CR-1 / IR-1 Interview updates

[T3G 26]

14 minutes ago, Kimi31 said:

That’s pure BS.there can’t be that many at the embassy. Someone posted stats and IV visas are in the minority. Doesn’t make sense. Unless they are taking the 3 weeks to clear the student visa backlog 

My guess is that they'll clear the DCF cases that were filed in London first (I believe they should've been cleared by tomorrow) and then move on to the NVC cases. 

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

Not expecting anything to come anytime soon, just playing the waiting game now 😕

[The4Sands 67]

11 minutes ago, T3G said:

My guess is that they'll clear the DCF cases that were filed in London first (I believe they should've been cleared by tomorrow) and then move on to the NVC cases. 

There are several of us on VJ that are part of the last group doing DCF in London (I-130 approved post-March) and a lot of us are still waiting for the Embassy to issue our LND number. Today the first of us got an LND via email from the embassy (I-130 approved mid March) so you may be right, but those of us who got approved more recently are holding our breath with the rest of you hoping to see some more movement.  

[Kimi31 126]

10 minutes ago, The4Sands said:

There are several of us on VJ that are part of the last group doing DCF in London (I-130 approved post-March) and a lot of us are still waiting for the Embassy to issue our LND number. Today the first of us got an LND via email from the embassy (I-130 approved mid March) so you may be right, but those of us who got approved more recently are holding our breath with the rest of you hoping to see some more movement.  

But the numbers of you guys who did DCF can’t be massive right? 

Again it comes down to them telling us what’s going on. If we know how they are clearing and allocating it takes a lot of “what ifs” away and there the mental stress we are all feeling 

 

think we need a group bug 

from a distance obvs 

[Just Paul 4,595]

10 minutes ago, Kimi31 said:

But the numbers of you guys who did DCF can’t be massive right?

There were only 23 places in 20 countries to file DCF once it was changed in the 2000s to specific counties.  The biggest rule was that a petitioner had to have some form for legal residency (for at least 6 months) to apply at the USCIS international field office.  It was quite surreal going into the USCIS section at the consulate with one other person and having them review your I-130 right in front of you and handing you back items saying they didn't need that!  102 days later when we did our interview in Juarez Consulate the CO said they don't do many of these interviews.

 

 

[The4Sands 67]

22 minutes ago, Kimi31 said:

But the numbers of you guys who did DCF can’t be massive right? 

Again it comes down to them telling us what’s going on. If we know how they are clearing and allocating it takes a lot of “what ifs” away and there the mental stress we are all feeling 

 

think we need a group bug 

from a distance obvs 

No, I don’t think there are very many of us, not on VJ anyway. Guess there could be loads more not on VJ. 
 

I think you’re right, it doesn’t feel like they’ve been very transparent about it all. 
 

I would take a group hug though 😊

[T3G 26]

3 minutes ago, The4Sands said:

No, I don’t think there are very many of us, not on VJ anyway. Guess there could be loads more not on VJ. 
 

I think you’re right, it doesn’t feel like they’ve been very transparent about it all. 
 

I would take a group hug though 😊

I found VJ through the British Expats forum and there some on there that are DCF in London and waiting, not sure if they're on VJ too though.  I will take the group hug too please.  I'd just like to see some movement - for anyone - so that that progress gives the rest of us hope!   

[shallot343 116]

I think my partner and I are going to try to expedite....we don't have an emergency , but we were delayed 4 months due to USCIS error, and because of his career (Higher Education) we are concerned about his job prospects if he gets here after the fall semester starts. Arguments are a bit weak admittedly but if there is not downside to trying other than a denial and continuing to wait....we may as well.  We are not going to go the emotional hardship route---I know that has been successful for some people but I feel guilty exaggerating when in reality we are doing mostly okay, just really annoyed and frustrated. (I think it is valid to request on that basis if you are really struggling!)

 

Will let you all know what happens if we go for it; still working on our letter. 

[Kimi31 126]

6 minutes ago, shallot343 said:

I think my partner and I are going to try to expedite....we don't have an emergency , but we were delayed 4 months due to USCIS error, and because of his career (Higher Education) we are concerned about his job prospects if he gets here after the fall semester starts. Arguments are a bit weak admittedly but if there is not downside to trying other than a denial and continuing to wait....we may as well.  We are not going to go the emotional hardship route---I know that has been successful for some people but I feel guilty exaggerating when in reality we are doing mostly okay, just really annoyed and frustrated. (I think it is valid to request on that basis if you are really struggling!)

 

Will let you all know what happens if we go for it; still working on our letter. 

You’ve got a 50/50 chance so why not try. 

 

Seeing the news they havent even opened up appt slots to NVC, I think I’m going to request our expedite be sent through -we got a conditional in March saying once they resume normal operations they would accept it. I’ll give it til Monday then email 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

46 minutes ago, Kimi31 said:

You’ve got a 50/50 chance so why not try. 

 

Seeing the news they havent even opened up appt slots to NVC, I think I’m going to request our expedite be sent through -we got a conditional in March saying once they resume normal operations they would accept it. I’ll give it til Monday then email 

Someone (a DCF) just booked a few minutes ago and there are openings Mondays andThursdays in August.  None yet in September. 

[Samantha & Rad 56]

17 hours ago, Kimi31 said:

That’s pure BS.there can’t be that many at the embassy. Someone posted stats and IV visas are in the minority. Doesn’t make sense. Unless they are taking the 3 weeks to clear the student visa backlog 

Have you spoken to NVC? And have they given you a different answer?
This update has been given directly by the Congressional Liaison dept of NVC to the senators office, so I can't quite see how it is 'BS'.
Since they only opened Monday this week, I can totally see that they might need to reschedule cancelled interviews, DCFs and prioritise students before they open up to NVC. 
This forum is useful for an indication and for group support, but at the end of the day i'll take my information from the source. 
And we've explicitly been told NVC is not the hold up. US Embassy London is not giving them appointments (yet!).
 

[Kimi31 126]

1 hour ago, Samantha & Rad said:

Have you spoken to NVC? And have they given you a different answer?
This update has been given directly by the Congressional Liaison dept of NVC to the senators office, so I can't quite see how it is 'BS'.
Since they only opened Monday this week, I can totally see that they might need to reschedule cancelled interviews, DCFs and prioritise students before they open up to NVC. 
This forum is useful for an indication and for group support, but at the end of the day i'll take my information from the source. 
And we've explicitly been told NVC is not the hold up. US Embassy London is not giving them appointments (yet!).
 

You misunderstand, the whole situation is Bs. I wasn’t stating your information or source was Bs. 

I thought we were allowed to think out loud. I was venting and trying to make sense of the whole thing.

as I’ve said before if the Embassy was a little more up front they’d reduce calls to them and so one

it wasn’t a personal attack 🙃

[os306 103]

2 hours ago, Samantha & Rad said:

Have you spoken to NVC? And have they given you a different answer?
This update has been given directly by the Congressional Liaison dept of NVC to the senators office, so I can't quite see how it is 'BS'.
Since they only opened Monday this week, I can totally see that they might need to reschedule cancelled interviews, DCFs and prioritise students before they open up to NVC. 
This forum is useful for an indication and for group support, but at the end of the day i'll take my information from the source. 
And we've explicitly been told NVC is not the hold up. US Embassy London is not giving them appointments (yet!).
 

This is pure speculation, but based on posts on this sub-forum and in the DCF sub-forum, it looks like only two groups of immigrant visa interviews are taking place at the US Embassy right now:

 

1. IR1/CR1 NVC filers who were granted an expedited interview and whose files have arrived in London.

2. IR1/CR1 DCF filers whose I-130 petitions were approved by the USCIS Field Office and who have received an LND number from the Immigrant Visa Unit.

 

I do recall seeing a post by an NVC-filer who had a non-expedited interview a few weeks ago, but I believe they already had an interview date assigned before lockdown and their original date was canceled and then re-scheduled.

[Samantha & Rad 56]

19 minutes ago, os306 said:

This is pure speculation, but based on posts on this sub-forum and in the DCF sub-forum, it looks like only two groups of immigrant visa interviews are taking place at the US Embassy right now:

 

1. IR1/CR1 NVC filers who were granted an expedited interview and whose files have arrived in London.

2. IR1/CR1 DCF filers whose I-130 petitions were approved by the USCIS Field Office and who have received an LND number from the Immigrant Visa Unit.

 

I do recall seeing a post by an NVC-filer who had a non-expedited interview a few weeks ago, but I believe they already had an interview date assigned before lockdown and their original date was canceled and then re-scheduled.

Yes, that's exactly the impression I get too. 

[Davu 12]

Basically the same thing London Embassey website says atm:
https://uk.usembassy.gov/information-for-nonimmigrant-visa-applicants-following-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/

Excerpt below:

I fall under an exception to Presidential Proclamation 10014/10052. Can I continue with the immigrant visa application process?

 

If you are applying for an immigrant visa and the case is being processed by NVC, please click here and visit your CEAC account (if applicable) for information. Please contact NVC directly using the online contact form on that website if you still have questions. The Embassy cannot answer any questions about NVC cases, including any questions about expedite options or about appointments.

 

If you are applying for a visa as the spouse or child of a U.S. citizen (IR-1, CR-1, IR-2 or CR-2) or for an E-3 visa and your case is with the Embassy in London, please contact us to check whether it is possible to proceed with your visa application on an emergency basis. Please provide the full names of the visa applicant(s) and the petitioner, plus the case number (typically LND followed by ten digits).

 

If you are applying for an immigrant visa in any category other than IR-1, CR-1, IR-2 or CR-2 (i.e. you are not applying for a visa as the spouse or child of a U.S. citizen) or E-3 and you have been advised that your case file has been forwarded to the Embassy in London, you may refer to our website for an overview of the application procedure and begin compiling the necessary supporting documents. You may book a medical appointment and proceed with the application process after normal operations have resumed. Please monitor our website for updates. Applicants are typically given 12 months in which to apply for the visa, starting from the date on which the Embassy’s Immigrant Visa Unit writes to them with instructions about the status of their case.