Mintosman

Has anyone ever heard of someone being late to the Embassy for their interview? We have a court document available at 6am but interview is scheduled for 6:30am

27 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

Embassies change their instructions regularly, sometimes it's the delivery method, sometimes other matters.  It would be a disservice to keep inaccurate data on VJ (since the embassies would not send an update to VJ, eh...).

 

I think the best instructions is to tell people to follow their embassy/consulate instructions, and to validate with recent reviews on VJ/all questions if unclear.

 

Best of luck.

I have come to understand now. Thanks to everyone’s great answers. I appreciate it 🙏🏻

7 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

It is not the same per embassy. 
 

Kind of low to complain about this free, all-volunteer site not providing you with that level of hand-holding.

2 hours ago, Scandi said:

You have like 140 posts... 

 

And yes, that's the site. You will find every answer you need, you just need to find the right subforum instead of complaining. It's all right there.

First of all I wasn’t complaining, I was purely stating that VJ brings people this far to just let them wander around with no direction at the very last stage. I wanted to change that. I only have experience with one embassy in the world. 2nd, I used a different user name years ago. (I only have 140 post because I just need clarification on a few of the things that are different from the last process). I am willing to do the work to make the resources available to everyone so that they don’t run into the same issues. 

LOL you mean the same site I’ve answered questions on for years? Ok 👍🏻 

5 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

"Unless I am missing something it seems Visa Journey really fails to lead people to the ultimate finish line. "

 

Once your interview is scheduled, each consulate has its own SPECIFIC requirements and instructions.  

Wouldn't the "execution" of steps be the same even though the steps may be different? For example, Registering for Courier services, I imagine that is different per Embassy, but I believe there is only 1 website that NVC uses to Register?

Hello, I can't find any resource on here that walks people through the steps AFTER you receive your Interview Letter from NVC. Are there Step-by-Step Instructions for how you sign up for Courier Services, how you email IOM, how to use AIS.USVISA-INFO.COM when you have children etc. Unless I am missing something it seems Visa Journey really fails to lead people to the ultimate finish line. And before I get answers of oh it says submit IOM email or Register for DHL etc... I am speaking of SPECIFICS for people to follow just like we have for Guides when choosing CR1 or K1 etc. 

Hopefully I am just looking in the wrong spot!

7 hours ago, Haliye said:

Congrats. What is your DQ date?

 

August 2020

Today we received our Interview Letter. In trying to book our medical it asks us to select which appointment type/letter type did we receive? We are CR1 however, that wasn't an option. There was "K visa types for Fiancé and Spouse or Child" or there was a selection for "Immigrant planning on immigrating to the USA". 

Which one should I select? 

18 minutes ago, HRQX said:

If the wrong card is issued then file Form I-90 for free because of DHS error: https://www.uscis.gov/i-90

 

See 8 CFR § 1235.11(b): "Correction of endorsement on immigrant visa. If the alien is subject to the provisions of section 216 of the Act, but the classification endorsed on the immigrant visa does not so indicate, the endorsement shall be corrected and the alien shall be admitted as a lawful permanent resident on a conditional basis, if otherwise admissible. Conversely, if the alien is not subject to the provisions of section 216 of the Act, but the visa classification endorsed on the immigrant visa indicates that the alien is subject thereto (e.g., if the second anniversary of the marriage upon which the immigrant visa is based occurred after the issuance of the visa and prior to the alien's application for admission) the endorsement on the visa shall be corrected and the alien shall be admitted as a lawful permanent resident without conditions, if otherwise admissible."

Thank you 🙏🏻 

19 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Absolutely, yes.  However, sometimes the wrong card gets issued.  If it does, file an I-90 with no fee to get reissued correctly.

Thank you!!

42 minutes ago, arken said:

You'll be doing yourself a huge favor by traveling to the US after 2nd year anniversary. Just make sure the visa won't expire by that time.

My only concern is that an acquaintance did just that a month ago and the CBP Officer stamped it someway as a 2 year visa. She asked the officer “shouldn’t that be a 10 year visa” and he said “do you want to see your husband or not “?  So she didn’t want to risk anything and just left.

5 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Yes.

Thank you! Redmond resident here 😉

Hello, I am wondering if you get your Visa approved a month or two before your 2nd anniversary, can you wait until after that anniversary passes and then travel to USA and get a 10 year green card instead of the 2 year card?

3 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

From the I-130 instructions.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-130instr.pdf

 

Who May Not File Form I-130?

You may NOT file Form I-130 for a person in the following categories: 

3. A stepparent or stepchild, if the marriage that created the relationship took place after the child turned 18 years of age;

 

That's what I thought. Seems lame that the LPR can but the spouse can't. Appreciate the confirmation.

3 minutes ago, igoyougoduke said:

yes you can petition for the mother and children. Are you a US Citizen ? no you can sponsor your step child by relation of marriage to mother.  You will need evidence of marriage and the children evidence that your wife is the mother.

 

Countries might have rules that children cannot leave unless they turn 21. It depends on each country.  You can petition but if the country has limits that child biological father has to allow to let the child leave the country that the situation will be on hold until either the child turns 21 or biological father consents 

When reading USCIS it says the child must be UNDER 18 when the marriage happened. A legal website says "18 OR under".  This case would be separate than the mom and other children as they are still considered CR1 & CR2's.  I was hoping to file a completely separate case for the oldest child since Covid has made us wait so long. If we have to wait until the mom gets here, the child will probably be 21 and then the case can last as long as 10 years. Trying to avoid that long of a wait. 

The marriage that created a step-child relationship happened when the child was 18. They are now 20. As we are waiting for Covid to open up the local embassy, is it possible for me (USC) to start a petition to bring my step-child over? The way I read it online is that we will have to wait until the mom gets here and then she will have to file for them. I was hoping to have the case created before the child turned 21. 

3 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Attorney advised against the bankruptcy itself, or just the timing?  If, the timing, maybe just a wrong assumption about the impact on the immigration process.

She is a little hesitant just because of the means test (with a Co-sponsor I feel I am safe). She is a little more conservative in her thinking. If that was the only factor I might ignore her advice and just file. However, in speaking to a bankruptcy attorney, they advised it's best to wait until my wife and kids get here; my expenses will increase thus more debt can be wiped out. I need to file before my wife gets a job so she is not a party to the bankruptcy. 

11 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Bankruptcy is not a "public record" until it is discharged.  That usually takes 3 months or so after filing.  While filing bankruptcy might FEEL like a scare on your finances, it is only a scar on your credit rating.  (for a long time)  Once a Bankruptcy is discharged, the person's finances and ability to support an immigrant actually improve because most or all their debt disappears.  It's good the OP is doing this BEFORE the spouse is included in the filing.

Thanks as always Pushbrk! My attorney advised against it but I think it has it's advantages and disadvantages 

On 3/9/2021 at 3:12 PM, Lucky Cat said:

Where is that even mentioned in your immigration paperwork?  I can't think of why it would be an issue.

Thoughts?

At the interview, the CO asked our friend about unpaid mortgage that was included in their bankruptcy. They were caught off guard. It wasn't mentioned anywhere yet the CO brought it up and the fiance' had no clue how to answer. This was at the same embassy (Nairobi). So, no it isn't mentioned, and yet they had to get a lawyer to provide proof the loan was discharged in their bankruptcy. Hence my question. 

Any ideas how starting the bankruptcy process while we wait for our interview? Has anyone seen them ask for updated forms due to the LONG DELAYS? Or will my spouse just go in with our current paperwork and just have those documents handy in case they ask? Also, we have a Co-sponsor, so does filing bankruptcy count less (so-to-speak) than if we didn't have a co-sponsor? 

2 minutes ago, HRQX said:

Note that DOS would have to comply with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in order to propose a significant change to 22 CFR § 42.62(a). The APA includes requirements for publishing notices of proposed and final rulemaking in the Federal Register, and provides opportunities for the public to comment on notices of proposed rulemaking.

Fine by me. We are a year into Covid. The mental health of the children and spouses who are just waiting for a few questions to be asked before being reunited is worth a few hearings and public comment responses. IMHO 

On 2/27/2021 at 3:24 PM, GregandNatty said:

 

I think a phone call from Biden to the State Department could  fix the issue, but worse case an executive order that orders embassies to ramp up interviews would fix alot of this.    I'm not saying we need to be at pre-covid levels, but maybe even 50% would be a reasonable place to be.  We aren't anywhere close to that.   See attached.

The issue isn't the entire immigration system, but the people doing interviews.  Get these people vaccinated.  Absolutely all of the science about the current vaccines say without exception that every vaccine currently available prevents 100% of severe COVID and death.   That's what really matters right?  I mean, we all get colds every year, but we don't go hide in our homes because of it.  If the vaccines reduce COVID to something that amounts to a cold, then problem solved.  

Why you ask should they be prioritized?   Because what's going on right now by keeping families apart is having very real and extremely detrimental impacts on people.  It's difficult to measure the impacts to families going through immigration and are apart because of the pandemic because we aren't actively looking at it, but they are there and they are hurting alot of people.   Don't underestimate the importance of family to personal health.   

I’d say Zoom interviews would be a nice start!!! They have all our information. Just ask away on a zoom call.

23 hours ago, Juddy said:

It doesn't hurt to try.am waiting for a date for my 4 year old and 6 year old daughters intervinterview 

I got this response from the embassy when asking about CR1 expedite approval

Thank you for your inquiry. We will review it and respond shortly.

For emergency U.S. citizen services, please contact +254 020 363 6451. For general visa information, including how to request an emergency appointment, please contact the visa call center at +254 020 764 0121.

U. S. Embassy Nairobi strongly recommends that U.S. Citizens and nationals enroll in STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, at step.state.gov. STEP enrollees receive important information from the Embassy about health conditions, safety alerts, and travel updates.  

You can also find the current COVID-19 messaging on our website: 

·         Kenya- https://ke.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/  

·         Somalia-https://so.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/  

U.S. Embassy Nairobi is currently providing only mission critical and emergency services, which include emergency assistance to American citizens, and a very limited number of visa cases categorized as mission-critical such as adoption cases, spouses and under-21 children of US citizens, among others.

The Embassy remains unable to resume routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services at this time.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date.  The MRV fee is valid and may be used to schedule an interview appointment in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at essa_contactus+ke+info+en@visaops.net  or call +254 20 764 0121 or +254 20 764 0799 to request an emergency appointment.

Applicants for H1B, H2B, H4, L and certain J categories covered by Presidential Proclamation 10052 should request an appointment only if you have reason to believe you may qualify for one of the exceptions listed in the Proclamation here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/.  

Best regards,

Consular Section

U.S. Embassy Nairobi

4 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Acording to embassy site

 

In accordance with United States Department of State worldwide regulations in place due to COVID-19 and in line with efforts by the Government of Kenya to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has now temporarily restricted all routine consular processing. To submit a request for an emergency service, please email Kenya_acs@state.gov. 

 

BTW the embassy would have no news of your application since it is still at NVC

Does this mean they have suspended family Visa processing? I don't see a date on that statement on the embassy's website.

I will be in Kenya next month and our case has been waiting at NVC for an interview. Would there be anything gained from me (USC) going to visit the embassy since I am going to be within 5 miles of it? I doubt they would do anything but was wondering if the Embassy allows USC's to walk in and ask questions or get time frame estimates.