Some thoughts on the announcement tonight that bans entry from European Countries.
The countries affected are those in the Shengen area. those are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The Proclamation can be read here.
May 18, 2020 at 01:17
Hi Brit,
1. Is this ban still ongoing? I could not find any relevant information about it.
2. Does this ban also applies to issuing visas?
3. If it applies, as a non eu citizen living in EU, would it also affect me?
Thanks
May 18, 2020 at 01:57
1. Yes
2. No, but there is another ban in place that does stop the issuance of visas
3. Yes. Both bans.
May 8, 2020 at 03:39
hi brit am planing on travelling to the states recently but is it problem to have transit in uk or any Schengen country????
May 8, 2020 at 19:57
No problem.
April 7, 2020 at 19:20
One very important advice to all who are worried. If you were selected in the DV 2020, that’s great. At the moment, the whole world is on lock down. Be keen to news especially by the end of April 2020. Things might kick off again. If not, all will be OK later but be sure your DV results cannot be reversed! No worries, no anxiety!!! Dr. Benz.
April 8, 2020 at 02:55
The lottery process will end on September 30th. No one is guaranteed the Green Card – so yes, some people will lose their chance.
April 7, 2020 at 08:41
Hi Brit,
We try to keep ourselves up to date but couldn’t find any information about the extension of travel ban. I know Trump extended the Social Distancing rule but as far as I know that shouldn’t affect the travel ban.
Do you have any additional information?
Thank you!
April 7, 2020 at 17:31
There were different rules for different areas, and in many countries there are similar stay at home orders that may have shut down travel options. So – the best thing to do is check the situation in your own country. Airlines are probably posting good information about that.
March 21, 2020 at 12:16
Do you think the DV program will close down and those who have not yet received a visa will miss out? Or do you think they will extend the dates because of these exceptional circumstances?
March 21, 2020 at 16:32
They won’t close it down as such, but they won’t extend the dates. Some, perhaps many, will miss out.
March 18, 2020 at 15:47
Thank you very much Sir! Appreciate your comments.
March 18, 2020 at 01:15
Hi Simon, my CN is EU19xxx leaving in Canada. I have my interview scheduled for the beginning of April (US Embassy is still opened here) and I had the appointment for my medical exams today, but the clinic cancelled the appointment due to the virus and they said they cannot give me another appointment before my interview and that they cannot tell me either when they will be able to schedule another appointment. Would you pls suggest?
1) Going to the interview without the medical exams, and bringing the exams later on
2) Re-scheduling the interview as per the dates the clinic could give the new appointment
3) Another idea?
Thanks a lot in advance!
March 18, 2020 at 02:35
1. Well you could do that, but the interview itself might be cancelled.
2. No one knows when that will be.
3. Discuss with the embassy.
March 17, 2020 at 21:16
Dear Brit, God bless you and your family during this difficult time.
My visa expires on August, and I have booked flight on following Monday. I am from Europe, but my country is not in Schengen area, and I haven’t be present in China, Iran, the UK or Ireland within 14 days, that means that I am allowed to travel.
My question is:
1) Do you recommend me to travel now?
2) Do you think that something has changed at the CBP Port of entry due to restrictions all over the states?
Best regards and thank you for your time
March 17, 2020 at 22:07
1. In your position I would travel – but it is your choice.
2. The situation is changing rapidly. So – what it means for you – I don’t know.
March 17, 2020 at 22:20
I am sorry, I haven’t be specific on a second question.
Are they maybe more rigorous about Public charge now that the coronavirus has spread?
March 17, 2020 at 23:00
I don’t think that is a valid connection between the two things.
March 17, 2020 at 17:15
My ambassy are not listed on ban country but still :
VISA INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS CANCELLED, MARCH 17 – APRIL 10, 2020
As of March 17, 2020, U.S. Embassy Kinshasa is cancelling all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments scheduled between March 17, 2020 and April 10, 2020. We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. The MRV fee is valid and may be used for a visa application in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment.
This was a bad day
March 17, 2020 at 20:06
There are more bad days ahead.
March 17, 2020 at 21:09
Man only 4 people are infected until now but still.
M worry the ambassy won’t open their door soon enough
March 17, 2020 at 22:06
Well, the low infection number probably just means there is not enough testing going on.
March 18, 2020 at 23:54
If the embassy has to keep functioning until there are 50.000 deaths then the consular might be one of the 50.000! 1,2,3 OR 4 means the virus is around and this signals DANGER!!!!
March 19, 2020 at 00:07
Not sure I understand your point.
March 17, 2020 at 13:44
Hello Sir Brit, the consulate in my home country has closed all its activities despite we having our interview on 2nd April.
Pls what do we do .?
Please stay safe for us all and your family. We have you at heart because without you, we would be at a lost. Bless you for your Good works.
March 17, 2020 at 18:21
Wait for instructions from the embassy about rescheduling.
March 18, 2020 at 23:50
Dealing with the public is a hard task! That the consulate is close and you ask what to do? Wow! I feel like if the DV Lottery program ends, someone would ask what to do about it. Stay home. You have absolutely nothing to do. Listen to the news and wait for when new information would come from the consulate. So what to do is WAIT!!!
March 17, 2020 at 06:18
Hello Brit
I’m trying to write for the embassy on the email ([email protected]) about my visa, as it will expire in april 10, and that there is a travel ban in my country, but they keep replying to me about the non immigrant visa even though i explained that it is an immigrant visa, so my question is what is the right channel i should send my request to, to extend my visa ? Is there an email or website ?
March 17, 2020 at 11:27
Hi Adel and Brit,
Adel, I’m in the same position. I’ve contacted the embassy (as Brit recommended in the video) where I had the interview. I did it trough their contact form. They just got back to me.
“Due to exceptional circumstances, we might re-issue your visa within the fiscal year (December 31st, 2020) if the travel ban is lifted by this date. In this case you will have to go under new medical examination and send your passport back so we can issue the new visa.
If the travel ban is not lifted by the end of this fiscal year, we will not be able to issue a new visa nor extend the one already issued. You will need to go under the entire process again: DV Program Lottery, medical exam, etc.”
March 17, 2020 at 15:32
That’s interesting – thanks for posting. I’m glad that at least one post is already addressing the truly exceptional circumstances. Which embassy is that? I think they actually made a mistake with the deadlines. The email correctly lists the connection to FISCAL year, but September 30 is the end of the fiscal year for USCIS so any reissues would need to be done by that date, not December 31st. As for the going through the process again – you obviously can’t use a DV2020 selection in any future year, so this is a one time chance.
March 17, 2020 at 19:43
Thank you R i hope everything goes well for you, but is it possible to tell me what is the email that you used to contact them ?
March 17, 2020 at 20:38
The email is different for each embassy.
March 17, 2020 at 17:48
Contact the embassy itself.
March 18, 2020 at 22:05
I did that, but still i didn’t receive any response from them.
I was thinking what if my diversity visa expired and i travelled to the US and i explained everything to them with the supporting documents, in your opinion will they be able to let me pass ?
March 18, 2020 at 23:37
No. You have to contact them and have it extended.
March 16, 2020 at 23:13
Curious to Next vb.
1) are you expecting Europe to be on hold like two vb’s ago or expecting KCC to push out a bunch it case numbers?
2) let’s say the embassy in your home country is closed is it possible to interview in a neighbor country in the case of Europe?
Just curious and thanks! Eu316xx
March 16, 2020 at 23:32
1. I am not “expecting” anything. It is not clear what will happen next.
2. No.
March 14, 2020 at 15:41
Mr.Brit Now I understand what you say, to wait and see, and with my number EU52×××, only I can do it(((
March 14, 2020 at 08:41
European consulates begin to shut down. Warsaw and Chisinau cancelled all interviews up to April 10th.
March 14, 2020 at 17:34
How are they communicating the cancelations? Do they email and have some details like possible reschedules ?
March 14, 2020 at 18:41
They made a call to everyone and after calls they sent an email. Here’s what they sent us:
“ Dear Applicant,
We are contacting you to inform you that immigrant visa operations at the U.S. Embassy Warsaw are currently suspended in connection with a Presidential Proclamation of March 11, 2020 restricting travel to the United States for people who have recently been in the Schengen Area, including Poland. This means we must cancel your/your family’s immigrant visa appointment. We will be rescheduling appointments as soon as possible after the restrictions of the Presidential Proclamation are removed. We will contact you with a revised appointment date in the future.”
March 14, 2020 at 22:34
Thanks a lot.that is a really helpful info. There is a hope
March 13, 2020 at 19:35
I am from Nepal. My visa expiration date is May 24, 2020. I had purchased a ticket via Hong Kong for April 20, 2020. Today I got a mail from Cathay Pacific that my ticket is cancelled. If the situation remains the same till early May, will it be okay to write a letter to the embassy asking if they can extend visa under “unavoidable scenario”?
I hope the situation get resolved soon.
March 14, 2020 at 05:21
That is what the video says….. what more can I add?
March 17, 2020 at 01:38
why don’t you try another way ? we don’t know how long this pandemic lasts so you would better to buy a ticket early and go as fast as possible before USA ban Nepal too. its not wait and see scenario bro. now Nepalese embassy has stopped taking interview form today. anything can happen bro. react fast.
March 13, 2020 at 16:24
Thank God transit has no issue
March 13, 2020 at 10:31
Hi mr. Simon
If we already have the visa of USA, and in case we become restricted from entry due corona virese disease, and our visa got expired( during these course of times) will america be only a dream again??, or is there a chance of apdating our visas??
thank you!!
March 13, 2020 at 16:50
That is answered in the video.
March 13, 2020 at 06:24
In EU 30XXX has already received document confirmation letter, I’m 355XX. Should I already expect my mail too? I’m not from Schengen countries. Do I really have a chances? Don’t know what to think, situation changes so fast
March 13, 2020 at 18:42
As you say – the situation is changing. Too soon to predict anything.
March 13, 2020 at 06:11
Hello Mr Brits do thing that corono virus effect all dv cases or all regions such like the countries those still Don’t see any case of corona virus???
March 13, 2020 at 18:39
Things are still developing. So in time there could be wide ranging impacts. At this point there is no way to predict what that could be.
March 13, 2020 at 06:08
Hi Brit,
yesterday I received the congratulatory email for the documents. thanks for your advice! now I await the interview, I think for June. EU 28k Italy
March 13, 2020 at 05:25
I don’t think that embassies will close in order to not expose their employees from sick visitors. The other way around is possible, someone from the embassy got sick and they’ll shut it down for two weeks.I believe something like that happened in Washington state. The embassy in Italy is still open..
You know what i mean?
March 13, 2020 at 08:47
Embassy and Consolates in Italy are closed till further notice!
March 13, 2020 at 18:42
Anything is possible.
March 17, 2020 at 01:00
The Amsterdam embassy only does emergency services at this point. Seems like local embassy’s handle according restrictions that the particular government implements.
March 13, 2020 at 03:12
Hi Mr Brits do thing that corona virus shall effect all regions and all cases processing 2020 dv loterry ??
March 13, 2020 at 18:43
Possibly.
March 12, 2020 at 22:48
I am EU35
I do not Belive in this corona virus
But I am scared of a whole panic that is done for some reasons
And I am afraid of the visa bulletins and interviww
Do you think it won’t be affected ???
Since last month was 200 a total disaster …….
So you think EU35 is still safe ?
Will the next bulletin be much higher as it was the month before (7k)
Thank you so much for your reply
And value your opinion a lot
March 12, 2020 at 23:35
You don’t believe in the Coronavirus??? What a daft thing to say!You REALLY need to change your source of news.
As for the impacts of this very real situation – yes there will be impacts. What it will mean exactly – I don’t know.
March 12, 2020 at 20:30
Hi Brit.I’ll repost again my comment as the first time I don’t know why it wasn’t posted.
So I think you remeber me with cn EU23k.I wasn’t receiving the confirmation email by Kcc even if I sent and resent again my doc on 25 February and nothing again.So last night a friend suggested me to review my ds260 if I filled everything alright.My ds260 I filled on May 2019 and reviewed on October and at Iv Application it appeared “Completed”.Well last night when logged on to review it,it appeared Re-Opened in red color.It wasn’t made any change in my personal information,just there were added a few questions.I was shocked because I never asked Kcc or someone else to unlock or to open my ds260.So I immediately called Kcc and a gentle guy answered me.I explained all the situation and he told me that was weird as he couldn’t define any email sent form me to unlock it or any email from them to tell me to submit it.After minutes of verifications he told me probably it was a system problem or an operator opened my ds260.Then he told me to answer the empty questions and to submit it again.And also to wait 1-2 weeks for confirmation email.He also told me that I may be interviewed later than I should be because of this problem.
Please Brit I know I’m asking to much,but how do you explain this that I’m the only one that happened this?How can an operator open my ds260 and nobody notified me about this?Also when I called last time to ask for my documents,nobody told me it was opened?What do you think Brit?
March 12, 2020 at 21:37
I haven’t heard of any similar cases.
March 12, 2020 at 22:08
I know this is shocking and never heard too but please what do you think about this?Always according to what I explained you?Why they did this?Please can you give me your opinion because it would be very very important to me.
Thanks for your time Brit and for eveything you do for everyone here.
March 12, 2020 at 23:36
What can I say?
March 12, 2020 at 23:52
I mean can an operator of Kcc does this to someone?Are they alloweded to reopen the ds260 of someone?Or maybe somebody was trying to hack my ds260?I don’t know what to think anymore.That’s why I need your help Brit.Do you think I have a chance or they did this disqualify me?It’s a mess in my head right now and I’m sorry for these questions.Please tell me something about this.
Thanks in advance!
March 13, 2020 at 03:46
OMG. I don’t know what happened. Or even that something happened. You can’t do anything about it and you are totally wasting your time thinking about it. Forget it. Really.
March 12, 2020 at 17:38
Mr. Brit ,this means that people with big numbers in Europe will give up??
March 12, 2020 at 18:27
No.
March 13, 2020 at 15:51
Hi BritSimon,
Unfortunately my interview has been canceled. I received This Email from U.S Embassey;
Dear Visa Applicant:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, your appointment scheduled for 15- March 2020, At ….Embassey has been canceled. This appointment will be rescheduled at a later date .
ASIA region
Please Respond,
March 13, 2020 at 16:37
What embassy???
What response are you wanting from me?
April 4, 2020 at 23:56
Good job Brit, I have an interview date but I also heard it on news that the activity of the embassy is suspended, what should I do, please advise me
April 5, 2020 at 04:12
Wait for the embassy to give you instructions.
March 12, 2020 at 17:26
Thanks a lot Brit, this is a very useful and informative video
March 12, 2020 at 15:40
Hi Brit,
if our DV Visa expires at end of April should we book a flight ticket for tomorrow and arrive to the States before 11:59PM or hope that they won’t exceed the 30 days/extend visa expiration date? We are in Schengen zone.
Another: what if we fly to Canada, UK or any other not banned country and fly to US after 2-3 weeks? They ban who were the last 14 days in Schengen, don’t they?
Thank you!
March 12, 2020 at 15:57
Theoretically the ban should be lifted before your visa expires – but who knows what will happen.
Theoretically the “quarantine” plan in Canada could work – but again – things could change.
March 12, 2020 at 17:34
And what is your opinion about this quick trip tomorrow? I know you mentioned in the video if you are in a country which is not banned then go for activation but our case is different I think.
March 12, 2020 at 18:26
Your decision.
March 12, 2020 at 14:12
Hello Brit,
If a dv visa holder from an unbanned country have booked a flight for instance Brussels airlines(with a stop at Bruxelle). Can he/she travel to the usa?
March 12, 2020 at 14:48
Yes.
March 12, 2020 at 13:49
Thank you so much for the update Brit.
About activation of my green card, is it possible for me travel to US to activate my status and that of my family members (derivatives) and come back home or they must also enter the US for their status to be activated. I am the principal applicants with 4 derivatives.
Thank You
March 12, 2020 at 14:48
Each person must enter to activate.
March 12, 2020 at 12:47
Can we go back in Europe from US?!
March 12, 2020 at 14:45
Yes.
March 12, 2020 at 12:45
Hi Sir ,
We have recently received an Email from Embassy that our interview which is on 15 of March has been canceled and will be rescheduled at later date . So what is your thoughts about this , I am worried!
March 12, 2020 at 14:45
Your question is too vague.
March 12, 2020 at 12:20
Hello Brit, I hope you all are fine. Thank you so much for your enormous help!
I activated my GC in June 2019 and came back to Argentina for almost one year. I have a plane ticket to relocate in the States for the beginning of May 2020. I already have my green card with me.
Will there be alternatives for green card holders that exceed 12 months outside from the US wiven the coronavirus situation?
Due to the changing situation my country could be banned too. What could you recommend for people that are about to move into the US in a short time? I am about to quit my job and finish with lots of errands these days.
Thank you so much Brit your advice is very important to me and to us all !
Kind regards,
Marianela
March 12, 2020 at 14:44
As explained in the video, LPRs are not affected by this ban.
March 12, 2020 at 17:30
Yes Brit I understand but flights are already beeing canceled. For example to Miami, Orlando Aerolineas Argentinas Canceled lots of flights…
In that case do you think we have a chance contacting the Embassy to explain?
March 12, 2020 at 18:25
Again, that is addressed in the video.
March 12, 2020 at 09:51
it is possible that this virus can influence the progress of the procedures of the dv lottery for the africa region
March 12, 2020 at 11:38
Is it possible that situation with COVID can ban DV2020 for Europe?
March 12, 2020 at 14:42
Did you watch the video??
March 12, 2020 at 14:42
Yes of course.
March 16, 2020 at 23:07
Hi Birt, I don’t know if you can answer this, but what if the dv2020 is suspended due to the current pandemic?
March 16, 2020 at 23:32
I have no reason to think that is happening.
March 12, 2020 at 09:16
I know it a bad new but, what about people from Africa, is this going to affect us badly or in the good way, i mean less work from europe fr KCC mean they can focus on other case number right?
March 12, 2020 at 14:41
No. KCC will remain busy.
March 12, 2020 at 09:05
Hello Sir
Thank u for ur help…
We had interview days ago and the CO told us that it s successful. I checked the visa status and says Administrative Processing. Can u help me figure out what it means. Is there any chance that we may be refused after the CO told that news.
March 12, 2020 at 14:41
Please read the FAQ!
March 12, 2020 at 08:41
hi brit am planing on travelling to the states in may but have transits in Heathrow Airport. should i cancel and rebook with a different airline kindly advice
March 12, 2020 at 14:40
At this point there is no problem for that transit.
March 12, 2020 at 07:19
Hallo mr brit,now if one was to travel this month via europe and now theres this story of ban,how will this person reach US and she he had already booked
March 12, 2020 at 14:39
The travel plan would need to be changed.
March 12, 2020 at 07:09
Thanks Brit for the information, to me it’s anice move and through the idea of us head of state to put that proclamations infact if it were to be possible for other heads of states from other contries to copy the same to stop the spread of this dangerous disease it could have been better and china were to fight it alone until it gets off, but some people think that business is better than the life’s of people until they endup killing innocent citizens.
March 12, 2020 at 14:38
Yeah, I agree, but Trump being Trump it is badly implemented and communicated.
March 12, 2020 at 06:59
hi brit ! Im from Kosovo ,european country bur not in schengen area and we dont have any case with covid-19 till now ,does the ban affect us too
March 12, 2020 at 14:35
No. Just the Shengen area countries.
The 26 Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
March 12, 2020 at 16:06
so will our documents be processed differently from bane schengen countries ?
March 12, 2020 at 18:21
No.