I have come up with a new theory for Cairo at least. If they don't really like you case (ie red flags - bad impression - whatever),but they can't say it is not a real realationship, they put it in the waiting for them to disappear pile.... And hopefully they make the couple wait long enough that they break from the pressure and cancel the visa.

I know security checks are another reason, but I am meaning why the long waits after or before security checks have been completed or in my case even ordered.

I have no idea but love this topic - you gals and guys figure it all out for me - so when my SO has the interview I can have all the "secrets" to a fast AP - hahahahahaha - - - if there is one thing I have learned about this process is that there are some aspects that are just unpredictable........good luck to all of those on AP - - my heart goes out to each and every one of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Cairo AP is different from Casablanca AP in that Cairo actually does some review itself at the consulate. As far as I can tell, AP in Casa simply means the FBI name check.

I seem to remember instances where there were home visits during the AP period in Cairo. This would indicate that it's not just the FBI clearance, but also administrative review similar to what goes on at many other embassies, some of the ones in Asia come to mind.

I think that you're probably right about the CO's overall impression contributing to the review time.

I have to agree. I think the interviewer had it in for my husband from the start. Our case was approved, security checks at Washington passed and it's sitting in Cairo waiting for their final issuance. The DOS man that I talked with yesterday said, "ma'am in the end it is up to Cairo to do what they want".

I don't think that's right. If they have that much power then they shouldn't abuse it, i.e. if the interviewer really doubted the relationship why did he not want more evidence? My husband went with our wedding album, a huge pile of phone records, chat records, my plane ticket stubs, etc. and so if he really doubted things why not look at this stuff more intently?

Also, what checks does Cairo do? They haven't gone to his house, they ask for the copy of the police records so it's not like they go and get that themselves, they ask for the movement certificate sometimes so it's not like they're doing that themselves....................so I'm at a loss as to what they actually do over there in terms of their own security checks.

In the end I'm better when I don't try to make sense of it. I look at it all like the lottery. If you are lucky you will get it early and if not you'll have to wait.

I don't think that a CO "has it out" for anyone. I think they are doing their jobs. Yes it's stressful for everyone having to wait but they are doing what they are supposed to do. It's not a personal vendetta against couples.

I believe our case is sitting without any work being done on it right now. On some shelf where they doubt our relationship to it must wait X amount of time before they will issue the visa.
Security checks have been done.
Home visit and verification with him at his work was done.
The last time I called DOS they cannot see that anything is happening right now, just waiting for the visa to be issued.
At Sam's interview he had to insist that the CO look at our pics and tried to show him some other evidence, ie plane tickets, and reservation confirmation for my visit 3 weeks after his interview, mail correspondance to him from my kids, parents and me, etc. He finally agreed to look at the pics, but nothing else.
At the time of his interview the CO told him all his paperwork was complete and they had all they needed from him and would just have AP time (1-2 months HAHA!!) before visa issuance.

So as far as more security checks there I don't believe they are happening... they are just sitting on the file and not issuing visa because of their supicions, but no proof of those suspicions.............CAUSE THEY ARE NOT VALID!!!

This is my opinion of what is happening with our case right now.

So what is the theory that you both have then? I mean if they are doing what they are supposed to do, what is it they're supposed to do aside from the DOS checks and home visits? And why is it that Cairo is supposed to do whatever this mysterious thing is and not Morocco?

Well I think they are probably doing some form of a security check. I also believe that a CO gets a "gut feeling" about a couple, especially the beneficiary,at the interview and that may determine how quickly or slowly the AP proceeds. I seem to be picking up on a pattern at Cairo that couples who have met offline are waiting less. I know this may not be true in all cases,but that seems to be a factor. I do not think one ever truly knows with Cairo and I guess one just needs to be prepared to wait it out.

There have been quite a few couples who have gone through AR hell in Casablanca. That aside, I have read Cairo has one of the largest operations in the Middle East. Its no stretch to think large operation - case slowdown. I also agree that the consulate does not deliberately do a terrible/molasses slow job. There has to be a reason for it.

The way I understand it, and per anecdotal evidence on VJ is the fingerprint check takes a relatively short amount of time. If you are required to do the full 10 set, it can take 1-30 days average to return, and if there is a name hit on top of that (which is a separate procedure) then you have the length involved. It is entirely possible with the frequency of the names used in Egypt(where last names are not as common) as opposed to Morocco (where last names are more common), there are more name hits.

Nothing is absolute, nothing is fair.

I agree Cairo indeed has a large caseload. In addition to processing the many Egyptian DV applicants, it also processes for the Sudanese and now on its most recent interview schedule,Cairo is now processing Iraqis. So, there are many applicants going through that embassy.

Oh I get it about the name hits and the fingerprints but that all happens at the DOS level. We're talking about what happens when those checks are completed and there's no apparent reason that DOS can tell that the visa is not yet issued.

I don't think that Morocco and Egypt can be compared. Morocco denies petitions and Egypt makes people wait. I have no idea what they're doing and I never pretended to know. I don't think any of us really know exactly what is going on there which is why I don't think it's fair to say that the Consulate "had it out for my husband from the start." I think they are doing a good job at being very careful in the visa process and I think their jobs must be very stressful.

I guess I look at it that is f*** up morroco denys so many valid relationship and its f***** you could reach Norway on a camel by the time Egypt finishes their prcocessing. Both situations are absolutely unfair and you don't see people from other european counties ever having to deal with this much waiting and suffering. And yes I believe it is allllll about what the counsular thinks of you and how they like you and in that way it is verrrrry personal.

I'm done trying to figure out why some have longer AP than others. I agree that COs don't have personal vendettas against certain beneficiaries. However, COs are human like the rest of us and many ppl treat others harshly simply because they don't like how someone looks or speaks. I doubt several months after the interview that the CO is still holding a grudge against someone he doesn't know personally.

I feel that if someone's security checks and clearances can be done in 1 month to six weeks...unless you have some type of security flag happen........... having some people get visas in six weeks or less and others wait more that six months is ridiculous!!

Personal feelings about visa issuance and why times are so differing will range widely depending upon if you have had to wait a long time or got the visa within a reasonable time frame.

When you call DOS and the case is complete on their end and you know that other inquiries, checks have been completed months ago....what conclusion do you come to???

Trying to do their job correctly doesn't come high to my mind when I hear about them shipping out incorrect passports to individuals, or passports without the visa in them, etc. This does not speak to me of people caring about their job and making sure all the i's are dotted and t's crossed... in my opinion.

Do you think that the fraud factor of some MENA countries compared to that of Europe means nothing?

but its what he writes on that file at the interview that matters.

I was also wondering how hard do you think it would be to bring back an egyptian street dog puppy ? I really think there so cute but I think it would be hard. But proablly eaiser than it is to bring a husband or fiance home.

There are some fraud factors in other countries besides MENA and they do not have these ridiculously long wait times.

I agree. The fraud factor of MENA countries alone is the reason why nearly all MENA beneficiaries get AP. Let's be honest with ourselves, loads of men are dying to leave MENA countries and will do whatever it takes to get out. The consulates know this.

But thats also assuming that the info you are getting from the DOS on any given day is accurate. How do you know the checks are complete when you can call 10 times in 2 days and get 10 different answers? the fact is that yes, Cairo is hugely busy, the DOS is hugely busy and one thing thats clear is the left hand NEVER knows what the right is doing.

I also totally agree with Laura regarding the differences in names between Morocco and Egypt. My husband has a first name and a distinct last name. In Egypt where you have name-fathers name- grandfathers name can you begin to imagine how many thousands of people might have the same set of names??

Add all that to the fact that yes, COs can be suspicious about cases and that Cairo is in fact a high fraud consulate, the fact that UNDOUBTEDLY there is huge pressure here stateside regarding allowing Muslim males of a certain age into the country and it shouldnt be a surprise that there is a long wait time in which the parties involved feel like they are in a black hole. for what its worth, I have been here watching and reading the cases on this board for several years now and Egypt has always been a nightmare. its not getting any worse. Just not any better.

All I can say is what I have said before, I KNOW its extremely frustrating to wait but I dont really agree with the victim mentality. I also think that calling and emailing often just feeds in to the 'watched pot' feeling. Days are just going to be longer and longer and pass slower and slower when all the time your focus is on how long and slow they are. When I first filed my I-129 to Nebraska it was taking forever to get an NOA 1. we waited almost 6 months. I KNOW that the days and weeks I obsessively checked the USCIS sites and watched others getting approved before us it almost sent me over the edge. I raged and railed about what they could POSSIBLY be doing at the service centers to make it take so long, and how could other service centers do in 2 weeks what it took nebraska 6 months to do? at the end of the day all it did was piss me off. when I finally took a deep breath and realized it just is what it is and that it was negatively effecting my life way more than it should, I calmed down and got on with life and guess what? eventually we got all our papers and got approved and its all in the past now.

Sorry to go on and on, I guess my 2 cents is closer to 2 bucks on this one.

Just be glad your SO is not from the DR!

The street dogs are at least more loyal than some of the MENA SOs.

Exactly there are many consulates with high fraud rates that do not operate like this
You think people from bulgaria or chezc republic aren't commiting fraud....... its basicallyethnic proofiling not fraud profiling

How about some examples?

Like others have said, Egypt handles many other countries going through the visa process.

How would the Consulate benefit from making people wait if they didn't have to? I just don't see why people think that everything is so simple when we have no idea what goes on in the Consulate. What good would come to the CO's by making people miserable and waiting? I feel bad for the CO's because I think they have a really hard job and clearly no one appreciates them doing their job. People around here spend the day bashing the Egyptian Consulate like they are actually going out of their way to ruin your lives.

Russia, Phillipines are also high fraud consulates not necessarily for men, but for women dying to leave their countries too.

As far as the other countries that are going through Egypt consulate I don't know about their wait times. I have no doubt that this process is simple in any way shape or form, but I don't feel bad for CO's at all. We have been lied to about wait times and that is very frustrating. I don't see anyone on here acting like they are going out of their way to ruin our lives.....I know that the CO that interviewed my husband probably forgot about him the next dayor that day...they handle so many cases.........and I don't think that the CO is the main person making all decisions on our case. I feel it has moved on to others and there seems to be a general carelessness from the consulate about they way they handle things, ie people's personal information, passports, etc.

Well if they are so taxed by so many other cases perhaps the need more staff? I don't know how they work I just know that thier wait times are the longest of any country. You could have a fiance from cuba or iran here much faster. I don't want to argue. Obviously some people are "lucky" maybe your one of them. But for all of us stuck here in AP it is clear this is anthing but an efficent system and I was wondering what other people WHO ARE IN ap were thinking as to why we are stuck there and to give us a chance to talk about this so overshadowing part of our daily existence. Im happy the co's have someone like sarah on there side. Maybe you should send them an email to tell them what a great job they are doing

Geez, sorry, I guess my ideas were not welcome.

It does become an overshadow over your daily life.. no matter how hard you try not to let it. I feel like it is taking away my hope.

I understand that you "feel" like your case has been passed around. That is speculation. Unless you have been in the Consulate and worked there then I doubt any of us can say what is and what is not happening there. I see people everyday on this board complaining about the Consulate and how they tear families apart and ruin relationships by making people wait. I don't see how you can say that they are careless. Yes they made a mistake by sending out the wrong passport. My husband got screwed over during AOS but you don't see me on here making generalizations about the entire US government and Immigration services about how careless they are. Mistakes are human.

Im sorry I have to admit I feel under attack from sarah , I don't know her and I know that many people on the other side who didn't experience this may be a little kurt. I didn't mean you and Im sorry for my wording. Im even sorry I posed the topic.

Once again those who haven't experienced a long AP aren't allowed to discuss. Gosh, I have been told that too many times lately.

I didn't realze that those waiting had insider information and were the only ones who could discuss this topic.

Sarah its just you come off in harsh way I don't know what it is discuss all you want This fourum is for everyone which obviously you already know

I am discussing. I don't see how my opinion is any harsher than others.

point taken

I know for a fact that there are others dealing with issues on our case as they have contacted my husband's family and also him by phone. They had his information at that time...also they misrepresented themselves to his grandparents and my husband, stating they were with DHL and had papers to deliver for him...but asked questions about our relationship and things that had nothing to do with delivery. Also these "DHL" delivery men went to the neighborhood store and asked about us with our pictures. So I feel that we have multiple reasons to be dissatisfied with the way our case has been handled in Cairo. I sent an email to Cairo consulate questioning them about this situation, but no response. So our dealings with them have not been on the up and up at all. I don't pretend to know why these things are happening, but I do know that carelessness comes into play with a lot of the "mistakes" that have happened out of Cairo. So the "generalizations" I am making are based on our personal experiences and other experiences that have shared them. That is what this whole thread is about ........those of us that are in long AP and what our opinions are about why this happens.

I feel my life is just slipping away as i start each week telling myself, this could be the week we get good news! And the weeks turn into months and the beginning of each month i tell myself, this could be the month we get good news, and month after month we get the same response. and that's how i spend my free time! Just thinking, waiting, praying and HOPING that we can be together soon, before i go wither away in complete despair and madness.

Trying to keep my spirits high, but sometimes, when i think how long it's taking and not knowing how much longer it will take, it's like a kick in the stomach or a slap in the face.

Anyway, tomorrow's Friday and monday is around the corner, and that could be the week we get good news......

Hugs,

Ayesha

I don't feel hurt, but others that have not experienced what we are going through don't have an understanding of what it is like to deal with this. Don't worry about any attack. We are all free to express our opinions and feelings here.

What is wrong with more than one person handling your case? Can the CO give the interview and do a field investigation along with other responsibilities? I don't understand why it's not ok for more than one Consular to handle your case.

Just want to say I did not mean to slight anyone and of course any of you who want to chime in please do.
wether in ap no ap whats ap speak up

I have no problems with more people handling the case...........it is the what they are doing that is not appropriate or right.

Be sure to know that my Egyptian huband went through 8 months of AR but resided in Canada at the time. I am not unfamiliar with the hell that you feel. I was provided false information many times throughout by the DOS & Montreal. Its not just a Cairo thing. We now also have been waiting 2 years since filing for AOS for some kind of approval.




24 months just to *get* an interview is quite hard to swallow, as is the ones who went way off the scale as far as *normal* processing goes (Shon, Yasi and others do come to mind as well as all the sad stories of consular returns).

Honestly - each step of the process there is something *potentially* terrible you are up against. You can see it prior to the interview, during AR, and even posted here the hardships pending EAD adjudication. This process through & through is a hardship. Please don't take this as me minimizing your anguish. I remember it well, and am encouraging you to breathe deeply, take care of yourselves, and try to live as normally as possible. Venting can be very constructive!

We have to keep our trust, our HOPE, and our love! The rest will be taken care of with time.

Since I've been on VJ, I've seen Egypt ARs/APs run anywhere from a week or two all the way up to 11 months and more. Many of you have been waiting a really long time -- 4 and 6 and 8 months or more -- but it's not really outside the "normal" range for this consulate.

I don't know why Cairo seems to take so much longer than some other consulates. It's probably a combination of factors that have already been mentioned -- the size of the caseload, the extra difficulties in completing security checks when they are dealing with so many similar names... plus the additional factors of simply being a ME/NA country, and the need for extra scrutiny because of the higher incidence of fraud.

We don't know everything that's going on behind the scenes in Cairo. The consulate may be privy to information we (the USC) are not aware of. (Not trying to scare anyone, but I've seen some real shockers here on VJ about stuff the consulate dug up -- stuff the USC was completely unaware of.)

Name checks are only part of the time-consuming tasks that immigration must complete. Most of the consulate's job is determining if the parties are actually eligible for visas, and if there is evidence of fraud. This can be a very complicated determination to make, so gathering evidence and sifting through it may take a long time. But I certainly don't think it's a matter of the consulate "having it in" for certain people, and deliberately (and frivolously) delaying those cases.

I think it's perfectly normal to have feelings of being somehow personally singled out for harrassment, but those feelings should not be allowed to overcome one's ability to reason logically and unemotionally. The consulate is doing a job -- maybe they're slow, but it's not because they personally don't like you or your case.

Also, I don't think you have to "experience" a lengthy AR to sympathize with the frustrations and anger it can cause -- I think the venting here is absolutely understandable.

Wishing everyone who is still waiting (whether they vent or not) to have a speedy completion of their process, so they may be reunited with their loved ones as soon as possible.



-MK

Agreed 100% Especially the part I bolded.

This is an interesting aspect. How do you know that marriage fraud is a bigger problem, percentage wise in MENA than any other country?

Based on my experience, I see much more that cases are denied for suspected fraud where none exists, than denied for fraud that does exist. This is based primarily on experiences where the basis for the fraud accusation is a suspicion or 'gut feeling' the consular has because of some red flag issue like the wife is older than the husband or some similar nonsense. That is not proof of fraud. It is not a reason to accuse someone of fraud.

The State Dept. have felt the need to send TWO cables on the issue to embassies, to me that seems to indicate a systemic problem that the government has recognized exists and their only response so far has been first to send those 2 cables to clarify what the law is, what the burden of proof is on the government to lay out (beyond what is in the FAM) of how this should be handled and that accusations of fraud based on suspicion are not supposed to happen. They also changed the handling process to have the NVC start tracking the number of returned petitions. Again, a sign this is not a small problem. But the effects on families is devastating.

So anyway, I definately question the fraud rates of any embassy when they see fraud everywhere that doesn't exist. That is not to say fraud doesn't exist, but simply that their detectors senses of fraud are defective and therefore their statisics are defective.

And how do you know that the fraud doesn't exist? Because the man says he loves his wife and will love her forever? How do you know the man's intentions?

Aw c'mon spill the beans. It's Halloween season so we can be scared!!! you know you wanna!!!!

I think she is refering to cases where the CO uncovers that the fiance is not really what he claims to be or has other things in his past that the petitioner was not aware of. I can recall one case like this I believe possibly more.