Embassy Reopening?

[J+J 49]

This forum is strangely quiet, I thought there'd be a lot of Thai beneficiaries on here.  Mine is from Myanmar but lives in Bangkok, we are currently stuck at NVC.

My fiance is in a local Thai group (FB or similar) and apparently the embassy is scheduling interviews for CR1 and IR1 - anybody heard anything about this?

We are waiting on K-1 and haven't heard a word about this type of visa yet. 

 

[R. Wolfe 25]

The BKK embassy site says they are doing student visas starting July 15th (2020).

My fiance' says a couple people posted on her Thai Facebook group that they've gotten emails for CR-1 interviews on August 13th.

The hope is that K-1 interviews will follow soon after that, though I've certainly learned not to get my hopes up.

 

I still haven't gotten confirmation that K-1's are even allowed given the anti-immigration Executive Order that goes until the end of the year. I sent an email to the BKK embassy but just got a form letter back. I've seen some second hand stuff and posts on other nation's site's* that indicate K-1 are ok, but I suspect it will be up to the individual embassies as to whether (or how soon) they consider fiance' visas.

 

*like this notice on the Philippine's site  https://ph.usembassy.gov/visa-update-immigrant-visa-operations/

 

 

[zachp 3]

I emailed this morning. They reiterated that no K visas are being scheduled at this time and did not provide a date that they would, with that all being said - we're heading in the right direction, my guess is they are figuring out how to clear the backlog out. If anything, the number of immigrant visas that were suspended, I am hopeful that it means family visas will be processed faster than we'd expect. Time will tell. 

[J+J 49]

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

I worry that K-1's may be further delayed due to the furloughs at USCIS.  K-1 visas after being issued, go back to USCIS for AOS - CR1s don't.  So I am hoping that isn't yet another delay waiting for us all.

 

 

6 hours ago, x3n said:

I still haven't gotten confirmation that K-1's are even allowed given the anti-immigration Executive Order that goes until the end of the year. I sent an email to the BKK embassy but just got a form letter back. I've seen some second hand stuff and posts on other nation's site's* that indicate K-1 are ok, but I suspect it will be up to the individual embassies as to whether (or how soon) they consider fiance' visas.

Based on everything I have read and my attorneys opinion, K-1's are not impacted by Trump's latest executive order.

[zachp 3]

I hope so too but at least for that delay we will be together in the US. 

[R. Wolfe 25]

For reference, I've included the current response below. It worries me that they call the K-1 an immigrant visa (even though it is technically non-immigrant) because I believe that Trump's executive order has suspended all immigrant visas until (at least) the end of the year. I really hope that the Bangkok embassy is not planning on waiting until then to start scheduling K-1 interviews again. Or if they are, I wish that they would at least say so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your email.

Please be informed that routine immigrant visa services, including K visa, remain suspended until further notice.  

 

We will resume routine Immigrant Visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.  Once we resume Immigrant Visa operations, we will contact you with a new appointment date.  Applicants who had their Immigrant Visa interviews cancelled due to the cessation of operations will be given first priority for rescheduling. 

 

Please be advised to monitor your mailbox in order to receive our notification when we resume interview and are able to provide you a new interview date.

 

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding during this tine.

 

Regards,

Immigrant Visa Unit

Consular Section

U.S. Embassy Bangkok

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

29 minutes ago, x3n said:

I believe that Trump's executive order has suspended all immigrant visas until (at least) the end of the year.

Only work and IR-5 have been suspended.   CR1/2, IR1/2/4 and IH-5 and other specific immigrant Visas are allowed to be issues.

[R. Wolfe 25]

 

Good to hear. My hope is that the BKK embassy just wants to clear out some of the CR-1 backlog before diving into the K-1s again.

 

It's just so frustrating because she went in for her interview on March 12th but they had a mistake on the paperwork and so rescheduled for April 1st (even though the one-word correction was made immediately). Then, of course, everything shut down. We did everything right but we're stuck with this 6-12 month delay and redoing/repaying the doctor fees etc. etc.. If not for their error we would have been together for months already - which would almost make the quarantine here in Pittsburgh bearable.

 

 

[TBoneTX 45,288]

This infernal virus 100% sucks.

Keep the faith.

[elkski 28]

your further along than me. 

[kappy66 15]

I've been stuck at NVC since April.. Thailand is surprisingly relatively unaffected by the virus, yet the embassy remains closed.... This whole thing is ludicrous imo..

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Abundance of caution... keep the faith.

[MikeMonitor 22]

As of now, we are still not resuming interview for fiancé K1 visa applications, and other immigrant visa categories not indicated on this post, until further notice. Thank you.

[Daron and Honey 6]

6th week of waiting for interview date....IR1 & IR2 x 2.  Still waiting....

 

Oh question.  Will NVC post a message on the NVC account about the interview being scheduled? My last message from NVC was... All documents have been received and approved.

Edited August 11, 2020 by Daron and Honey

[R. Wolfe 25]

It's ironic that we could've gotten married in Thailand June before last, but decided to wait until we got to America because the K-1 was supposed to be faster than the CR-1...