K1 Action Plan - Getting Consulates to Process Our Visas

[Fabercham 22]

7 minutes ago, Ermehgerdd said:

EXCELLENT work. Hopefully they reply!

[spikes746 39]

My fiance' s parents are directly contacting a US Rep in the House of Representatives in DC that they know personally. Hopefully this all gets straightened out before my appointment on the 7th July haha.

 

Started this process in May last year and originally planned to get married last weekend. Just can't wait till its all over and we are married.

[Ken & Yana 35]

2 hours ago, Ermehgerdd said:

 

I spent some time researching why the London Embassy is not processing K1 visas currently.  The email cited in that Twitter exchange shows that the London Embassy is sending a boilerplate email response which covers many inquiries, including K1.  The language is indeed unclear, but it is referring to Proclamation 10014 only because that is what people are commonly emailing about right now.  It also mentions K1 (confusingly) in the same sentence as an type of visa that is not currently being processed.  The reason that K1's are not being processed at the London Embassy is because entry into the United States by nationals of the UK is still prohibited by Proclamation 9996 (issued on March 13).  In essence, the Embassy has decided not to issue K1 visas to UK nationals who cannot use the visa.  They will resume K1 processing as soon as the ban on UK nationals is lifted.  

Edited June 24, 2020 by Ken & Yana

[Fabercham 22]

29 minutes ago, Ken & Yana said:

In essence, the Embassy has decided not to issue K1 visas to UK nationals who cannot use the visa.  They will resume K1 processing as soon as the ban on UK nationals is lifted.  

That would make sense to me (as much as I hate it) as Spain, Italy & France have said the same. Spain were VERY explicit and clear about it on their website. No issuing until the travel ban is lifted. London, not so much. You more have to read between the lines.

 

You might not have seen the second email in that chain as the font was small but they did say ‘including K1s’ but I would think that was maybe someone untrained who wrote that. I really feel the embassy need to clarify now as they have confused so many people. 

So let’s ensure they don’t forget us K1s in any exceptions to the travel ban!

[Ollieh97 20]

I don’t know if this means much but I know virgin Atlantic are resuming flights from the UK to certain US destinations for business and pleasure from July 20th. Could they have been given any information as to when the travel ban will be lifted? Maybe It doesn’t mean anything but it also doesn’t make sense to resume flights to the US if people are unable to enter the US

Edited June 25, 2020 by Ollieh97
Incorrect date

[Ermehgerdd 172]

12 minutes ago, Ollieh97 said:

I don’t know if this means much but I know virgin Atlantic are resuming flights from the UK to certain US destinations for business and pleasure from July 20th. Could they have been given any information as to when the travel ban will be lifted? Maybe It doesn’t mean anything but it also doesn’t make sense to resume flights to the US if people are unable to enter the US

US Citizens are able to leave and return to the US, so unfortunately I dont know that resuming flights means much yet.  I was fortunate enough to visit my fiance over the past couple weeks. AerLingus maintained daily flights to and from Chicago to Dublin for the entire duration of lockdown.

[Maryy_ 6]

1 hour ago, Ollieh97 said:

I don’t know if this means much but I know virgin Atlantic are resuming flights from the UK to certain US destinations for business and pleasure from July 20th. Could they have been given any information as to when the travel ban will be lifted? Maybe It doesn’t mean anything but it also doesn’t make sense to resume flights to the US if people are unable to enter the US

Virgin had flights planned for before that date too, then maybe 2 weeks out they got cancelled. I think they are just hoping on the ban being lifted, cancelling flights only as they go, to not have to pay back customers who booked those flights like a year ago. So while I stick with every ray of hope as well, I still want you to know the story behind it so you are not too disappointed in the end

[Ollieh97 20]

1 hour ago, Mareike said:

Virgin had flights planned for before that date too, then maybe 2 weeks out they got cancelled. I think they are just hoping on the ban being lifted, cancelling flights only as they go, to not have to pay back customers who booked those flights like a year ago. So while I stick with every ray of hope as well, I still want you to know the story behind it so you are not too disappointed in the end

Yeah I’m not really expecting the ban to be lifted by then honestly but it’s always better to try and be positive and hopeful rather than telling yourself it’s not going to happen. 

[spikes746 39]

7 hours ago, Ken & Yana said:

 

I spent some time researching why the London Embassy is not processing K1 visas currently.  The email cited in that Twitter exchange shows that the London Embassy is sending a boilerplate email response which covers many inquiries, including K1.  The language is indeed unclear, but it is referring to Proclamation 10014 only because that is what people are commonly emailing about right now.  It also mentions K1 (confusingly) in the same sentence as an type of visa that is not currently being processed.  The reason that K1's are not being processed at the London Embassy is because entry into the United States by nationals of the UK is still prohibited by Proclamation 9996 (issued on March 13).  In essence, the Embassy has decided not to issue K1 visas to UK nationals who cannot use the visa.  They will resume K1 processing as soon as the ban on UK nationals is lifted.  

Thats not what the proclamation says, it says:

 

"restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the United Kingdom during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. "

 

So it doesn't ban you for being British. It restricts your entry if you are a national of ANY country (except US) who has been in the UK (or Schengen area) in the last 14 days. This means that it is perfectly ok to spend 15+ days in any other country (Canada, Colombia etc.) before entering the US and then you will be allowed entry. Banning UK nationals doesnt make sense because if you were a UK citizen who is a tourist but you are a Panamanian permanent resident for example then there would be no reason to exclude.

Edited June 25, 2020 by spikes746

[MaruMaru 76]

10 hours ago, Ermehgerdd said:

I would suggest that you write to your Embassy and tell them what the USCIS is posting about this information. Better not to include any screenshots if the contain other's people personal profile information though...

[Ken & Yana 35]

1 hour ago, spikes746 said:

Thats not what the proclamation says, it says:

 

"restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the United Kingdom during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. "

 

So it doesn't ban you for being British. It restricts your entry if you are a national of ANY country (except US) who has been in the UK (or Schengen area) in the last 14 days. This means that it is perfectly ok to spend 15+ days in any other country (Canada, Colombia etc.) before entering the US and then you will be allowed entry. Banning UK nationals doesnt make sense because if you were a UK citizen who is a tourist but you are a Panamanian permanent resident for example then there would be no reason to exclude.

Ah yes, thanks for the correction about nationality not being relevant.  
 

It still seems like they’re choosing not to process K1’s because of the travel ban (9996).  And I agree with the sentiments here that this isn’t right.  

[Aly123 84]

4 hours ago, Ken & Yana said:

Ah yes, thanks for the correction about nationality not being relevant.  
 

It still seems like they’re choosing not to process K1’s because of the travel ban (9996).  And I agree with the sentiments here that this isn’t right.  

The US Embassy in Paris told me that it’s not the travel ban that’s causing them to not process K1’s because if you research other places not affected by the travel ban are also not processing K1’s. The reason they are not being processed is due to the fact that “routine visa services have been suspended”. Recently certain visas have been updated to be classified as mission critical.( For example spousal visas) K1’s however were left off the list as mission critical. So one of two things need to happen. Either routine services must be resumed, or K1 visas must be moved on the list of mission critical visas by the Department of State. Once that happens then they can finally start processing K1 visas.

[MaruMaru 76]

Guys,

 

My US fiancé got a replay from the Ambassador and his unit told him that K1 visas are only under the Presidential Proclamation of March 11th, 2020 which is affecting everybody.

We can take a breath now over the EO issue at least!

[Ken & Yana 35]

1 hour ago, Aly123 said:

The US Embassy in Paris told me that it’s not the travel ban that’s causing them to not process K1’s because if you research other places not affected by the travel ban are also not processing K1’s. The reason they are not being processed is due to the fact that “routine visa services have been suspended”. Recently certain visas have been updated to be classified as mission critical.( For example spousal visas) K1’s however were left off the list as mission critical. So one of two things need to happen. Either routine services must be resumed, or K1 visas must be moved on the list of mission critical visas by the Department of State. Once that happens then they can finally start processing K1 visas.

I was specifically referring to the London Embassy’s statement that they are not processing K1’s in addition to work related visas.  

[tris&kris 132]

1 hour ago, MaruMaru said:

Guys,

 

My US fiancé got a replay from the Ambassador and his unit told him that K1 visas are only under the Presidential Proclamation of March 11th, 2020 which is affecting everybody.

We can take a breath now over the EO issue at least!

That’s great! Do you mind posting the link to the source you are referring to? Or is there a copy of the email?