When will US Embassy Manila reopen? (ACS)

[lionfam 2]

Does anyone have any idea or insight into when USEM will fully re-open? I am a USC living in the Philippines and hoping to marry my fiancé here as soon as possible. We were initially deciding between a K1 & CR1 visa, landed on a CR1, but are already hitting a roadblock unable to get a marriage license until I can get an Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage from the embassy. The embassy is partially open but not for these affidavits (according to their official updates). I was holding out hope that this service would resume on October 1, but received an update two days ago that it remains suspended. 
 

Is it worth it to contact the embassy and inquire directly? Does anyone that has experience with this affidavit know if it’s possible to be done remotely or with a proxy? (I assume not...) 

 

I realize these are unprecedented times, and many are struggling far more than I (such as those separated from their partners). I just feel so frustrated and hate being stuck in limbo, with no information from the embassy more than a few days out and no ability to prepare for our future.

[Pacia 12]

  On 9/30/2020 at 4:03 AM, Ava & Alex said:

Does anyone have any idea or insight into when USEM will fully re-open? I am a USC living in the Philippines and hoping to marry my fiancé here as soon as possible. We were initially deciding between a K1 & CR1 visa, landed on a CR1, but are already hitting a roadblock unable to get a marriage license until I can get an Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage from the embassy. The embassy is partially open but not for these affidavits (according to their official updates). I was holding out hope that this service would resume on October 1, but received an update two days ago that it remains suspended. 
 

Is it worth it to contact the embassy and inquire directly? Does anyone that has experience with this affidavit know if it’s possible to be done remotely or with a proxy? (I assume not...) 

 

I realize these are unprecedented times, and many are struggling far more than I (such as those separated from their partners). I just feel so frustrated and hate being stuck in limbo, with no information from the embassy more than a few days out and no ability to prepare for our future.

Expand  

My personal opinion is our embassy is relying on local conditions outside. 

[Adventine 3,217]

My petitioner and I are in almost the same situation, but decided to do the K-1 visa instead. @Ava & Alex how long have you been waiting for the USEM to resume issuing the Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage?

Edited October 1, 2020 by Adventine

[lionfam 2]

  On 9/30/2020 at 3:48 PM, Pacia said:

My personal opinion is our embassy is relying on local conditions outside. 

Expand  

I’ve been thinking the same thing. Though other embassies in Manila are open, and as far as I’m aware GCQ doesn’t prohibit embassies to operate... 

 

My best guess is that services such as this affidavit are currently unavailable because they aren’t “essential.” 

[lionfam 2]

  On 10/1/2020 at 3:15 AM, Adventine said:

My petitioner and I are in almost the same situation, but decided to do the K-1 visa instead.

Expand  

It’s great to have other people in the same boat! I would love to hear more about your situation and decision-making process. What made you choose the K1? Was it the inability to get the Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Ability to Contract Marriage, or other factors? 

 

  On 10/1/2020 at 3:15 AM, Adventine said:

how long have you been waiting for the USEM to resume issuing the Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage?

Expand  

We have been actively preparing our marriage license requirements for about a month. All of our plans are very tentative because of the uncertainty of these times, but they were still contingent on the embassy resuming this service sometime in October. Now, I’m guessing that November is the absolute earliest to expect to get this affidavit, but it could very likely not be until January or later! 

[Adventine 3,217]

  On 10/1/2020 at 4:01 AM, Ava & Alex said:

It’s great to have other people in the same boat! I would love to hear more about your situation and decision-making process. What made you choose the K1? Was it the inability to get the Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Ability to Contract Marriage, or other factors? 

 

We have been actively preparing our marriage license requirements for about a month. All of our plans are very tentative because of the uncertainty of these times, but they were still contingent on the embassy resuming this service sometime in October. Now, I’m guessing that November is the absolute earliest to expect to get this affidavit, but it could very likely not be until January or later! 

Expand  

 

My petitioner moved here in January 2020 to see if things would out between us long-term. We decided to get married in May 2020, but we didn't want to get married in the Philippines because:

 

1) neither of us wanted to deal with all the manual procedures at PH government agencies in a time of pandemic

2) pre-pandemic, a K-1 visa would have gotten me to the US faster. It wouldn't have been a burden that I would not be able to work for several months. Our priority was for me to get to the US as quickly as possible. At the time we filed for the K-1 visa in June 2020, we had no idea the crisis would last this long. 

3) it doesn't make sense to withdraw the K-1 now and go back to square one with CR-1.

 

Now, though, we have no idea if the K-1 will still be faster than the CR-1. We'll probably be able to compare notes again in a couple of months!

Edited October 1, 2020 by Adventine

[lionfam 2]

  On 10/1/2020 at 6:11 AM, Adventine said:

 

My petitioner moved here in January 2020 to see if things would out between us long-term. We decided to get married in May 2020, but we didn't want to get married in the Philippines because:

 

1) neither of us wanted to deal with all the manual procedures at PH government agencies in a time of pandemic

2) pre-pandemic, a K-1 visa would have gotten me to the US faster. It wouldn't have been a burden that I would not be able to work for several months. Our priority was for me to get to the US as quickly as possible. At the time we filed for the K-1 visa in June 2020, we had no idea the crisis would last this long. 

3) it doesn't make sense to withdraw the K-1 now and go back to square one with CR-1.

 

Now, though, we have no idea if the K-1 will still be faster than the CR-1. We'll probably be able to compare notes again in a couple of months!

Expand  

I totally understand your reasoning for choosing K1. Those are the same concerns my fiancé and I had (and have). There is no one right choice, particularly in these times. 
 

I wish you two all the best, and look forward to keeping up with your journey! 

[Adventine 3,217]

  On 10/4/2020 at 3:54 AM, Ava & Alex said:

I totally understand your reasoning for choosing K1. Those are the same concerns my fiancé and I had (and have). There is no one right choice, particularly in these times. 
 

I wish you two all the best, and look forward to keeping up with your journey! 

Expand  

 

Same, good luck to both of you too and we'll keep each other updated!