US Embassy Reopening - Update Thread

[Just Paul 4,591]

5 minutes ago, Hanre said:

As I see it... It's almost as if DOS and nvc don't communicate? Some embassies have started to schedule, but not all. Am I right in saying that only those interviews that were canceled are being scheduled at the moment? Though it doesn't explain nvcs reply to me.

They don't really (need to) communicate.  Simplified: For Spousal visas, consulates open appointment blocks a calendar and the NVC fills them and sends the petitions to the consulates.   Consulates are going to fill their calendars first with the cancellations they had first.  You will see consulates opening  and providing mission critical visa services before appointments are made for petitions sitting at the NVC.

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

11 minutes ago, Hanre said:

Hi all. I'm still working on my profile. Will update soon. 

Just wanted to add something here... 

I am also waiting for my interview at the Lusaka embassy, Zambia. 

I have been in contact with them, Nvc and my attorneys regularly. And needless to say I get very conflicting feedback. 

 

The embassy in Lusaka replied on the 22nd: "we are slowly opening up and have started scheduling interviews. We will contact you when your case comes up." 

 

On the 2nd of June Nvc replied :"nvc received all the requested documents for your case. The application is in the queue for an interview overseas... The us embassy/consulate tells us what dates they are holding interviews, and nvc fills these appointments as the cases become DQd. Nvc schedules appointments 1 month in advance, but we cannot predict when an interview will be available."

 

Lastly, my immigration attorney told me yesterday :" I called the Nvc on Friday and was told that nothing is going to any embassy because no official announcement regarding the resumption of services has been made by the DOS."

 

Does this make sense to anyone else? 

As I see it... It's almost as if DOS and nvc don't communicate? Some embassies have started to schedule, but not all. Am I right in saying that only those interviews that were canceled are being scheduled at the moment? Though it doesn't explain nvcs reply to me. 

 

Vj community, your feedback will be of value. Thanks

Hello, welcome. First of all, I want to thank you for posting such a informative post with all the information you've gathered. I for one am very grateful and appreciative, which I'm sure others will be too. 

 

My opinion is the DOS and the Embassies are not communicating well. Because NVC can't schedule interviews till the Embassy tells them to. And the DOS has already said that the exempted visa categories are "mission critical" and are to continue being processed. I know its probably also a "staffing issue", but some countries are out of lock down, running and open and the embassies are still not "resuming routine visa interviews". Its confusing. 

 

Thanks again for all the info  

[SETETA 204]

The last word from the Cairo Embassy was an automatic e-mail reply to "contact at the end of July". I don't necessary think that they will not start scheduling the previously cancelled interviews and expedited cases until the end of July. They may start earlier but I think this is to deter applicants from sending too many e-mail inquiries in the meanwhile. A lot has happened as far as which visas are now able to be issued until the end of December so I am not surprised that they cleared their calendars for the upcoming months and all interviews were cancelled (as least immigrant side). As noted above, NVC will mostly hold onto these DQed cases until the embassies can process these appointments. There is a backlog due to the closings. 

[My Mzuri 20]

On 6/12/2020 at 11:19 AM, NMHayek said:

Yes very.

Yes extremely frustrating and hard to understand. I think more could be done to handle Visa applications and still maintain safety of embassy staff. Vote wisely in November 

[ReneeGG 27]

Hi all! Just received an interview date for July 29 from the Tbilisi embassy! Just an update for my fellow Georgian applicants  

 

(I documentarily qualified on June 17, so it took one week to receive my interview date.)

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

27 minutes ago, ReneeGG said:

Hi all! Just received an interview date for July 29 from the Tbilisi embassy! Just an update for my fellow Georgian applicants  

 

(I documentarily qualified on June 17, so it took one week to receive my interview date.)

This is wonderful news, congratulations 😊

 

Can I ask if your Tbilisi US Embassy website is stating its open for Routine visa services again?

 

Or they being hush hush like I suspect most Embassies are. 

 

Edited to add: Did you also contact your Embassy to check on the status or did you just wait silently till you got your interview date. I've been considering emailing my Embassy. 

Edited June 25, 2020 by OrihimeandIchigo

[SETETA 204]

29 minutes ago, ReneeGG said:

Hi all! Just received an interview date for July 29 from the Tbilisi embassy! Just an update for my fellow Georgian applicants  

 

(I documentarily qualified on June 17, so it took one week to receive my interview date.)

Also did the NVC schedule it or was it embassy direct?

[ReneeGG 27]

18 minutes ago, OrihimeandIchigo said:

This is wonderful news, congratulations 😊

 

Can I ask if your Tbilisi US Embassy website is stating its open for Routine visa services again?

 

Or they being hush hush like I suspect most Embassies are. 

 

Edited to add: Did you also contact your Embassy to check on the status or did you just wait silently till you got your interview date. I've been considering emailing my Embassy. 

Their website doesn’t say anything about their specific operations. Just the generic Covid statement about limited services being available. I didn’t contact the Embassy. Based on other posts, I figured I wouldn’t gain any new information by doing so. I was checking my emails and ceac website daily. 

[ReneeGG 27]

12 minutes ago, SETETA said:

Also did the NVC schedule it or was it embassy direct?

It was scheduled through the NVC. The emails says “The National Visa Center completed its processing of your immigrant visa application and forwarded it to the US Embassy/Consulate General, where an immigrant visa interview has been scheduled.”

[AlexaC 28]

8 minutes ago, ReneeGG said:

Their website doesn’t say anything about their specific operations. Just the generic Covid statement about limited services being available. I didn’t contact the Embassy. Based on other posts, I figured I wouldn’t gain any new information by doing so. I was checking my emails and ceac website daily. 

so they emailed you about your new appointment?

[ReneeGG 27]

23 minutes ago, Alexag said:

so they emailed you about your new appointment?

Yes, we received notice via email.

[SETETA 204]

1 hour ago, ReneeGG said:

It was scheduled through the NVC. The emails says “The National Visa Center completed its processing of your immigrant visa application and forwarded it to the US Embassy/Consulate General, where an immigrant visa interview has been scheduled.”

Then it provides the time and date or was that in another email? Congrats

[ReneeGG 27]

40 minutes ago, SETETA said:

Then it provides the time and date or was that in another email? Congrats

Yes, at the bottom of the email it gives me the date and time of the appointment. It also requests that I attend the interview with my husband, along with our son (already a US citizen). 
 

 

Edited June 25, 2020 by ReneeGG

[SETETA 204]

13 minutes ago, ReneeGG said:

Yes, at the bottom of the email it gives me the date and time of the appointment. It also requests that I attend the interview with my husband, along with our son (already a US citizen). 
 

 

Thanks and congratulations!

[Helpme0009 21]

Which embassies are open for interviews ?