K1 Action Plan - Getting Consulates to Process Our Visas

[tris&kris 132]

Received a personal letter from my Congresswoman this morning. Not cut and paste because it had details pertaining to my case.

 

She is going to relay my concerns to the State Department Congressional Liaison. This is something you could request in future letters to your representatives! Keep up the good work

[MaruMaru 76]

3 minutes ago, tris&kris said:

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

Quote

3 minutes ago, tris&kris said:

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

 

I would but this is the email the Ambassador sent to my fiancé and I don't know if he will let me post a screenshot of it:)

I will ask him tough. 

 

[EricLT 29]

Does everyone contact both your house and senate? Trying to figure out who to contact. 

[tris&kris 132]

3 minutes ago, EricLT said:

Does everyone contact both your house and senate? Trying to figure out who to contact. 

I’ve contacted both but gotten more traction with my House Rep. I’d try them all. Can send the same letter to each and just change name at top.

[Zaichik&Miska 44]

Here is what I wrote mine. Feel free to copy/edit/paste for your purposes:

 

"

Hello Sir/Ma'am,

 

I am <Name> a resident and one of your constituents. I am frustrated with the US Embassy in <Location>. (Specific to my case: As you probably know, the Portland area has a big population of Ukrainians and Russians. Last year, I have filed a petition for a K1 visa to bring my fiance to the US so we can live together after years of dating. In March of this year, I flew to Kyiv to attend my fiance's final interview to be granted this visa. The day before the interview, we received tragic news that all interviews were being cancelled. Our time, dollars and efforts were wasted during that trip.) They state they do not know when K1 visa services will continue. This has caused us a great deal of anguish, waiting and not knowing how we can continue our lives together amidst all this turmoil. I am concerned that K1s are not being addressed adequately during the pandemic. I am seeking your help Sir/Ma'am and would urge you to speak to your contacts at the State Department / <Location> Embassy and to ask them:
 
1) To clarify the position of K1s in regards to the Executive Orders on immigration. (The president's EO should not be affected as K1's are non-immigrant visas which are not specifically denied nor included in the ban) 

 

2) For them to deem K1 visas as mission critical visas during the pandemic and provide travel exemptions as such. They are doing this for Spousal visas, and we who are fiances seek the same acknowledgement and treatment. They have made us wait long enough through this process as it is. 

 

3) For them to make a public statement regarding their intended plans for K1 processing so that we all can be informed. Through all of this, if we just had a specific date to look forward to, it would ease our collective stress. Not knowing is the worst state to be in. Having our loved ones beside us helps us support each other through this crisis. 

 

On behalf of all K1 petitioners, I am eager to read your reply. Thank you for your time! 

 

Sincerely,

 

<Name>"

[Fabercham 22]

8 hours 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”. 

Spain seem to say otherwise? It seems like it’s both

[Fabercham 22]

5 hours ago, tris&kris said:

I’ve contacted both but gotten more traction with my House Rep. I’d try them all. Can send the same letter to each and just change name at top.

Can you explain the difference to a dumb brit? I know we have done both senators and the one congresswoman I found, I guess she’s the same as yours? 

[tris&kris 132]

5 minutes ago, Fabercham said:

Can you explain the difference to a dumb brit? I know we have done both senators and the one congresswoman I found, I guess she’s the same as yours? 

US Congress has 2 parts the House and the Senate. There are 2 Senators for every state. You also have 1 House Representative based on the district within the state that you live in. 
 

So yes, contacting 2 Senators and 1 House Representative would mean you’ve contacted all of the members of Congress that specifically represent where you live.

 

State Department is part of the Executive Branch (White House) so you would need to contact them separately (seem to be most accessible of FB/Twitter).

[Aaab 41]

On 6/23/2020 at 7:50 PM, Dougefresh56 said:

I’ve contacted Mike Bost (Representative)

Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. No response yet. 
 

wow they bleeped out Durbin’s first name. Lol
 

next I’m going to start calling

Good News for your embassy in particular. I know of more US Citizens with fiances from the Philippines that have also contacted their representatives regarding the K1 which have contacted the Embassy. I guess at least with this embassy it has worked! The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines updated their immigrant visa operations yesterday (24th of June) to mention K1 visas. As for other embassies, we have to keep at it. I know this is not the U.S embassy that is dealing with my case but I am very much happy about this update.

 

Here is the link

 

https://ph.usembassy.gov/visa-update-immigrant-visa-operations/

Edited June 26, 2020 by Aaab

[EricLT 29]

I'm just thinking if it's even legal for one embassy to say K-1 is exempt while another says not. 

[0NI 114]

Following this topic.

 

Edited June 26, 2020 by 0NI

[Aaab 41]

1 hour ago, EricLT said:

I'm just thinking if it's even legal for one embassy to say K-1 is exempt while another says not. 

All the US embassies have their own Ambassadors and I'm sure that they all have their own way of viewing things and doing things. For Example the US Ambassador in Mexico Has given instructions to give US Citizen's Spouses priority once they reopen but the embassy in another country might not do that. They all have to abide by US Law. if they don't it would be unconstitutional, however each consular officer also has the power to use their desecration on/for certain things. I have also known the US consulate in Mexico in particular interpret certain sections in INA as they wanted when it wasn't exactly clear and only after people kept challenging it and questioning it did they amended that certain section. The thing here is that regardless if the proclamation in question is a direct ban specifically targeting certain work, school and family based visas the only exempt people/visas that are mentioned in this proclamation does not mention the K1 nor where it stands and different embassies have said different things regarding it. Having a K1 and Once married an AOS can be requested as we all know which then would allow one to seek employment. The ban is out and in effect to keep jobs safe for current American Citizens and not have a flow of new fresh immigrants taking these jobs. This is one of the reasons the K1 could possibly fall on either side if you look at it that way. If Us embassies around the world agree and/or the proclamation were to include the K1 there would be no room for error to interpret it any different. As much as some people get mad and hate the fact some people question where the K1 stands within this proclamation it is not mentioned at all under the exempt which could be interpreted differently by different people, which we have already seen. If it was crystal clear I'm sure this misunderstanding wouldn't exist.

 

Good day to you all.

Edited June 26, 2020 by Aaab

[dkristof87 14]

I contacted my representatives in Ohio, Sherrod Brown, Rob Portman and Steve Chabot for the Moscow embassy, hopefully something comes of it. It's maddening just sitting around waiting with no end in sight. My CEAC status tracker has been unable to find my case since the beginning of June as it was in transit for too long and the system didn't know what to do with that so I can't even minorly placate myself by seeing that "In Transit" label, even though I know it still hasn't left New Hampshire.

 

It just feels nice to do something and try to claw back a scrap of agency in this process.

[Liam&Lizz 36]

I just want to say I'm super proud of everyone in the thread for the information gathering, sharing and updates. I have sent my letters and we are hoping for the best. Dark times across the globe for many different aspects of life but helping each other and ourselves gives a glimmer of hope for being reunited as soon as we can.  Cheers all!

[retheem 568]

5 hours ago, Aaab said:

All the US embassies have their own Ambassadors and I'm sure that they all have their own way of viewing things and doing things. For Example the US Ambassador in Mexico Has given instructions to give US Citizen's Spouses priority once they reopen but the embassy in another country might not do that. They all have to abide by US Law. if they don't it would be unconstitutional, however each consular officer also has the power to use their desecration on/for certain things. I have also known the US consulate in Mexico in particular interpret certain sections in INA as they wanted when it wasn't exactly clear and only after people kept challenging it and questioning it did they amended that certain section. The thing here is that regardless if the proclamation in question is a direct ban specifically targeting certain work, school and family based visas the only exempt people/visas that are mentioned in this proclamation does not mention the K1 nor where it stands and different embassies have said different things regarding it. Having a K1 and Once married an AOS can be requested as we all know which then would allow one to seek employment. The ban is out and in effect to keep jobs safe for current American Citizens and not have a flow of new fresh immigrants taking these jobs. This is one of the reasons the K1 could possibly fall on either side if you look at it that way. If Us embassies around the world agree and/or the proclamation were to include the K1 there would be no room for error to interpret it any different. As much as some people get mad and hate the fact some people question where the K1 stands within this proclamation it is not mentioned at all under the exempt which could be interpreted differently by different people, which we have already seen. If it was crystal clear I'm sure this misunderstanding wouldn't exist.

 

Good day to you all.

You do realize that people don't like handling the truth right?😅