visa expiering Couldn't travel because of new Covid requirements visa expiring

[erikarandy 12]

My fiance is Colombian and we received our k1 visa in November 2021. We then started on the process to receive a pet import permit to bring our dogs to the US, also as they are very important to us. The process took a long time but we finally received the pet permit. We were, finally, all ready to travel with only 3 days to go before the visa expired. We were aware of the CDC guidelines for travel from a forgien country, but didn’t fully understand the new amendment that went into effect April 14th 2022, that changed the definition of Fully Vaccinated and could travel. We thought she was fully vaccinated because she received the Covid vaccination when she had her physical before the interview that was in November 2021. She was not told it was mandatory to have a second vaccine because it wasn’t required at that time. We now find out she needs an additional vaccination to be considered fully vaccinated and did receive the J&J Jansen vaccination just this past Saturday the 14th, which is considered a Full vaccination because it is a 1 dose vaccine. Also, she now has two doses. The problem is that now she needs to wait 2 weeks for it to be good to travel, but the visa expires May 17th. What can we do? Will we have to start the entire process again? I talked to my congressional representative and she said she doesn't think we can get an extension, but she isn’t sure and so we are waiting until she hears back from the embassy. I can understand if we were already in the US, but we never were able to get to the US. We are heartbroken and in a panic. If it wasn't for this covid mess, we would have had everything good and she'd be here now. It really isn’t fair to change tat they changed rules and really no one let us know. Sure I know we should be responsible for the government, but really? Change it a month before our travel? This entire process has taken us over 3 years. What can we do? I have heard that if the visa expires and we can’t get an extension, we may not have to go completely back through the process. I don’t know.If we could just get a 20 or 30 day extension we could make it work.

 

[Crazy Cat 39,324]

If a visa expires and the visa holder cannot travel due to situations out of their control, the consulate has the discretion to re-issue the visa.  An expired visa will also mean a new medical, fees, and possibly more.  Good luck. 

 

1.  If you can convince them you are an immigrant, they might let you board. "Noncitizens who are nonimmigrants and seeking to enter the United States by air are required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States from a foreign country.".

 

 

[powerpuff 5,914]

~~ Topic moved from IMBRA to K1 Process & Procedures ~~

K1 visa expires exactly 6 months from the medical exam so it’s possible your visa is actually already expired.

 

38 minutes ago, erikarandy said:

It really isn’t fair to change tat they changed rules and really no one let us know.

I’m gonna be brutally honest with you here and tell you that it is solely your and nobody else’s responsibility to monitor COVID entry rules that have been changing very often worldwide since the pandemic began. 
 

I believe this is what the consulate would tell you to your request to re-issue the visa. There is no extension because the visa’s validity is 100% reliant on your medical (6 month validity). They will probably also say that you should’ve started your pet permit way before the interview. 
 

You are free to ask the consulate to consider re-issuing your visa. However, it is solely at their discretion. They’re in no way obligated to grant your request. And yes, If they don’t grant it, then it means you will have to start the process from the beginning.

Edited May 15, 2022 by powerpuff

[slavaskii 885]

I am perhaps a bit confused. It was always mandatory, since November 8, to be "fully vaccinated" (1 shot JJ 2 shots others) in order to board a flight. Whatever medical said was irrelevant to this fact. You said she had some COVID shot before medical; did she not return for a second shot? Whatever the CDC's amended order was in April, it did not make a booster requirement. If you were able to fly before, you should be able to fly now. 

 

The embassy seems unlikely to get back before the 17th but, moreover, I'm not sure if they can extend a visa that'll already be expired. Is the Mexico border still open? No vaccine required for Mexico and I don't think it's required over land still (a pretty big loophole that people complained about but I think was ignored).

[erikarandy 12]

5 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

If a visa expires and the visa holder cannot travel due to situations out of their control, the consulate has the discretion to re-issue the visa.  An expired visa will also mean a new medical, fees, and possibly more.  Good luck. 

 

1.  If you can convince them you are an immigrant, they might let you board. "Noncitizens who are nonimmigrants and seeking to enter the United States by air are required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States from a foreign country.".

 

 

She was fully vaccinated until the definition amendment, made April 14th 2022. I didn't understand the difference .

[slavaskii 885]

Just now, erikarandy said:

She was fully vaccinated until the definition amendment, made April 14th 2022. I didn't understand the difference .

What is the definition amendment you're talking about?

[Ontarkie 13,918]

Your delay wasn't because of Covid it was because you wanted to bring the dogs. (Just to add I would have delayed it too) I really do not see them extending the visa. 

So now either you convince them that the K1 is treated the same as an immigrant visa or fly to Mexico (not sure what they require but seen others plan it this way too) and walk across. 

[Crazy Cat 39,324]

3 minutes ago, erikarandy said:

She was fully vaccinated until the definition amendment, made April 14th 2022. I didn't understand the difference .

I am unaware of any change to the definition of "fully vaccinated".

2 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

or fly to Mexico (not sure what they require but seen others plan it this way too) and walk across. 

That was going to be next next suggestion........

Edited May 15, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[powerpuff 5,914]

6 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

What is the definition amendment you're talking about?

Found it. It has to do with post arrival quarantine/self isolation:

 

On April 4, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) amended its October 30, 2021 Order implementing the Presidential Proclamation for the safe resumption of global travel and the global suspension and restriction on entry for non-U.S. citizens who are nonimmigrants seeking to enter the United States by air travel and who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

This Amended Order aligns CDC’s post-arrival public health requirements for self-quarantine and self-isolation for noncitizen nonimmigrants who meet an exception to the proof of vaccination requirement with current after-international travel recommendations. The Amended Order also formalizes guidance described in Technical Instructions, announced in FAQs on CDC’s website, and in the attestation.

 

This Amended Order will go into effect for flights departing to the US from a foreign country at or after 12:01am EDT (4:01GMT) April 14, 2022

 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/order-safe-travel.html

[erikarandy 12]

9 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

~~ Topic moved from IMBRA to K1 Process & Procedures ~~

K1 visa expires exactly 6 months from the medical exam so it’s possible your visa is actually already expired.

 

I’m gonna be brutally honest with you here and tell you that it is solely your and nobody else’s responsibility to monitor COVID entry rules that have been changing very often worldwide since the pandemic began. 
 

I believe this is what the consulate would tell you to your request to re-issue the visa. There is no extension because the visa’s validity is 100% reliant on your medical (6 month validity). They will probably also say that you should’ve started your pet permit way before the interview. 
 

You are free to all the consulate to consider re-issuing your visa. However, it is solely at trot discretion. They’re in no way obligated to grant your request. And yes, If they don’t grant it, then it means you will have to start the process from the beginning.

The expiration date on the visa says May 17th, 2022. Yes, I'm aware of due diligence, but the change in definition of the amendment on April 14th changed the definition of Fully Vaccinated. Prior to April 14th it meant a vaccination. It was very confusing. Both the embassy, the airlines and the CDC had slightly different explanations. Was very confusing. When she had the physical, she was told, in order to fly she needed to get the vaccination and then when she arrived in the US to get the second. The process for the Pet Import Permit couldn't be started until we had the visa and knew when we would fly. the process, again is very extensive and confusing and took 4 months. Then when you do get the approval, the permit is only for 30 days and then you need to start making flight plans. We have made and cancelled so many flights and lost so much money on them. Also, the rabies shots need to be given at a certain time and then bllod/serum needs to be sent toa special lab in the US. When you are dealing with so many different industries, Embassy/State department, CDC, Viral Labs, and airlines, it's not easy to get them all to do things in anyone else's time constraints. In reality, we did everything right. we just got bit by the Covid definition change while we were focused on the CDC for the pet permits.

[Crazy Cat 39,324]

4 hours ago, erikarandy said:

but the change in definition of the amendment on April 14th

It was announced on April 4th...not the 14th......It wasn't confusing.....You failed to keep current with requirements.....Good luck.  I would seriously consider traveling to Mexico.....to cross the border by land.  Good luck. 

 

Edited May 16, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[powerpuff 5,914]

6 minutes ago, erikarandy said:

The expiration date on the visa says May 17th, 2022

It doesn’t matter what it says. Again, Visa expires exactly 6 months after the medical, regardless of what is printed on the visa. We actually had someone post a few months ago that they were denied entry because their medical expired even though there was a different date printed on the visa.

 

6 minutes ago, erikarandy said:

but the change in definition of the amendment on April 14th changed the definition of Fully Vaccinated. Prior to April 14th it meant a vaccination.

Please provide official sources. What I posted above from CDC regarding April 14 update has to do with post arrival quarantine and self isolation. The definition of fully vaccinated has remained exactly the same since November 8, 2021.

Edited May 15, 2022 by powerpuff

[erikarandy 12]

19 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

I am unaware of any change to the definition of "fully vaccinated".

That was going to be next next suggestion........

hahahah, Walking across the border seems to be so much easier these days. It's disgusting! No Covid requirements, tests or otherwise. The definition changed Fully, from being vaccinated to having the entire series before you got to the USA. She only had the first vaccination. and honestly I didn't want her to have the second one, because they are poison!

[Crazy Cat 39,324]

3 hours ago, erikarandy said:

hahahah, Walking across the border seems to be so much easier these days. It's disgusting! No Covid requirements, tests or otherwise. The definition changed Fully, from being vaccinated to having the entire series before you got to the USA. She only had the first vaccination. and honestly I didn't want her to have the second one, because they are poison!

LOL!!! Now, the rest of the story comes out.......

 

Edited May 16, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[erikarandy 12]

29 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

I am perhaps a bit confused. It was always mandatory, since November 8, to be "fully vaccinated" (1 shot JJ 2 shots others) in order to board a flight. Whatever medical said was irrelevant to this fact. You said she had some COVID shot before medical; did she not return for a second shot? Whatever the CDC's amended order was in April, it did not make a booster requirement. If you were able to fly before, you should be able to fly now. 

 

The embassy seems unlikely to get back before the 17th but, moreover, I'm not sure if they can extend a visa that'll already be expired. Is the Mexico border still open? No vaccine required for Mexico and I don't think it's required over land still (a pretty big loophole that people complained about but I think was ignored).

to cross at the Mexico border is illegal. She needs to cross at a port of entry.