Consulate/ Embassy not working (merged)

[AMA. L 13]

So I got a letter from NVC stating that Accra embassy is not working and so my I 129F is on hold, until they resume however they cannot tell or guarantee when that will be…. My question is what is preventing them from working? I thought we were level 1 or 2.. Anyway at this point it’s prayers we need 

[powerpuff 6,667]

19 minutes ago, AMA. L said:

My question is what is preventing them from working?

The reason is on the website of US consulate in Ghana: “Travel restrictions and operational constraints caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a backlog of IV cases.”

 

https://gh.usembassy.gov/visas/

Edited August 14, 2021 by powerpuff

[AMA. L 13]

Yea but some embassies are working, Covid is not going anytime soon esp when pple are not listening, so we have to figure out how to live with it. It’s not fair that families have to go through this… anyway we pray things change 

[J&D1008 376]

 

2 hours ago, AMA. L said:

So I got a letter from NVC stating that Accra embassy is not working and so my I 129F is on hold, until they resume however they cannot tell or guarantee when that will be…. My question is what is preventing them from working? I thought we were level 1 or 2.. Anyway at this point it’s prayers we need 

Yeah i agree. Just from looking at other Ghana filers timelines, it appears they are working on January & February 2020 NOA-2. Most likely all of us will be sitting at the NVC for a couple of months if nothing changes. 🙄

[AMA. L 13]

I think I am looking at years smh

2 hours ago, powerpuff said:

The reason is on the website of US consulate in Ghana: “Travel restrictions and operational constraints caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a backlog of IV cases.”

 

https://gh.usembassy.gov/visas/

 

[SalishSea 17,787]

3 hours ago, AMA. L said:

Yea but some embassies are working, Covid is not going anytime soon esp when pple are not listening, so we have to figure out how to live with it. It’s not fair that families have to go through this… anyway we pray things change 

The COVID data varies hugely by country, so there are differences in US embassy protocols.

 

Get vaccinated if you can, and encourage your fellow Ghanians to also.

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from K1 Progress Reports to Embassy/Consulate Discussion ***

 

[Bri2015 7]

US Embassy in Ghana is working  However at a much scaled down pace.

 

Hold on. Your time is coming 

[African Zealot 1,455]

My tenants fiancée is stuck in Accra. Her petition was approved in August last year. He’s so frustrated it’s palpable. I don’t understand how USA 🇺🇸 embassy in Cameroon can be open for visas while Ghana is not. Makes no sense to me and there’s no explanation which will make sense to me so I am not looking for one.

 

Hang in there, there’s nothing else to do.

Edited August 14, 2021 by African Zealot

[African Zealot 1,455]

10 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

The COVID data varies hugely by country, so there are differences in US embassy protocols.

 

Get vaccinated if you can, and encourage your fellow Ghanians to also.

Please check your data. Ghana is one of the least affected countries so any talk of it being due to local Covid data is totally off the mark.

[KateD 28]

12 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

The COVID data varies hugely by country, so there are differences in US embassy protocols.

 

Get vaccinated if you can, and encourage your fellow Ghanians to also.

 

Below is the current COVID heat map provided by the NY times. Ghana, as is most of Africa, is at the lowest COVID category level and has been, so far, for the duration of the pandemic. I will add the caveat I'm not sure how valid the data is since COVID testing was quite expensive a couple of months ago when I was in Ghana. I don't know how many people are willing (or can) pay for an expensive test, even if they are sick, so the numbers may be artificially low.

 

My question:  Are the operating levels totally left up to the ambassador/embassy of each country? There needs to be more consistency in interviewing policies based on the current COVID level. Why would there be such wide variability among countries with low levels of COVID, even within Africa?

 

Also, there is huge disparity in vaccine availability across the world with most African countries on the short end of the stick. For most people, they can't go just get a vaccine, at least not for free.

 

BTW, I also received this email from NVC and wrote about it in an earlier post.

 

 

 

Edited August 14, 2021 by KateD

[Bri2015 7]

42 minutes ago, KateD said:

 

Below is the current COVID heat map provided by the NY times. Ghana, as is most of Africa, is at the lowest COVID category level and has been, so far, for the duration of the pandemic. I will add the caveat I'm not sure how valid the data is since COVID testing was quite expensive a couple of months ago when I was in Ghana. I don't know how many people are willing (or can) pay for an expensive test, even if they are sick, so the numbers may be artificially low.

 

My question:  Are the operating levels totally left up to the ambassador/embassy of each country? There needs to be more consistency in interviewing policies based on the current COVID level. Why would there be such wide variability among countries with low levels of COVID, even within Africa?

 

Also, there is huge disparity in vaccine availability across the world with most African countries on the short end of the stick. For most people, they can't go just get a vaccine, at least not for free.

 

BTW, I also received this email from NVC and wrote about it in an earlier post.

 

 

 

Even though Ghana is one of the country's least impacted by COVID-19 the US largely determines which facilities are open/ lowly staffed or closed.  Also unfortunately they will send that notice to slow down inquires. However as I mentioned above  US Embassy in Ghana is open but are lowly staffed. My husband had his final interview(our 3rd round) in June and just reviewed his US Visa.  

 

We have a 2015 priority date hence sure why we were able to get through the process now.

 

Be patient. That's all that can be done right now.

[Ikhan 49]

Yeah patients is important but if it's been too long, you need to escalate to your local congressman. Let them know that it's been too long and it's unfair - they might be able to push it along. Writing here doesn't really do anything. 

[KateD 28]

37 minutes ago, Bri2015 said:

Even though Ghana is one of the country's least impacted by COVID-19 the US largely determines which facilities are open/ lowly staffed or closed.  Also unfortunately they will send that notice to slow down inquires. However as I mentioned above  US Embassy in Ghana is open but are lowly staffed. My husband had his final interview(our 3rd round) in June and just reviewed his US Visa.  

 

We have a 2015 priority date hence sure why we were able to get through the process now.

 

Be patient. That's all that can be done right now.

Thanks, I realize it is the "US," but I was trying to determine more specifically which level at the State Department is deciding which embassies are open, and to what extent, given the wide variability in practices that appears to not be based solely on COVID levels.

 

I'm sorry its been such a long road for you and your husband but I'm glad you are making headway--must be a huge relief.

 

Prayers and patience are fine practices, but we should also demand better from our government and leaders and not always accept the status quo.  IMO, the system was archaic and inefficient before COVID and now it is broken and badly needs to be modernized. I call my Senators every month and check-in with them and let them know that we deserve better. Will it make a difference? Probably not, at least not for me, but maybe someone down the line. Change is slow, but there is strength in numbers. VJ is primarily a site to get you through the visa process (which I'm forever grateful for) but we can also use our collective voices to advocate for change. If we don't demand better than it will stay the same.

 

[African Zealot 1,455]

It’s very easy to say be patient when you’re not the one going through. I am also guilty of the same. Of course usually when dealing with bureaucracy, it’s the best advice. Not always though.

Edited August 14, 2021 by African Zealot