nvc status because of covid 19. embassy interviews

[wally29 3]

My wife's i130 has been approved but because of the current situation we were wondering how i130 cases and embassy interviews are being done because of the pandemic. Right now our case is with the NVC but we haven't finished filing yet. When we do finish filing, is it even possible to get an interview at this time? Also, because the US is the epicenter, how long can we wait to finish the NVC part before our case is dismissed? We live in Colombia and here the US embassy is saying that they're not attending any non-essential interviews in person. Is that to say it's possible to have an embassy interview for i130 visa approval online through video chat?
What's the best decision for now? Finish filing and wait for an interview or wait until things clear up in the states then finish applying? I understand that you have a year after your i130 is approved until your case is dismissed, correct me if I"m wrong.. How have others gone about this process in the current situation?

 

Thanks for all your help!!

Edited August 16, 2020 by wally29

[HRQX 4,145]

23 minutes ago, wally29 said:

We live in Colombia and here the US embassy is saying that they're not attending any non-essential interviews in person. Is that to say it's possible to have an embassy interview for i130 visa approval online through video chat?

No. It must be in-person per 22 CFR § 42.62(a): "Personal appearance of applicant before consular officer. Every alien applying for an immigrant visa, including an alien whose application is executed by another person pursuant to § 42.63(a)(2), shall be required to appear personally before a consular officer for the execution of the application or, if in Taiwan, before a designated officer of the American Institute in Taiwan, except that the personal appearance of any child under the age of 14 may be waived at the officer's discretion." Bogota is only doing urgent immigrant visa cases; in June they only issued: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyIVIssuances/June 2020 - IV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

• 7 IR-1 visas
• 1 CR-1 visa
• 1 CR-2 visa

26 minutes ago, wally29 said:

I understand that you have a year after your i130 is approved until your case is dismissed, correct me if I"m wrong..

Just make sure to contact NVC no less than once per year: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html "One Year Contact Requirement"

[Sabina Acosta 6]

Hi Wally, I am also on the same boat. I live in Colombia and are now at the NVC documents stage but don't know what will happen with interview. Also I am not sure if documents like birth certificates and cedula need to be translated to english or original spanish version is ok. do you know this?

[HRQX 4,145]

2 hours ago, Sabina Acosta said:

Also I am not sure if documents like birth certificates and cedula need to be translated to english or original spanish version is ok. do you know this?

Translation not required because official language of Colombia is Spanish: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-5-collect-financial-evidence-and-other-supporting-documents/step-7-collect-civil-documents.html "Please note that all documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country from which you are applying, must be accompanied by certified translations."

[Sabina Acosta 6]

Thank you HRQX. I am still confused because on the "country specific" documents page Colombia, for police records, it says this "Any applicant who has a police record that states "Actualmente no es requirido por autoridad judicial alguna" (in English, "currently not wanted by any judicial authority") must bring their complete court records, along with an English translation, to the embassy on the day of their interview. Applicants who fail to bring these court records and the English translation will be required to return to the embassy for a second interview."

[HRQX 4,145]

1 hour ago, Sabina Acosta said:

for police records, it says this "Any applicant who has a police record that states "Actualmente no es requirido por autoridad judicial alguna" (in English, "currently not wanted by any judicial authority") must bring their complete court records, along with an English translation, to the embassy on the day of their interview. Applicants who fail to bring these court records and the English translation will be required to return to the embassy for a second interview."

That would be specifically for police records that say "Actualmente no es requirido por autoridad judicial alguna." All other documents, Spanish is fine: "Please use the list below to determine the items that every applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview. Any documents that are not in either English or Spanish must be accompanied by a certified English translation" https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/BGT-Bogota.html

[Sabina Acosta 6]

Thank you! this clears it up for me

[Claudis927 5]

On 8/17/2020 at 11:52 AM, Sabina Acosta said:

Hi Wally, I am also on the same boat. I live in Colombia and are now at the NVC documents stage but don't know what will happen with interview. Also I am not sure if documents like birth certificates and cedula need to be translated to english or original spanish version is ok. do you know this?

Any documents going to NVC should be translated. The translator have to say: “ they are fluent spanish and English speakers” and signed. I did it for both my parents and now my sister. First I didn’t send it translated they asked me to do and it delayed my papers.