K1 Action Plan - Getting Consulates to Process Our Visas

[pooj97 89]

15 hours ago, Joy18 said:

@pooj97 who did you contact?

I contacted both Senators Burr and Tillis and also my county representative. Someone from Burr's office contacted me and was very helpful

[NanRob 9]

I notified my reps (Michigan). I feel pretty helpless in this process, and I am getting beyond sick of the London Embassy's lack of information. Here is the email that London sent to the rep with our names removed.

 

Dear Ms. Wolken: 

Thank you for your correspondence on behalf of Senator Stabenow's constituent, _____, regarding _____application for an immigrant visa. 

If Mr. ____ application is being processed by the Embassy in London, applicants are given 12 months from the date on which the Embassy’s Immigrant Visa Unit writes to them with instructions about the status of their case in which to apply for the visa. 

If Mr. ____ has been advised that his case file has been forwarded to the Embassy in London, he may refer to our website for an overview of the application procedure, and begin compiling the necessary supporting documents. He may book a medical appointment and proceed with the application process after normal operations have resumed. Please monitor our website for updates. 

Please note that routine visa processing at U.S. Embassy London is currently suspended. We are only able to process visas for immediate family members, defined as spouses and minor children. Therefore we are unable to proceed with fiancé(e) visa applications at this time. We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. 

If the fiancé(e) visa petition expires, Mr. ____ may revalidate the petition with a letter from Ms. ____ stating that they both remain legally free to marry and that they will do so within 90 days of your arrival in the United States. They should take the letter with them to their visa interview in the future, not mail it or email it to the Embassy. 

We hope that this information will be useful to you in responding to your constituent. 

Sincerely, 

Consular Information Unit U.S. Embassy, London CONS/CIU/RJ

 

Is there anything else I can do at this point? Any advice?

 

Right now I just plan to maybe say is there any way they can compel the DOS to give K1's mission critical status?

 

In my initial email to the rep I included this but they don't seem to have acknowledged it in their other responses.

 

 

Edited July 2, 2020 by NanRob

[Fabercham 22]

Template for UK citizens to send to MPs. Remember to include your address.

 

 Feel free to edit and add your own context. This is by no means perfect.

I hope you can advise me who may be able to help as this issue relates to British citizens.

 

In March the US issued Proclamation 9996 which suspended entry of anyone who had been resident in the UK or Ireland in the 14 days prior to arrival in the US. Spouses, parents of under 21 US citizens, siblings and children of US citizens were excluded from this but not fiancés, despite the paperwork we complete for the US Embassy classifying fiancés as immediate family members.

 

It seems the US embassy do not intend to deal with any K1 visas until the US/UK travel ban has lifted or until it is mandated that normal operations can resume, for which there is no date, despite the U.K. coming out of lockdown. This seems illogical to me as if I had a valid visa I could enter the US by first going to a country not included in the ban, for example Turkey or Croatia, for 14 days. 
 

I’m aware the UK and US are currently negotiating a travel deal. While Europe are not looking to permit arrivals from the US, as you know, the UK have never shut our borders to US citizens. Given this fact, that ‘America has no truer friend than Great Britain’ & the looming trade deals post-brexit, I am hopeful that the US would want to accommodate our citizens. At present, family members are being kept apart, for example those with adult children in the US & grandparents from grandkids. These type of travellers could certainly quarantine on arrival in the US if required as they are not tourists. Fauci has suggested this ban could extend into next year, so I am concerned that no exception will be made for those in my situation, unless we ‘make a noise’. 
 
Would Dominic Rabb be involved in any negotiations with the US to permit entry for UK citizens? Could you please contact him on my behalf to request he queries these issues with any relevant US counterparts? 

 

Is this issue something you could provide any steer on?

 

find your MP here: 

https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

[Fabercham 22]

3 minutes ago, NanRob said:

Is there anything else I can do at this point? Any advice?

 

 

Ask your Brit to contact their MP? I’ve posted a quick idea of an email 

[NanRob 9]

7 minutes ago, Fabercham said:

Template for UK citizens to send to MPs. Remember to include your address.

 

 Feel free to edit and add your own context. This is by no means perfect.

I hope you can advise me who may be able to help as this issue relates to British citizens.

 

In March the US issued Proclamation 9996 which suspended entry of anyone who had been resident in the UK or Ireland in the 14 days prior to arrival in the US. Spouses, parents of under 21 US citizens, siblings and children of US citizens were excluded from this but not fiancés, despite the paperwork we complete for the US Embassy classifying fiancés as immediate family members.

 

It seems the US embassy do not intend to deal with any K1 visas until the US/UK travel ban has lifted or until it is mandated that normal operations can resume, for which there is no date, despite the U.K. coming out of lockdown. This seems illogical to me as if I had a valid visa I could enter the US by first going to a country not included in the ban, for example Turkey or Croatia, for 14 days. 
 

I’m aware the UK and US are currently negotiating a travel deal. While Europe are not looking to permit arrivals from the US, as you know, the UK have never shut our borders to US citizens. Given this fact, that ‘America has no truer friend than Great Britain’ & the looming trade deals post-brexit, I am hopeful that the US would want to accommodate our citizens. At present, family members are being kept apart, for example those with adult children in the US & grandparents from grandkids. These type of travellers could certainly quarantine on arrival in the US if required as they are not tourists. Fauci has suggested this ban could extend into next year, so I am concerned that no exception will be made for those in my situation, unless we ‘make a noise’. 
 
Would Dominic Rabb be involved in any negotiations with the US to permit entry for UK citizens? Could you please contact him on my behalf to request he queries these issues with any relevant US counterparts? 

 

Is this issue something you could provide any steer on?

 

find your MP here: 

https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

That's a great email! I'll pass it on to my fiance to send this. It really makes such little sense why K1's are halted indefinitely. Thank you for your help!

[Aly123 84]

https://1997-2001.state.gov/feedback1.html

Also along with contacting Representatives I was able to find this link with numbers, emails, and fax directly to department of state. You can try contacting them an expressing your concerns about K1s not being included as mission critical. The more voices they hear on the matter the better chance of action. It’s worth a shot. This way the department of state will directly see how many people this is affecting. You can get friends and family to email too. Calling or faxing might be even more effective because they will hear your thoughts immediately. Every embassy I have spoke to is waiting on direction from Department of state. The sooner we get through to Department of state the better. 

[tris&kris 132]

@NanRob

 

Dont be too discouraged that is a pretty typical initial response. Great job taking the time to get involved and fight back!

 

Most reps initial reaction will be to contact the embassy and forward the response because it’s easy and quick. Thank them for their efforts but state you would like them to forward your concerns about K1 fiancé visas not being mission critical or exempt from travel bans to leadership at the State Department and Department of Homeland Security. This takes a little more effort on their part so don’t be afraid to follow-up or ask for a confirmation email once it has been done.

 

keep up the great work!

[Aly123 84]

I finally got a response from my senator which I really wasn’t expecting since they are usually busier than the House of Representatives.

 

Dear Ms. Wyche,

I appreciate the trust and confidence you have shown in me by contacting me with your letter in which you requested my assistance with the visa application of your fiance, Mr Allicock.

The Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits any federal agency from sharing information about an individual without the individual's authorization.  Therefore, I am enclosing a Privacy Act Release. Please complete the form and return it to my office at the following address:

The Honorable Mark R. Warner
Attention: Wanda Almanzar
8000 Towers Crescent Drive
Suite 200
Vienna, VA 22182
P: 703-442-0670, F: 703-442-0408
casework@warner.senate.gov
*Please note mail delivery may be significantly delayed. It is strongly recommended you email or fax your response if possible.

Please know that my top priority is to provide efficient and effective constituent service to all Virginians.  Upon receipt of your completed Privacy Act Release, I will begin work on this matter by contacting the U.S. Embassy Paris, France.  I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

[tris&kris 132]

@Aly123

 

Great job! 
 

Don’t be discouraged if you hit a brick wall with the embassy. Encourage your senator to reach out to Department of State and Department of Homeland Security about providing exceptions for the travel ban and deeming K1s mission critical. 

[Aly123 84]

23 minutes ago, tris&kris said:

@Aly123

 

Great job! 
 

Don’t be discouraged if you hit a brick wall with the embassy. Encourage your senator to reach out to Department of State and Department of Homeland Security about providing exceptions for the travel ban and deeming K1s mission critical. 

Thanks! I mentioned that on my privacy release form. If I have any updates I’ll report back 

[NanRob 9]

9 hours ago, tris&kris said:

@NanRob

 

Dont be too discouraged that is a pretty typical initial response. Great job taking the time to get involved and fight back!

 

Most reps initial reaction will be to contact the embassy and forward the response because it’s easy and quick. Thank them for their efforts but state you would like them to forward your concerns about K1 fiancé visas not being mission critical or exempt from travel bans to leadership at the State Department and Department of Homeland Security. This takes a little more effort on their part so don’t be afraid to follow-up or ask for a confirmation email once it has been done.

 

keep up the great work!

I sent the email now! I will follow up with the response. Thank you for the support! 

[Dia 10]

Thanks for sharing this, everyone. 
We have also been reaching out to the congressman and got response they can check for status but nothing more.

Also reached out to Senators, no response as of yet. 
 

on another note, @ all fellow European Beneficiaries: I am sure you want to see the EU travel ban lifted or at least an exemption for partners made. From what I learned this is how we can push for that:

 

1) call your inner ministry as often as you can and make the request to add partners to the list of exceptions, explain our situation and why it’s unethical to give unmarried partners within the EU entry rights but deny those same rights to unmarried partners outside the EU. (in Germany Bundesministerium des Innern, phone 030186810 or 0228 996810) 
They are reporting the citizens requests back to the respective Interior Minister (in Germany this is Horst Seehofer) to consider for the next decision round 

 

2) write your Interior Minister in your country and make the case why partners need to be added to the list of exemptions / or at least the US has to be looked at per states and not as a whole.

I did write and got a quick response (In Germany directly to Mr Seehofer is: mb@bmi.bund.de, but you can also try Poststelle@bmi.bund.de)

 

3) all EU Interior Minister will meet before July 15 again and decide what will and what will not be added to the list of exemptions. The more request they receive in each EU country from their citizens the more likely it will be considered.

 

Thank you for taking this in consideration and maybe some of you would like to report back what they experienced?

 

[Dia 10]

Please consider supporting the #LoveIsEssential and #LoveIsNotTourism petitions:

 

https://www.change.org/p/ylva-johansson-love-an-essential-reason-for-travel-open-eu-us-brazil-external-borders-to-reunite-couples-asap

 

Let us flood the EU Commission, EU Council Press  and Ylva Johansson with our requests. 

 

If you can handle another dose of heartbreak today, watch this:

 

 

[Desireehaj 1]

On 7/1/2020 at 3:47 PM, payxibka said:

Consulates can and will extend the petition for up to one year 

 

On 6/23/2020 at 6:32 PM, emma24 said:

I have contacted both of my house representatives and my senator. I think this is a wonderful idea! I finally feel engaged and not just sitting and twiddling my thumbs waiting for something to happen. Thank you for a constructive post!!

How long did you wait before you contacted your senator?. My fiancé’s interview was in February and we were told it’s in administrative processing. We initially applied for the K-1 last May. 

On 6/23/2020 at 6:40 PM, tris&kris said:

Great job @emma24!! Let us know once you get a reply. Don’t be discouraged if it’s a copy

and paste at first. Continue reaching out. I’m now emailing back and forth with a staffer after my request. It’s all about being persistent BUT polite and respectful. Most representatives really do want to hear from their constituents. After all, we are potential voters if they can solve a problem for us.

 

[emma24 161]

8 minutes ago, Desireehaj said:

How long did you wait before you contacted your senator?. My fiancé’s interview was in February and we were told it’s in administrative processing. We initially applied for the K-1 last May. 

I did not contact them to move my case along. I only contacted them for the good of ALL K1s. I asked that K1s be considered mission critical and included in the exemptions for the travel ban.