US Embassy in Moscow - Still Closed

[ViktorS 11]

1 hour ago, TBoneTX said:

I might have suggested this in a different thread.

For interviews, it might be worth checking the U.S. consulate in Mongolia.

A few years ago, a couple headed that direction and had a positive experience.

"As of December 22, 2020 visa services have been temporarily suspended. Due to the recent decision of the Mongolian State Emergency Committee (SEC) to declare a strict quarantine, the Consular Section at U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar has moved to a reduced operating posture. This change has necessitated the cancellation of some appointments that will be rescheduled to future dates as soon as possible. The Consular Section hopes to once again resume these visa services as soon as it is practical and safe to do so."

 

Edited February 16, 2021 by ViktorS

[TBoneTX 45,822]

Thanks and bummer, Viktor.

[millefleur 5,047]

In the Russia portal here on VJ, it looks like @TC&ND got a K-1 interview scheduled based on their timeline? 

[JoeJ1979 4]

We were in the process of scheduling our interview in March 2020 for a K1 Visa when the pandemic shut down, and April when the embassy closed. We have been stuck since anyone have a clue when the Embassy will open. The only answers we got from them is that they will reach out to people and look at scheduling appointments when they turn the lights back on.,, we are stuck

[millefleur 5,047]

6 minutes ago, JoeJ1979 said:

We were in the process of scheduling our interview in March 2020 for a K1 Visa when the pandemic shut down, and April when the embassy closed. We have been stuck since anyone have a clue when the Embassy will open. The only answers we got from them is that they will reach out to people and look at scheduling appointments when they turn the lights back on.,, we are stuck

It is very strange. It looks like since January 2021, Moscow has slowed down a lot. It does not look like a single CR-1/IR-1 or K-1 was issued in January:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyIVIssuances/JANUARY 2021 - IV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyNIVIssuances/JANUARY 2021 - NIV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

 

[TC&ND 6]

30 minutes ago, millefleur said:

In the Russia portal here on VJ, it looks like @TC&ND got a K-1 interview scheduled based on their timeline? 

Yes, we were actually given an interview date in June for  our expedite request. 

[millefleur 5,047]

Just now, TC&ND said:

Yes, we were actually given an interview date in June for  our expedite request. 

Thank you for updating us! What was the reason for the expedite, if you don't mind sharing?

[TC&ND 6]

Just now, millefleur said:

Thank you for updating us! What was the reason for the expedite, if you don't mind sharing?

My fiancé’s son had just turned 20 years old. We were worried about him “aging out” before we could ever get an interview date, so we requested an expedite based on this.

[millefleur 5,047]

1 minute ago, TC&ND said:

My fiancé’s son had just turned 20 years old. We were worried about him “aging out” before we could ever get an interview date, so we requested an expedite based on this.

Good to know! That makes sense. I'm so happy for you and they were able to get an interview. Hopefully soon for everyone else waiting...

[JoeJ1979 4]

They must have had a nice person responding to emails. I get the same response from them that says

Quote

Thank you for your message.  Routine immigrant and non-immigrant services remain suspended at US Embassy Moscow due to the Covid pandemic.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.  Please follow up when routine visa services resume.

I pushed a little harder back and I got this back so apparently we are in a void of stuck and unable to proceed..
 

Quote

Once normal operations resume, we will reach out to all those pending K1 interviews, affirm their desire to extend the petition, and schedule interviews

 

[TC&ND 6]

5 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Good to know! That makes sense. I'm so happy for you and they were able to get an interview. Hopefully soon for everyone else waiting...

Thank you! We were actually surprised they gave us a date since we’ve gotten very little information from Moscow for the past year. I really hope everything works out for everyone.

[Caboose29 173]

49 minutes ago, millefleur said:

It is very strange. It looks like since January 2021, Moscow has slowed down a lot. It does not look like a single CR-1/IR-1 or K-1 was issued in January:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyIVIssuances/JANUARY 2021 - IV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyNIVIssuances/JANUARY 2021 - NIV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

 

Did I read that right?  They did no K1 or CR1, but processed 56 B2s?!?!?

[Chauncey 138]

1 minute ago, Caboose29 said:

Did I read that right?  They did no K1 or CR1, but processed 56 B2s?!?!?

Yep

[millefleur 5,047]

7 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

Did I read that right?  They did no K1 or CR1, but processed 56 B2s?!?!?

It is really weird...do any of these reasons seem emergency??

• Consult with business associates
• Attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
• Settle an estate
• Negotiate a contract

• Tourism
• Vacation (holiday)
• Visit with friends or relatives
• Medical treatment
• Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)

Maybe "settle and estate" or "medical treatment"....even those are questionable under Covid given restrictions.

 

[Vero_nica 15]

13 minutes ago, millefleur said:

It is really weird...do any of these reasons seem emergency?

 

Consulate website has explanation about emergency, so it basically medical treatment or funeral/ death of the relative

https://ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-niv-expeditedappointment.asp

Edited February 24, 2021 by Vero_nica