K1 Action Plan - Getting Consulates to Process Our Visas

[Desireehaj 1]

Awww that is awesome that you did that! I wish you were in the same area of the US as me. The world definitely needs more people like you! Ty 

[Jody and Misho 99]

Got this message back from my US Congressman's office this morning,

 

 

Edited July 7, 2020 by TBoneTX
attachment with personal information removed

[Sparkle Sparkle 914]

3 hours ago, Jody and Misho said:

Got this message back from my US Congressman's office this morning,

 

Now thats a very good response...looks like someone in the Immigrant visa unit actually took time to respond 

Edited July 7, 2020 by TBoneTX
attachment with personal info removed from quote

[Jody and Misho 99]

11 minutes ago, Sparkle Sparkle said:

Now thats a very good response...looks like someone in the Immigrant visa unit actually took time to respond 

I agree!

[tris&kris 132]

12 minutes ago, Jody and Misho said:

I agree!

Great job! Don’t forget to ask your rep to contact the State Department Congressional Liaison and relay your concerns that 1) K1 visas should be mission critical 2) K1 holders should be exempt from travel bans  

[Jody and Misho 99]

Just now, tris&kris said:

Great job! Don’t forget to ask your rep to contact the State Department Congressional Liaison and relay your concerns that 1) K1 visas should be mission critical 2) K1 holders should be exempt from travel bans  

I also did that in my letter.  Egypt's response doesn't mention any travel bans, only Covid-19.

[sl1pstream 551]

2 hours ago, Sparkle Sparkle said:

Now thats a very good response...looks like someone in the Immigrant visa unit actually took time to respond 

That's literally the same non-answer they've been giving for months.

[Jody and Misho 99]

33 minutes ago, sl1pstream said:

That's literally the same non-answer they've been giving for months.

No - not exactly.  They inserted our names AND I know they looked at our file because the status updated date on CEAC changed.

At least they aren't trying to say anything about the travel ban.  I would like more information - but I also want them to remember my name and my persistance.  

Edited July 7, 2020 by Jody and Misho

[TBoneTX 45,309]

An attachment showing a full first/last name has been removed from a post and a quote.

[Jody and Misho 99]

18 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

An attachment showing a full first/last name has been removed from a post and a quote.

Sorry about that.  Here is the post again - amended.

[sl1pstream 551]

1 hour ago, Jody and Misho said:

No - not exactly.  They inserted our names AND I know they looked at our file because the status updated date on CEAC changed.

At least they aren't trying to say anything about the travel ban.  I would like more information - but I also want them to remember my name and my persistance.  

I mean, it's definitely more personalized, but it still contains exactly the same amount of information.

[Jody and Misho 99]

1 hour ago, sl1pstream said:

I mean, it's definitely more personalized, but it still contains exactly the same amount of information.

Just trying to share what is happening personally in the "K1 Action Plan" thread.

 

[Jöla 27]

On 7/4/2020 at 9:19 PM, Dia said:

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.

 

BTW, I just saw this: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-commissioner-urges-member-states-to-lift-travel-ban-for-binational-couples/

 

Best news I have read in a long time... I will try to contact the German interior minister and my local representatives now too. It seems there is finally some momentum building up.

 

Also trying to get back in contact with the Senator's office with the template posted here. The last time we tried (in May), it wasn't clear yet exactly what we should ask for. So thank you for providing it!

[Zaichik&Miska 44]

32 minutes ago, Jody and Misho said:

Just trying to share what is happening personally in the "K1 Action Plan" thread.

 

Agreed. And thanks for posting and updating us. This does a couple of things, it keeps the thread active and visible to where other K1 situations can see it and take action. I found this thread because of the activism taking place here from the vigilant folks who want to take action and create movement. Much appreciated!

 

I was finally contacted by one of my Senator's office and by my State Representative's office also. The senator's office in my case was more personable, took the time to speak with me on the phone. Oregon seems well aware of the issues facing K1, and are trying to contact Dept of State liaisons and various Embassies. They mostly get generic answers, but I persisted and asked for them to 1) inquire about my case with the Embassy and 2) continue to ask Dept of State about a plan of action.

 

I tried to sum up what I perceive to be our collective stance in my conversation with them. We get it, there is a pandemic. However:

• K1's are not affected by the Presidential Proclamations
• USCIS and NVC have resumed processing petitions, but the embassy related segment of the process is stalled and creating a bottleneck.
• And yet, Spousal Visas are being interviewed by various embassies
  • We assert that K1's should be mission critical like spousal visas due to similarities
  • It would be easier to bear the various burdens (quarantine, social distancing, safety precautions, job loss, etc.) if we had the support of our loved ones beside us.
  • The only thing keeping a fiance from becoming a spouse is the K1 visa. 
  • The advantage of going the K1 route was supposed to be that it was faster than the spousal visa, albeit being more expensive. 
  • Forms such as the DS-160 consider fiances to be relatives, we ask the consideration to be extended throughout the process.
• Some countries (such as Ukraine in my case), have opened up travel to Americans. Why is there a blanket approach to K1 issuance? Or rather, why are K1's collectively ignored? Why doesn't each embassy make the decision to resume based on their location/local situation?
• It would be easier to wait if we had a target date. Or better yet, a published plan to get us all on the same page. If X happens, then we proceed to Phase II. If Y happens, we open up for interview. Etc. The thing that bugs most people is the uncertainty, not knowing, etc. A decent communication plan would alleviate so much frustration. 

Anyway, I don't know if that helps you formulate your arguments, but the person I spoke with certainly empathized. They'll send the inquiry after I get them the privacy forms and my case number, etc. Let's keep the movement going. On Twitter, I've seen #LoveIsNotTourism and #ResumeK1 being active. I don't really care for political stances, I just want my loved one here with me. 

 

Thanks for reading my rant. I'll post any updates. Peace! ❤️ 

[U2k 34]

My fiance wrote a letter also to his Senators office in Washington, they said pretty much its nothing they can do and to try to request emergency interviews in Montreal ourselves. Big help! 😁😁😁😁😬

Edited July 8, 2020 by Ksena
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