What can we do to make embassy in Moscow reopen? (merged)

[Cheburashka34 228]

A little bit of good news, and hopefully more to come

 

[willygoeswrong 5]

I think Moscow is acting really weird right now. They didn't resume anything at all yet, even though a lot of countries have resumed K-1s and spousal visas. Any ideas what can we actually do here? Maybe, file a collective complaint or something? It seems like they don't have any good reasons to be closed, they are also ignoring every single call, don't update their websites... 

[Cheburashka34 228]

Check their website again. There was an update today 

[willygoeswrong 5]

5 minutes ago, Cheburashka34 said:

Check their website again. There was an update today 

I saw that obviously, i check their website every single day, but this doesn't have to do anything with visa services though. No dates, no new info about resuming anything at all 

[Cheburashka34 228]

16 minutes ago, willygoeswrong said:

I saw that obviously, i check their website every single day, but this doesn't have to do anything with visa services though. No dates, no new info about resuming anything at all 

Well you had said there were no updates, this is something. You can try emailing them all you want, but they're going to resume things only when they see fit. Try to take any news as something positive instead of wanting significant change immediately. There are tons of people waiting on them to open.

[millefleur 5,037]

**Similar threads on the same topic (Moscow Embassy opening) merged; let's keep discussion to one thread to avoid parallel topics at the same time**

 

VJ Moderation

[millefleur 5,037]

Does anyone know if US Embassy personnel were evacuated from Russia and that's why they aren't processing anything right now?

[Niia 22]

2 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Does anyone know if US Embassy personnel were evacuated from Russia and that's why they aren't processing anything right now?

They are not evacuated. They are doing DV lottery interviews. 
 

agreed with the post above that they are acting weird. 

[millefleur 5,037]

1 minute ago, Niia said:

They are not evacuated. They are doing DV lottery interviews. 
 

agreed with the post above that they are acting weird. 

That's very weird....is the reason they're not doing K-1's related to the issue going on with K-1's being quasi-banned (or interpreted as banned) due to Covid? Are they processing CR-1/IR-1 visas?

[Niia 22]

Just now, millefleur said:

That's very weird....is the reason they're not doing K-1's related to the issue going on with K-1's being quasi-banned (or interpreted as banned) due to Covid? Are they processing CR-1/IR-1 visas?

As far as I know, they are only working on DV because of the lawsuit. No clue why family immigration is not a priority to them like it is for other US embassies in other countries. 
 

I think it’s political, given the history of Russia - US diplomatic relations over the last few years. 

[millefleur 5,037]

2 minutes ago, Niia said:

As far as I know, they are only working on DV because of the lawsuit. No clue why family immigration is not a priority to them like it is for other US embassies in other countries. 
 

I think it’s political, given the history of Russia - US diplomatic relations over the last few years. 

That is terrible and makes little sense...so basically other embassies are processing spousal and fiance visas but others are not?

[Cheburashka34 228]

Yes they are not processing any immigrant visas according to many CR1/IR1 applicants, even ones who have expedite approvals

[Strawberrymermaid 346]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

That's very weird....is the reason they're not doing K-1's related to the issue going on with K-1's being quasi-banned (or interpreted as banned) due to Covid? Are they processing CR-1/IR-1 visas?

I talked to a guy who lives in Russia with his wife now, at the interview stage of CR1 process. They were approved for an expedited appt in June but were told the embassy is still not interviewing for CR1s, even expedited ones until further notice. 😕 

[Niia 22]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

That is terrible and makes little sense...so basically other embassies are processing spousal and fiance visas but others are not?

Yes, every embassy makes the decision for itself. It’s crazy and unfair but what can we do...

[millefleur 5,037]

2 hours ago, Strawberrymermaid said:

I talked to a guy who lives in Russia with his wife now, at the interview stage of CR1 process. They were approved for an expedited appt in June but were told the embassy is still not interviewing for CR1s, even expedited ones until further notice. 😕 

2 hours ago, Niia said:

Yes, every embassy makes the decision for itself. It’s crazy and unfair but what can we do...

This is all super frustrating...I'm baffled as to why DV visas would be processed by others not. Maybe it really is because of the lawsuit. Why would they even approve an expedited appointment, only to turn around and say "Sorry we aren't even processing spousal visas right now"....seems like they just lead that guy on. How infuriating.