the Proclamation as the reason why they were "significantly restricted" and unable to continue with our interviews.  

Right they are significantly restricted in what they can process while routine services are suspended. 
 

The visas they stated in the email are defined as emergency or mission critical by the PP which is why they are able to be processed.
 

There are plenty of other types of visas, along with K1, that are also deemed as routine and are not being processed. 

[In4theJourney 171]

That’s the way I read it too, there will be no k1 processing until the EO is over for London.  Which means next year, if that’s “good news” for you guys, then it’s good for you. I myself don’t see anything positive about that 

[Sarahbmalvin 49]

2 minutes ago, In4theJourney said:

That’s the way I read it too, there will be no k1 processing until the EO is over for London.  Which means next year, if that’s “good news” for you guys, then it’s good for you. I myself don’t see anything positive about that 

There is no EO for London. The only EO for London is the travel ban which doesn’t have a set end date. It could be tomorrow or it could be next year along with the other EOs. They are in no way related. 
 

The embassies are not shut because of an EO. They are shut because of COVID restrictions. Once those are lifted the embassies will begin to open and phase back in routine processing. 

Edited June 23, 2020 by Sarahbmalvin