stag

32 minutes ago, Gauchos said:

I suspect this is a consulate-level decision. Originally we were told that it could be done in the US, but that changed after the announcement that non-citizens would need the vaccine before traveling to the US. My fiancee has the first shot and will need to forward proof of the second shot once she has it. This is especially annoying because you can't just walk into a pharmacy like you can in the US. She has to wait until she's eligible according to whatever rationing rules they are using.

The proclamation says "This suspension and limitation on entry applies only to air travelers to the United States and does not affect visa issuance."

You should contact the consulate because apparently it's affecting visa issuance in your case.

Btw is it the second shot or two weeks after second shot?

Hm, okay I had seen a source about those 3 being accepted but this article says "WHO-authorized" https://www.axios.com/travel-rules-covid-vaccine-testing-requirements-6036674d-86d3-4b66-8d9d-4d6b37f81463.html

A new proclamation was published by the Biden admin today: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/25/a-proclamation-on-advancing-the-safe-resumption-of-global-travel-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Would K1 be classified as non-immigrant under this law? Btw I noticed that only 3 vaccines will be accepted: Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J. What if your country doesn't readily have those vaccines or in limited supply? 

2 hours ago, HRQX said:

There technically is the "K Visa applicant electing not to be vaccinated at this examination" box on DS-3025:

 

But both DOS and DHS prefer it to be resolved before the K-1 holder enters the US: https://fam.state.gov/fam/09fam/09fam030202.html "Since applicants for K visas are essentially intending immigrants, a complete medical examination is required in every case. (See 9 FAM 502.7-3(C)(3). As nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants, fiancé(e) visa applicants technically are not subject to the INA 212(a)(1)(A)(ii) vaccination requirement. However, we (the Department of State) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have agreed that medical exams for fiancé(e) visa applicants should include the vaccination assessment as a matter of expediency. Therefore, you should make every effort to encourage fiancé(e) visa applicants to meet the vaccination requirements before admission to the United States. Nevertheless, you may not refuse K-visa applicants for refusing to meet the vaccination requirements."

Thanks, fiancee is not against vaccine, we just want to do Pfizer, and thought if not required will do it in the States (she's already gotten sick). What I understand from that is that while it's recommended , it is not required. So I rather she get all needed vaccines in US honestly if that is possible.

Ok it says on CDC website: "Refugees and NIVs, including K-visa applicants are not required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the immigration medical examination; however, the other components of these Technical Instructions do apply to all applicants."

https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html

I can't find a direct source on this, I know immigrant visas are required to have COVID-19 vaccine to get medical exam before visa issuance, but seems US Embassy in Japan for instance says "Beginning October 1, 2021, all immigrant (excluding K visas) applicants must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 for the medical examination to be considered complete."

https://jp.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/k-checklist/

For K visa applicants what is the requirement or does it differ based on home country? 

Second question, can I get the transcript online or do I have to have IRS mail a physical copy? thanks

Do you need an official transcript from IRS or will the tax return itself be enough?

15 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

It hasn’t even been a week since it arrived at the consulate. When my case arrived at the consulate, I waited about a week for any communication from the consulate. After nothing happened, I emailed them as they didn’t take phone calls unless it’s a US citizen emergency. It took 3 weeks for them to respond, i didn’t send any follow up emails in that time frame, I just waited. After which they both sent me an email with instructions and called me to confirm I received the info.
 

They also said their procedures changed and I could have gone ahead and filled DS-160 and scheduled my interview but I wanted to be safe and get a green light first. So in your case waiting a week so far is nothing. My advice is to be a lot more patient and curb your expectations especially with covid slowing things down and that way you won’t be disappointed. 
 

Thanks for the info, that makes me feel better. I guess I was under a false impression that it was supposed to be sent out much quicker.

We did fill out DS-160 and submitted it. Should we also go ahead to schedule the interview or wait for the Welcome letter? Since the appointment website says "

I have received a letter/email from the consular section with instructions to register or schedule a K (Fiancé(e)/Spouse/Child) visa appointment." for the option to go ahead and schedule an appointment. 

Just now, neto-66 said:

1. What arrived at the embassy is not an approved K-1, it is an approved i-129f, as the K-1 is not approved until the interview.

 

2. If I'm understanding your post correctly, your case has only been at the embassy for 4 business days. This is NOT very long at all. It often takes 2 weeks or so to hear from any embassy after they receive the case from the NVC. In my situation with the Paris embassy, it took several weeks to get a welcome letter/interview date.

 

3. It is way too premature to contact a congressman. Even if you did get one to write a letter, they'd get the same response as you would -- be patient.

 

The only advice anyone could give right now, including the embassy, is be patient. They haven't forgotten about you, visas take time. There is no reason to be concerned yet. 

Thank you for the reassurance. Yes I meant approved i-129f. 

My impression was that Welcome Letter (Packet 3) was sent right after case is received and status Ready by the embassy, didn't know they have to process it further on their end. If it often takes longer, than sure it makes be feel better if that is generally the case and I will wait. My approved i-129f spent only a couple weeks in NVC and was sent to the Embassy at the next shipping date. 

My approved k1 case arrived in the Embassy last Thursday and the status has shown 'Ready' ever since. We have not gotten any welcome letter from the Embassy (aka Packet 3) in order to proceed with the process and my email to them has gone ignored. We did fill out and submit DS-160 form. 

When calling the embassy, they told me that those services only offer email correspondence, hence I can't even talk with them over the phone about this case. I'm really frustrated and don't know what to do. I'm thinking about contacted my Congressional Representative and/or state senator office; this type of treatment is really uncalled for. 

Can anyone offer any advice? It would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

8 minutes ago, Lu & Ni said:

For me it was less than a week. I had to email my consulate because I didn't receive the steps as of what is needed and then next day I received the email. So technically like 4 days

I emailed the consulate, and no response for a few days already, I called them and they told me to email them. Not sure what to do at this point...

20 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

@JojoandTomas created a handy FAQ that covers your question:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nfin98c33IEpB0T0FlURERriblYmlm5O/view?usp=sharing

 

If your case is "Ready", then you can use the case number assigned by the NVC to fill out the DS-160 and pay the MRV fee.  You then use the MRV payment receipt to schedule the medical and the visa interview.

 

You also need the Packet 3 email to know what documents you need to bring to the interview.  If you don't receive it soon, contact the embassy.

Thank you for this. I was hesitant to schedule the visa interview because in the site when going to register the condition to choose is "

I have received a letter/email from the consular section with instructions to register or schedule a K (Fiancé(e)/Spouse/Child) visa appointment."

Which isn't the case (yet) so I wanted to wait for the letter. 

4 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

you need to wait for the notice that the embassy has received our case and you pay visa fee so immigrant can fill out the ds 160

you need this notice to schedule both the medical exam and the interview\

 

meanwhile send for your IRS transcripts as they are needed at interview 

 

Do I need to fill out DS 160 in order to get the welcome letter? 

I have read that copies of Tax Return is accepted. 

I know this is dependent on the consulate, but generally how long does it take from when the case is "Ready" at the consulate to the Packet 3 letter so that you can schedule an appointment? is it days, weeks, months? Or is there some action that needs to be taken beforehand? Will the system allow you to schedule interview without Packet 3 received? Thanks!

How long is it generally taking people to go from 'Ready' at Consulate to the Welcome Letter (packet 3) ??

3 hours ago, Deborah Serafino said:

They do but we actually have all the required case number and DS application done, so why should we wait? just a wait of more months waiting for nothing. its been a whole year and a month from the READY status . still nothing from the embassy.

You've been waiting for more than a year after Ready? Why haven't you contacted embassy? Your petition approval would have passed the deadline already.

29 minutes ago, Deborah Serafino said:

Can I schedule my k1 appointment if the CEAC status shows READY, without having received the letter from the consulate?

Yes this is my question as well. When should we expect to receive this letter from the consulate and will it be an email? It seems that the instructions on the site does say to only schedule interview when you have received such a letter. 

Can anyone confirm the above? I didn't receive Packet 3 yet, but my case is "ready" should I submit DS-160 or wait till I receive the "packet"? Thank you!

Does anyone know generally how much time after Case Status becomes "Ready" the embassy emails the beneficiary with those next steps (packet 3) ?

To confirm: when the status is "ready", you fill out DS-160? Then do you schedule the interview? Or do you have to wait to get the "packet 3" from the embassy (in my case should be an email) before scheduling the interview? 

2 minutes ago, cookiemonster8482 said:

yes. and you can book your interview!

Great so I fill out DS-160, then I can book an interview? Where/When do I have to submit the Affidavit of Support documents? 

Ready!

Confused on what to do next. Do I have to wait to receive a packet via email from the Consulate or do I go ahead and start filling out the DS-160 form?

So is the longest wait "AT NVC" or getting an appointment when the case is at the embassy?

in transit!

what does "Your interview date was provided to you by the National Visa Center." mean? Will I be emailed when interview date will be?