millefleur

@jan22 @milimelo going to tag these two in hopes one of them might be able to offer advice. I did a quick search and got the PHIL ustraveldocs site, maybe it's similar for DR? https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ApplyforEmergencyVisa.html

**Moved from DCF Discussion to US Embassy and Consulate Discussion; OP is dealing with specific embassy and their procedures/schedule**

Thanks for the recs. Her children are looking into a conservatorship so that her funds will not be so readily available to scammers. The video was so obviously fake it makes me think they target cognitively challenged victims on purpose, as they would be the ones to fall for it.

Unfortunately found out recently my aunt is being scammed by a guy posing as Tom Selleck. I think he's specifically targeting older women with cognitive issues because the "video" he shared with her is beyond fake looking (AI generated in the laziest way possible, robot voice etc). It's extremely sad and upsetting because my aunt won't listen to her friends and family about this. We believe she "met" this scammer on Facebook. The scam appears to be her buying gift cards and then giving him the information although we don't know for sure, it could be worse than that. I think she's already been scammed out of at least a thousand dollars. She clearly has some kind of dementia or cognitive issue but she is in denial and refusing help. If anyone knows any resources for someone in this situation, would appreciate it.

It seems to me the "spouses" were the main beneficiaries of the scheme.

That's the norm now. You have to qualify for exceptional circumstances, such as a short notice job offer. A lawyer will not help in this case so don't bother. Either the embassy will accept you based on exceptional circumstances or not. If you think you can get a job offer to move back to the US, you can try that but otherwise it is doubtful the embassy will approve you unless there is a true urgent need.

**One duplicate post on the same topic removed.** VJ Moderation

Ugh, the people who make it hard for the rest of us because they're liars. Hope so. It's crazy to me people were paying $20k-$30k for this! That alone sounds shady.

Are you sure that it's easier to get a Schengen visa to Germany? I've heard it's still a bit difficult, although maybe not as bad as Poland.

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Wow this is very hopeful to some others here who might be in a similar boat. It doesn't hurt to follow up with an explanation even if you get the initial rejection.

My guess is fraud and "unlawful" would be someone using it to impersonate or steal another's identity or if someone wanted to "help out" a "friend" by letting them try to fake a certificate etc. I'm not a lawyer though so it's just my hunch. I agree with @Crazy Cat that the citizen themselves has the right to make a copy and use for government purposes to prove identity, don't see how that could be illegal.

Agree with the others: renew the Peruvian passport and there should be no issues. Take advantage of the valid US visa while you can.

**Hijack post removed. Zombie thread locked from further comment. Please start a new thread if you have your own question.** VJ Moderation

I've never heard of that being the case for DCF, it's possible some specific embassies require it but basically once you apply and file the I-130 via DCF, the USC is done and can leave/travel/do whatever they want after. The comment you're referring to is a bit nebulous, I don't know what they mean by "the full process" here.

Here's what the official DoS stie says: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Hungary.html Divorce Certificates Available to the parties concerned and/or their legal representatives. Fees: There are no fees Document Name: valasi vegzes (divorce decree) Issuing Authority: Court in which the decree was issued. Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: white Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Court in which the decree was issued. Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria Procedure for Obtaining: The parties are furnished a copy of the divorce decree. Copies can be obtained from the court in which the decree was issued. Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are available. Alternate Documents: Marriage certificates issued by the Vital Records Office will indicate under "Remark" that the marriage has been legally dissolved. The Remark section is only in Hungarian. U.S. Embassy Budapest is happy to provide translation assistance if necessary. Exceptions: none Comments: none

I would for sure as it just doesn't make sense otherwise. Even infants get issued passports for 5 years.

Hmmm are there not visa application centers in other countries though? Maybe ask in this thread if anyone was able to successfully get a Schengen visa in another country without being a resident:

**Moved from Off Topic to Passports, etc. - What to do now that you are a US citizen** The passport expiring in one year is truly strange. Are you sure it's not an error? If there was no note or official explanation my hunch is this was a typo.

Can you give us some more context? Are these US passports or from another country?

**One hijack post on a one year old zombie thread removed. Please start a new thread so that you'll get responses from active members.** VJ Moderation

You can't apply for a Schengen visa abroad?

Sounds like an error. Obviously she needs her passport to travel abroad if she's in Poland. In my experience the ustraveldocs site for Russia has a bunch of outdated info. That info about picking up the passport might apply to the very few emergency cases the Moscow embassy does actually process.

That's my take too. The old passport and citizenship are void, any visas included in it would become moot as well. OP: attempting to present an expired passport of a country you are no longer a citizen of could possibly be interpreted as a misrepresentation so it's better to just leave that passport/nationality behind and start over with a new B or ESTA, whichever one you can get. If you were issued a B in the past I don't see it being a problem to get a new one.

That was my thought too. I assume the investigation takes a while as well.