IR1/CR1 appointment deprioritized for diversity interview slots

[BBQKangaroo 4]

Hello all,

Just received an email in the middle of the night 5 days before my husband's scheduled interview.

 

"Dear visa appointment holder, 

 

We regret to inform you that we need to reschedule your visa interview that was previously scheduled on September 22, 2020.  A recent court order in litigation unrelated to your case has required us to prioritize Diversity Visa (DV) immigrant applications through the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2020.   Certain embassies and consulates have had to reschedule visa applicants in other visa categories to prioritize DV applicants in adherence with the court order.

 

Your appointment has been rescheduled for October 6, 2020......."

 

Very frustrated as we have spent so much time planning and traveling for him to be there, especially with all of the COVID restrictions. This seems to have come at the worst time as we probably won't be refunded for travel costs. Has this happened to anyone else? My mind is blown that diversity visas are being prioritized over immediate relatives being reunited with family during a global pandemic.

[retheem 553]

17 minutes ago, BBQKangaroo said:

Hello all,

Just received an email in the middle of the night 5 days before my husband's scheduled interview.

 

"Dear visa appointment holder, 

 

We regret to inform you that we need to reschedule your visa interview that was previously scheduled on September 22, 2020.  A recent court order in litigation unrelated to your case has required us to prioritize Diversity Visa (DV) immigrant applications through the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2020.   Certain embassies and consulates have had to reschedule visa applicants in other visa categories to prioritize DV applicants in adherence with the court order.

 

Your appointment has been rescheduled for October 6, 2020......."

 

Very frustrated as we have spent so much time planning and traveling for him to be there, especially with all of the COVID restrictions. This seems to have come at the worst time as we probably won't be refunded for travel costs. Has this happened to anyone else? My mind is blown that diversity visas are being prioritized over immediate relatives being reunited with family during a global pandemic.

Don't be frustrated. Its only 19 days away.

[BBQKangaroo 4]

Yes, it's not the worst case scenario, but he will be missing a family wedding and plane tickets are increasingly harder to find. 5 days is just very short notice for a reschedule.

[Lexushim 105]

1 minute ago, BBQKangaroo said:

Yes, it's not the worst case scenario, but he will be missing a family wedding and plane tickets are increasingly harder to find. 5 days is just very short notice for a reschedule.

Not discouraging you but just curious How are you so sure he’d be given visa right away on spot at time of interview? Many times cases go in AP..? If I were you I wouldn’t book a flight unless I have the visa in hand.. 🤔

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Most major airlines have cancelled change fees on airlines. It is positive you got an interview date and were't just place in a black hole of unknown. 

[BBQKangaroo 4]

1 hour ago, Lexushim said:

Not discouraging you but just curious How are you so sure he’d be given visa right away on spot at time of interview? Many times cases go in AP..? If I were you I wouldn’t book a flight unless I have the visa in hand.. 🤔

Under the advice of our immigration lawyer! Nonetheless we won't be booking his ticket back to the US until he has his passport back. I was speaking in regards to his flight there (he wasn't currently in the country his interview was scheduled).

55 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

Most major airlines have cancelled change fees on airlines. It is positive you got an interview date and were't just place in a black hole of unknown. 

Yes, and silver lining to the COVID situation!

[Lighthouse111 2]

So sorry, must be really difficult for you both. Hang in there! You're so close!

[Quarknase 1,072]

20 hours ago, BBQKangaroo said:

Hello all,

Just received an email in the middle of the night 5 days before my husband's scheduled interview.

 

"Dear visa appointment holder, 

 

We regret to inform you that we need to reschedule your visa interview that was previously scheduled on September 22, 2020.  A recent court order in litigation unrelated to your case has required us to prioritize Diversity Visa (DV) immigrant applications through the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2020.   Certain embassies and consulates have had to reschedule visa applicants in other visa categories to prioritize DV applicants in adherence with the court order.

 

Your appointment has been rescheduled for October 6, 2020......."

 

Very frustrated as we have spent so much time planning and traveling for him to be there, especially with all of the COVID restrictions. This seems to have come at the worst time as we probably won't be refunded for travel costs. Has this happened to anyone else? My mind is blown that diversity visas are being prioritized over immediate relatives being reunited with family during a global pandemic.

I understand the frustration, but at least you were immediately given a new interview, and it's immediately after the DV processing ends. All Embassies strongly advise against making any travel plans prior to having visa in hand so that's another point - immediate visa issuance is never guaranteed.

 

Diversity visa numbers expire on September 30th. To clarify: Each lottery winner will lose their spot on September 30th and will not have the chance to immigrate to the US. I'm sure you understand that this is a pretty significant impact on people. Your IV is just delayed by a little bit, but the right to immigrate is not taken away by waiting a couple more weeks.

I give kudos to that Embassy for taking this serious and trying to process all DV winners before the expiration date of their "spot". Many other Embassies are not that helpful.

 

Good luck with the interview in October

[Crazy Cat 39,336]

19 hours ago, Lexushim said:

Not discouraging you but just curious How are you so sure he’d be given visa right away on spot at time of interview? Many times cases go in AP..? If I were you I wouldn’t book a flight unless I have the visa in hand.. 🤔

Australia is not known for extended AP.....but you are correct that flights should not be booked until a visa has been issued and checked for accuracy.

[Bethie 58]

22 hours ago, BBQKangaroo said:

Hello all,

Just received an email in the middle of the night 5 days before my husband's scheduled interview.

 

"Dear visa appointment holder, 

 

We regret to inform you that we need to reschedule your visa interview that was previously scheduled on September 22, 2020.  A recent court order in litigation unrelated to your case has required us to prioritize Diversity Visa (DV) immigrant applications through the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2020.   Certain embassies and consulates have had to reschedule visa applicants in other visa categories to prioritize DV applicants in adherence with the court order.

 

Your appointment has been rescheduled for October 6, 2020......."

 

Very frustrated as we have spent so much time planning and traveling for him to be there, especially with all of the COVID restrictions. This seems to have come at the worst time as we probably won't be refunded for travel costs. Has this happened to anyone else? My mind is blown that diversity visas are being prioritized over immediate relatives being reunited with family during a global pandemic.

Never arrange travel until visa is in hand.    

 

Its a court order, USCIS has no choice but to follow the court order.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,319]

23 hours ago, BBQKangaroo said:

My mind is blown that diversity visas are being prioritized over immediate relatives being reunited with family during a global pandemic.

I know this affects you directly, with the travel costs and logistics.  That sucks, but ultimately it is just a delay for you - you are already rescheduled?

 

But the DV priority is driven by 2 things - the court order, and by law that restricts processing DV to the current fiscal year, which ends on Sept 30.  If the DV awardees do not get their visa's by Sept 30,  I believe they loose out and will need to see if they luck out again in the next year's "lottery".

 

Imagine someone who applied 5, 10, 15 or more years, was notified that they were selected for the DV, only to not get it and be told they need to see if next year they will luck out again....

Edited September 18, 2020 by SteveInBostonI130
typo

[Calicolom 265]

23 hours ago, BBQKangaroo said:

Hello all,

Just received an email in the middle of the night 5 days before my husband's scheduled interview.

 

"Dear visa appointment holder, 

 

We regret to inform you that we need to reschedule your visa interview that was previously scheduled on September 22, 2020.  A recent court order in litigation unrelated to your case has required us to prioritize Diversity Visa (DV) immigrant applications through the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2020.   Certain embassies and consulates have had to reschedule visa applicants in other visa categories to prioritize DV applicants in adherence with the court order.

 

Your appointment has been rescheduled for October 6, 2020......."

 

Very frustrated as we have spent so much time planning and traveling for him to be there, especially with all of the COVID restrictions. This seems to have come at the worst time as we probably won't be refunded for travel costs. Has this happened to anyone else? My mind is blown that diversity visas are being prioritized over immediate relatives being reunited with family during a global pandemic.

Yes Diversity.

[Just Paul 4,591]

Good news is that there are only 50,000 DV cases worldwide and some got interviewed before consulates shutdown.  And good that they have to be done before 9/30.  The consulates will be done with DV for a while.

 

Bad news is that you broke the Golden Rule of Immigration by making travel plans before the visa is issued.  I've seen people burned because of medical clearances, emergency closures at consulate, stikes and random things.   We even got delayed because we couldn't pickup our passport due to washed out road.

[BBQKangaroo 4]

18 hours ago, Lighthouse111 said:

So sorry, must be really difficult for you both. Hang in there! You're so close!

Thanks so much! Means a lot

[BBQKangaroo 4]

22 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

Good news is that there are only 50,000 DV cases worldwide and some got interviewed before consulates shutdown.  And good that they have to be done before 9/30.  The consulates will be done with DV for a while.

 

Bad news is that you broke the Golden Rule of Immigration by making travel plans before the visa is issued.  I've seen people burned because of medical clearances, emergency closures at consulate, stikes and random things.   We even got delayed because we couldn't pickup our passport due to washed out road.

Yeah I understand! I was referring to his flights there as he is no longer living in the country he was studying in due to COVID. We haven't bought tickets back to the U.S. thankfully