Catarina&Brendan

My visa package is already on it's way to my house! Finally!
 
Yesterday I received an email from the US embassy in Paris saying that my visa left their office and I should receive it within the coming three days.
 
It seems that they are making progress.

Congratz! It does seem like the people that were only waiting for the passport are getting it finally. We've noticed that even Gloom got their passport a week or so ago.

This does increase the hope a little bit much, now waiting to see if people that didn't even had an interview schedule before, start having emails setting the dates. So far in that department nothing new.

But we're really happy to see that we are seeing some signs of life coming from the Embassy after a couple months of darkness.

My visa package is already on it's way to my house! Finally!
 
Yesterday I received an email from the US embassy in Paris saying that my visa left their office and I should receive it within the coming three days.
 
It seems that they are making progress.

Here is my experience with the us embassy in Paris (and ongoing frustration).. You are not alone.
 
I had my interview scheduled for April 7th but I failed to make it to the original appointment, due to confusion/lack/lag of communication from the embassy, in regards to COVID. FYI: They have information on their website saying "Due to COVID-19, any visa applicants who have traveled outside of France 10 days or less before their appointment date will not be admitted to the Embassy and will be required to reschedule their appointment". I sent several emails and called the embassy asking if I really had to quarantine in France  to be able to attend my interview. They didn't answer my emails and on the phone they kept saying that it was a very good question but they still didn't have an answer. So I had to reschedule my interview.
I had the appointment rescheduled for May 6th and was able to make it to the appointment. However, upon arrival at the embassy gate, the security guards couldn't find my name in the list of appointments for that day. Then they figured out that my interview appointment date was scheduled on the wrong day from what the embassy originally communicated with me.  But thankfully they let me in and the interview went well. I told them I was planning to enter the US around August because of my job and it would be two years from my wedding anniversary on June 27th, I was expecting to receive the IR1 visa instead of the CR1. They told me that it could only be possible if they would issue my visa after the date of my second year anniversary. So they wrote a note on my paperwork saying to only issue my visa after June 28th (more FYI).
 
The newest problem is similar to what everyone is reporting on this thread. My visa was approved and now my husband and I have been waiting for my passport and visa to arrive at my residence. We have been waiting past the usual "7 to 10 business days", despite multiple emails and phone calls. We have everything completed (status of CEAC is "Ready") only waiting to receive the package in the mail at this point. The total lack of communication is beyond frustrating. My husband has reached out to his local legislative representation in his home state. We do not know what else to do other than wait.
 
 

Over the past two months it appears that the Paris embassy is not doing anything for K1 applicants.  Passports being held onto, interviews not being scheduled, radio silence from the embassy when users contact them.  Its been growing into more than just a concern, but its difficult to track what is going on.

We're making this thread in hopes to gather all the information regarding the embassy during the pandemic but also for posterity.
Importance of having and updating the Visa Journey Timeline:
When you create and update the Timeline, your information (namely dates) will be available to give an average on getting the NoA2 (based on others also providing their timelines) but will also show other couples with similar timelines and even when their interviews are scheduled (among other details).
Since Embassies don't have any information on how they are progressing, this is the closest we have to check and track their progress. Keep in mind that not everyone applying for the visas are in this forum.
With that said, US Embassy in Paris deals with residents from France and Portugal (since 2012), so we check for both countries for the K1 and the CR1/IR1 visas:
K1 visas France: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=France&op1=5&op2=d&op3=1&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0
K1 visas Portugal: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=Portugal&op1=5&op2=d&op3=1&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0
CR1/IR1 visas France: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=France&op1=i&op2=&dfile=No&op3=5&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0
CR1/IR1 visas Portugal: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=Portugal&op1=i&op2=&dfile=No&op3=5&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0
Note: Even though this shows the results for both countries, doesn't mean that everyone is residing in the country and for that you check by looking at what consulate is chosen for the interview on the couples' page.
Finally, one last information regarding the Embassy is their working days. All Embassies enjoy the days off from US and their respected country. This page shows the dates for the French US Embassy: https://fr.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/

Just want to let everyone know that I got an email today from the US Embassy in France saying that my K1 interview has been scheduled for May 5th.