Seraton

Hello, Please, I am relying my spouse experience and seeking your feedback. My Finnish spouse was granted a CR1 visa via DCF procedure due to exceptional circumstances (new job offer). She picked up her visa on December 13 from the US embassy in Finland and ready to fly to US on December 27 We try to stay grateful, happy and positive after many delays, mistakes and chaotic events during the full process, but on December 20, she received a phone call in Finnish and She was told there was error or mistake made with her Visa and that it should have been printed “black and white” and not in color. No explication was given to her why the Visa should be black and white or why they are only now informing her about the problem, as her visa was printed and granted on December 9 ( case tracking status) . She was told on the phone that they would do their best to fix their mistake as soon as they can. She wasn’t informed how long this would take. My spouse was at the Embassy one hour after the call to deliver her travel document with Passport, again no explication was given just a " Finnish silence" and "cold indifference" as my spouse was addressed and received in Finnish language. This confusion has caused us enormous stress and last minute uncertainty. The relocation of my spouse and our little daughter from Finland to US has taken weeks and months of careful planning, let alone a huge financial effort. It’s a puzzle that we have been putting together piece by piece, with the help of our family and our friends. After 2 days of sleepiness and no answered followup. On December 22, the most short message was sent to my spouse to come to pick up her passport with the printed visa. The only difference between the past electronic visa version in "Color" and the new electronic version in "White /black" version is that the profile picture is now printed "white and black ". I am sure that the standard Visa printing job and formatting procedure was setup , validated and tested by the IT team in US embassies and Immigration services and locations and I dont think that a consular agent will "modify " the Format and print settings every morning or time there is a request of visa printing, I know that many of you encountered more challenging issues here about the visa process, and Yes, mistakes can happen. The petitioner or applicant are normally informed , clear explications are sent by email, mail to the applicant or the petitioner, but not in my Finnish spouse case. It was a vague call in Finnish, no empathy received, no explication, no followup, no written email or mail to state the mistake or the nature of the change requested. This unnecessary uncertainty, stress and anxiety during this Christmas celebration and last days before relocation, could be avoided if the "Finnish Consular team" did show empathy and explained the State requirement for printing the Visa profile picture in "white and black" and reassured my spouse that problem will fixed before the flight. My Finnish spouse asked me to share this "Finnish Story" and please, ask you if there is a requirement or new updated requirement from US immigration service to print the CR1 Visa Profile picture in "White and Black" and not in color on the passport. Happy Holidays.