DV 2020 All Selectees
- Thread starter Sm1smom
- Start date
Airspray
Active Member
I'm not too optimistic about it... look at countries that officially started to open up (or never closed) like Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Norway... the embassies there are still closed and no sign of reopening... And Italy, unfortunately, is still at a MUCH worse condition...
Do you think embassies will reopen when they will have an order to do that by Department of State?
because in Georgia, tibilisi, embassy restarted a week ago to scheduling interviews of April in May and June
Airspray
Active Member
I really don't know... All embassies were closed centreally by DOS but I don't know if they will reopen the same way or on a case to case basis. There is absolutely no glimpse of information about it in the DOS website, the news or anywhere. No one talks about it.
About Georgia, yeah I know about the rescheduling, but it could be only tentative unfortunately and they might cancel again. There's no official infromation about reopening from the embassy in Georgia.
BTW, in another forum I saw that some other country (can't remember which) rescheduled appointments to August (!). Again, it might only be tentative but that's some scary news...
Oh....
if In italy too they restart to scheduling for August I think my chance is lost forever.
I should do my interview in June and in this case I won't have an appointment before September this is so sad
SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
Before the blanket closure, embassies were operating at different levels depending on local conditions for a couple of weeks.
DoS does say (on the page about emergency h2b visas, linked from the general page about the closures)
“ Consular resources and local government restrictions vary widely, and each consular section is continuously reviewing its capacity to adjudicate visa applications during this worldwide pandemic. We encourage applicants to consult with the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate in order to confirm the level of services currently offered. ...”
My reading is definitely implies they will let embassies resume services if local conditions allow it without having to wait for all of them to be able to reopen.
Thanks for this info!
This make me feel better!
Airspray
Active Member
I really hope you're right... I guess we have to wait for the first official anouncement of reopening to understand the criteria better...
WBA
Active Member
Are you sure about Georgia?
But it makes sense because Gerogia was not hit hard like USA, Italy and Spain
DV2020EU44
Active Member
That's true about Georgia, they rescheduled April interviews for June. If the situation does not get too bad in upcoming 2-3 weeks, they will probably be open in June. So again, we should wait and see.
Airspray
Active Member
They probably did it to give more attention to DV2020 once everything goes back to normal, instead of starting to deal with dv2021 selectees
Curbowka
New Member
Hi All,
does anyone have information about opening the borders at least for people with immigration visa? We have our DV issued and will expire in May. It would be good to activate it before expiry. If it will expire do we have to attend to a new interview or just medical examination?
does anyone have information about opening the borders at least for people with immigration visa? We have our DV issued and will expire in May. It would be good to activate it before expiry. If it will expire do we have to attend to a new interview or just medical examination?
WBA
Active Member
I don't have the answer to all your questions but I think there is a way to extend your visa because of the circumstances.
For your info, the USA wanted to reopen the borders with Canada (where I live) which is a good sign
In general the lockdown cannot last forever, if we think about the financial/economy impact, keeping everything closed for the upcoming months could make some countries collapse even the strong ones. This idea keeps me hoping but the hope starts to dwindle
WBA
Active Member
I don't, I don't think the ban will be extended, people cannot travel because of the general closing of borders
The USA needs the Europe and vice versa
SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
agree.
interesting that they updated whatever social media that was, but the offical page still say 5 May. Sounds like they just made this decision?
the bans are specifically worded to exclude both non-immigrants and immigrants, so I’d say no.
There is a provision to issue a replacement visa if the holder is unable to use it due to circumstances beyond their control, from replies I have seen on another forum, the exact process depends on embassy, however you will generally need to both do the medical and pay the visa fee (here the $330 fee) again but not have to interview again. There is a provision that if it is an action of the US govt that prevents you using it you don’t have to pay the fee again, I don’t know if anyone wants to try use that if they are from a country the US currently bans travel from: I do know one of the embassy responses posted on the other forum from a “banned” country indicated the fee would need to be paid again.