Nepal interviews stalled,?

[Mindy & Raju 11]

In the past the US Embassy in Nepal has been very irregular with the pattern of case complete dates to interview scheduling. It ranges anywhere from 2 weeks generally, to only 1 week or an entire month in rare cases. However I haven't found any Nepal cases on VJ where it took longer than a month for the embassy to return with an interview date. Does anyone know of any other place I can see statistics for the consulate process in Nepal? I have been watching several VJ member profiles from Nepal to check if their interview has been scheduled and it seems like since late March the embassy has stopped the scheduling altogether.

Now with the frequent earthquakes, I wonder how damage to the surrounding community will affect processing times at the embassy? There was a brief cancellation for not even 2 weeks after the earthquake, so I don't see how they can suffer much of a back log for that (but what do I know). I also wonder if there have been changes administratively at the embassy, considering that there are several VJ members with case complete dates in late March and early April that were already waiting close to a month for an interview date before the earthquakes even happened.

I've done some reading on VJ about the interview scheduling process and it all seems so straightforward. Of course the NVC simply says it wont be long now, all evidence to the contrary. The Nepal embassy doesn't take direct inquiry about immigrant visa's so the next step is to call the customer service center for the embassy but I get the impression they won't know much.

In light of the earthquakes and the damage its done to the communities and public facilities, I get that things are not running smoothly, but wouldn't this situation call for expedited processing at the consular level? They don't offer the option for petitioners to expedite immigrant visa's at the Nepal embassy, so they would have to address the emergency internally. Is that just desperate hoping or should I expect a delay and for how long? I don't see the practical reason to delay matters for all involved during a national disaster.

Forgive me if this is just a pointless rant, but I would like to know if anyone has any wisdom or insight. We are all anxious to bring our loved ones home, but the situation in Nepal seems very grim.

[Boiler 43,363]

To make a valid comment you would need a comparable situation.

It would be reasonable to assume that matters would be delayed.

I guess they could expedite everybody but you would still be in the same queue.

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

Natural disasters often to cause an expedite of cases, such as happened in recent years in Haiti and the Philippines. However, they can only expedite when they have the manpower and conditions to do so. I do not know what state the embassy is in, but they may for example have lost vital support staff in the earthquakes, or damaged part of their building, or be unable to get the cases from NVC/ get the special printer ink for visas right now.

[Mindy & Raju 11]

Natural disasters often to cause an expedite of cases, such as happened in recent years in Haiti and the Philippines. However, they can only expedite when they have the manpower and conditions to do so. I do not know what state the embassy is in, but they may for example have lost vital support staff in the earthquakes, or damaged part of their building, or be unable to get the cases from NVC/ get the special printer ink for visas right now.

Thank you for the insight. Unfortunately the embassy was in the middle of the worst of it, right there in Kathmandu. I think they were lucky to avoid any damage to the embassy building as they do have a more secure structure there than the 100 year old buildings that have collapsed. I have called some courier services with facilities in Kathmandu in regards to international mail and they were able to confirm that the airport is still operating for commercial and business, but not sure how the special ink is delivered. I think it must be a manpower issue, but I surely hope no one is hurt. My husband should have contacted the embassy help desk by now, and I will update any helpful info here for anyone else who might want to know.

[Mindy & Raju 11]

Hi again, This past Monday my husband called the immigrant visa inquiry customer service number for the embassy and they gave him some hopeful news. They reported there is no damage to the embassy and they are fully staffed. They also mentioned that the back log was already sorted out and cases are currently being worked for scheduling. They advised that things should be happening very quickly now, so I think they are at least picking up the pace if not expediting. I'll continue to post here if I learn more.

[angelalahavok 8]

Thank u for updating it's nice to know!

[Mindy & Raju 11]

"Due to the recent earthquakes in Nepal, all immigrant visa cases involving immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are being considered a top priority, and we are working on a system to process every case we receive as quickly as possible. We understand that U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services and the National Visa Center are expediting these cases for transfer to the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu. What this means is that most immigrant visa cases will be processed as quickly as we can receive the files from the United States, ensure that applicants undergo a medical examination by our local panel physician, and schedule a visa interview with a consular officer."

http://nepal.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas.html

[you guess 3]

Hopefully starting next week. We'll get some good news

[angelalahavok 8]

Anyone ever send a package to Nepal? I have to send my i 130..

I mean my affidivit of support

[Mindy & Raju 11]

Anyone ever send a package to Nepal? I have to send my i 130..

I mean my affidivit of support

Fedex has facilities there. I am putting the address for their head office in Jamal, Kantipath, Kathmandu and asking to hold it there for pick up.

[angelalahavok 8]

Ok thanks I'll have to do the same. So u just put the address of the Kathmandu office not ur husbands address right?

[Mindy & Raju 11]

Ok thanks I'll have to do the same. So u just put the address of the Kathmandu office not ur husbands address right?

Yep thats the safest bet, I think. There is a way to have a package held at a FedEx location, so make sure you request that the package be held at that office. Then use the actual address for the office to prevent any possible attempt at delivery elsewhere. You can put your husbands name and phone number with the address so they know its for him. My husband called the head office there in Kathmandu and gave his name and explained he was using the head office address so they will know he is coming to pick it up also.

[angelalahavok 8]

Awesome thanks

[Samantha2015 3]

Hi again, This past Monday my husband called the immigrant visa inquiry customer service number for the embassy and they gave him some hopeful news. They reported there is no damage to the embassy and they are fully staffed. They also mentioned that the back log was already sorted out and cases are currently being worked for scheduling. They advised that things should be happening very quickly now, so I think they are at least picking up the pace if not expediting. I'll continue to post here if I learn more.

Hi, have you recieved your interview letter?

[Mindy & Raju 11]

Hi, have you recieved your interview letter?

Yes! I have received the letter. The letter was dated 5/29 and my husbands interview was scheduled for 6/18.