Stuck at NVC

[Bobby2407 1]

Hi Guys,

 

I am a K1 visa applicant got approved from USCIS on 26 june, My case seems stuck at NVC till then, After reading about some other threads i noticed some people are even waiting for longer period than me. I am currently situated in Warsaw Poland and due to Covid-19 it seems mostly embassies and consulates stopped Visa services or limited them upto certain number. While on checking consulate website they are saying they are not sured when will they re-open it. I emailed NVC for my new NVC case number which they emailed me but said we will not forward any K1/737 petition to Warsaw consulate until they will resume services. When i am checking my status it is showing at NVC. Is someone here in Europe got there case forwarded to consulate ? Are they even forwarding K1 case to consulates ?? Are these K Visa categories are allowed to Travel to US these days ?

 

24-Jan-2020--> NOA1

26-Jun-2020--> NOA2 (Approved from Uscis)

[SteveInBostonI130 3,492]

Hello,

 

I know that Ukraine embassy is partially open, but only for spouse visas and student visas.  They are not processing K1 visas.

 

The travel ban affects K1 fiance.  If you do get your K1 and the travel ban is still in effect, the best option is to travel to a non-banned country, wait 14 days, and then travel to US.  People have been using Serbia, Turkey and Mexico.   I believe you can use Ukraine as well.

 

Hopefully your embassy will resume routine visa services soon.

 

[theballaam96 49]

Same in the UK as well, ours has been stuck since late March just after stuff closed down.

From the number of times we have called the NVC, basically they have provided the following general information:

• Your case is at the NVC until the consulate (In your case, the consulate in Warsaw, Poland) is starting routine visa services for the visa in question (AKA the K1 Visa). Right now, stuff is starting to open up, but K1 services haven't been resumed yet in all consulates (I'm not sure whether there are any consulates processing K1's right now), but once they do, your case will move to the consulate.
   
• At this point, there is nothing you need to do (no form filling etc.). Personally, I have started to prepare some of the things that the USCIS Website has mentioned in their 'What to bring to the interview' article (ACPO, passport photos) just so that when stuff does start again, I'm prepared to just go for interview/medical ASAP. The consulate sends you a list of what you will need to bring after they have got your case. However, this pre-prep isn't necessary.
   
• If your petition expires (I would assume that your expiry would be around October time), and the consulate hasn't opened yet, then all you will need to do is bring a letter of intent to marry to the interview.
   
• As SteveInBostonI130 said, if you get approved before the US lifts the travel restrictions then you will need to travel through an intermediary country that isn't under the US travel restrictions (and doesn't ban travel from Poland) and stay there for 14 days to satisfy the conditions of the US Travel Restrictions. The US does suggest that any travellers coming into the US also quarantine in the US for an additional 14 days, but last time I checked this isn't mandatory (although I would still advise quarantining upon arrival personally).

Best of luck, and keep your head held up high  

[HRQX 4,146]

10 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

The travel ban affects K1 fiance.  If you do get your K1 and the travel ban is still in effect, the best option is to travel to a non-banned country, wait 14 days, and then travel to US.  People have been using Serbia, Turkey and Mexico.

@SteveInBoston and @theballaam96: The proclamation is very clear about no visas for those subject to it: "The Secretary of State shall implement this proclamation as it applies to visas pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may establish." How can K-1 applicants (that are subject to the proclamation) guarantee to the consular officers that they'll first go to an unrestricted country for 14 days before attempting travel to the US?

 

Odds are the few K-1 visas issued in Schengen Area in recent months was for the K-1 applicants that meet an exemption to the proclamation. Such as the following exemption: "(iii) any alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21"

[HRQX 4,146]

10 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

I know that Ukraine embassy is partially open, but only for spouse visas and student visas.  They are not processing K1 visas.

Kyiv has been processing K-1. I assume those K-1 cases were expedites.

11 K-1 visas and 2 K-2 visas in May: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyNIVIssuances/MAY 2020 - NIV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

4 K-1 visas in June: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyNIVIssuances/June 2020 - NIV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

(July data not yet available)

Edited August 12, 2020 by HRQX

[SteveInBostonI130 3,492]

9 hours ago, HRQX said:

@SteveInBoston and @theballaam96: The proclamation is very clear about no visas for those subject to it: "The Secretary of State shall implement this proclamation as it applies to visas pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may establish." How can K-1 applicants (that are subject to the proclamation) guarantee to the consular officers that they'll first go to an unrestricted country for 14 days before attempting travel to the US?

 

Odds are the few K-1 visas issued in Schengen Area in recent months was for the K-1 applicants that meet an exemption to the proclamation. Such as the following exemption: "(iii) any alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21"

Hello,

 

I have not stated the OP will get a K1.  I simply stated if they get one, by whatever means.  If the OP gets it, the fiance is still subject to the travel ban.

 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,492]

9 hours ago, HRQX said:

Kyiv has been processing K-1. I assume those K-1 cases were expedites.

11 K-1 visas and 2 K-2 visas in May: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyNIVIssuances/MAY 2020 - NIV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

4 K-1 visas in June: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyNIVIssuances/June 2020 - NIV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf

(July data not yet available)

Ok, I should have stated Kyiv is not processing routine K1 visas.  But that was implied. The visa bulletin also shows other visas being granted in May and June that normally would not be since Kyiv is still closed for routine immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing.

 

However, they are open for routine CR1/IR1 and student visa processing.

 

[Bobby2407 1]

Thank You everyone for your valuable comments ... seems like can`t do anything until consulate here will resume visa services.. 

[Pacia 12]

On 8/12/2020 at 6:20 AM, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Hello,

 

I know that Ukraine embassy is partially open, but only for spouse visas and student visas.  They are not processing K1 visas.

 

The travel ban affects K1 fiance.  If you do get your K1 and the travel ban is still in effect, the best option is to travel to a non-banned country, wait 14 days, and then travel to US.  People have been using Serbia, Turkey and Mexico.   I believe you can use Ukraine as well.

 

Hopefully your embassy will resume routine visa services soon.

 

Have the same dilemna. My NOA2 is June 25. I receive thus email after requesting for my NVC Number. They send me my number plus this message

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General in Manila, Philippines suspended routine visa services. The National Visa Center will not forward K1/I-730 visa petitions to Manila, Philippines until they resume routine visa services. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate General will resume visa services as soon as possible, but they cannot provide a specific date. For the most up-to-date information about the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General's operating status, please visit their website at <https://usembassy.gov>.

[Pacia 12]

On 8/12/2020 at 3:54 AM, Bobby2407 said:

Hi Guys,

 

I am a K1 visa applicant got approved from USCIS on 26 june, My case seems stuck at NVC till then, After reading about some other threads i noticed some people are even waiting for longer period than me. I am currently situated in Warsaw Poland and due to Covid-19 it seems mostly embassies and consulates stopped Visa services or limited them upto certain number. While on checking consulate website they are saying they are not sured when will they re-open it. I emailed NVC for my new NVC case number which they emailed me but said we will not forward any K1/737 petition to Warsaw consulate until they will resume services. When i am checking my status it is showing at NVC. Is someone here in Europe got there case forwarded to consulate ? Are they even forwarding K1 case to consulates ?? Are these K Visa categories are allowed to Travel to US these days ?

 

24-Jan-2020--> NOA1

26-Jun-2020--> NOA2 (Approved from Uscis)

my Noa2 is june 25. We have the same dilemna. Nothing else to do after ds160 but wait
 

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General in Manila, Philippines suspended routine visa services. The National Visa Center will not forward K1/I-730 visa petitions to Manila, Philippines until they resume routine visa services. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate General will resume visa services as soon as possible, but they cannot provide a specific date. For the most up-to-date information about the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General's operating status, please visit their website at <https://usembassy.gov>.

[Greenbaum 12,260]

On 8/12/2020 at 3:54 AM, Bobby2407 said:

Hi Guys,

 

I am a K1 visa applicant got approved from USCIS on 26 june, My case seems stuck at NVC till then, After reading about some other threads i noticed some people are even waiting for longer period than me. I am currently situated in Warsaw Poland and due to Covid-19 it seems mostly embassies and consulates stopped Visa services or limited them upto certain number. While on checking consulate website they are saying they are not sured when will they re-open it. I emailed NVC for my new NVC case number which they emailed me but said we will not forward any K1/737 petition to Warsaw consulate until they will resume services. When i am checking my status it is showing at NVC. Is someone here in Europe got there case forwarded to consulate ? Are they even forwarding K1 case to consulates ?? Are these K Visa categories are allowed to Travel to US these days ?

 

24-Jan-2020--> NOA1

26-Jun-2020--> NOA2 (Approved from Uscis)

1. When I am checking my status, it is showing at NVC. Is someone here in Europe got their case forwarded to consulate? 

 

No cases are being sent to the NVC unless they are emergency or expedited cases or the embassy has requested cases, which I believe are enough to count on one hand.

 

2. Are they even forwarding K1 case to consulates?

 

Yes, some are but they are rare cases. See my answer above.

 

3. Are these K Visa categories are allowed to Travel to US these days?

 

Yes, you can travel but under different circumstances based on what country you are coming from. If you are in the Schengen area travel to a country that is not, quarantine for 14 days then travel to the us from that non-Schengen country. Most are going to the middle east and others are using Mexico. Some countries you cannot leave without government approval. There have been a few emergency cases from Australia who had to wait for permission from their government to leave their country. Those cases were able to leave and enter the US eventually.

 

[petridza 4]

Who else is still waiting for any movement at NVC. Our case has been stuck from July 2020 and nothing. 
Our embassy in Belgrade, Serbia is processing K1 visas since January

 

I have been trying to call NVC for the past 2 days and I am unsuccessful. It's either busy line so it gets disconnected or I'm on hold for more than an hour. 

 

[payxibka 10,048]

47 minutes ago, petridza said:

Who else is still waiting for any movement at NVC. Our case has been stuck from July 2020 and nothing. 
Our embassy in Belgrade, Serbia is processing K1 visas since January

 

I have been trying to call NVC for the past 2 days and I am unsuccessful. It's either busy line so it gets disconnected or I'm on hold for more than an hour. 

 

NVC won't be able to tell you anything as they are simply waiting for the consulate to request more files.   

 

Simple math will tell you that your petition went into the queue at month five of the suspension and the are only in month three of resumption.   

[TBoneTX 47,498]

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