Introduction
This article will examine how an you can expedite your family visa interview at a U.S. embassy. Immigrants applying for visas at U.S. Consulates and Embassies worldwide face additional hurdles due to the Coronavirus epidemic. In some places, things have only slightly improved, while in others, they have deteriorated. As a result, the majority of U.S. embassies and consulates have remained closed to the public.
Only a few Consular offices and embassies have started visa interview scheduling. In the great majority of cases, offices and embassies only schedule interviews and issue visas to individuals who need them urgently or who qualify for expedited visa processing. Immigrant visas are no different from others, and they are also suffering from delays in the processing and interviews.
Normal Circumstances v. Circumstances following the COVID-19 Pandemic
In ordinary conditions, once a foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen has been qualified by the National Visa Center, the file is submitted to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to the foreign spouse for interview scheduling. The NVC processing is significant because it serves as a middleman in preparing a case for the interview step. Because most U.S. Consulates and Embassies are not opening visa interview slots for applicants due to lockdowns in some countries, files have not proceeded beyond the NVC stage. They have stayed with the agency creating backlogs. This is why there is a delay in processing alien applications and interviews at the U.S. embassies.
On what grounds can you request NVC to expedite your family visa interview at the U.S. embassy?
The National Visa Center has established a direct communication channel with applicants to react to meritorious expedite requests. Applicants can contact the NVC directly at NVCexpedite@state.gov, part of the NVC’s public inquiry section, to speak with a representative who can help them submit an request to expedite your family visa interview. If the agent feels the applicant qualifies for accelerated visa processing, they will be requested to provide further paperwork confirming eligibility. You may need a solid medical or humanitarian ground to get your application for a family visa approved by the NVC. NVC considers the following grounds in expediting the process:
Medical grounds
If you are suffering from any severe medical conditions and no one is present to take care of you, you can apply to expedite your family visa interview and the visa process for your spouse currently residing outside the U.S. and waiting for their interview at the U.S. embassy. The other way around is also true in this scenario. However, you must prove to the agent that your or your spouse’s health condition is severe through proper supporting documentation.
Psychological reason or Mental Health
If being separated from your spouse is causing you mental problems, or your spouse is having psychological issues because of the long separation, you can request expedited processing. You must provide evidence such as a prescription from a psychologist to prove adverse mental health because of separation.
Child Ageing Out
If your child is a part of the petition and is soon to reach 21 years of age, you can request NVC to expedite your family visa interview at the U.S. embassy. NVC might consider this situation to allow your child to come to the U.S. on a family visa before he turns 21 years of age.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant in the U.S. and need the support of your spouse, or if your spouse is pregnant outside the U.S. and needs to give birth to the child in the U.S. with your support, or if your spouse’s doctor resides in the U.S., you may ask NVC to expedite your family visa interview by providing the adequate reason to satisfy the NVC to grant your request.
NVC might also consider other reasons for expediting your visa request if they are based on medical or humanitarian grounds.
You must have documentation evidence to establish your eligibility before applying for an expedited appointment. Suppose it seems that you misrepresented your reasons for accelerating travel during your visa interview. In that case, such information will be recorded in your case file and may have a negative impact on the result of your visa application.
Applicants who are given an expedited appointment but are later denied a visa or who skip their interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate are not eligible to use this option to get another expedited appointment. If your request for an expedited appointment is refused, you will not be able to seek one again throughout your visa application. In this scenario, you’ll need to make a regular appointment.
U.S. Department of State has answered a question related to expedite processing to clarify the application process further.
I have been waiting for a very long time for my family to get an immigrant visa. There is a family emergency now, and I need my family member to enter the U.S. Can NVC help me?
If a visa is available for your family member’s category, and their case involves a life or death medical emergency, processing of your case may be expedited. The applicant has to submit a scanned letter or statement to NVCExpedite@state.gov from a physician or medical facility to request a review for expedited visa processing. The physician’s (or medical facility’s) contact information must be included in the letter, as well as a declaration that a life-or-death medical emergency occurs. The applicant should consist of his case or receipt number and one of the following :
- Petitioner’s name and date of birth
- Beneficiary’s name and date of birth
- Invoice ID number
Unfortunately, NVC can do nothing to speed up the petition if a visa is not available. However, if a visa is available, NVC sees the merits of your application and will decide whether to approve your expedite your family visa interview petition or not.
Conclusion
You may know a lot about how to expedite your family visa. However, if you still require any assistance in expediting your application, our immigration attorneys will be delighted to help you with your application.
by Prozco®