US Embassy Reopening - Update Thread

[Cheburashka34 228]

Question: I am planning to apply for a K1 visa for my fiance in Russia and it says what i pasted below on the Russian visa page. It seems like a lot of people are stuck in limbo with being approved and waiting on an interview in Moscow. Does this mean if you can't schedule an appointment within four months of approval that you have to submit a whole new I-129F and start over? Or is there something else you can do? Thank you!!

 

Once the U.S. Embassy Moscow receives the approved petition from NVC, the Immigrant Visa Section will send a letter with the instructions on preparing for the visa interview to the applicant.

Note: Do not schedule your interview date until you receive these instructions. If you do not receive the instructions from the US Embassy within two months after the notification from NVC about the transferring of your case to Moscow, you have to send an inquiry about the status of your case directly to the Consular Section of the US Embassy Moscow at consulmo@state.gov. Please be advised that you might have submit a new petition if you do not schedule an interview within four months of petition approval.

[payxibka 10,044]

Just now, Cheburashka34 said:

Question: I am planning to apply for a K1 visa for my fiance in Russia and it says what i pasted below on the Russian visa page. It seems like a lot of people are stuck in limbo with being approved and waiting on an interview in Moscow. Does this mean if you can't schedule an appointment within four months of approval that you have to submit a whole new I-129F and start over? Or is there something else you can do? Thank you!!

 

Once the U.S. Embassy Moscow receives the approved petition from NVC, the Immigrant Visa Section will send a letter with the instructions on preparing for the visa interview to the applicant.

Note: Do not schedule your interview date until you receive these instructions. If you do not receive the instructions from the US Embassy within two months after the notification from NVC about the transferring of your case to Moscow, you have to send an inquiry about the status of your case directly to the Consular Section of the US Embassy Moscow at consulmo@state.gov. Please be advised that you might have submit a new petition if you do not schedule an interview within four months of petition approval.

 

Link?

 

The consulate can and does extend the validity of the petition for up to one year 

[Cheburashka34 228]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

 

Link?

 

The consulate can and does extend the validity of the petition for up to one year 

https://ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-iv-typek.asp

 

Do they do that automatically? Or do you have to submit an extension?

Edited June 26, 2020 by Cheburashka34

[payxibka 10,044]

Just now, Cheburashka34 said:

https://ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-iv-typek.asp

It can happen but it is so very rare

[Cheburashka34 228]

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

It can happen but it is so very rare

That you can't schedule within four months? Or that they extend it for you?

[Evajandra 65]

Anyone (that actually participates in this forum, not just rumor) actually have an interview yet?

[JASP 24]

23 hours ago, Evajandra said:

Anyone (that actually participates in this forum, not just rumor) actually have an interview yet?

A few have been interviewed in June but majority have been scheduled for July in these places Georgia, France, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Vietnam, UK, Serbia, Netherlands to name a few.

 

They are all for IR-1/CR-1 Visa category. You can follow this thread people have been posting their interview updates here recently.

 

 

[OrihimeandIchigo 216]

I don't know if this is news or interesting to anyone but I saw on the State Departments website they updated a alert to Passport Operations in Response to COVID-19 in which they made a page for FAQ and one of them was discussing Phases in reopenings:

 

2. What services can I expect in each phase of reopening?

The Department will resume processing passports in phases, while protecting the safety of both our staff and our customers.

Phase 1:  Some of our employees will return to our agencies and centers, allowing us to resume limited processing of applications we already received. Applications will be processed on a first in, first out basis, beginning with the oldest applications received. We will continue to prioritize services for customers with life-or-death emergencies by appointment only. Customers must wear cloth face coverings in all common areas, including our lobbies, and observe strict social distancing. During phase one, we will continue to recommend customers wait to submit new or renewal applications as delays will continue.

Phase 2:  Most staff will return to our agencies and centers, and we will be able to resume processing more of the applications we already received. Applications will be processed on a first in, first out basis, beginning with the oldest applications received. While we will continue prioritizing life-or-death emergency cases, we will also offer more appointments at our agencies and centers. Services offered at our agencies will continue to be by appointment only. Staff and customers should wear cloth face coverings in all common areas, including our lobbies, and continue to observe social distancing. During phase two, we will continue to recommend customers wait to submit new or renewal applications as delays will continue.

Phase 3:  All remaining staff return to our agencies and centers, and we plan to resume normal operations. We will offer a processing time commitment for routine service and resume expedited service in this phase. You should continue to make an appointment to apply at an agency or center. We will continue to address applications on a first in, first out basis, focusing on the oldest applications. Staff and customers may wear cloth face coverings in common areas and we will encourage social distancing.

 

I know its talking about passport operations but I thought it might have the same rules or guidelines for routine visa interviews and it was interesting to see it written exactly what the phases are. 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/passport-covid-19.html

[knightrider 6]

http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/gt/gt-niv-expeditedappointment.asp
it is possible that at sites where US missons cannot open or resume routine operations, they might expand the emergency visa services like the one above in Gautemala

[TC&ND 6]

On 6/26/2020 at 5:24 PM, Cheburashka34 said:

https://ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-iv-typek.asp

 

Do they do that automatically? Or do you have to submit an extension?

Hi,

I recently emailed the Moscow Consulate regarding this issue. And here’s the email reply  they sent to me.

“Thank you for your email.  We are aware there are many K1 petitions still pending interview. Once normal operations resume, we will reach out to all those pending K1 interviews, affirm their desire to extend the petition, and schedule interviews. There is no action K1 petitioners or beneficiaries need to take at this time.”

 

Sincerely,

Visa Services Unit

 

 

[My Mzuri 20]

10 minutes ago, TC&ND said:

Hi,

I recently emailed the Moscow Consulate regarding this issue. And here’s the email reply  they sent to me.

“Thank you for your email.  We are aware there are many K1 petitions still pending interview. Once normal operations resume, we will reach out to all those pending K1 interviews, affirm their desire to extend the petition, and schedule interviews. There is no action K1 petitioners or beneficiaries need to take at this time.”

 

Sincerely,

Visa Services Unit

 

 

That's a positive response. Thanks for the update

[David & Olga 124]

12 minutes ago, TC&ND said:

Hi,

I recently emailed the Moscow Consulate regarding this issue. And here’s the email reply  they sent to me.

“Thank you for your email.  We are aware there are many K1 petitions still pending interview. Once normal operations resume, we will reach out to all those pending K1 interviews, affirm their desire to extend the petition, and schedule interviews. There is no action K1 petitioners or beneficiaries need to take at this time.”

 

Sincerely,

Visa Services Unit

 

 

I emailed the Moscow Embassy in regards to my CR-1 visa application pending at the NVC since March 10th - i am waiting a response and i will post what they tell me. I'm hoping to get a response by the end of the day today or tomorrow. 

 

This is a good response in the sense that it's not automated like they were before. Thanks for the post. 

[TC&ND 6]

8 minutes ago, David & Olga said:

I emailed the Moscow Embassy in regards to my CR-1 visa application pending at the NVC since March 10th - i am waiting a response and i will post what they tell me. I'm hoping to get a response by the end of the day today or tomorrow. 

 

This is a good response in the sense that it's not automated like they were before. Thanks for the post. 

Yes, I emailed the Embassy yesterday morning following a call to the NVC, and about six hours later I got the email. I was actually surprised myself given the current situation and how fast of a response I got. Maybe things are looking up? We’ll see...

Пожалуйста...
 

[Cheburashka34 228]

1 hour ago, TC&ND said:

Hi,

I recently emailed the Moscow Consulate regarding this issue. And here’s the email reply  they sent to me.

“Thank you for your email.  We are aware there are many K1 petitions still pending interview. Once normal operations resume, we will reach out to all those pending K1 interviews, affirm their desire to extend the petition, and schedule interviews. There is no action K1 petitioners or beneficiaries need to take at this time.”

 

Sincerely,

Visa Services Unit

 

 

You are awesome thank you!

[Hanre 25]

Hi again all. 

Thanks for keeping the thread going. The Lusaka, Zambia, consulate website has been posting weekly (most weeks) updates on where they stand on covid and general activities. Since the beginning they kept on posting "routine visa services have been suspended". Until today. Our latest update doesn't include that line anymore. This could be good news potentially, or just someone who forgot to add it. Since I am an optimist, I would like to think that this is a good sign. Zambia is not allowing tourists in, but they are allowing most other travelers in, for business, residents and people with work permits. Which I assume means embassy staff as well... Though there is still 2 weeks home quarantine. 

Have a look on your embassy pages on whether the same update is there. 

Cheers 

H