Assalam-o-Alaikum;
Does anyone know of Azhar? He got I-129F approved and just didnt come back to the thread!!!!!!!
Azhar if you are reading share your updates please.

It appears that way. She told me that from the pool of apprx 25 applicants that day. About 15 got the visa that day, 3 were fingerprinted (2 ladies, 1 guy) and the balance had inclomplete documents. This her est and she could be off.

The notice she got says it will take atleast 30 days to complete the review and if she has not heard in 45 days to contact the consulate.

I guess we will just have to wait little bit longer and inshallah this time shall pass too.

Nasir

Great info. Nasir bhai.
Thanks.
Great observation on your's wife's side as well.
Great sprits. INSHA ALLAH these days will pass soon.
I will pray for you and everyone.

Oh my!!!!!!!!!!

Our K1 has been approved (NOA2)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On Sept. 26th. I haven't gotten the mail yet, as I'm not yet home. Just found out checking our status. (How come I didn't get an e-mail notification? I have that option turned on...??)

I've been out guiding for a week and unable to check... and all that has happened this week. Ali posted his first posts. He's so sweet and thank you for responding to him Mary and Laney. I haven't gotten to speak with him really yet. I will later today with our good news.

Right now I'm off to the hospital, my uncle has had a massive stroke and is dying. So much happening right now. My heart is heavy and happy at the same time. wow...

I'll try and catch up on all that has happened while I was gone once things settle down with my family. We are very close so this is really hard. Send you thoughts this way if you're so inclined. Is it possible to be this sad and happy at the same time????

Hope all is well with everyone here. Sorry for my long absence - life has been incredibly crazy...

-Danika

Hey Danika - I'm really sorry about your uncle. It must be so hard to have such good news while you are going through this with your family. Our prayers are with you.

and can I say - WOW!!! Congrats on your rapid approval out in California! His file should be in ISL by Oct 15th(ish). It will be there before you know it, get that I-134 ready

Keep us up to date ...

Danika,

I am so sorry to hear of your uncle's illness and will be praying for all of you. I can relate that your happy and sad at the same time sometimes life is like that. I was happy to see Ali had posted and he had written to Mian over the weekend too. Take care of yourself.

And your case should be at the embassy soon. Like Laney said time to get all the paperwork finished and ready to go to Ali. Keep us posted and congrats on the approval.

Hugs,
Mary

Does any know the difference between AP (admin Processing) and AR (Admin Review)?

From what I have been able to understand from the threads is that AP is domestic name check and takes less time whereas AR is done by DOS and takes longer.

Is this correct?

Thanks,

Nasir,

AP is more indepth and they can come to your home, business, schools, etc to check out the validity of your relationship. It is also some background checks and when you call DOS you are in black abyss until they are ready to finish processing. All I heard for 5 months is your case is in AP and we will contact your husband once we are ready to work further on your case via Islamabad. DOS just said your in AP sorry no more information to give you at this time. Omid and I were in AP.

AR is where the name is sent to USA for checks my understanding since when you call DOS they will say your in some type of security check.

Mary

Nasir, we're not going through islamabad, but the same thing happened to my fiance (he's living in germany but turkish). He had his interview Aug 30th and was approved, but they had to take his fingerprints, too. the consul told him he could have his visa in as little as 2 weeks when he left. but then he called the embassy to check on something and they said 3 months minimum. they kept his passport, too. let me know if you get any more information, i'm calling DOS every 2 weeks, and so far his file is just sitting in DC, they haven't even started the checks yet so i dont know if that 3 month time frame was for the entire process, or once they get the background checks started. It took the consulate 3 months to even schedule his interview, so i'm feeling pretty sure that he had a false hit. anyway, just thought i would let you know theres someone in the same boat! keep us updated, i'll let you know if i get any new info..

Danika - enjoy the good news - and pray for strength in dealing with the other news. May Allah give you peace of mind with any news that comes your way.

they said today at DOS the check takes 3 - 4 months today is now day 87
our SAO was ordered on July 7th. according to the DOS. the follow up was made
Aug 20th. DOS called me on Sep 27. so now we wait.. and wait.

Congrats on approvals and green cards and EADS, SSNs, all that good cheery stuff.

I am sorry i have not been posting much on VJ no more. life sometimes tosses curve balls - gotta catch them or miss them. I am so tired of this process and reading this stuff its slowly killing my sprits. I cant keep being like this. its pure hell. people just starting out get reunited faster than us. so you may have noticed my postings are few and far between. keep us in our prayers and I pray for some strengh - I am having a hard time coping.

Hi. Can someone please let me know when is the recommended time to get a congressperson involved and if it is helpful? My husband is now going through the security checks and it has been one month since he had his interview so I know it has not been that long yet. Maybe this might help speed things up a little?

contact congressman after 3 months ... " I THINK"

PS congressmen and senators cannot do anything when you are going through security clearances! you can contact them any time you want. Even a day after your interview.

The will just file an inquiry for you and will get a generic response that the case is pending due to administrative processing!

Shon! here is the thing. if you are at day 87 you might be hearing something real soon. i know that the mantis check (hopefully if ordered in your case) will take about 100 days.

mine was ordered a little later, so might take a little time..

Shonnie ,

Hang in there girl and know I am here if you need me. HUGS


Sk782,

Congressman cannot expedite any checks since it is considered National Security. All they will do is send and email to the embassy for an update. Ours did this for us and always got the same response I did. "This case is under AP and we cannot tell you any time frame for it to finish. We will contact the applicant once we are ready to proceed." Basically, is all that we were ever told. AP is running 5 -6 months on alot of the cases if you are checking timelines. Good luck and pray for patience.

Mary

Asalam Aleikum,

I just caught up on what is going on, i've been so busy with my moving and job and college, anyway, my husband's interview is this friday, please everyone pray for us and our success.
And im sorry shon for you having to wait as long as you are, but insh Allah it will be over soon, i really pray for you too much to have your partner with you soon Aamin. And congratulations to everyone receiving the good news on their cases.

Ok, i'll keep everyone posted on how his interview goes. Take care.

Allah Hafiz

maybe it will clear in a month I pray . I cant take this no more .. i am sorry
right now I am at my melt down mentally. I have been patient its so hard now.
day 100 will be on Oct 16th.. I pray its done then .. .then I can have some peace.

michigan maybe yours will clear soon too.. I pray.
I also pray Naveed and Atif is done too. they waitied so very long
in this too..

I Pray for u Shon ANd For Every Body, InshaAllah your Case Will Be Done Sooner,

This AP Is Just Something Messed To make peoples feel DIzzy And Stupid

Michigan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you are right 100 day is consistant with oct 16th. they DOS said they should be on
July check soon - you are right they are working on June.

yes! As of September 12th the DOS was processing June 14th! i wonder what day they are processing as of October 3rd!

my guess is june 23

Thanks for the information everyone. Hopefully it's no more than 6 months. I hope everyone else gets their loved ones home soon as well.

How long does it take to get an Advanced Parole approval and what is involved with applying/getting an approval to travel outside the US when on a K1 visa??

I'm trying to figure out plans for travel, etc...

Thanks for your help!!

Wait, revise my question a bit - I found some good information in other forums...

Has anyone from ISB had problems getting an AP approval? How long do they generally take? Can Ali apply for AP before he enters the US on his K1?

Thanks for your insights!

Hey! how come june 14? You are missing my case (May '06)

-Dude

Hi everynone,

My wife just had her interview and she has been approved for visa. I Just like to thank everyone for their help. The Consular said she will be receiving her visa in 3-4 days through Amex by giving her some kind of token receipt. She did give two fingerprints of each hand. (just index finger not the whole hand). I hope she is home before Eid. MashaAllah. Thank you God, May all of you be united soon. This is a CR1 visa.



Thank you
Sham

Congratulations, Sham that is great news! May you have your wish that she is here in a few weeks before EID and now time to get ready for her arrival.

Mary

Hello,

I called the DOS this week and they stated that my husband is now going through the security checks and she gave me a timeline of 2-3 months which is average right now. I had my lawyer email the embassy and they gave a similar timeframe. Does 2-3 months really mean that, or could it be much longer? I did ask the DOS lady if it would go to 6 months and she said that she seriously doubted that and that most normal cases are completed in 2-3 months.

sk782,

I can only say that the field investigator told my husband that he hoped to issue his in one month. It was almost four more months so I would not count anything until I had my visa in hand. Hopefully, you will not have to wait more than the 2 - 3 months that they are saying. No one can say for sure how long your processing will take.

Mary

Thanks for the info, Mary.

I have an idea.. contact the SAO resolution desk by e mail



yes it can be longer. we been waiting on security checks 1 year 8 months.
we also had a field investigatons last year < NOV 05>. Dude has been waiting along time too.
let me explain something. it may take 2-3 months for 1 security check. that dont mean
there are not others that will trigger after that one check. we had several compleate and soon
get more triggered.

REMINDER

EMBASSY, DOS, NVC, USICS is closed ON MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oct 9 Mon Columbus Day American

Congratulations! May God bless you with a long prosperous life together!

congrats sham, now i feel like sending my wife's ds230 for cr1 lol. oh well AOS for me.

Asalam aleikum Everyone,

Congratulations to Sham for your wife being approved for her visa! I also have good news, my husband's interview was yesterday and he was approved for his visa!!!! Alhamdulillah! He said that it was such a great experience and that the officer only asked a few questions , and it only lasted about five minutes..he said the interviewer was so nice and laid back guy, must have been only 22 or 23 years old, and that he thought it was so funny how it said on our wedding certificate that I am a "spinster" ( we married in cardiff) and he showed it to his supervisor and colleagues..lol. Also, they didn't look at hardly any of the evidence, other than photos of us together. Anyway, they told him that he should get his visa after AP of 45 days to 3 months ( i know this time could mean any length of time in reality) Rashid also said that they only took the finger print of his index finger from each hand, and that they didn't charge him 45 dollars or take additional finger prints.
Insh'Allah he will have his visa with in the time frame given... He called me at mid night to tell me the great news, then i couldn't fall back asleep of course...so now im so tired but still so happy! I just pray that he will be here before the end of this year.
Thanks to everyone for your help and advices.

Leona

Congratulations Leona,

That is great news and hoping that his AP is done quickly so he can come home to you and your son.

Mary

Hi

I feel scared too that cases relating to PAKISTAN, the embassy look at u with utmost suspicious despite your relation is real and true. I want to tell u that i applied for visit visa twice in may and agust 2004 respectively but i was denied. At first time the counselor officer didnt not pay any attention to any of documents and plus the sponsor letter send by my fiance to visit her she simply ask me how u know her and did u ever met her and i told her that why i m applying for visa and second time the counselor officer was kind enough he was guy and he listened me properly and excuse me that i cant give u a visa now we applied for K1 after 2 years do u think still they look at us as suspicious eyes becoz i m from PAKISTAN.

Pls reply me with ur advice pls thanks

Fasil,

They are processing but it does take time. Here is a list from the VJ timelines and also, my husband tried to get visitors visa and they are not giving to Paki men. I saw you ask this in another forum.

Look at this: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list...%2C26%2C27%2C28

Right now relax and try not to worry about it and know that many are in the same situation as you. You have to be strong and take it one day at a time and pray for patience. God/Allah will not put more of a burden than you can endure and remember that he is the one that will bless you in the long run. This saying is what kept my husband and I sane during the processing.

Mary

Edited for typing error.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the congrats. I have a question about ticket process. I am sending the ticket(PIA) for my wife. The traveling agent is telling me that she needs a transit visa since flight will be staying some time in Manchester, UK. Does anyone has this experience before, or is it specific to visa given. And also is the electronic ticket is good becuase thats what travelling agent is issuing. I hope she does not have any problem at the airport.

Thanks

Sham

Congratulations Leona!!!


My interview is in Dec. now after EId i will go for Medical.
If i need any advice regarding medical please guys let me know.


and pray everything go fine..



Fooki

The flight only stays in Manchester to collect more passengers. The does entail getting everyone with their carry-ons off, rescreened through security and await in the terminal until boarding commences. The airport security folks distribute a plastic colored card and direct you to the appropriate places (I barely was able to use the toilet in one area before waiting in the long line to go through the security X-rays because there was another flight arriving from NY & they didn't want to get confused with those passengers from Chicago!?) Having a U.S. passport, I don't know the regulations on the transit visa in U.K. I would suspect they wouldn't need it unless there are flight problems and it has to stay overnight (but one doesn't even leave the secured area of the airport.) I'm not in your position though. The travel agent I used in Chicago to book my ticket would be able to help. The agent was from Karachi, himself. I don't have the number with me, but if you need it to get a second professional opinion, just let me know.
Congratulations.

Sham,
My wife and daughter just came back from Karachi. My wife has a green card. When she has gotten her visa (CR-1) and we were coming back from karachi she didnt needed a transit visa. You can go to the British Embassy site and lookup but basically what it says is if you have a non-expired visa to US you dont need a transit vias for UK, however I would recomend that you get a paper ticket instead of an electronic ticket just to be safe since PIA doesnt have good technology.
Good Luck!
Here is the paste from the British Embassy website:
EXEMPTIONS:

Certain exemptions to this requirement have been introduced and apply to all DATV nationals. The following categories of traveller are not required to hold a DATV and may still benefit from the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) concession.

YOU ARE EXEMPT IF:

You are travelling FROM the US with a valid US visa and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom to another country; or

You are travelling TO the US from another country and hold a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom and a valid US visa; or

You last entered the US with a valid US visa which has now expired but you hold a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom to another country and you are intending to transit the United Kingdom within 6 months of your last date of entry to the US; or

You have a valid US I - 551 Permanent Residence Card (Green Card) issued on or after 21 April 1998 (but see Note 1 and 2 below); or

You have a valid US Immigrant Visa packet (form 155A / 155B); or

You have an expired I - 551 Permanent Residence Card (issued on or after 21 April 1998) and a valid I-797 letter issued by the Bureau of Citizenship authorising its extension (but see Note 1 and 2 below); or
Source:http://www.britainusa.com/visas/articles_show_nt1.asp?i=65025&L1=41000&a=41448

Congrats sham.
Yeah paper ticket is recommended. Why do you have to buy ticket form here? If you are in Karachi, I can recommend a good travel agent there, it will be cheaper and will, INSHA ALLAH, be confirmed.
I am also, curious about UK transit visa question. My sister used PIA last month, she is a permanant resident, and didnt need a transit visa. But I also wanna be absolutely positive about this.



Wa Alaikum Assalam.
Congrats RKhalid. INSHA ALLAH, he will have visa soon. Good Luck.

what us1415 has posted is correct. no transit visa needed.

I called the PIA office in NY they are telling me if the passport has a sticker than no transit visa needed, but if there is not sticker than it is needed. I do not know who to beleive.





I called twice to double check and it is the same thing sticker visa no transit and if it is stamped visa need transit visa. I do not know who to believe British DATV exemptions or PIA.

Brother sham,
My wife came two months ago first time on her CR1 visa from Lahore Pakistan via PIA to Houston she didn’t have UK transit visa check PIA website (http://www.piac.com.pk/)
Or call it’s 1-800 for reconfirmation.
How everyone doing here I believe everyone is busy in fasting May Lord Almighty accept our fasting.

WSalam

I'm so happy we have this Islamabad thread. It answers a lot of questions.

This may have been answered already, so forgive me if it has, but how does the Embassy mail the packets out in Pakistan? Is it done through standard mail, DHL, or what?

We're not at that stage yet, but to be prepared, I need to tell my wife what to look for as her address is somewhat confusing.

Thanks!

Embassy Sents Packets Through "TCS"

ASSALAM-O-ALAIKUM;
ALHAMDULILLAH half the month of Ramadhan is over, may ALLAH accept our fastings and other good deeds allow us to do more of these in the rest of the month and let this month be a good starting point for us to spend the entire next year on the right path. Ameen.

INSHA ALLAH my wife's interview is on Friday. Any advise? suggestion? information? Appreciated.
Please keep us in your prayers.
ALLAH HAFIZ.