K1 Action Plan - Getting Consulates to Process Our Visas

[tris&kris 132]

Please stay on topic guys. There are plenty of threads to debate the applicability of EOs to various visas including K1!

 

Very proud of all the activism going on! Keep posting your results and any new ideas you have on who and how to contact those those in charge!

[Her Highness 20]

@retheemon a different note, when were you at the US embassy in Kenya? Did they e-mail you once they received your case? Things shut down just when my case was ready at the embassy so trying to figure out their normal process. Thanks

[LibbyG99 65]

On 6/22/2020 at 9:07 PM, tris&kris said:

Hi Fellow K1s,

 

The number one thing we can do right now to ensure that we get reunited with our loved ones, is to contact your US elected officials. Let them know that you are a constituent of their district or state, that you are in the K1 process, and that you are concerned that K1s are not being addressed adequately during the pandemic. Include a few sentences of your personal story so they remember you. Urge them to speak to their contacts at the State Department and ask the State Department to:
 

1) Clarify the position of K1s in regards to the EOs on immigration (we believe they should not be affected as they are non-immigrant visas which are not specifically denied) 

 

2) Deem K1 visas mission critical visas during the pandemic and provide travel exemptions as such

 

3) Make a public statement regarding their intended plans for K1 processing so that we all can be informed 

 

I contacted my representative last week and was surprised with how quickly they responded and how seriously they took my concerns. The more noise we make the better! The squeaky wheel always gets the grease!
 

Contact your representatives and post below with confirmation so we can shower you with applause and likes! I’m going to contact my senators (North Carolina) tonight.
 

Find your House Representative here:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

 

Find your Senator here:

https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

 

Ok! I wrote to my Senators and Representative and got the following response (which was great of them to actually respond!): 

 

"Thanks so much for reaching out to Senator Whitehouse regarding your questions about K1 visas in light of the Administration’s recent proclamation.  Are you in need of case-specific information on the pending application?  If so, please include the beneficiary’s name and the assigned case number.  I can then use such to reach out to the Embassy/State Department on your behalf.

In addition, we can also reach out to the State Department for guidance on interpretation."

I don't need specific information on my case- I'm awaiting my NOA2 now, so what should I ask them to ask of the State Dept? Any suggestions? Our embassy (Addis Ababa) is still closed so I can't even find out from them if they're planning on still processing k-1s in light of the new proclamation.

Thanks!

Libby

 

[tris&kris 132]

5 minutes ago, LibbyG99 said:

Ok! I wrote to my Senators and Representative and got the following response (which was great of them to actually respond!): 

 

"Thanks so much for reaching out to Senator Whitehouse regarding your questions about K1 visas in light of the Administration’s recent proclamation.  Are you in need of case-specific information on the pending application?  If so, please include the beneficiary’s name and the assigned case number.  I can then use such to reach out to the Embassy/State Department on your behalf.

In addition, we can also reach out to the State Department for guidance on interpretation."

I don't need specific information on my case- I'm awaiting my NOA2 now, so what should I ask them to ask of the State Dept? Any suggestions? Our embassy (Addis Ababa) is still closed so I can't even find out from them if they're planning on still processing k-1s in light of the new proclamation.

Thanks!

Libby

 

Great job!!

 

Talking points could include:

 

Yes please contact the State Department Congressional on my behalf and relay my concerns that.

 

1) Some Embassies do not seem to be aware that K1 visas are not affected by the recent EO focused on the labor market. Please ask them to publish guidance to the Embassies that K1s are not affected.

 

2) Please ask the State Department to consider K1 as mission critical visas along with spouse visas as they serve the same purpose

 

3) Please ask the State Department to exempt K1 visas from travel restrictions as they negotiate the easing of travel bans with the EU and other countries 

 

Just some talking points and you are welcome to say however much or little you would like!

[retheem 564]

2 hours ago, Her Highnesd said:

@retheemon a different note, when were you at the US embassy in Kenya? Did they e-mail you once they received your case? Things shut down just when my case was ready at the embassy so trying to figure out their normal process. Thanks

No not yet. They are waiting for BBI to pass😂😂 kidding. Waiting for them to open, provided UK won't disappoint next week

[Her Highness 20]

58 minutes ago, retheem said:

No not yet. They are waiting for BBI to pass😂😂 kidding. Waiting for them to open, provided UK won't disappoint next week

Haha. Corona has replaced BBI for now. I've seen KQ talking about resuming international flights in July. Maybe they have inside info,  I can hope! Is there an active forum for Kenya? I'm only seeing old posts.

[Aly123 84]

Thank you for contacting me regarding your visa concerns.

The agency will require a completed Privacy Release before discussing your confidential information with my office. I have enclosed a blank release for your convenience.

The completed release should be returned to Saira Bhatti at Saira.Bhatti@mail.house.gov, or mailed to my Sterling District Office, along with any current correspondence between you and the U.S. Department of State. Upon receipt, an inquiry will be directed on your behalf. 

In the meantime, should you have additional questions, please contact my staff assistant, Saira Bhatti, in my Sterling District Office.

Sincerely,
 
Jennifer Wexton
Member of Congress
 

 

This is what I received  from my Representative. I’m filling out the form now.

[Aly123 84]

Update: I just got off the phone with my representative. She collected some more information about my case. She is supposed to call the embassy today and see what needs to be done in order to classify K1 visas as mission critical as well as requesting they give me an emergency appointment. She said that there is no guarantees but it shows that there is congressional interest in my case and could have a good outcome possibly. I encourage you guys to reach out to your representatives as well because it will really draws attention to our visa category. She even said her said that K1 visas end up getting left out a lot because they are in a category of their own and are often overlooked by both immigrant and nonimmigrant departments.

[tris&kris 132]

Great job getting Congressional attention!! You all are making it happen and getting results. London embassy just updated their website saying K1s are not affected by the labor market EO!

[ashley_ann 179]

1 minute ago, tris&kris said:

Great job getting Congressional attention!! You all are making it happen and getting results. London embassy just updated their website saying K1s are not affected by the labor market EO!

Just found this thread definitely have my Fiancé contact his people in Texas. This is a great thread and I'm happy to see a template! 

[LibbyG99 65]

Senator Whitehouse came through! His staffers received the following information from the State Dept:

 

K1 visas are a unique type of visa – they are processed as immigrant visas but in the end they are issued as a non-immigrant visa.  Therefore, neither of the recent (April or June) Presidential Proclamations on immigration apply to K1s.  However, there are still two other issues:

 

First, the Department of State suspended routine visa services on March 20.  This action was taken for the safety and health of our applicants as well as that of our staff.  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-routine-visa-services.html  At this time, we do not know when services will resume, so your constituent’s K-1 applicant will be unable to get an appointment for now.

 

Second, depending where your constituent is located, s/he may be subject to one of the Presidential Proclamations suspending entry to the United States due to the risk of transmission of the 2019 novel coronavirus (China, Iran, Schengen Area, UK, Ireland, Brazil).  Please see this website for more information:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/presidential-proclamation-coronavirus.html.  This page has links to the complete text of each Proclamation on the White House website.

 

The staffer did bring up making K-1s mission critical, and I see they neglected to comment on this issue, but at least we're getting through to them!

[arae 81]

I wrote to my congressman. Don't think I'll get a great reply given how big and busy our district is, but who knows! He and I went to the same law school (and I pointed that out) so maybe, just maybe he'll have empathy for a fellow alum.

[tris&kris 132]

Nice!!

 

Thankfully it’s become clear K1s are not impacted by the labor market EO.

 

Consider focusing on the following points now when contacting your senators and representatives

 

1) K1s should be considered mission critical alongside spousal visas

 

2) A valid K1 holder should be exempt from travel bans as a spouse would 

 

We’ve accomplished one goal, let’s conquer the rest!

[Gii 48]

Great work guys! I am going to get my fiance to write to his. I'll follow up with any updates. 

[JBF 116]

12 hours ago, Aly123 said:

Update: I just got off the phone with my representative. She collected some more information about my case. She is supposed to call the embassy today and see what needs to be done in order to classify K1 visas as mission critical as well as requesting they give me an emergency appointment. She said that there is no guarantees but it shows that there is congressional interest in my case and could have a good outcome possibly. I encourage you guys to reach out to your representatives as well because it will really draws attention to our visa category. She even said her said that K1 visas end up getting left out a lot because they are in a category of their own and are often overlooked by both immigrant and nonimmigrant departments.

Please let us know if you’re able to obtain any results. I’ve already applied for an emergency appointment and I’ve been told they couldn’t assist me because of the Schengen ban. They said they are committed to processing K1s as soon as possible when the ban is lifted, however they have no idea when that will happen. 
I was hoping the ban could be lifted in July, Europe is doing very well and I don’t see why it should be kept in place.