African Nation Citing Presidential Proclamation for Spouses of US Citizen

[Renee Bua 18]

It seems some nations DO NOT consider spouses of US citizens exempt from the presidential proclamation. Should I involve a lawyer or a senator for our case? (I am seeing CR-1 spousal visas being issued in other nations, but it seems our nation misunderstands the ex. order). We tried to get an emergency visa stamping for my husband (CR-1 spousal), and we got denied and they cited the executive order about jobs. Can someone please explain this because I thought spouses of US citizens are exempt. Is our consulate misinterpreting the executive order?

 

Thank you for your email.

 

Please note that routine consular operations are currently suspended because of the COVID- 19 crisis. Therefore, we are unable to process the case at this time. More information regarding exceptions is provided on the link below in line with the presidential proclamation.

In the future when consular operations resume, we will review the case. You may monitor the same at www.travel.state.gov.

 

See also the announcement below:

 

24 April, 2020

On April 22, President Trump signed a proclamation suspending entry into the United States of certain immigrants who present risk to the U.S. labor market during the economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak. The proclamation is effective at 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 23 and expires in 60 days, unless continued by the President. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and those holding valid immigrant visas on the effective date of the Proclamation, are not subject to the proclamation. No valid visas will be revoked under this Proclamation. Routine visas services have been suspended at U.S. posts worldwide, but as resources allow, embassies and consulates will continue to provide emergency and mission critical visa services for applicants who are not subject to this presidential proclamation. The full text of the presidential proclamation is available on the White House website at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-immigrants-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-economic-recovery-following-covid-19-outbreak/.

 

Please stay safe and healthy!

Good day.

 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

What do you mean you tried to get an "emergency visa stamping" I never heard of such a thing. What countries have you seen CR1 visas being issued at this time? It sounds more like you got denied because "routine consular operations are currently suspended because of the COVID- 19 crisis. Therefore, we are unable to process the case at this time. " 

[payxibka 10,044]

Canned email response 

[Renee Bua 18]

8 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

What do you mean you tried to get an "emergency visa stamping" I never heard of such a thing. What countries have you seen CR1 visas being issued at this time? It sounds more like you got denied because "routine consular operations are currently suspended because of the COVID- 19 crisis. Therefore, we are unable to process the case at this time. " 

They put out a notice of what countries issue spousal visas every month. I DO see cases out there getting approved (visas are being issued) when they ask for an emergency expedite at the consulate. CR-1 spousal visas have even been issued in Germany and some of the hardest hit countries with covid-19. I will look for the link.

Edited June 11, 2020 by Renee Bua

[JFH 12,189]

4 minutes ago, Renee Bua said:

They put out a notice of what countries issue spousal visas every month. I DO see cases out there getting approved (visas are being issued) when they ask for an emergency expedite at the consulate. CR-1 spousal visas have even been issued in Germany and some of the hardest hit countries with covid-19. I will look for the link.

It depends on the embassy and whether they are open or not. That has nothing to do with misunderstanding the executive order on immigration. Embassies will reopen when the situation in the various countries reaches the point where it is considered safe to do so. Not before. 

[Renee Bua 18]

8 minutes ago, JFH said:

It depends on the embassy and whether they are open or not. That has nothing to do with misunderstanding the executive order on immigration. Embassies will reopen when the situation in the various countries reaches the point where it is considered safe to do so. Not before. 

I spoke with an attorney who advised me to email them again for clarification. The thing is, we have paid all this money for this process, and we don't deserve this quick canned response. What do we pay these people for!? He said if they blow me off again, I DO need to contact a congressman or senator.

Thanks

[payxibka 10,044]

Many foreign posts repatriated staff back to the USA.   They may simply not have enough to facilitate this request.  They also may have not agreed that your request was an emergent situation 

Edited June 11, 2020 by payxibka

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

1 hour ago, Renee Bua said:

I spoke with an attorney who advised me to email them again for clarification. The thing is, we have paid all this money for this process, and we don't deserve this quick canned response. What do we pay these people for!? He said if they blow me off again, I DO need to contact a congressman or senator.

Thanks

You are more than welcome to email them again and contact your local congressman. Not all emergent requests are truly emergent/meet the guidelines and dealing with a WORLD pandemic definitely slows things down, which should be obviously understandable. Immigration is not a right but a privilege 

[Renee Bua 18]

8 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

You are more than welcome to email them again and contact your local congressman. Not all emergent requests are truly emergent/meet the guidelines and dealing with a WORLD pandemic definitely slows things down, which should be obviously understandable. Immigration is not a right but a privilege 

I already know that I am more than welcome, but thanks for your reply. I have every right to inquire about my case.. We gave them our money and paid for this process and  these people are public /civil servants to us... I have a right through the law. 

[JFH 12,189]

I looked at the Frankfurt embassy website. It says that due to reduced staffing the immigrant visa unit is handling “emergency cases” only. What constitutes an emergency is largely irrelevant anyway as you are not going through the Frankfurt embassy but I would assume that this relates to spouses of military personnel who have been given orders to move, people whose period of authorized stay in Germany is about to expire and have to leave and are waiting for their immigrant visa to be issued and possibly humanitarian cases where the family member in the US is close to death and waiting for normal services to resume at the embassy might be too late. 
 

I don’t think a regular CR-1 case would be an emergency. Your situation is heartbreaking but by no means unique. There are spouses, parents, children, fiancés, siblings all over the world waiting for embassies to re-open so that they can proceed with their interviews and receive their visas to be reunited. 

Edited June 11, 2020 by JFH

[Renee Bua 18]

2 minutes ago, JFH said:

I looked at the Frankfurt embassy website. It says that die to reduced staffing the immigrant visa unit is handling “emergency cases” only. What constitutes an emergency is largely irrelevant anyway as you are not going through the Frankfurt embassy anyway but I would assume that this relates to spouses of military personnel who have been given orders to move, people whose period of authorized stay in Germany is about to expire and have to leave and are waiting for their immigrant visa to be issued and possibly humanitarian cases where  the family member in the US is close to death and waiting for normal services to resume at the embassy might be too late. 
 

I don’t think a regular CR-1 case would be an emergency. Your situation is heartbreaking but by no means unique. There are spouses, parents, children, fiancés, siblings all over the world waiting for embassies to re-open so that they can proceed with their interviews and receive their visas to be reunited. 

I spoke to a woman in Germany who received her expedite because she has a financial hardship. My advice is for people to be proactive about your case if you do have an emergency. Do not let these people blow you off. If I see some movement I will post my results on my timeline for those interested. I am contacting my senator. This is YOUR case.

Edited June 11, 2020 by Renee Bua

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

3 minutes ago, Renee Bua said:

I already know that I am more than welcome, but thanks for your reply. I have every right to inquire about my case.. We gave them our money and paid for this process and  these people are public /civil servants to us... I have a right through the law. 

And that’s what I said?

[Mollie09 1,543]

14 minutes ago, Renee Bua said:

I already know that I am more than welcome, but thanks for your reply. I have every right to inquire about my case.. We gave them our money and paid for this process and  these people are public /civil servants to us... I have a right through the law. 

A right to what? Immigration is not a right.

[Renee Bua 18]

4 minutes ago, Mollie09 said:

A right to what? Immigration is not a right.

I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't want to hear that lecture and have decided to ignore it. If by law I am allowed to bring my husband with me to the United States, it is my right, so anyone trying to lecture me about this on this board is waisting their time. My husband WILL come to the United States, just know THAT. And if they give us a hard time, know that these people WILL hear from me, my lawyer or congressman/senator about the matter. It is my RIGHT to pursue this as many times as needed!

Edited June 11, 2020 by Renee Bua

[Kmomo2 19]

4 hours ago, Renee Bua said:

It seems some nations DO NOT consider spouses of US citizens exempt from the presidential proclamation. Should I involve a lawyer or a senator for our case? (I am seeing CR-1 spousal visas being issued in other nations, but it seems our nation misunderstands the ex. order). We tried to get an emergency visa stamping for my husband (CR-1 spousal), and we got denied and they cited the executive order about jobs. Can someone please explain this because I thought spouses of US citizens are exempt. Is our consulate misinterpreting the executive order?

 

Thank you for your email.

 

Please note that routine consular operations are currently suspended because of the COVID- 19 crisis. Therefore, we are unable to process the case at this time. More information regarding exceptions is provided on the link below in line with the presidential proclamation.

In the future when consular operations resume, we will review the case. You may monitor the same at www.travel.state.gov.

 

See also the announcement below:

 

24 April, 2020

On April 22, President Trump signed a proclamation suspending entry into the United States of certain immigrants who present risk to the U.S. labor market during the economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak. The proclamation is effective at 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 23 and expires in 60 days, unless continued by the President. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and those holding valid immigrant visas on the effective date of the Proclamation, are not subject to the proclamation. No valid visas will be revoked under this Proclamation. Routine visas services have been suspended at U.S. posts worldwide, but as resources allow, embassies and consulates will continue to provide emergency and mission critical visa services for applicants who are not subject to this presidential proclamation. The full text of the presidential proclamation is available on the White House website at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-immigrants-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-economic-recovery-following-covid-19-outbreak/.

 

Please stay safe and healthy!

Good day.

 

We also tried to have an expedited interview at the Nairobi consulate and this is the message we received. There was no mention of the PP Executive order.

 

"Please note that All consular appointments, including immigrant visas, are cancelled because of the Government of Kenya's suspension of public gatherings. When services resume, updated guidance about appointment scheduling will be given. You may monitor the same at www.travel.state.gov. No additional information about scheduling is available at this time"

 

Stay safe and healthy.

kind regards....