peony

Thank you so much!! I'll give it ago and see if they answer me!

Hello everyone,
 
My wife had her interview today.  It was originally scheduled for Aug 28 but we were able to reschedule for today, Aug 20, 11:30 AM Kyiv time.
 
The details:
 - She arrived an hour early and waited outside.  They eventually let her in at 12PM, after checking her temperature.  She said some others - students - were turned away because of high temperatrue readings. They were possibly sick, or could have been in the sun too long.  Wife sticks to the shades on sunny days so this wasn't an issue for her.))
 - She submitted her docs and waited inside for about 45 minutes.  The rest of the people waiting were students.
- A young lady coducted her interview in English.  5 questions:
   - How we met
   - Why she left the US (she entered last year on K1 but left due to family emergency.  We didn't adjust status)
   - Where I worked
   - When/where we saw each other after she returned to Ukraine
   - My first and last name.
 
The CO said she was approved.  CEAC case tracker currently shows AP.
 
I am so relieved.  We didn't have anything to worry about, but still I was a bit nervous.  I was up early when she texted that she was waiting outside.  She took her old phone with her  Now the embassy allows small things - cell phone and/or small purse - to be taken and stored onsite while inside for the interview.   Previously they did not allow any items to be stored and stated should be left behind.
 
Next is getting her a flight over here.))
 
Good luck everyone!

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Thanks for the advice!
In orden to leave Argentina I asked migraciones what I needed and they just said I needed my passport and valid visa. And they told me to check the airlines and special flights because borders are closed. So the only available option if you are in Argentina now and need to leave,  is to fly with eastern airlines to Miami. It's the only airline flying  with no restrictions about passengers. The other one that goes to miami is aerolineas Argentinas. But they only take american citizens or permanent residents. When you get to ezeiza airport,  at migraciones they make you sign a "declaración jurada",  saying that you are leaving the country because you want to, and borders are closed, meaning if you want to come Back to Argentina they don't know when they are going to let you back in.

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Congratulations. I have updated you.

Hello @TaKane     
 
I had my interview this morning. 

I arrived at 8:10 am (my appointment was at 8:30). I was told by the security guard to wait till 8:15 when they start letting people in. Before getting there, I had to show my appointment letter (printed from email) to two police officers standing near the gate. There were a LOT of officers standing to guard from the ultra right wings screaming toward the Embassy (it's Hiroshima A-bomb Day today).

I was escorted into the embassy at 8:15.  (For those who need to use a restroom before getting in, the building right next to the embassy has clean restrooms on the first floor.)

The security gate was just like any airport. You are not allowed to bring lap-top computers.  Only one cell-phone is allowed. They will ask you to turn off the Bluetooth function.

At the entrance into the building, at the reception, you will hand in your passport and you will receive a clear file case and a sheet of instruction -- what to do while waiting to be called by the intake officer.

Upon entering the visa section, you are to take a number and wait till your number is called (and shown on the monitor).  By this time you are supposed to have all the required documents ready in order into the file case.  Remember to write your full name on the back of the two photos. 

In the visa section (waiting room), there are restrooms, a beverage vending machine, a photo booth, and a water dispenser.  The room was pretty chilly with the air conditioners, partly because the room was practically empty. 

At 8:20, my number was called and I turned in all the documents.  At this stage, there were 2 other parties in the room.  Here, the officer asks basic questions.   The office opened the police certificate here. She was very friendly and kind. 
1.  Have you ever lived other than US/Japan?
2.  First marriage?  Any children?
3.  Any criminal record?
4.  Any rejection at US Immigration before?
5.  Med report is sent electronically?
6.  Mother (Father)'s maiden names
 
At 8:35, I was called to do the fingerprints.  The officer was very gentle and nice. Fingerprints are taken just as you do at the immigration at a port of entry ---  different from the way they did at the Police. Around between then and 9 am, another four applicants arrived.  Total 7 including me.

After that, the wait was a bit long. I saw a couple of officers talking behind the counters and frequently checking their computer screens. At 9:20 I saw a supervisor-look-like office coming out from the behind and chatted with the officers at the counter, and then they did little fist pumps.  I did not know what it meant but I took the liberty of interpreting it as a good sign -- "we can issue visas now!!" 
 
Though my number was #3, I was the first one to be called for the interview (around 9:25). Interestingly, they asked to take my fingerprints (right hand only) again.

Here are the questions the officer asked:
 
- What is your spouse' name?
- Where did you meet?  When? 
- Where do your spouse's parents live?  Where are they from?
- What does your spouse do for work?  How about yourself?
- Where are you planning to live in the US?  --- I told them we already have a house with no mortgage.
- How long were you together before getting married?  Had a big wedding party or what?
 
No question about insurance and finance.  No mention on DS5440.  The interview was short and simple.  8 minutes or so. Since the officer (and myself) was wearing a mask, it was not easy to hear, but he was generous enough to repeat if I looked confused or stuck.
 
At the end, the officer said, "OK. Everything's good. Approved. Congratulations" with a warm smile.  He said I will have my passport/visa on hand within a week or so. I could not ask for any better officer.  He was so friendly, gentle, and willing to be helpful.
 
Till the very last moment I heard the long awaited (we started in Feb 2019) word, "APPROVED", I was so afraid what if my visa is on hold like some people on July 31. 
 
I was out of the Embassy at 9:35.  The Ultra Right Wing were still screaming.....I rushed into the Hotel Okura and had a sigh of relief.  


 
 

 

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

Just got back from my interview. I got APPROVED!! 
 
It was really quick, was in and out within 30 minutes and nobody else was there. CO was really friendly. He asked quite a few questions but it was more like general chit chat. He congratulated me on our anniversary today and told me to expect my passport back within 2 weeks.

I called my husband once I got out (at 05:30 his time 😂) and woke him up with the good news! I still can’t believe it’s finally happening and that I’ll be with my husband soon!

We just did too. Same date at 8am

DQ July 9th

Hello everyone,
 
We just received our interview appointment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for September 17.
 
DQ was July 9

I'm pleased to update on our situation, our visa has been approved!

I understand that fear very well
 
You're so close to getting an interview though, I would wait if I were you! 
So you're not rushing back in case you do get an interview soon, and also don't end up stranded over there and can't make it back in time, etc!
 
I'm hopeful we'll have an interview in September or October.
 
(But I understand the pain of being apart in the middle of a pandemic. It happened/is happening to us as well.)
 

My USC husband got his residency while living in Argentina in 2018, in person, so I don't know if it can be done from the US. 
But on the "migraciones" website I found that they've began processing residency cases online: http://www.migraciones.gov.ar/radex/index.html
But again, don't know if it'll apply if he's in the US.
 
I know you'll be traveling alone, but as a positive anecdote: I traveled (not alone, I went along with my US citizen husband) to the US with a B1/B2 tourist visa in September of 2019 and I had no problems whatsoever. I was scared they'll turn me away so I brought along with me a lot of evidence of my ties to Argentina (pay stubs from my job, a copy of my apartment lease, etc). But nothing was requested. We entered through JFK airport.

Despite Covid and a swath of US consulate closings, 34 VJ'ers had their IR-1 Visas approved in July so far!  Good news and congrats!
 
https://www.visajourney.com/content/visa-approvals-this-month/