July 28 update on US Embassy Manila

[Pacia 12]

Is K1 treated as non immigrant? Are we included on this visa interview cancellation till August 28? I have read on some issues that K1 is treated as immigrant. Anybody has a visa appointment this coming August? 

[payxibka 10,044]

20 minutes ago, Pacia said:

Is K1 treated as non immigrant? Are we included on this visa interview cancellation till August 28? I have read on some issues that K1 is treated as immigrant. Anybody has a visa appointment this coming August? 

They are not immigrant visas,  however they are interviewed by the immigrant Visa unit. 

[Scandi 3,979]

Seems like different embassies handle the K-1 visa differently right now. The US embassy in Sweden processes CR-1 visas but not K-1 visas.

[BOKURAGAITA 101]

I have a friend a K1 and K2 applicant, the embassy emailed and called them for their August interview. She request for expedite. 

[geowrian 22,336]

7 minutes ago, Scandi said:

Seems like different embassies handle the K-1 visa differently right now. The US embassy in Sweden processes CR-1 visas but not K-1 visas.

Also depends on location - issuing a K-1 in a travel-restricted country would have an additional hurdle. It's not technically banned.

[Scandi 3,979]

9 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Also depends on location - issuing a K-1 in a travel-restricted country would have an additional hurdle. It's not technically banned.

The Swedish embassy refers to the travel restrictions from the Schengen area. But to me that's a little odd as Scandinavians aren't barred from entering the US on K-1 visas, they just can't enter from Schengen. They could technically go somewhere else for two weeks and then enter the US, so for the embassy to not issue any K-1 visas based on that travel restriction seems a little overkill to me.

Edited July 31, 2020 by Scandi

[geowrian 22,336]

1 minute ago, Scandi said:

The Swedish embassy refers to the travel restrictions from the Schengen area. But to me that's a little odd as Scandinavians aren't barred from entering the US on K-1 visas, they just can't enter from Schengen. They could technically go somewhere for two weeks and then enter the US, so for the embassy to not issue any K-1 visas based on that travel restriction seems a little overkill to me.

Correct.My understanding is they are using the enforcement clause of the Schengen ban to proactively prevent somebody from getting around that restriction.

Whether or not they should do that is a very different question...I think many people would absolutely go that route if offered the opportunity (versus waiting it out).

[user555 196]

On 7/31/2020 at 10:41 AM, Pacia said:

Is K1 treated as non immigrant? Are we included on this visa interview cancellation till August 28? I have read on some issues that K1 is treated as immigrant. Anybody has a visa appointment this coming August? 

There are 3 IR1/CR1 spouse visa interviews scheduled in Manila. 

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=Philippines&op1=3&op2=&dfile=No&op3=5&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0

 

Plus, look at the embassy's July 31st update: "U.S. Embassy in the Philippines is resuming certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services, including F student visa applications."