Embassies to possibly start opening on July 15th

[Reconnecting Reco 24]

2 hours ago, LibbyG99 said:

Reconnecting Reco- I know you're out of the Embassy in Addis too. Did you see what they posted recently? 

 

https://et.usembassy.gov/announcement-student-and-other-u-s-visas/

Yeah I seen it. I'm happy we got any kind of news from it but at this point I doubt the consulate will open at any point this year. I really hate this.

[LibbyG99 65]

On 8/12/2020 at 12:51 PM, Reconnecting Reco said:

Yeah I seen it. I'm happy we got any kind of news from it but at this point I doubt the consulate will open at any point this year. I really hate this.

Ya I was hoping they'd open late September, since the state of emergency Gov of Ethiopia put out ends Sept 25, but now that seems unlikely..... really frustrating. Do you get to visit your loved one?

[Reconnecting Reco 24]

6 minutes ago, LibbyG99 said:

Ya I was hoping they'd open late September, since the state of emergency Gov of Ethiopia put out ends Sept 25, but now that seems unlikely..... really frustrating. Do you get to visit your loved one?

Most likely end of September I will be traveling there. I haven't seen her in a year so it's more than due.

What about yourself?

[LibbyG99 65]

2 minutes ago, Reconnecting Reco said:

Most likely end of September I will be traveling there. I haven't seen her in a year so it's more than due.

What about yourself?

Ya I'll be going Sept 20th and staying until Dec 20th. I'm very fortunate because I go there for work. I was there in Feb before covid started. I'm blessed we at least get to see each other frequently. Hang in there. Maybe I'll see you and your loved one once we're all getting interviewed when the embassy opens!

[Uiyl 56]

On 8/14/2020 at 4:19 AM, LibbyG99 said:

Ya I was hoping they'd open late September, since the state of emergency Gov of Ethiopia put out ends Sept 25, but now that seems unlikely..... really frustrating. Do you get to visit your loved one?

You might find this interesting https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-notice-for-k-visa-applicants-affected-by-covid-19.html

Important Notice for K visa applicants affected by COVID-19

Last Updated: August 31, 2020

 

Effective August 28, as it becomes safe to resume more consular operations at each U.S. mission, posts are authorized to give K visa cases high priority.  Applicants should check the website of their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for updates on what services that post is currently able to offer. The I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) is typically valid for four months; however, consular officers may revalidate the I-129F petition in four month increments.  For most cases impacted by the suspension of routine visa services or COVID-19 travel restrictions it will not be necessary to file a new I-129F petition.

[LibbyG99 65]

On 8/31/2020 at 5:03 PM, Uiyl said:

You might find this interesting https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-notice-for-k-visa-applicants-affected-by-covid-19.html

Important Notice for K visa applicants affected by COVID-19

Last Updated: August 31, 2020

 

Effective August 28, as it becomes safe to resume more consular operations at each U.S. mission, posts are authorized to give K visa cases high priority.  Applicants should check the website of their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for updates on what services that post is currently able to offer. The I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) is typically valid for four months; however, consular officers may revalidate the I-129F petition in four month increments.  For most cases impacted by the suspension of routine visa services or COVID-19 travel restrictions it will not be necessary to file a new I-129F petition.

I saw, thank you!! Unfortunately the embassy in Ethiopia is still closed due to "resource constraints" until "well after the fall". So hopefully it will open Jan 1st. And then when it does start processing K-1s again.

[Uiyl 56]

8 hours ago, LibbyG99 said:

I saw, thank you!! Unfortunately the embassy in Ethiopia is still closed due to "resource constraints" until "well after the fall". So hopefully it will open Jan 1st. And then when it does start processing K-1s again.

When they announced they don't plan to resume 'until well after the beginning of fall classes', I literally went to Google to see what does that phrase exactly mean😊 and merely hoped they would resume at least spousal and fiance visas by end of September. I think we are stuck at the wrong Embassy 🤔

[Tasha- 3]

Hey, I'm new here but also following...desperate like many for any information about US Embassy reopening in Ethiopia.

I'm hearing from my husband that around 30 covid-19 cases have been discovered (out of only 150 people tested) in his small town and I'm praying he doesn't become one of them...

Edited September 7, 2020 by Tasha-

[Katelyn_Wray 34]

For all the people in this thread waiting on the embassy in Ethiopia, have you seen their latest update? They finally resumed some US Citizen services for passport renewal, and hope to resume notarial/registering a birth abroad services soon.

 

The optimist in me wants to interpret this as a step in the right direction towards opening up visa interviews as well  

 

The pessimist in me thinks that they are only doing this because of the recent heartbreaking events happening in the country, and pressure from U.S. citizens stuck in Ethiopia with expired documents for the embassy to finally start providing some services.

 

I'll add a note that I called the U.S embassy in Ethiopia from within Ethiopia in September, and the woman on the phone told me that DUE TO THE EECUTIVE ORDER (not COVID) they will absolutely not process my husbands visa until after December. I told/reminded her the executive order does not apply to spouses of US Citizens, and her response was for me to reread the EO, they are not processing spousal visas, and hung up the phone.

 

I don't know what to think of all of this. What are y'all's thoughts? Have any of you gotten any other updates from the embassy in Ethiopia?

[Tasha- 3]

Hi Katelyn,

What is the number you used to call the embassy? When I tried calling months back it never reached an actual person, just machine voices.

[Katelyn_Wray 34]

10 minutes ago, Tasha- said:

Hi Katelyn,

What is the number you used to call the embassy? When I tried calling months back it never reached an actual person, just machine voices.

 

Hey Tasha,

 

I think I called the +251115582424 number from this email. The phone number is stored on my husband's phone though, so I'll double check with him when he replies to me! You could also try the email addisIV@state.gov if you haven't already.

 

Be prepared for it to take a really long time to get someone on the phone though - I think I just guessed&pressed through every single option on their automated hotline until an option to speak to somebody came up, and then I waited a bit for a representative. It might have been 5-6 sub-options within the system! Also, I've called a couple times for various reasons, and I've found the folks on the hotline to generally be unhelpful and pretty incompetent. In addition to the answer above where they clearly hadn't gone through the EO they were directing me to reread, I've also called and got somebody who wasn't familiar with basic interview document requirements when I was trying to ask a more detailed question about police certificates.

[Uiyl 56]

12 hours ago, Katelyn_Wray said:

For all the people in this thread waiting on the embassy in Ethiopia, have you seen their latest update? They finally resumed some US Citizen services for passport renewal, and hope to resume notarial/registering a birth abroad services soon.

 

The optimist in me wants to interpret this as a step in the right direction towards opening up visa interviews as well  

 

The pessimist in me thinks that they are only doing this because of the recent heartbreaking events happening in the country, and pressure from U.S. citizens stuck in Ethiopia with expired documents for the embassy to finally start providing some services.

 

I'll add a note that I called the U.S embassy in Ethiopia from within Ethiopia in September, and the woman on the phone told me that DUE TO THE EECUTIVE ORDER (not COVID) they will absolutely not process my husbands visa until after December. I told/reminded her the executive order does not apply to spouses of US Citizens, and her response was for me to reread the EO, they are not processing spousal visas, and hung up the phone.

 

I don't know what to think of all of this. What are y'all's thoughts? Have any of you gotten any other updates from the embassy in Ethiopia?

Thank you for sharing the updates. I read it last night as well and I thought of exactly what you said. Some part of me fears that they plan to resume the passport services due to the current situation. It's a shame they imposed the EO on spousal visas too and that's what I thought all along when they kept quiet. May God help us all. 

[MoHanu 6]

On 11/7/2020 at 1:04 PM, Katelyn_Wray said:

For all the people in this thread waiting on the embassy in Ethiopia, have you seen their latest update? They finally resumed some US Citizen services for passport renewal, and hope to resume notarial/registering a birth abroad services soon.

 

The optimist in me wants to interpret this as a step in the right direction towards opening up visa interviews as well  

 

The pessimist in me thinks that they are only doing this because of the recent heartbreaking events happening in the country, and pressure from U.S. citizens stuck in Ethiopia with expired documents for the embassy to finally start providing some services.

 

I'll add a note that I called the U.S embassy in Ethiopia from within Ethiopia in September, and the woman on the phone told me that DUE TO THE EECUTIVE ORDER (not COVID) they will absolutely not process my husbands visa until after December. I told/reminded her the executive order does not apply to spouses of US Citizens, and her response was for me to reread the EO, they are not processing spousal visas, and hung up the phone.

 

I don't know what to think of all of this. What are y'all's thoughts? Have any of you gotten any other updates from the embassy in Ethiopia?

Glad to find few people whose  cases are in Ethiopia. I used to call them every other week before September 2020 but now I kind of gave up I guess for a while. Your updates were great since I didn't know about they resume some routine visa process even though this is just for passport.Yes most of those people at the phone doesn't know any details about the process at all. I Will call and try myself again and  will update you soon.I am thinking we should have one thread just for US embassy in Ethiopia or some kind of telegram or Facebook group. If anyone knows if there is one please share so we can join.

[Reconnecting Reco 24]

I'm hearing from a friend of a friend that works at the embassy that there is a high chance the embassy will fully reopen in January. Please take this with a grain of salt but this is the news I've heard.

[Uiyl 56]

On 11/11/2020 at 12:23 AM, Reconnecting Reco said:

I'm hearing from a friend of a friend that works at the embassy that there is a high chance the embassy will fully reopen in January. Please take this with a grain of salt but this is the news I've heard.

Fir those interviewing in Addis, with canceled appointments, Embassy announced they will start interviewing in January. If you have a canceled interview, go check your emails and your AIS account.