COVID-19 Border Entry and Consulate Activation?

[afterlife09 2]

My visa approval came in this week, but my lawyer is suggesting a consultation to go over the way visas are being activated at consulates and border entry. It's an additional charge on top of my fees.

 

I was wondering if this is what they were talking about, and if someone could guide me on what they mean by COVID-19 rule changes for border entry for visa activation? 

 

Or would it be better to do the consultation for safety since I have no idea what they are talking about.

 

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/coronavirus

 

Edited April 20, 2022 by afterlife09

[Timona 4,207]

Lawyer just wants that final cash.

 

For COVID, look up your airline travel guides. Airlines put it there for their passengers. 

 

Visa will get activated when you meet CBP at the point of entry. It's a simple process where you talk and he updates stuff....nothing to consult a lawyer over. 

 

Is this K-1 or CR-1?

[afterlife09 2]

Thanks! That's what I (and my inner circle) suspected. I've been through it before a few times, so I imagine it's nothing new minus some COVID protocol unless I hear otherwise. It's O-1.

[Family 3,988]

1 hour ago, afterlife09 said:

Thanks! That's what I (and my inner circle) suspected. I've been through it before a few times, so I imagine it's nothing new minus some COVID protocol unless I hear otherwise. It's O-1.

There is no comparison between your O-1 and that of family based K-1 or CR-1 as it relates to what questions you may be asked at POE….( usually specific to YOUR visa…cause u could be Yale student, have an employer or have self petition, got your stamp in home country or third country..) 

and I have not come across a DIY  O-1 Visa…

Hope you do lots of research ( Dr Google) on what you can expect, if this is not your first entry. 
 

So , yes they ask you stuff…know ur stuff is a bit different.

 

[Family 3,988]

But you have been through the “ activation “ a few times, COVID-19 is routine travel advisory. 

[afterlife09 2]

3 hours ago, Family said:

There is no comparison between your O-1 and that of family based K-1 or CR-1 as it relates to what questions you may be asked at POE….( usually specific to YOUR visa…cause u could be Yale student, have an employer or have self petition, got your stamp in home country or third country..) 

and I have not come across a DIY  O-1 Visa…

Hope you do lots of research ( Dr Google) on what you can expect, if this is not your first entry. 
 

So , yes they ask you stuff…know ur stuff is a bit different.

 

It was always fairly simple for me. It's usually very quick, for O-Visa at least in my experience.

 

Also as a correction there, it wasn't DIY. My lawyer did everything, but this is the first time the firm has asked me for a consultation fee post-approval, and they specifically said it was consulate and border entry changes in activation due to COVID. That didn't really make much sense to me why we'd need a consultation for COVID procedures. I can't imagine its changed that much since my last entry.

 

That's my question really, I don't think it would have changed that drastically enough to merit paying the costly consultation fees, but there is also the idea of better safe than sorry. I haven't been back to the US since COVID started, so I wanted to make sure besides the new travel safety procedures, there wasn't some other major change.