Strange times (Nigeria)

[MaleAlpha 314]

13 hours ago, CoriandPhilemon said:

Hello community. 
 

I am in Oregon in the middle of all these fires and I am looking for small pieces of hope, and a bit of guidance. 
 

This might be repetitive since I’ve posted here before but I’m at a loss. 
 

As I understand it, the immigration system here in the US is at a complete standstill. My fiancé and I haven’t even sent in our I-129F because the embassies and state borders aren’t open. Should we send our packet anyway? Would it be better to wait? Does anyone know anything? I read about it tirelessly but I am just going in circles. We only want to be together. I plan to travel there to see him again regardless of the visa situation, but it’s been 6 months since we were together and there’s no end in sight. We need a new plan and I don’t know where to start. Thanks in advance. 🙏🏻

Nothing pertinent to add except to say I'm in Oregon as well and there's a big Nigerian community here so your fiance will feel very much at home when they get here. I'm from Ghana but I'm friends with a lot of Nigerians here. And the wild fire is a mess! I'm in Clackamas county so I'm right dab in the middle of all the mess. Currently on evacuation level 2. Stay safe. I wish you and your fiance all the best.

[PatLuvO 284]

14 hours ago, CoriandPhilemon said:

Hello community. 
 

I am in Oregon in the middle of all these fires and I am looking for small pieces of hope, and a bit of guidance. 
 

This might be repetitive since I’ve posted here before but I’m at a loss. 
 

As I understand it, the immigration system here in the US is at a complete standstill. My fiancé and I haven’t even sent in our I-129F because the embassies and state borders aren’t open. Should we send our packet anyway? Would it be better to wait? Does anyone know anything? I read about it tirelessly but I am just going in circles. We only want to be together. I plan to travel there to see him again regardless of the visa situation, but it’s been 6 months since we were together and there’s no end in sight. We need a new plan and I don’t know where to start. Thanks in advance. 🙏🏻

You can still file and hold your place in line. USCIS is still processing petitions just slowly. Nigeria is now open for international flights so go ahead and plan your visit 🙂. Please ensure you have read all the arrival protocols.

[PatLuvO 284]

3 hours ago, CoriandPhilemon said:

Yes... it took me longer than expected to get the documentation together that I needed and then when COVID hit the US embassy In Lagos closed and we weren’t sure if it would be wise to send in an application if he can’t travel outside of his state to get the medical exam or paperwork needed or attend the interview due to lockdowns. We didn’t want to start the process only to be struck down midway. Apparently this was a misunderstanding on my part, and now I am feeling really sorry that I somehow missed the mark on all this. As of today, our packet is ready to go so I will be submitting it and hoping for the best. Even now, to my knowledge, the embassy remains closed. I didn’t realize that submitting the application held our place in line. I was under the impression that everything was wiped back to ground zero until further notice. I am so mad at myself now. 
but anyway, thank you for the support. I’ll be mailing it out today!

The medical and police report comes after approval which is about 5 to 7 months after submission, even longer now. Most of the COVID related movement restrictions are being eased in Nigeria so when the time comes he will have no issues to get them taken care of. 

[Crazy Cat 39,261]

15 hours ago, CoriandPhilemon said:

Hello community. 
 

I am in Oregon in the middle of all these fires and I am looking for small pieces of hope, and a bit of guidance. 
 

This might be repetitive since I’ve posted here before but I’m at a loss. 
 

As I understand it, the immigration system here in the US is at a complete standstill. My fiancé and I haven’t even sent in our I-129F because the embassies and state borders aren’t open. Should we send our packet anyway? Would it be better to wait? Does anyone know anything? I read about it tirelessly but I am just going in circles. We only want to be together. I plan to travel there to see him again regardless of the visa situation, but it’s been 6 months since we were together and there’s no end in sight. We need a new plan and I don’t know where to start. Thanks in advance. 🙏🏻

I don't know where you heard that, but USCIS has not stopped processing petitions.  The queue at NVC is getting longer every day.  File now......

[Just Paul 4,591]

15 hours ago, CoriandPhilemon said:

As I understand it, the immigration system here in the US is at a complete standstill. 

No nothing at the USCIS Service Centers has stopped.  Nothing,  Now are they processing at 100% - no.  The service centers are not necessary running fully staffed due to state restrictions.  Waiting gives you no benefit.  It puts you behind every person that has filed before you.

 

USCIS will process your I-129F and sent it to the NVC.  The NVC will do their work which is very limited for a K1.  Your petition will be held at the NVC until consulate reopens and the consulate clears it's backlog.  Then it will be sent to the consulate.

 

It is always a good plan to send the petition as soon as you are ready to file.   Forms and fees get changed and re-arranged.  I find it easier to deal with the current forms and fees rather than waiting and guessing what they may change to.

[Ryan H 3,790]

~~~Hijack post removed~~~

[SalishSea 16,774]

OP, if you do file now, will you be able to have another visit while you're waiting?  Lagos is not an easy embassy, and he will have a greater chance of approval if you've spent more time in person together.

 

Btw, stay safe!  I am in the Seattle area, and our air quality is second worst in the world right now (second to Portland).   I heard they had evacuated 500k people, 10% of the state of Oregon's population!  We are going to have our bags packed and be ready to evacuate if we need to.   Scary times.

[p&g 9]

I only recently found out about Visa Journey and have been poring over the numbers.

 

I think you may find the info in the K1 Visa Timelines helpful and encouraging. Luckily the USCIS was only closed for in-person services.

• USCIS has been issuing NOA2s throughout 2020.
  • USCIS still shows turnaround time for CSC holding steady at 5-7 months.
  • The trending average time for CSC is 188 days
• It looks like NVC has been receiving apps 
  • The timeline shows the transit time from USCIS to NVC is about a month.
  • The timeline shows a dormant period (May and June) for apps leaving NVC

The turnaround for an appointment at the embassy will likely get longer as the mail catches up. But at least you'd be in the backstretch of the visa process once your app is there. I imagine they would provide sufficient time to get the medical exam or help reschedule for a reasonable time.

 

If Nigeria is closed for US travelers at the time you want to visit, maybe you can meet in a country that has lifted some of their restrictions for each of the countries.

 

I hope my perspective is a little helpful and you submit your application soon.
Good luck!

Edited September 12, 2020 by p&g

[CoriandPhilemon 9]

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

OP, if you do file now, will you be able to have another visit while you're waiting?  Lagos is not an easy embassy, and he will have a greater chance of approval if you've spent more time in person together.

 

Btw, stay safe!  I am in the Seattle area, and our air quality is second worst in the world right now (second to Portland).   I heard they had evacuated 500k people, 10% of the state of Oregon's population!  We are going to have our bags packed and be ready to evacuate if we need to.   Scary times.

Yes we are hoping to have another visit once international travel is an option again! Hopefully by the time he goes for his interview we will have another trip under our belt. I would love to be there with him when he goes for his interview (i know I can’t attend but I’d love to be in Lagos with him at the time) but whether or not that will work remains to be seen. 
 

yes, it is very scary!! I hope you are also staying safe! 

[CoriandPhilemon 9]

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

OP, if you do file now, will you be able to have another visit while you're waiting?  Lagos is not an easy embassy, and he will have a greater chance of approval if you've spent more time in person together.

 

Btw, stay safe!  I am in the Seattle area, and our air quality is second worst in the world right now (second to Portland).   I heard they had evacuated 500k people, 10% of the state of Oregon's population!  We are going to have our bags packed and be ready to evacuate if we need to.   Scary times.

Although I do have a question.. if we file now, and then have another visit, how will we reflect that visit at the interview if we’ve already submitted our I-129F? Can he take along a second file of supporting documentation?

[Just Paul 4,591]

23 minutes ago, CoriandPhilemon said:

Although I do have a question.. if we file now, and then have another visit, how will we reflect that visit at the interview if we’ve already submitted our I-129F? Can he take along a second file of supporting documentation?

You don't submit it but you can take it.  They don't have to look at it.  But he can mention things at the interview and it could be attached to the I-134 that get submitted at the interview.

 

Oh and definately do another visit if you can.

Edited September 12, 2020 by Paul & Mary

[Crazy Cat 39,261]

8 hours ago, CoriandPhilemon said:

Can he take along a second file of supporting documentation?

Of course......include it in the evidence demonstrating a continuing relationship.

[carmel34 3,531]

9 hours ago, CoriandPhilemon said:

Although I do have a question.. if we file now, and then have another visit, how will we reflect that visit at the interview if we’ve already submitted our I-129F? Can he take along a second file of supporting documentation?

Lagos is a tough embassy for K-1s.  Many are denied because of the high incidence of fraud, so the more evidence he takes to the visa interview the greater your chances for approval, if they ask about additional visits or ask for more evidence which often happens in Lagos.  The USCIS review of the I-129F petition is phase one of the process, takes about 6 or more months, and focuses on you and whether or not you qualify to petition for your fiance.  Then the visa interview is in Lagos a few months after petition approval, assuming they open up again for normal visa interviews and clear out the backlog because of the virus.  There is also currently a ban on many visas from Nigeria right now but waivers are considered at the visa interview at the discretion of the officer.  I suggest that you visit the Sub-Saharan forum and Lagos embassy reviews here on VJ to read about the detailed experiences of others.  The more you know, the greater your level of preparation and less frustration through the process.

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/89-africa-sub-saharan/

 

https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Nigeria&page=1&dfilter=5&topic=

 

Good luck!

Edited September 12, 2020 by carmel34

[PatLuvO 284]

On 9/12/2020 at 12:13 AM, CoriandPhilemon said:

Although I do have a question.. if we file now, and then have another visit, how will we reflect that visit at the interview if we’ve already submitted our I-129F? Can he take along a second file of supporting documentation?

He can mention it at his interview as well as bringing photocopies of your passport stamps showing the new trip as well as pictures. Based on reviews I have seen usually the CO will ask how many times you’ve visited or when was the last time he saw you or some question along those lines. 

[HRQX 4,145]

On 9/12/2020 at 7:24 AM, carmel34 said:

There is also currently a ban on many visas from Nigeria right now but waivers are considered at the visa interview at the discretion of the officer.

That isn't an issue for K-1: https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM030214.html "K Visas:  K visas are nonimmigrant visas and therefore are treated as such for PP 9645 purposes and not subject to PP 9983."

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-improving-enhanced-vetting-capabilities-processes-detecting-attempted-entry/ "I have decided not to impose any nonimmigrant visa restrictions for the newly identified countries, which substantially reduces the number of people affected by the proposed restrictions."