Administrative processing (post interview)

[waltee 7]

Hi All,

I and my wife just got back for my CR1 visa interview in Naples and it has been a roller-coaster. During the interview I was issued a section 221(g) and told to submit additional details in the worksheet that had 5 question after which my application would be processed. They CO said that the administrative processing can take up to 60 days.

So this is what exactly happened. My wife a US national accompanied me to the consulate in Naples, Italy for the visa interview. We were the last people to be interviewed. We were very confident of getting the visa approved since we had all the documents needed as we verified on every govt website possible, checked hundreds of post on visa journey and really did our homework well.

The CO called us to the counter and told us all looks good and made me take the oath. After which we asked us how we met, when we got married, when did we meet each others parents and so on. Later he asked me what I do for a living and I told that I am a Ph.D. student at university of Rome, He asked me what department. I answered microelectronics, Then he asked me whats your research topic at that point I got really nervous since it stated to go like a job interview but I answered I work on simulation of nano electronics. He said whats nanoelectronics and whats the application. I got so nervous and could not put it in lay man's term and just told him some more technical juggle after which he said take a sit I will call you again. 2 minutes later he returned and asked me for my CV I said I don't have since its a family based visa. He said do you have any documents about your research, I showed him the university certificate that certifies me as a current PhD student in the relevant department and that also states that i get a scholarship and so on, I also showed my masters degree certificate. He took that with him and returned to his chair 2 min later and said we need to do some more administrative processing from our side and it will take another 60 days, for that you need to send us your CV with all your job titles and description. I told him that it was not written anywhere that a CV was needed for a family visa. He kept saying they need the info. I also told him all my details like work experience, studies are there in the visa application form and I don't know what new information will you get for my CV. He kept insisting that its needed. And he needs to put the application on hold for administrative processing.

At that point we got frustrated and just complied to him how we are tried and how NVC also delayed our process for silly reasons for miscommunication errors from their side. CO kept on telling us "guy you'll have come so far, most of your things are done. But we still need the CV, my travel details (business or leisure trips), all my addressees, old passport numbers, name and date of birth of my siblings and so on". But CO said he would keep my passport with him and said if I need it during the period when they are working on my case I can write to them and they can send it to my address. Finally we accepted that it wont be approved on that day, picked the additional worksheet form from him and left the consulate heartbroken, stressed and frustrated.

Me and my wife got back to the hotel and had a brain storm session and through our old emails figured out all my travels and other details and send all the needed details with my CV within the next few hours. But by then the consulate was already closed. So today morning the consulate replied to the email stating that they received our additional details and they will let us know once processing is completed.

We just want to know if anyone here has been on AP (221(g)) for any other uncommon (unexplained) reason than the most obvious one (like lack of evidence or AOS not sufficient or a police certificate missing). Have you'll any idea what administrative processing they must be doing on my case and why he insisted for my CV in a family visa case?

We are just stressed and worried, we waited for more than a year for the interview date, running around govt offices collecting the documents needed and still have been waiting with no clearly idea as to what will happen. Although he said 60 days I see on VJ that people have been waiting for even 6 months in AP mode.

Thanks for your kind support and reply.

We have found VJ the most supportive pal in this stressful journey

[Jawaree 717]

Once you have/are in any research and technical type programs there is another

check that has to be done , you will be in AP intil its over, its the law for

migrating, once U opened that box up the CO has to follow the rule of law, the

experts will now delve into the areas of what U know or learned with this program

all in the name of National Security.....If not a big deal , U will be out of AP soon

Being interviewed it best to give short concise & truthful answers, but not too much

info that causes more questioning

[dwheels76 5,459]

Hi All,

I and my wife just got back for my CR1 visa interview in Naples and it has been a roller-coaster. During the interview I was issued a section 221(g) and told to submit additional details in the worksheet that had 5 question after which my application would be processed. They CO said that the administrative processing can take up to 60 days.

So this is what exactly happened. My wife a US national accompanied me to the consulate in Naples, Italy for the visa interview. We were the last people to be interviewed. We were very confident of getting the visa approved since we had all the documents needed as we verified on every govt website possible, checked hundreds of post on visa journey and really did our homework well.

The CO called us to the counter and told us all looks good and made me take the oath. After which we asked us how we met, when we got married, when did we meet each others parents and so on. Later he asked me what I do for a living and I told that I am a Ph.D. student at university of Rome, He asked me what department. I answered microelectronics, Then he asked me whats your research topic at that point I got really nervous since it stated to go like a job interview but I answered I work on simulation of nano electronics. He said whats nanoelectronics and whats the application. I got so nervous and could not put it in lay man's term and just told him some more technical juggle after which he said take a sit I will call you again. 2 minutes later he returned and asked me for my CV I said I don't have since its a family based visa. He said do you have any documents about your research, I showed him the university certificate that certifies me as a current PhD student in the relevant department and that also states that i get a scholarship and so on, I also showed my masters degree certificate. He took that with him and returned to his chair 2 min later and said we need to do some more administrative processing from our side and it will take another 60 days, for that you need to send us your CV with all your job titles and description. I told him that it was not written anywhere that a CV was needed for a family visa. He kept saying they need the info. I also told him all my details like work experience, studies are there in the visa application form and I don't know what new information will you get for my CV. He kept insisting that its needed. And he needs to put the application on hold for administrative processing.

At that point we got frustrated and just complied to him how we are tried and how NVC also delayed our process for silly reasons for miscommunication errors from their side. CO kept on telling us "guy you'll have come so far, most of your things are done. But we still need the CV, my travel details (business or leisure trips), all my addressees, old passport numbers, name and date of birth of my siblings and so on". But CO said he would keep my passport with him and said if I need it during the period when they are working on my case I can write to them and they can send it to my address. Finally we accepted that it wont be approved on that day, picked the additional worksheet form from him and left the consulate heartbroken, stressed and frustrated.

Me and my wife got back to the hotel and had a brain storm session and through our old emails figured out all my travels and other details and send all the needed details with my CV within the next few hours. But by then the consulate was already closed. So today morning the consulate replied to the email stating that they received our additional details and they will let us know once processing is completed.

We just want to know if anyone here has been on AP (221(g)) for any other uncommon (unexplained) reason than the most obvious one (like lack of evidence or AOS not sufficient or a police certificate missing). Have you'll any idea what administrative processing they must be doing on my case and why he insisted for my CV in a family visa case?

We are just stressed and worried, we waited for more than a year for the interview date, running around govt offices collecting the documents needed and still have been waiting with no clearly idea as to what will happen. Although he said 60 days I see on VJ that people have been waiting for even 6 months in AP mode.

Thanks for your kind support and reply.

We have found VJ the most supportive pal in this stressful journey

Really sorry for the delay. Just hang in there. Someone in Canada just went through the very same thing (do an Advance search on VJ you may find the threads). I read on VJ someone in India. Those of you with advance degrees PHD and all that will be scrutinized many times and checked out. The AP more than likely is to do background checks on you and your family. It's a Homeland security issue. Nothing more. National security matter. No one can say how long it will be.

This isn't like a missing document like AOS or Police report.

[waltee 7]

I had filled on the visa application that I am currently into research and other details, so they could have emailed me to get my CV along or they can post as a general requirement to carry CV along. No doubt I had a instinct to carry my CV along but was sure my wife would have a hearty laugh at me and called me insane. So there where I drooped the idea. Hope its what u guys say, just a normal background check on my field of research.

[Ms Hogan 295]

How frustrating. Try not to let it get you down, though. You will get through this soon and once you are done it will quickly become a memory of the past and only a small part of your lives together!!

[jan22 2,897]

I had filled on the visa application that I am currently into research and other details, so they could have emailed me to get my CV along or they can post as a general requirement to carry CV along. No doubt I had a instinct to carry my CV along but was sure my wife would have a hearty laugh at me and called me insane. So there where I drooped the idea. Hope its what u guys say, just a normal background check on my field of research.

FYI, even if you had your CV with you at the ienterview, they would not have been able to complete the visa process that day. As others have said, when there is involvement with highly technical research topics, additional checks need to be made -- and they involve offices other than those at the Embassy, so it isn't a same-day process. By sending the requested information the same day, you did the best you could do to not delay the process any further. Hang in there -- you're almost there!

[waltee 7]

Guys,

We see on the DOS consular electronic application center website on the status tracker page that everyday our status update date is changing but the status is the same unchanged for day one. Does that mean that they are working on our case everyday or does it mean that the date updates automatically everyday ?

[DHCF 3]

Waltee,

We also had a crazy interview where they questioned my fiance (we have K1 visa) for over 20 minutes and asked for a lot of documents that were not previous required, so we didn't have them. 6 weeks later we finally gathered all the items they wanted on top of the entire package, including 3 years of bank statements from all our accounts, a certificate proving he was single, and more evidence of our relationship (the 50 pages of proof wasn't enough I suppose).

Are you in administrative processing still? I saw an update on CEAC today that they opened our envelope, but I too am nervous of how much longer this will take.

[waltee 7]

Hi Guys,

My wife inquired yesterday bcoz for one month on the CEAC website our status was not being updated, So she emailed the consulate asking whats happening?

Today the replied back saying it will take 3 to 6 months compared to the original 60 days that the CO had said. To top it off they kept my passport during the interview. I finish my PhD in 2 months, I can't return to India bcoz the case will have to be moved and there will be further delays. We don't know what to do. Also in that case the medical exam will expire in another 5 months.

Is there any legal way we can ask for answers within an appropriate time frame? We don't mind taking them legally by the horn bcoz we really have nothing to hide. Having a scientific education from a public university from a NATO country is not a crime for us to suffer in our careers and personal family life.

Thanks

W

[waltee 7]

Hi W... We are in AP 282 days. We submitted everything at interview & they just gave my husband a green 221g sheet and his passport and said they'd call him soon when visa was ready and to bring passport back when they call him. Better be aware this could take awhile. There is nothing we can do but wait. Patience is the biggest lesson in this process. It can be a never ending torture. Like the prisoners at Guantanamo...you never know what day will be your freedom day :'( Best wishes for a fast AP

Natasha

Hey Natasha,

Sorry to hear that. I wonder if they have an upper limit on the time that it can take bcoz its impossible to be lingering around for such a long time. I have one question.. What does Green sheet 221(g) mean. Does the color Green mean something specific?

Thanks,

W

[Angie Y Shane 2]

Hi All,

I and my wife just got back for my CR1 visa interview in Naples and it has been a roller-coaster. During the interview I was issued a section 221(g) and told to submit additional details in the worksheet that had 5 question after which my application would be processed. They CO said that the administrative processing can take up to 60 days.

So this is what exactly happened. My wife a US national accompanied me to the consulate in Naples, Italy for the visa interview. We were the last people to be interviewed. We were very confident of getting the visa approved since we had all the documents needed as we verified on every govt website possible, checked hundreds of post on visa journey and really did our homework well.

The CO called us to the counter and told us all looks good and made me take the oath. After which we asked us how we met, when we got married, when did we meet each others parents and so on. Later he asked me what I do for a living and I told that I am a Ph.D. student at university of Rome, He asked me what department. I answered microelectronics, Then he asked me whats your research topic at that point I got really nervous since it stated to go like a job interview but I answered I work on simulation of nano electronics. He said whats nanoelectronics and whats the application. I got so nervous and could not put it in lay man's term and just told him some more technical juggle after which he said take a sit I will call you again. 2 minutes later he returned and asked me for my CV I said I don't have since its a family based visa. He said do you have any documents about your research, I showed him the university certificate that certifies me as a current PhD student in the relevant department and that also states that i get a scholarship and so on, I also showed my masters degree certificate. He took that with him and returned to his chair 2 min later and said we need to do some more administrative processing from our side and it will take another 60 days, for that you need to send us your CV with all your job titles and description. I told him that it was not written anywhere that a CV was needed for a family visa. He kept saying they need the info. I also told him all my details like work experience, studies are there in the visa application form and I don't know what new information will you get for my CV. He kept insisting that its needed. And he needs to put the application on hold for administrative processing.

At that point we got frustrated and just complied to him how we are tried and how NVC also delayed our process for silly reasons for miscommunication errors from their side. CO kept on telling us "guy you'll have come so far, most of your things are done. But we still need the CV, my travel details (business or leisure trips), all my addressees, old passport numbers, name and date of birth of my siblings and so on". But CO said he would keep my passport with him and said if I need it during the period when they are working on my case I can write to them and they can send it to my address. Finally we accepted that it wont be approved on that day, picked the additional worksheet form from him and left the consulate heartbroken, stressed and frustrated.

Me and my wife got back to the hotel and had a brain storm session and through our old emails figured out all my travels and other details and send all the needed details with my CV within the next few hours. But by then the consulate was already closed. So today morning the consulate replied to the email stating that they received our additional details and they will let us know once processing is completed.

We just want to know if anyone here has been on AP (221(g)) for any other uncommon (unexplained) reason than the most obvious one (like lack of evidence or AOS not sufficient or a police certificate missing). Have you'll any idea what administrative processing they must be doing on my case and why he insisted for my CV in a family visa case?

We are just stressed and worried, we waited for more than a year for the interview date, running around govt offices collecting the documents needed and still have been waiting with no clearly idea as to what will happen. Although he said 60 days I see on VJ that people have been waiting for even 6 months in AP mode.

Thanks for your kind support and reply.

We have found VJ the most supportive pal in this stressful journey

Its should not be much longer. If you replied by email the next day it can be sooner then you think. Me and my wife went threw the same situation our administrative process and it took about 2 weeks. They did not request any more documents from us, they said we were chosen for AP process.

[waltee 7]

I have a feeling that its going to take much longer than what they said. Never in the whole process have we been lucky. Always there have been long unprecedented waits for the most silliest reasons. Our case went to NVC in July 2014 but we got the interview only in Feb 2015 and now another I don't know how many months or years wait we have. For us now its much hard than last year bcoz my wife just got a medical residency as a family medicine dr and she entitled to 15 days off in a year. I dont know how we are going to pull this off at this rate bcoz its a 3 year thing and she has worked really hard for 8 years for all of it to ask her just to give up everything at this point. Have been waiting and stressed all month long and looks like this will continue.

[waltee 7]

Yesterday got a status update but being Easter monday it was a public holiday in italy, so i figured out that someone touched the application in DC. Today on 7th April got a approval email from consulate and in few hours status changed as issued. It took 49 days. I did a lot of reading in the past few weeks and even drew graphs with the data from trackers on forums like http://www.***removed***/. most cases take 45 to 55 days if it goes over 65 days those cases happen to run for even 2 years. Good luck to all. I pray that all of u that have been waiting in AP for such a long time get approved soon. I know how stressful and painful this can be not knowing your fate and having your wife/husband besides u.

[erinandahmet 9]

I don't know exactly what, but yes, the color papers do mean something. I am trying to figure it now because my husband got a 221g today for missing documents.

[nalacandi 11]

Let me find you the document I have with an explanation of the different colored forms. I will send to you tomorrow. Let me know if you need any assistance and I will help you in any way I am able if you desire. We got through everything and my husband is nkw here. I am available to answer any questions you might have, just let me know.

Nalacandi

Edited April 22, 2015 by nalacandi