Long shot but...I'll try to keep it short
My mother-in-law is an IR-5 from Republic of Georgia. All commercial airlines were shutdown for the longest and only now starting to slowly open up. Her visa is expiring on August 3. We booked a flight with KLM but it transited through Amsterdam. Found out she couldn't even transit, so quickly cancelled the flight. Called CBP verified that IR-5's were being admitted into US and that Istanbul route would be acceptable. She crossed the land border by foot into Turkey and took a 3 hour taxi to Trabzon (nearest Turkish airport) and was to fly Trabzon-Istanbul-San Francisco-Phoenix. She was denied boarding by Turkish Airlines on to her Istanbul-San Francisco connection without explanation. After numerous calls and emails to Turkish Airlines, US Georgian Consulate, US Turkish Consulate, and CBP. CBP stated that it could be the previously booked KLM flight causing the issue. They advised to call Turkish Airlines or KLM to correct the situation by contacting Regional Carrier Liaison Group (RCLG). Turkish said tough luck. KLM refused to attempt to correct the situation with RCLG.
We submitted a Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) request but was informed that could take 3-6 months to get a redress number if we got one at all. Was also told to remain out of Schengen Country 14+1 days AFTER the scheduled KLM flight departure date!!!
US Consulate in Georgia is refusing a visa extension. If she goes back to Georgia she automatically gets placed in 14-day mandatory COVID quarantine and possibly have a true exposure to COVID in the state COVID hotel. Every route leads to after the expiration of her visa. We have a call into our State Senator.
Anything else we could? Any good litigation lawyers out there?
Thanks!