jan22

Montreal’s visa operation is focused on immigrant visas.

NVC reviews to ensure that you have submitted some documentation for all the requirements. They do not evaluate the quality of those documents, as they are not authorized/trained to adjudicate visas. They cannot review documents and determine, for example, that they are fraudulent. The final evaluation and acceptance of documentation is done by the officials at the interview.

Similar efforts have occurred over the years in other aspects of consular processing — for example, applications for Consular Report of Birth Abroad applications — and have been extremely helpful in having an applicant ready with all required information at the interview and, therefore, being approved the first time an officer reviews the case at interview. The ultimate goal is for an officer to have to review a case only once, thus freeing them for more cases, or reviews of cases that were previously 221(g)ed, or those that have finally cleared administrative processing and are ready for approval processing. Ultimately, it should help reduce backlogs at posts — but that remains to be seen, depending on any new processing requirements that might be announced in the future.

I am not familiar with Cairo’s current procedures, but I would not leap to the assumption that this is something to be concerned or panicked about right now. When there is an officer review of the details/documentation of a non-immigrant visa case (which a K-1 technically is) prior to the interview, the officer usually either issues the visa or sends an interim refusal until the interview. The interim refusal may suggest additional information to bring to the interview. For example, if someone has applied for a visa under the Interview Waiver program and the officer decides that the person really needs to be interviewed, they will issue a 221(g) refusal and require the person to come in for an interview. They will tell the applicant if there’s a specific piece of information to bring with them. It appears to me that what Cairo is doing is reviewing the case for completion prior to the interview, to help applicants come fully prepared with everything they need to bring. To document the review and what was requested, they issue the 221(g) sheet. Since none of the main areas were checked on the OP’s sheet as far as I could see, it seems to me that they were likely satisfied with the basic documents, but wanted to indicate that documentation of a solid, bonafide relationship is very important — probably THE most important part of the application.. NOTE: If someone has gone through Cairo for a K-1 visa recently and my basic assumption about their process is wrong, please let me know and I’ll reassess this response! About asking for an earlier interview — the date you received is likely the earliest open date. Unless you have a valid reason (other than, of course, wanting to be together as soon as possible), it is unlikely that you will get an earlier date.

No problem — happy to help!

Just to check —- you naturalized before your son immigrated, right? Did he immigrate on an IR-2 or some other immigrant visa? Is he in your physical custody (i.e., is he living with you)? If all of the answers to these are “Yes”, your son became a US citizen immediately after entering as a permanent resident to live with you (Child Citizenship Act of 2000). I would recommend that you immediately take the evidence of a) your naturalization; b) his proof of entering as a legal permanent resident; c) documentation that he is living with you at the same address, and and immediately apply for a US passport for him. It should be the fastest way to document his acquisition of US citizenship. After he has the passport, you can then always apply for a Certificate of Citizenship as a further proof in case the passport is lost, etc. Goid luck!

You need to work with NVC and convince them of your argument so they move the case forward to the Embassy — may or may not work out, but you need to try. This might be a case for lawyer involvement, as it’s a rather unusual situation for NVC (and the consular officer).

Just a note — NVC does not have the authority to definitively decide on CSPA issues. They may make an initial determination to allow a case to move forward to interview, but the actual, legal determination as to the application of CSPA issues resides with the consular officer at the time of interview. The officer will decide the “seek to acquire issue”, which seems the biggest issue, IMO.

You indicate that you have no plans to apply to immigrate your husband’s step-father, but I wanted to share information that might be useful if the situation changes or for someone else who might be in a similar situation. Sounds like it would be unlikely that your husband would be able to petition him — the marriage to his mother would have had to occur prior to your husband’s 18th birthday. If not, her husband does not qualify for immigration as the step-parent of your husband.

You need both. For more information on how/where to get what you need, check out the “Police, Court, Prison Records” information at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Georgia.html.

The requirement was dropped for immigrant visa applicants as of March 11, 2025. See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/cdc-removes-covid-19-vaccination-requirement-for-immigrant-visa-applicants.html .

I’m sure you know this, but just in case… You have no standing to apply for an immigrant visa for your MIL. Has your spouse completed the naturalization application and taken the oath of citizenship? If so, she needs to file the I-130. If not, she needs to wait until she’s a US citizen and then file.

The announcement of the USCIS change you are referring to was in regard to adjustment of status cases. It said nothing about a change to the immigrant visa vaccination requirements, which are set by the CDC.

Have you read all the information available on the State Department’s website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption/Intercountry-Adoption-Country-Information/Morocco.html ?

Your stepson would not have become a US citizen after entering the US on his IR-2 visa. Per your timeline, his mother (your wife) entered the US on her IR-1 visa in December 2021. There is no way she could have become a US citizen prior to your stepson’s IR-2 entry in November 2024. He, therefore, became a legal permanent resident (green card holder) like his mother. The next step has been explained here. If you haven’t already paid the green card processing fee, do so immediately. If you have paid it, the green card should arrive relatively soon. The IR-2 visa was valid for only one entry into the US. At that time, a stamp (I-551) was placed on or near the US visa in your stepson’s Vietnamese passport. That stamp is proof of his immigration status for one year. It can be used for travel in and out of the US or for any time proof of legal status is needed. You should receive the green card long before that one year mark.