Mom was sent back home at EU transfer airport

[Lil bear 4,188]

34 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Ok and? That proposal to bring our immigration system in line with other countries. 

Just stating the information. No judgement on the approach. And yes .. very few countries have such an easy parent immigrant on policy. Certainly Australia doesn’t .. and their immigration visas are “points based” more based “ relationship “ based. 

Edited June 29, 2020 by Lil bear

[Lil bear 4,188]

3 minutes ago, geowrian said:

The point, as I understood it, was that the IR-5 category was probably intentionally overlooked/bypassed as an exemption to EO, so don't expect exceptions or progress until at least everything else opens up.

The stated rational for the EO was to minimize the "Risk to the U.S. Labor Market". IR-5 possibly poses the least risk to that of any immigrant visa category.

Whether there should be an IR-5 category or not is a separate discussion than the EO.

Exactly. It predates the EO .. but unfortunately the OPs mother’s situation may result in not being able to get a reissue .. but who knows what will happen in the days to come ... I certainly don’t ! 

[AnaAna 1]

8 hours ago, Traveler101 said:

Hi all,

 

My mother was coming to US on IMM grant visa which when she arrives in US will grant her Green Card. Well, she had a transfer at Zurich airport and they didn't let her go to us, she has to go back to Ukraine. US baned all entry from European countries due to the COVID. Only Americans and diplomats are allowed to entry. Now I do not know what's next since her visa expires on July 2. 

Have your Mom had her Interview in Kiev?  How long ago if you don’t mind me asking?

[Traveler101 16]

Just now, AnaAna said:

Have your Mom had her Interview in Kiev?  How long ago if you don’t mind me asking?

Yes, she had it in Kiev on January 22.

[LizBogdan 4]

8 hours ago, Traveler101 said:

But now she has to wait for 14 days and visa will expire and then who knows when and how it will be reissued.

 I just don't understand how they sold her tickets that's one, second how the heck they let her through in Ukraine and to board. Don't they know their job? Aren't they supposed to know that she won't be allowed in? I'm so irritated and frustrated 😫

 That is so unfortunate. I’m sorry you’re experiencing this. The airlines at check in should have let her know but of course ultimately is the travelers responsibility. 

 

It would’ve been better to wait until July when flights out of Bucharest are coming to US airports. As you know, Romania is non-Schengen (not banned) and would have been a good departure location.  

[HRQX 4,145]

2 minutes ago, LizBogdan said:

It would’ve been better to wait until July when flights out of Bucharest are coming to US airports. As you know, Romania is non-Schengen (not banned) and would have been a good departure location.  

Waiting till July would have been last minute since the visa expires on July 2nd and she's traveling from Ukraine. About 3 weeks ago, transiting through Serbia or Turkey became reliable options.

[SalishSea 17,818]

10 hours ago, Ikhan said:

Maybe they accept a virus test in place of a 2 week quarantine. Worth checking

No.  There has been no mention of that as an alternative to quarantine.

[Vani & Henry 14]

12 hours ago, Traveler101 said:

Hi all,

 

My mother was coming to US on IMM grant visa which when she arrives in US will grant her Green Card. Well, she had a transfer at Zurich airport and they didn't let her go to us, she has to go back to Ukraine. US baned all entry from European countries due to the COVID. Only Americans and diplomats are allowed to entry. Now I do not know what's next since her visa expires on July 2. 

She shouldn't go through schenzen countries which includes 26 countries including UK & Ireland. She cannot transit also. Am having the same issue as I don't have flight from here apart from France and UK. There's no visa extension/exception or exemption she  will have to file again. 

[SalishSea 17,818]

5 hours ago, Detron said:

True, US travelers are now also banned from travelling to Europe too. This COVID situation just gets worse in the US to the point other countries think it's out of hand and won't allow US people to enter their countries either.

Our passports are rapidly losing their 'strength.'

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

5 hours ago, Lil bear said:

Just stating the information. No judgement on the approach. And yes .. very few countries have such an easy parent immigrant on policy. Certainly Australia doesn’t .. and their immigration visas are “points based” more based “ relationship “ based. 

Isn't USA also one of the very if ONLY country to offer siblings visas/greencards. And there are so many petitions its backed up for years? 

[HRQX 4,145]

20 minutes ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

And there are so many petitions its backed up for years? 

Yes. Also, "Family Preference" categories are limited each fiscal year by law. And it's a longer wait for immigrants from mainland China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-for-july-2020.html

Edited June 29, 2020 by HRQX

[bobjennyhitched 99]

13 hours ago, Traveler101 said:

Yes, it's our responsibility to check for docs. But shouldn't airline at check in to warn her or tell her that she can't be allowed in? And there is no information online where it says about the ban, only I could find that you have to be quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

Hi, I flew from London (spouse of a US Citizen), in April 2020. The airline and the Passport Authorities in the UK checked my visas to ensure I was allowed to fly. There were four people (not with my obviously) and 3 of us went through with the correct documents. I believe the person would need to be a relative of someone who is a US citizen not an LPR. What was he Visa class? I was allowed through as a Spouse through Newark. It also depends when the visa was approved and mine was 13 days prior to the proclamation.

[HRQX 4,145]

2 hours ago, Vani & Henry said:

Am having the same issue as I don't have flight from here apart from France and UK.

Look at the post above, since you also have IR-1. @jennywhite421 recently traveled directly from London to US with IR-1.

 

25 minutes ago, jennywhite421 said:

I believe the person would need to be a relative of someone who is a US citizen not an LPR. What was he Visa class?

OP is a naturalized US citizen since 2018: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=184201 Thus the mother had IR-5 visa. The proclamation only had an exemption for her if she happened to also have a US citizen or LPR child that is unmarried and under the age of 21: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-certain-additional-persons-pose-risk-transmitting-2019-novel-coronavirus/

25 minutes ago, jennywhite421 said:

It also depends when the visa was approved and mine was 13 days prior to the proclamation.

Note that the five relevant proclamations (Schengen Area; UK and Ireland; Iran; mainland China; and Brazil) affect travelers with existing visas if they aren't exempt. For example, K-1 and most IR-5 travelers aren't exempt and thus affected regardless of the visa issue date. The following thread shows that those individuals that can't travel directly because of the proclamations still have options:

 

Edited June 29, 2020 by HRQX

[Vani & Henry 14]

40 minutes ago, jennywhite421 said:

Hi, I flew from London (spouse of a US Citizen), in April 2020. The airline and the Passport Authorities in the UK checked my visas to ensure I was allowed to fly. There were four people (not with my obviously) and 3 of us went through with the correct documents. I believe the person would need to be a relative of someone who is a US citizen not an LPR. What was he Visa class? I was allowed through as a Spouse through Newark. It also depends when the visa was approved and mine was 13 days prior to the proclamation.

Hi I just wanted to ask how your wife flew from London. I got a IR1 visa too but the US embassy in my country told me am not allowed to transit in EU countries coz I have a non immigrant visa. My husband is a US citizen and I got my visa on 10th of March it expires in August. Thank you for help 

[Lemonslice 4,834]

7 minutes ago, Vani & Henry said:

Hi I just wanted to ask how your wife flew from London. I got a IR1 visa too but the US embassy in my country told me am not allowed to transit in EU countries coz I have a non immigrant visa. My husband is a US citizen and I got my visa on 10th of March it expires in August. Thank you for help 

Please fill your profile so users can help you better. If you are in South Africa, it seems that you could transit through Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines to Washington Dulles... Travel agent might be helpful, but flights not transiting through the Shengen area are available, but not always convenient.