Hi Everybody,

Hope all of you are doing well, and hanging in there for those without a visa, and congrats to those who have gotten theirs since the re-opening of the CASA Consulate.

So, here's the deal! We are in an Administrative Review, and I really don't know what that is, and how long it could take. Please help me with answers to these questions, as my fiance is losing his mind, and I'm trying to hold it together for both of us.

Thanks,

Sincerely,

Carol

Hi Carol,
What exactly does his paper say?

I believe AR is a screening process. The time varies depending on the name checks.

Did your fiancé receive a 221(g) stating that administrative processing was required before they could issue the visa? Based purely on what VJ members going through Casa have posted here, the average for administrative processing seems to be about three weeks. I scoured posts and timelines for info when my fiancé had his interview, so that isn't necessarily an accurate average. They called my fiancé after one week, and it was another week before they issued his visa (he was turned away at the consulate the first time they called him in). It could take longer, depending on whether your fiancé has any matches on his name. They're running more extensive background and name checks on him, which is normal for Casa.

This is one of the most difficult times in the whole process because you'll just be in the dark until the checks are finished. Just try to take it day by day, encourage each other, and try to put your minds on other things while you wait. It isn't easy to be patient, but it's all you can do now.

Carol,
All you can do is wait, and make periodic calls to DOS to see if the checks have cleared. Some have waited a week, others have waited months. I think the longest I saw, looking on the cheerleading thread, was about 5 months from Casa, without a known issue to resolve. We waited 3 months. Another couple I personally know waited 4, and we interviewed together. So there is no rhyme or reason. You just have to wait it out. On the positive side, once he gets his visa, all this time spent waiting will vanish.

Isn't Administrative Review and Administrative Processing two different things? My understanding was that AP was the name checks and AR is when there is a more in depth review- including field interviews, etc.?

Without knowing exactly what was on the paper given, it's hard to give accurate advice.

Here is the actual email, and this was the first one before the closing, and we got an identical one after the re-opening:

Dear Madam:

Mr. O's case is still undergoing administrative processing. We will contact him as soon as the processing is complete and we are able to continue with his case.

Regards,

IV Unit

kc

Then you are just going through the normal security name check that everyone goes through. These checks can vary from 1 week all the way to a year or more. There is no way to know how long it will take. Unfortunately, the only thing you can do it wait. I know it's not what anyone wants to hear and is easier said than done...trust me I know, we waited 5 months compared to most who wait 1-3 weeks. Good luck and congrats on your success thus far.

Dear Carshel,

Thank you so very much for your information. I really appreciate it, as well as that of all you others.

Sincerely,

Carol

My fiance had his visa cancelled today when he went to pick it up as instructed. He was given a paper saying administrative processing was needed and it could take up to 6 months. He also was told that it was due to a discrepancy found on a visitor visa applied for in 2002. I guess AP does not necessarily mean name check. We are devastated anyway, and he is near a breakdown.

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW: means when your case is being looked at more closely for accuracy and to make sure all security name fingerprints checks have cleared and your visa can be adjudicated.

I'm so sorry to hear that.