Visa Has Been Issued But Passport Not Received

[NoorAbbas 0]

My husband's IR1 visa was issued on Oct 1st but he has not received his passport back. The officer at the consular said it would be about 5 business days. It has been double that time. I have sent emails to the embassy but no reply and I can't call as they do not discuss this over the phone. What can I do to find out why his passport has not been sent to him? Is this normal?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

[Waitingggg 20]

Does it show issue on the website? Was it his first interview?

Check his status on

ceac.state.gov

[NoorAbbas 0]

Does it show issue on the website? Was it his first interview?

Check his status on

ceac.state.gov

Yes it shows Issued on the website. I've attached a screenshot with the case number only removed. It originally said "issued" on Oct 1st and then on Oct 15th the date changed from Oct 1st to Oct 15th but other than that no other changes.

and yes it was his first interview. The guy that interviewed him told him it would be sent within 5 business days and that he didn't need to come back to the embassy for anything. There was no issue with the interview and my husband specifically asked if he'd go into AP and the guy told him no. Everything was good. His interview was Sept 22nd.

[carolynhotstuff 252]

Usually he would have his passport and visa packet in a few days after the ceac website says issued. The date changed to the 15th which might show his visa packet is still with the embassy. I don't have an answer for why it is taking so long. Have you tried calling NVC and emailing the embassy?

[NoorAbbas 0]

Usually he would have his passport and visa packet in a few days after the ceac website says issued. The date changed to the 15th which might show his visa packet is still with the embassy. I don't have an answer for why it is taking so long. Have you tried calling NVC and emailing the embassy?

Yes I called NVC but they say there is nothing they can do. That once they send everything to the embassy you have to deal directly with the embassy. BUT the embassy won't discuss cases over the phone. You have to fill out this contact form and send it from their website. Which I've done. And they won't reply to me.

I also contacted the ustraveldocs.com website. They have no answer for me. My husband went to the courier office from where he's suppose to pick up the packet from but they say they don't have it and have no way to help him and no info on who to contact.

Everything I've ever read, once it says issued usually within 5 business days you receive it. If you go by Oct 1st when it originally said issued, it's closer to 12 business days because of closings for holidays. If you go by Oct 15th, then today (it's already tomorrow morning there) would be the fifth business day.

I'm really worried and have absolutely no clue who to contact or what to do or why the delay.

ETA: we've not had any issues through this entire process. Although it was long, everything always went through ok. So I'm not sure what the issue is.

Edited October 21, 2014 by NoorAbbas

[carolynhotstuff 252]

I am trying to get in contact with a friend who I believe had the same issue. I believe 3 weeks went by before her husband finally got his visa packet. His embassy was in India. My friend just called me. She said it did take her husband 3 weeks after the ceac website said issued for him to get his visa packet.

You are doing all the right things by calling NVC and emailing the embassy. Many people these days are saying the embassy will not answer their emails. Your last step is to contact your congressman or senator and ask them to look into the matter. The embassy will answer their emails and give them details they might not give you.

Have you been working with a congressman or senator? If not they will need a release of information form with your signature. You might be able to get a copy of it from their website and either take it to their office or mail it tomorrow.

I am trying to get in contact with a friend who I believe had the same issue. I believe 3 weeks went by before her husband finally got his visa packet. His embassy was in India. My friend just called me. She said it did take her husband 3 weeks after the ceac website said issued for him to get his visa packet.

You are doing all the right things by calling NVC and emailing the embassy. Many people these days are saying the embassy will not answer their emails. Your last step is to contact your congressman or senator and ask them to look into the matter. The embassy will answer their emails and give them details they might not give you.

Have you been working with a congressman or senator? If not they will need a release of information form with your signature. You might be able to get a copy of it from their website and either take it to their office or mail it tomorrow.

[NoorAbbas 0]

I am trying to get in contact with a friend who I believe had the same issue. I believe 3 weeks went by before her husband finally got his visa packet. His embassy was in India. My friend just called me. She said it did take her husband 3 weeks after the ceac website said issued for him to get his visa packet.

You are doing all the right things by calling NVC and emailing the embassy. Many people these days are saying the embassy will not answer their emails. Your last step is to contact your congressman or senator and ask them to look into the matter. The embassy will answer their emails and give them details they might not give you.

Have you been working with a congressman or senator? If not they will need a release of information form with your signature. You might be able to get a copy of it from their website and either take it to their office or mail it tomorrow.

I am trying to get in contact with a friend who I believe had the same issue. I believe 3 weeks went by before her husband finally got his visa packet. His embassy was in India. My friend just called me. She said it did take her husband 3 weeks after the ceac website said issued for him to get his visa packet.

You are doing all the right things by calling NVC and emailing the embassy. Many people these days are saying the embassy will not answer their emails. Your last step is to contact your congressman or senator and ask them to look into the matter. The embassy will answer their emails and give them details they might not give you.

Have you been working with a congressman or senator? If not they will need a release of information form with your signature. You might be able to get a copy of it from their website and either take it to their office or mail it tomorrow.

That makes me feel some relief. I've been petrified his passport was lost forever and we'd have to do this all over again. I haven't worked with a congressman or senator. As I said we've not had any issues. I sent in the I-130 in April 2013. It got sent to NVC in Oct/Nov 2013 and in March 2014 the NVC process started. I accidentally put the wrong number on the I-864 because I'm self employed so I had to resend that in July 2014. It was then sent to the embassy. In Aug 2014, they scheduled him for an interview on Sept 22nd. He attended and on Oct 1st it was issued.

Until now we've not had any issues and even the wait (compared to what I've seen some people mention) doesn't seem to be extraordinarily long or out of the norm.

ETA: I've done the entire process completely by myself until this post. His visa is IR1 with no conditions because we'll have been married for seven years in Jan. I read websites and stuff and did it all myself. I have no clue how to even contact my congressman/senator or what I'd say to them. Are there sample forms or something that I'd need to fill out? Do you have links for that if possible?

Deeply grateful and appreciative for all of your replies.

Edited October 21, 2014 by NoorAbbas

[carolynhotstuff 252]

You would need to google the congressman or senator for your city. Look on their website and see if they have the release of information form you can copy and fill out. On the form it usually asks what you need help with. You will be dealing with and aide who does this kind of work all the time so there is no need to be nervous. They can not inquire about your case without your written signature.

If there is no form on the website call first and go pick it up or have it mailed to you.

If you look under my profile you will see my email address. You can contact me there also if you have more questions.

[Waitingggg 20]

First time I was able to talk to live person at the embassy today.

Try calling them Tomorrow

+92 51 2080000

[NoorAbbas 0]

First time I was able to talk to live person at the embassy today.

Try calling them Tomorrow

+92 51 2080000

What did you say to get to talk to an actual person? When I phoned that number and said I needed to speak to someone regarding my husband's visa, the guy said "one minute". Then I got a recording that said "We don't discuss cases over the phone visit *insert website urll here*" and then it hung up on me.

Did you just ask for a consular or something? What did you do to get by that recording?

Would it be better for my husband to call from there or me from here (US)?

Edited October 22, 2014 by NoorAbbas

[NoorAbbas 0]

Well the date on the status updated to Oct 22nd. but it still says issued. So not sure what that means. If it's good or bad. I don't know why the date keeps changing. This is the third time it's changed since the status changed to issued.

[Aisha& Wajid 10]

go on ustravel .doc web site click on passport tracking number then put your husband passport number in it it will atleast tell you where your passport is.

this mean still embassy is having your passport but do the thing i told you atleast it will give you little relief

[NoorAbbas 0]

go on ustravel .doc web site click on passport tracking number then put your husband passport number in it it will atleast tell you where your passport is.

this mean still embassy is having your passport but do the thing i told you atleast it will give you little relief

I've done that multiple times. It says "there is no new status update for the passport you entered". It never says anything different than that.

[islandbabes 12]

I've done that multiple times. It says "there is no new status update for the passport you entered". It never says anything different than that.

Mine was the same. Hubby, the USC, emailed them twice and one month after interview I went in and picked it up. Hubby als went in and saw the congressman but not sure how that factored in. btw, the date kept changing the same way and it went AP only the night before issued. good luck!

[NoorAbbas 0]

Mine was the same. Hubby, the USC, emailed them twice and one month after interview I went in and picked it up. Hubby als went in and saw the congressman but not sure how that factored in. btw, the date kept changing the same way and it went AP only the night before issued. good luck!

How were you able to go in and pick it up? That's not allowed where his packet is. They won't hand it over the counter. It has to be delivered by the courier service.

So yours went from issued to AP? I thought once it was issued, that was it. I didn't think it could go into AP after it had been issued.