Didn't bring ORIGINAL i-864 doc to iv interview and now waiting almost 90 days after sending in original!

[lesleydiaz 0]

Hello,

My husband had his iv interview June 11 at the u.s. embassy in Lima, Peru. I'd already moved back to the states so I stupidly scanned him my i-864 form, not realizing it had to be the original. The officer who interviewed him said everything was fine and not to worry, that'd he'd get the visa, but he just had to send in the original via DHL. He sent it in 5 days after his interview (I fed exed it to him). The officer said he'd get his visa in 2 weeks-1 month. Well in two weeks it will be 90 days and nothing! A liason in the congressman's office here in VA has been making inquiries for me. We're waiting to hear back about her latest inquiry. I wasn't that worries at first but have gotten more and more worried. I read about so many nightmare AP cases and am scared to death this could turn into that -- all over one silly paper! Consulted with an immigration attorney who said they will probably also ask for a letter from my current employer. I was in a panic when I fed exed that form and didn't include a letter from my work. The previous 3 tax years and 1040/W2 definitely show more than enough income but I'm worried about this too, as that was from when I lived there and I now live stateside (still make enough). Maybe we'll wait who knows how long only to also be asked for that too?? Anyone have to send in a missing doc and then wait how long? Can't believe the officer said 2 weeks-1 month.

Edited September 1, 2015 by lesleydiaz

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[Anamta 2]

what do you mean when you say ORIGINAL i2864 ? it is just an electronicaly filled pdf document. how do they determine its originality?

[lesleydiaz 0]

If it's scanned it's not the original. No photocopies or scanned copies. Has to be the printed one with your original signature. Can't believe no one's looked at it in almost 90 days. I'm so worried about how long they could make this, all for one silly paper.

Edited September 2, 2015 by lesleydiaz

[KierenHby 897]

Congressional inquiry could be helpful as embassies are prone to respond to them. AP, unfortunately can be any length, though 90+ days over i864 sounds excessive. Might there be other issues?

[lesleydiaz 0]

Yeah I know.. almost 90 days over one paper seems ridiculous. I'm glad to have someone else agree with me. I was wondering if it was just me. There's definitely no other problems. Everything is totally straight forward & he passed his interview, no problems with anything any step of the way, and the officer said he'd get the visa, not to worry, he just had to send in the original paper & would have it 2 weeks-1 month after it was received. This "AP" status we're in is not for checks, just because we're pending the review of his document. This is what they say to us and the congressman liason. His document has been received and is just pending review by the consular. In other words, no one's looked at it! Hoping repeated emails from the congressman will help. I plan to ask for more frequent ones at the 90 day mark, and we will start as well. The laywer I saw said that June-Aug is the embassy busy season for tourist visas and they shift personel back to iv's at the beginning of Sept. Praying he's right. What a nightmare! I have 2 friends who've done the same with their Peruvian husbands and none of this mess, since they still lived there and so all docs were the originals. Ugh! Thanks for your reply.

Edited September 2, 2015 by lesleydiaz

[kmula 7]

Hi Lesley, any news?

My parents are in the same boat, they had their interview 8/27 and we were missing the original I-864 and I-864a just like you. We are still in AP status and the consul also told them not to worry, he just needed the original doc with the signature. Sounds like the same guy .. but he told them we would have news within 48 hrs

Edited September 4, 2015 by kmula

[lesleydiaz 0]

Yes! I emailed them Tuesday night with the subject being "75 day inquiry.." etc. They responded the next day (which is unheard of for me) asking him to come do fingerprints and an oath in order to "proceed with the case." He went Thursday morning and the guy told him he'd have his passport in a week.. I checked the status online yesterday afternoon and it said "issued" -- that little word I've been praying to see!! Don't lose hope.. sounds just like our case. Nothing was wrong but it held it up for almost 3 months. I say at the 75-90 day mark send an email like I did with the day count in the subject. I feel like maybe this got their attention. Also, the lawyer I had consulted with told me that the busy time for embassies is June-Aug and that he thought in Sept we'd hear something. That prooved to be true. I really think the same will happen for you because we had the identical problem.

Edited September 4, 2015 by lesleydiaz

[kmula 7]

Congratulations!!

I didn't know they had to go back to do fingerprints.. The consul told them they didn't need to come back, to only send the original I-864 via DHL and they would get their passports back with the visas .... but they might ... who did you email? The consulate? or USCIS? I didn't know you could reach them via email. Could you share the email address? thanks!!

[Anamta 2]

didnt you guys submit i864 in the original AOS packet during the NVC processing stage? do they ask for it again for interview?

[kmula 7]

We did, but we needed an additional sponsor.

[lesleydiaz 0]

Kmula, are you also in Lima, Peru, and have filed all your papers with the u.s. embassy there? That's what we did so they are the only people I needed to communicate with. If so, here's their email address:

LimaIV@state.gov

The subject of each email must say "IV Inquiry" and contain your case number and the name of the immigrant. Like I said, I also put how many days in my inquiry and feel that may have helped to finally get it moving. I also had a liason at the congressman office here in VA where I live start making inquiries. That helps just so they know someone is checking on your case.

Anamta - No, the i-864 doc wasn't required by the embassy until the interview.

I just saw you are in Pakistan. If you've been dealing with the embassy there you need to look up their contact info on their website & email them. The subject line content I told you will still apply.

[kmula 7]

Thank you Lesley!

No, I'm in Florida and my parents are the beneficiaries (parents and sisters). My did everything through USCIS.

I guess we just need to wait.

Thanks!

[kmula 7]

Yes! I emailed them Tuesday night with the subject being "75 day inquiry.." etc. They responded the next day (which is unheard of for me) asking him to come do fingerprints and an oath in order to "proceed with the case." He went Thursday morning and the guy told him he'd have his passport in a week.. I checked the status online yesterday afternoon and it said "issued" -- that little word I've been praying to see!! Don't lose hope.. sounds just like our case. Nothing was wrong but it held it up for almost 3 months. I say at the 75-90 day mark send an email like I did with the day count in the subject. I feel like maybe this got their attention. Also, the lawyer I had consulted with told me that the busy time for embassies is June-Aug and that he thought in Sept we'd hear something. That prooved to be true. I really think the same will happen for you because we had the identical problem.

Hi Lesley, how long after the status changed to Issued he got his passport back on DHL?

I received an email from the Embassy saying the CO was reviewing the documents and to check on the Visa Application website in the next few days to see if the passports were sent to DHL office with the visas.

So far, nothing has changed on the Visa Application website and the case status still shows as AP.

[lesleydiaz 0]

That is great news that the embassy told you the CO is reviewing the documents & to check the website within the next few days for a change of status! My husband's status changed the day he went to the embassy to get fingerprints & take the oath (a Thursday) and then his passport with visa was sent out the next day and ready for pickup on Monday. DHL emailed my husband that Monday to tell him it was ready. I wouldn't worry too much, because you're almost at the end if they've told you to check the website like that. I'd give it through this week and then email the embassy on Monday. You could just reply to the email they sent you, or send a new one. Good luck -- I'm sure they're just finishing things up and the status will change to "issued" very soon!