LindaStewart

Hi guys, I just checked and they've updated it once again today. It now reads: "We have now begun to process visa applications in all immigrant and fiancé(e) visa categories. However, appointments remain extremely limited as a result of the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We are unable to provide timescales as to when your case will be processed but thank you for your patience while we continue to clear the backlog." So this is good news indeed, it seems!! 

Can someone read the latest update for Embassy in London? I think its good news....

I can’t tell if it applies to K1s. It said they are resuming Immigrant visa categories. K1 is non-immigrant, but is processed by the IV unit. Shame they weren’t more specific and said “We have now begun to process all immigrant visa categories plus K1 non-immigrant categories.”
 
Poor grammar? Typo? “Please note, it is not possible to attend an immigrant or fiancé(e) visa remotely/online or to apply by mail.” I think they left out a word.
 
 

The U. S . Govt can use covid for an excuse for practically everything. Why can we?
 

I posed the question to a rep at NVC last week, I outlined the dates of when NVC received my petition, it was roughly 7 months from the date of the USEM shutdown, I ask how long he would estimate it taking to get through a 7 month backlog, of course he couldn't give me an answer, but he did say that once the embassy re-opens, they would be processing these cases at a much faster rate,  so if they were to double the processing time, it would be 3 1/2 months,  add 2 more months to that to schedule the interview, it would be 5 1/2 months from the time the embassy re-opens, which is expected in 2 months, so add 2 more months and I'm looking at Thanksgiving or Christmas before she's here... AT BEST.
 
 
 

The U. S . Govt can use covid for an excuse for practically everything. Why can we?
 

Thank you for the suggestion! I just sent an email.
 

Sorry if I missed it, but what will his plans do for K-1 Visas and when will the travel ban be lifted? I feel like K-1 is the forgotten visa.

They are valid for 12 months per the London embassy website.

You can't deal directly with them no they will not answer any questions over phone if it's London one, only via a contact form on their site. 
The ACRO and SAR cannot expire, (actually not sure on the actual certificate )but if your not at interview stage yet my advice is to apply through ACRO for record deletion of applicable, takes 2-4 weeks to get a decision from the local police force where the offence occurred, then reapply for an acro certificate which will show no trace and give you both a better chance of acceptance. 

@Greenbaum Thanks I was wondering lol.
I'm Picking my passport up tomorrow will Update.

Thankyou both for the replies. I wouldn't mind waiting if I knew the exact date the interview will be. It's the unknown that is killing me. 

Wow. There is no reason they cannot schedule in some K1s that have been awaiting interview since January 

I hope that this will help K1's. I really do. We've waited so long already. It's worth the wait, but at the same time it's heartbreaking because it shouldn't have to be this way. We just want to be with the person we love. ❤️
 
I don't know too much about the lawsuit, but do we have any timeline as to when we could see positive results? I had my medical and interview back in March, so I'm just waiting for my visa to be issued which it hasn't because they're blaming the travel ban. So all I need is that they will issue the visa... I know they'll most likely ask me to redo the medical, but I'm just hoping this will go quickly... We haven't seen each other for 13 months. If the lawsuit goes well, do you guys think that maybe I could be with my fiancé before the year is over? 😇 I mean, even if they take the plaintiffs first, I've already had my interview, so...😇

Contacted last night. Same scripted reply this morning. "We are only processing spouses and minor children... taking K1s seriously... do not know when processing will resume. "

That's correct. Until the embassy directs NVC to ship their cases nothing is going to move until that happens. We don't know yet if the embassy will take everyone at once and sort it out on their end or if they will ask for cases that were first in then those cases are the first to ship. It's still a mystery. It makes me laugh and grudge that people think that calling or emailing will move their cases along any faster. My seven years of experience has taught me the following:

    • "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 
 

Important Notice for K visa applicants affected by COVID-19
Last Updated: August 31, 2020  
Posts will resume K visa application processing as local conditions and resources allow. Applicants should check the website of their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for updates on what services that post is currently able to offer. The I-129 Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) is typically valid for four months; however, consular officers may revalidate the I-129 petition in four month increments.  For most cases impacted by the suspension of routine visa services or COVID-19 travel restrictions it will not be necessary to file a new I-129 petition.
 
  Yay!

Congratulations!!  Hope you are celebrating!  Our embassy is also London, UK. 

Thank you! I will go back and fill it in again. I thought I filled it out already.

Congrats Melc, this is great news! Out of interest: did you provide a copy of your USC spouse's most recent tax transcript (I know the London Embassy have been funny about this in the past) or did a tax return suffice?

Approved Today!!   Greenbaum, you & your info helped me get through these last few weeks!  Thank you!!

NOA1-Dec 6, 2019
NOA2-June 3, 2020

Got approved today!!
NOA1 21 January 😀