Hi, everyone. My husband and I sent off our 3 packet to the Cairo embassy 4 1/2 weeks ago and were told after email inquiries that they are very busy, have not looked at our packet and are booked for interviews until atleast August ......Has anyone actually had the interview with the Cairo embassy or recieved their Visa there? I'm just wondering what kind of interview it was and how are they time wise...How many weeks after the interview was the ok given?? I miss my husband so much so any experiences with the cairo embassy you can share are welcome!!

Thanks!

Hi Princess !

Come on down to the Middle East/North Africa forum (you'll find it in the "Regional Forums" section here on this site)... we have quite a few people who are processing/have processed through Cairo. They can provide you with a wealth of information, advice and support !



-MK

Several frequent posters in the Middle East/North African subforum have gone through Cairo.

Cairo is a middling ME/NA embassy. It's not the best and it's not the worst. A few months wait for an interview is typical, and then a few weeks to a few months post interview investigation is typical prior to a visa issuance. I was lucky that we managed to snag an interview a few weeks after sending in our packet, but that was plain dumb luck and very unlikely to be repeated.

Stop by the ME/NA board and say hello (or salaam or ahlan or sai'ida)

Thanks for the tip guys, I have however seen the Middle East/North Africa forum (its not exactly hidden) I was just trying to avoid searching page after page of chat and mostly I was hoping to get some personal experience by asking directly. I thought someone might give me more detail if asked for it rather than just a summary. My bad.

Hi Princess! Our interview took about 3 months after the packet was sent. His interview was February 14th and we are still waiting for the AR/AP to get finished. Best of luck!

Hi, Aymerlu! OMG. 3 months for the interview and so much waiting since... Ugh. Stupid question but whats the AR/AP? is this something K1 specific as opposed to K3? Sorry to sound so stupid I swear I've read the guides! Maybe the sound of my biological clock ticking is distracting me.... Thanks!!!

I honestly don't know about the AR/AP with the K-3. Sorry I'm not much help on that.

Hello Princess,

I am not sure of your embassy but I can give you some insight into the AR and AP. Here is a brief summary and AP/AR is the same for any type of visa.

I. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
"Administrative Review" refers to a Consular Official placing the case "on hold" because the Visa Petitioner or Beneficiary FAILED TO PASS the security name check or background check, or because the Consulate or State Department or Homeland Security NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE some issue or matter in the case more closely. Cases placed into Administrative Review can ADD WEEKS OR EVEN MONTHS to processing time and final decision on visa issuance, typically in most cases AT LEAST 4 to 8 weeks additional time. Under current regulation, there is no right of appeal within State Department or Homeland Security for administrative review status. It is suggested that visa petitioners and beneficiaries keep track of the status of their case as best as possible, and secure, if possible, the reason or reasons their case has been placed into administrative review, which at least helps to relieve some anxiety during the waiting time.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING
Can be a field investigation to your home or job, they go and make sure marriages or relationships are valid and that the documents submitted are proper and to rule out fraud.

You can have AR and then AP as well during your processing and in either case a congressman or senator CANNOT help to expedite the cases. AP is also a black abyss without any details given. I know my husband was in it for almost 5 months and we could not find out any details other than saying we are in Administrative Processing.

Good luck.
Mary

Some of us don't venture out of the ME/NA forum too often, so if you have a ME/NA related question, you can post it there too for those of us who don't get out much

Thanks for such a great answer Mary, not only do I understand now but I have a new thing to dread!!! Please.....no AR/AP!!!!!! Wow, 5 months how awful I guess my complaints are not so dire yet. Am I right in assuming that only some cases get the joy of an AR/AP?

...and yes Rahma I will for sure post in the other forum when and if I do need to post again regarding this region....again I repeat MY BAD.

I think I am going to cry after reading this..