USUK8

Do you mind if I ask what the covid requirements were when you got to Turkey? Did you need any test info or have a screening on arrival? What about when you got back to the states? 

I'm planning a trip to Ukraine in October and I have to decide whether to go to Turkey or Ukraine. Ukraine requires a negative test within 48 hours of travel and I can't find one place that can do that for me. I would prefer Ukraine but I'll take what I can get at this point.

Thanks

5 hours ago, Derek Scheyer said:

What is the process to extend the expiration date of our NOA2? And do we contact USCIS or the NVC for this?

I called NVC earlier in the week and they said they would automatically be reinstated. I'm not sure if that's for the full 4 months or whatever was remaining on the NOA2 when things shut down.

On 8/19/2020 at 5:31 PM, Hunkydory97 said:

Hello everyone,

reading the forums I know I’m not alone in feeling frustrated on how K-1 are being handled. I’ve spoken to attorneys and I basically have been told by all of them a k-1 is a wrong choice. Have any of y’all decided to just ditch the k-1 and go to your fiancé country? As that’s what I’m considering doing but, if I do that would it impact  us in the future if we obviously went the spousal route years later.

 

I talked to and met with two immigration attorneys before I started my process and neither one knew their ### from a hole in the ground. I would take their projection of doom with a grain of salt. I would like to think that we all know what we're up against at this point without needing a lawyer to tell us.

We went with the K-1 and the last thing I'd want to hear is some lawyer telling me what a mistake it was, while scratching a check for the pleasure. It seems like they are giving opinion based advice on a subject with no reference, and it doesn't sound like good advice to me.

As much as it sucks, and believe me I'm not happy, all we can do is wait and hope that things get moving as soon as possible. 

Our NOA2 expired last month by the way. I called the NVC and they said it would be automatically reinstated and I don't need to do anything else at this point. We'll see if this holds true.

5 hours ago, Dmitry S said:

United States Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine is resuming certain visa services starting August 12:

https://ua.usembassy.gov/visas/

Ok, now we're getting somewhere! I would obviously prefer K-1's over any kind of student visa right now, considering the amount of distance and online learning that will start the year, but it's a step in the right direction.

Ok, I'm confused. Why did my post get deleted?

4 hours ago, Mtu Mzuri said:

I would argue, being a former federal employee, that federal employees aren't able to travel abroad (including embassy staff) during a DOS global travel advisory against Americans travelling abroad. So the fact that it being lifted would hopefully positively impact embassies getting their staff back in country on a post by post basis. Let's hope for the best. 

In light of the fact that there has been no good news, I'll take this as something positive and hope for the best!

Thanks

Just now, Sparkle Sparkle said:

you dont need to be on twitter to view a tweet : 

 

I see the tweet..I just don't see that release when I go to the website. Man oh man

I can't find that news anywhere. Do you have a link to the release? I don't tweet or facebook, so maybe that's why.

Thanks

For what it's worth...our NOA2 is expiring in another week or so, so I called about extending yesterday.

US Embassy in Kiev response.....We don't know anything, we haven't received guidance and since we haven't gotten your paperwork from NVC yet, call them. No need to send us a letter because we don't know.

OK.

NVC response....We don't know anything. We haven't received any guidance therefor we can't advise. No need for a letter because we don't know.

So, like I'd already assumed but just wanted to confirm, everything is a cluster....

17 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

I recommend that you "look around" in VJ. There are some good conversations that are happening that address your concern. Also....

 

Can I share somethings with you that I learned long ago about this process?

    • "the man with the gold makes the rules"
    • it will take as long as it will take 
    • no one with any certainty can tell you when some process will be completed
    • Your sense of urgency will never be equaled to what USCIS, NVC or your embassy demonstrates
    • Your journey is not going to mirror someone else's experience - yours and theirs are not the same
    • They only promised you a YES or NO answer. Never an exact time that their decision would be completed
    • Lowering your expectations will make you a much more relaxed individual

Good luck on your journey 
 

I understand all of this, I was just typing some thoughts in my respective months thread. Just thoughts! I've barely made a sound here and have been extremely patient and will continue to be. I'll also keep my thoughts to myself in the future.

Thanks

3 minutes ago, Steph&Wayne said:

I'm not sure which federal buildings you are referring to, but if it helps, the federal agency that I contract for has not returned to their offices in DC or any of them throughout the country. Hopefully everything will move along for all of us soon, but please don't assume that just because some places are open that that means that everyone has returned to work as normal. Most places are still only allowing essential workers and sometimes that means only a handful are allowed to be there at one time.

All of my contracts are in federal buildings in DC and there are plenty of filled offices, so I'm not assuming, I see it. I'm not saying things are normal at all, just that I hope they open embassies soon.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm really starting to get frustrated now. The inconsistencies with Corona protocols have eroded my patience and so has the lack of information on the immigration ban and it's effect on my case. I hope the announcement next week is a good one and that it's directly related to embassies re-opening.

There are federal buildings in D.C. filled with people everyday now, so I'm not sure why they wouldn't open an embassy in a country that has half as many Covid cases as my state alone. I hope next week brings good news,

Sorry for the rant!

25 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

I have the same questions.  Fortunately, our trips there are typically 1-3 months.  And as usual in Ukraine, what the government says is as clear as mud.  

Absolutely true! That made me laugh!

1 hour ago, gregcrs2 said:

The Ukrainian government has lifted the entry ban for foreigners. U.S. citizens will be allowed to enter Ukraine if they can demonstrate that they have medical insurance covering all expenses related to COVID-19 treatment while on the territory of Ukraine. U.S. citizens entering Ukraine will be required to enter into self-quarantine if the Ministry of Health considers the United States a country with high incidence of COVID-19. That determination will be reviewed and communicated to Border Police every three days. Accordingly, U.S. citizens traveling to Ukraine should be prepared to self-isolate if advised to do so upon arrival.

 

So now you can go into Ukraine if you can get a flight.

 

https://ua.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

This is good news, but there is a lot of gray area. Does the Ministry of Health consider the US High incidence right now? Should you plan on self isolation now? How long would you isolate? 2 weeks? I'm not asking you specifically, just thinking out loud.

I'd hate to plan a short trip and find out that I had to self isolate for two weeks once I get there.

3 hours ago, Athens said:

You will be given access to edit and mark the correct answer when you mail the embassy to inform them about the mistake. 

According to the instructions, I think it's already correct but we'll see.

The DS-160 did list fiancé as a relative. As I am the fiancé living in the US, we answered yes. It confused me since a fiancé is not a relative yet.

I don't know if it's a huge problem either way, but I thought we answered the question as instructed.

Hopefully our app ships today from NVC! It's been quiet for too long.

2 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

This is a place to learn. I just ask that you use the PDF to answer your question as many many many times before you, others have had the same question. I didn't have to write the PDF, and I don't have to answer questions, and I don't have to be here, but it is what I like to do. I am not signaling you out but only trying to help you with your answer. When I say refer to the PDF it's meant for you to have your question answered there with much more detail then I care to populate in the thread only because I answer so many questions and it gets frustrating to answer over and over again. Most come to a thread like this and they do not read the entire thread as many times their topic has be discussed.

 

I have many seasoned pros here on VJ that do not care to be in the NOA1 and NOA2 K-1 discussion threads because they see and hear the same questions over and over. I walked a mile in your shoes please walk a mile in mine.

 

Further to the DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, thanks for the information that the USCIS number can ALSO be used as well as the NVC case number. As always Good luck and stay engaged. 

Absolutely, I understand completely. I appreciate this place more than you know! Thanks for everything.

5 minutes ago, JBF said:

From what I was reading it’s a common problem unfortunately. I have no idea on how to print it out and it’s kind of odd. I tried several times but nothing worked ... 

There should be a way to print everything at the end. I guess as long as we have the confirmation, we should be ok.

2 hours ago, JBF said:

It specifically asks for the USCIS case number. I don’t see where and how it’s wrong. It’s in the instructions, and I have put that one as well. 
It says “your application receipt/petition was given to you by the Department of Homeland Security’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after you filed your petition application at a USCIS Service Center.”

 

The only problem I’m having is that I wanted to print out the whole application for my records (I know it doesn’t have to be brought to the interview) but I’m unable to do so. Does anyone know why? It only lets me print out the confirmation page, but not the application. 

 

Thanks for the confirmation! I had to print out each page at a time before she signed. I only got to print everything out on one though. The other got signed before we got a chance to print it out, so we only have the confirmation page on that one. I couldn't figure it out either.

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

"just in case" of what?  I don't recall everyone and the conversations that I have with them or what information I have supplied. I answer hundreds of posts weekly.

 

I only know what others have reported and that they needed the case number and most used the NVC number. Then try using the WAC # and see if you can complete the DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application with it. Let me know what you use so I can inform others when the time comes. 

Just in case, in light of current circumstances, that someone here might have some other information that I might not know. I didn't ask you specifically. I realize that you do a lot around here and I try not to bother you with questions that you get hundreds of times.

The DS-160 asked for the USCIS number that starts with 3 letters and is 13 digits long, it didn't ask for the NVC number which is the same, 3 letters and 13 digits, so it made me question. We used the USCIS number, so now I'm thinking it might be wrong and obviously can't change it now.

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

Well, most who are students of the PDF see the line that states ask Greenbaum for your embassy P3, but I guess you read that and didn't think you would need a copy. 

Ouch!! You're guessing wrong. I asked you for the package in March and thanked you already for giving it to me. I think I was asking that question "just in case". I don't mean to pollute the forum with redundancy.

I do have another question though. I thought I was waiting for the NVC number to use on the DS-160, but the DS-160 only asked for the USCIS Case number. Did I misunderstand something?

Thanks again!

Our application is still at the NVC after two weeks. I'm not expecting anything to move very quickly right now so we're just finishing up our DS-160's today and then we will wait for the next notifications. I'm pretty sure that's all we can do right now. Am I missing something else that I should be doing?

That's perfect information guys, thank you. And she is filling it out, I'm just here for support!