wulffman89

16 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Do not the Netherlands require a double test?

One negative test within 72 hours to enter The Netherlands. Basically the same rule as with entering the US in the near future (or even for all US passengers to Hawaii... same thing).

I just wonder if the regular travel ban between EU-US will dissolve, since that ban seems to be useless if you start mandating tests.

I renewed my O1b visa last June and have been patiently waiting until visa appointments open up at the American Consulate in Amsterdam to get my passport stamped. Finally, I'm able to visit the consulate on April 14!!! So I am thrilled to fly back to the Netherlands to renew (and see my mom after two years)...

Due to the Schengen-ban, I cannot fly back to the US once I'm in Europe, due to my status (temporary worker, O1B)

I requested a National Interest Exemption at the Consulate, to see if they can make sure to allow me entrance to the US again after renewing. This is what I received:

Quote

The NIE is processed at the time of the visa interview. There is no separate process.

Always such a nice and friendly response from government workers :-)))

Does anyone have experience with this process? I don't want to get stuck in the EU and be unable to fly back to my LA home.

Thank you!

Will this replace the EU/Schengen ban? I mean, it seems a bit crazy to have the Schengen ban AND this test

19 hours ago, fs2439 said:

Congratulations! No rfe? Did you just file the same petition as your original o1? Did the lawyer charge a reasonable percentage of the value of the original petition? I might need yo do the same thing as you soon.

No RFE, correct. My lawyer used most of the former file and added some new documentation and proof to complete it. She charged me a flat fee (which is really not as bad as I hear in some other cases) and has been extremely helpful throughout the entire process. I hope you still have your old files, as it saves you so much time!

Thank you all - just for anyone who's interested to hear: my visa got approved! They are still processing O-1's today 🙂

Hi guys,

Great news, my O-1 is approved so I can start working again! However, I do need to fill out the I-9 form, which requires me to enter the following documents:

A valid I-94 (however, I'm in the US for over a year now, and the I-94 was valid until my former visa end date, would I need to cross borders for this?)

Passport with visa + I-551 stamp (But, I have to leave the country to get my new visa in the passport + the I-551 stamp. Due to Covid, I prefer not to leave the country though)

Are there any other ways instead of going to a US Consulate abroad to get these documents?

Thank you!

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

So you have now overstayed your visa?

Well, since it's a renewal I am allowed to stay in the US to wait for an answer. Just not allowed to work, etc. (Advised by my attorney)

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone know of recent O1 approvals? My application for a 3-year renewal was received by the USCIS on November 5, 2019, and since January, they kept pushing the processing time for a month longer. Last week they updated the receipt date for a case inquiry from early November to... April 5! Still haven't heard back from them, and when I filed for an inquiry they said that I don't have any authorization to see what's going on with my file. 

I'm still in the US and my former O1 visa expired as of March - with no income or anything, so it's becoming quite stressful.

I haven't heard anyone around me with a recent approved O1, so I'm wondering if they are halting the visas? It's been 8 months already by now for something that should usually take up to 8 weeks.

Hi everybody!

My O-1 Visa expires in a few weeks, as well my drivers license a few days later. I'm still waiting to hear back from the USCIS on my renewal but due to extreme delays it could take until weeks beyond my expiration date. Is there any way that I could extend my drivers license here in California so I can keep driving? Until I hear back on my renewal?

Thank you!