DCF in Tbilisi with my Ukrainian wife (exceptional circumstance)

[powerpuff 6,715]

I have read posts where applicants asked for passports back to travel. The consulate will request it when they’re ready to issue the visa. It might cause a small delay as opposed to if they already had it in possession.

[Boiler 45,585]

Did you not relocate to the US?

[Rukavetchka 0]

35 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Did you not relocate to the US?

Yes, I did relocate. I’ve started my new job, bought a car, etc. however, I don’t want to stay separate from my wife.
 

We want to plan a trip together in December, somewhere in Europe.  

[Rukavetchka 0]

58 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

I have read posts where applicants asked for passports back to travel. The consulate will request it when they’re ready to issue the visa. It might cause a small delay as opposed to if they already had it in possession.

Thanks! We will plan a trip together for December, and if the dates are getting close without any visa being issued, we will probably request her passport back. My boss is really understanding of our situation luckily. 

[Rukavetchka 0]

My wife is going to ask for her passport back on Friday, this will be 92 days since the interview. 
 

does anyone have any recommendations for wording of this request, to make sure it’s clear we are NOT withdrawing our application? I don’t trust the folks at us travel docs to manage the communication if it’s not explicit.

[Rukavetchka 0]

Update: I decided to take a chance before requesting the passport to be returned. Since we did DCF, at one point I was given a personal (work) email of one of the consular officers, to whom I should CC when we write to schedule the interview. 

I would generally consider it unprofessional to contact any personal email for any reason unless requested to do so, but I decided now it can't hurt to try. 

I wrote to this email and simply asked if there was a problem, we did everything they asked and the status still says ready for interview. Within hours the case was 'updated' (meaning viewed) and within the same day, the visa status changed to ISSUED!

Now, it's fairly obvious what happened in my opinion. We WERE NOT in administrative processing. They either misplaced our file or forgot to follow up when they received the documents in the mail. Literally what people fear (our application is lost, they forgot about us) was the situation, I believe. 

I'm frustrated. If I hadn't chosen to act a bit unprofessionally, we could have been waiting in limbo nearly indefinitely or at least until we had a lawyer to start working the case after the 180 days ended. Of course, I'm also relieved.  

Well, that's another story to give people anxiety attacks when they read the forums! But I'm glad it's over!

[Rukavetchka 0]

My wife was denied boarding on the final leg of her flight (istanbul to Atlanta) 

 

Turkish airlines said CBP reported her not authorized to travel to the US. 
 

We asked Turkish airlines to communicate her visa information to the CBP liaison and they pretty much refused to help. 
 

she has a valid CR-1 visa in her passport.

 

we think this may be because of her previously denied U4U application somehow still flagging her as not eligible. 
 

called CBP and they can’t give any information. Wife stuck in Istanbul, I’m here in the US, the consulate is closed for the holidays, and Turkish airlines isn’t helpful at the airport. 
 

any suggestions? 

[Boiler 45,585]

Not sure if the Consulate will be open today, if not she should contact them Monday.

[Rukavetchka 0]

On 11/29/2024 at 11:36 AM, Boiler said:

Not sure if the Consulate will be open today, if not she should contact them Monday.

The question is how to get past UStravel docs and actually speak to the consulate on the phone. There is no public facing contact at all except the US citizen emergency number, as far as I know. 
 

I went to the CBP office at the airport (Atlanta) to speak to them in person. They said from their side they can’t/won’t assist. He said that from their side, it’s not their business until she actually arrives at the port of entry. Said possibly someone at the consulate just forgot to give the correct information to the overseas CBP liaison after her visa was issued.

Hopefully I’ll be able to get In Touch with the consulate late tonight (us time), the situation in Tbilisi is tense right now with the protests going on.

 

[Boiler 45,585]

https://ge.usembassy.gov/contact/

[milimelo 4,487]

37 minutes ago, Rukavetchka said:

The question is how to get past UStravel docs and actually speak to the consulate on the phone. There is no public facing contact at all except the US citizen emergency number, as far as I know. 
 

I went to the CBP office at the airport (Atlanta) to speak to them in person. They said from their side they can’t/won’t assist. He said that from their side, it’s not their business until she actually arrives at the port of entry. Said possibly someone at the consulate just forgot to give the correct information to the overseas CBP liaison after her visa was issued.

Hopefully I’ll be able to get In Touch with the consulate late tonight (us time), the situation in Tbilisi is tense right now with the protests going on.

 

Why don't you email the same individual whose email address you have?