Visa approved :)....but got AP :(

[mandyu1 5]

Hi all,

We had our interview this morning, and I have to say the day was a complete disaster. We were running late, and the traffic in Cairo was horrendous, not to mention we were both extremely tired. We got there and standing in line to enter, this man is coming around checking everyone's receipts and making sure their name is on the list. Well Mohamed's wasn't, but good thing we had the email from the embassy stating for him to come today for his interview so they let us in.

As some of you know, this was really confusing because the embassy issued an interview date before receiving Mohamed's documents back, so we just brought everything with us today. We took our number and waited for them to call us, when we went to the first window the woman was surprised that we were there, she said she didn't have us listed as having an interview today. We showed her out letter and she handed it over to her supervisor. We could see and hear the supervisor talking with one of the girls in the back, asking why she sent us this email and scheduled us for an interview when they didn't receive his documents yet.

Since we had everything she decided they would go ahead and do the interview, so she took all of the documents, translation, passport and medical report. Mohamed was then called for fingerprints. Shortly after we were called for the interview. We seen a somewhat younger woman, with long straight, light brown hair. She seemed very friendly, she took the DHL receipt and asked me how long I had been in Egypt and when I was leaving. I told her I was there this time for 2 days and was leaving on Jan 23. She then said she would like to speak to Mohamed and then to myself alone, so I went and waited. Mohamed talked with her for about 10 min before he came back to get me and I went up. When I first got up there the first thing she said to me was, "So you have been to Egypt many times." I said yes, this is my 3rd visit. She then said, I understand you were here in April and again in August, I said yes I was in April but it was actually early September the next trip. She laughed and said, "oh, ok, he said August but was getting confused by the dates," and made it appear like it was not a big deal. She then went on to ask me some questions:

How did we meet

What was it about Mohamed that made this relationship grow from meeting online to now this

If I met his family and how do we get along

How many kids do I have and their ages

Have my kids ever been to Egypt before

How did Mohamed propose

What do I do for a living

After that she said that the relationship appears to be creditable, however there are some fraud signs. She said that sometimes men will look online for women who are slightly older than them and who have children and they use them as a way to get a greencard. She said it was her duty to make me aware of this and asked if I still wanted to proceed with the petition. I said, I was already fully aware of that, and I know that Mohamed loves me and I love him, and yes I wanted to proceed. She said ok, you can go get him now.

We came back and she said congratulations your visa has been approved, however it requires some additional processing and I'm not sure if you will be able to travel back together...your visa should be ready in about 4 weeks (yeah I heard that one before) She asked Mohamed if he would be traveling in the next month and needed his passport back or if they could keep it, he replied, No he would not be traveling and they could keep it. She gave us a white piece of paper with the embassy website and said we can check the status of our visa on this site, and that was it.

I had already figured that he would get AP so I'm not that much in shock, but still disappointed. I think the fact that we just gave them the papers today may also play a part of him getting AP.

Any thoughts anyone on how you think it went?

[LaL 418]

It's likely they are reviewing the documents *and* processing his fingerprints/name hit, etc/whatever (this happened with us as well). I wouldn't worry about the fraud aspect - its likely just run of the mill AP. Congrats!

[mandyu1 5]

It's likely they are reviewing the documents *and* processing his fingerprints/name hit, etc/whatever (this happened with us as well). I wouldn't worry about the fraud aspect - its likely just run of the mill AP. Congrats!

Thanks for the reply LaL I hope you're right, but I'm still a nervous wreck. Also, I just remembered that they didn't take the affidavit of support from me. I'm trying to think positive and think thats because we brought everything back today, and since they didn't have time to go through everything it was just an oversight on their part. I'm going to call in the morning and see if we can bring it back, but I'm wondering how she can approve it without verifying that I qualify to sponsor him.

[Angel Eyes Yuseef 5]

Well it sounds it went as good as it could under the circumstances. And the traffice in Cario is always bad...lol. I spent 2 weeks there. Fom my understanding all Egyptains get AP and really rare if they do not. So sounds like everything went normaly there and congratulations and I hope that my husband interview can go as smoothly.

[mandyu1 5]

Well it sounds it went as good as it could under the circumstances. And the traffice in Cario is always bad...lol. I spent 2 weeks there. Fom my understanding all Egyptains get AP and really rare if they do not. So sounds like everything went normaly there and congratulations and I hope that my husband interview can go as smoothly.

Thanks, when is your husbands interview? This my 3rd trip to Egypt, I hate the traffic here, but figured since everyone is always out late that the streets would be dead at the early morning hours, but they werent!!

[nurse1967 287]

We got AP too even though my husband is Mr.Goodie Two Shoes, never been married....good job...yada...yada....luckily our AP was only 3 weeks.

[Tyeger87 10]

im sure its run of the mill AP

im really nervous for us

we are waiting on our NOA2 but pending approval our interview would be in Cairo since we r both Cairo residents

he is not egyptian so im particularly worried about how that will affect the interview

[Angel Eyes Yuseef 5]

We have not filed yet. I will be going back in Feb to see him again and then filing when i get back then. I never seen the streets empty in cario...lol

Thanks, when is your husbands interview? This my 3rd trip to Egypt, I hate the traffic here, but figured since everyone is always out late that the streets would be dead at the early morning hours, but they werent!!

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Seems like the standard way Cairo does things. Hope for the 4 weeks but prepare for much longer.

[candaceman 0]

Hello Guys,

First best wishes for all of ya and myself as well,,,, after reading all of your post, I get really nervous, I am Muhammad and waiting on my interview date, which I should to get this week or next week, my case is SIF since Jan 10, 2011,,,,, me and my beloved wife waiting on this interview for 17 months now and I would like to hear about all of your interview? I would love if any one willing to share his/her experience with the embassy here in Cairo. Please feel free to writ back.

Again, Best wishes and God bless all of you

[And_Sam 44]

Mandy~

Congrats on the interview!!!

I know it's disappointing to hear anything with the dreaded words AP in it, but don't be too disappointed!

Look how far you and M has made it this far!!! I think I was MORE upset because when hubby had his interview the CO didn't really offer any information.

He did say congratulations, Mabrook and welcome to America, but I truly thought, ok, this dude is lying!

At least they were upfront and told you what to expect!

I truly believe with all my heart and soul that you will be hearing from the embassy before you know it!!!

[mandyu1 5]

Mandy~

Congrats on the interview!!!

I know it's disappointing to hear anything with the dreaded words AP in it, but don't be too disappointed!

Look how far you and M has made it this far!!! I think I was MORE upset because when hubby had his interview the CO didn't really offer any information.

He did say congratulations, Mabrook and welcome to America, but I truly thought, ok, this dude is lying!

At least they were upfront and told you what to expect!

I truly believe with all my heart and soul that you will be hearing from the embassy before you know it!!!

Thanks Andrea!! You have been a great support, thanks for everything

I remember the CO was very friendly with us, making jokes and laughing, and surprisingly we both were not that nervous. All the information she provided to us was on her own, we didn't ask any questions, so part of me feels like she wasn't just telling us that to shut us up. Also, our case was hung up at NVC for almost a month because we were in AP, and I'm sure they were doing some checks then too, and I really feel part of the reason for us getting AP has to do with them not having his documents and forms prior to the interview.

[Angel Eyes Yuseef 5]

I really do not think you have AP cuz they did not have your documents. It is more then common to recieve AP (like everyone, almost), they do background checks on everyone. And if he has a common name it can take longer for AP. So just know that what you are going through is normal.

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Thanks Andrea!! You have been a great support, thanks for everything

I remember the CO was very friendly with us, making jokes and laughing, and surprisingly we both were not that nervous. All the information she provided to us was on her own, we didn't ask any questions, so part of me feels like she wasn't just telling us that to shut us up. Also, our case was hung up at NVC for almost a month because we were in AP, and I'm sure they were doing some checks then too, and I really feel part of the reason for us getting AP has to do with them not having his documents and forms prior to the interview.

[LaL 418]

I really do not think you have AP cuz they did not have your documents. It is more then common to recieve AP (like everyone, almost), they do background checks on everyone. And if he has a common name it can take longer for AP. So just know that what you are going through is normal.

That's like saying consulates don't bother to review documents before issuing visas. Completely untrue. What Mandy is experiencing is totally normal. Including that bit (it's kind of like receiving an RFE at the interview).

[mandyu1 5]

I really do not think you have AP cuz they did not have your documents. It is more then common to recieve AP (like everyone, almost), they do background checks on everyone. And if he has a common name it can take longer for AP. So just know that what you are going through is normal.

I know AP for Egypt is normal, however some people are lucky enough to not get it, and I didn't say the reason we got AP was because of them not having our documents, I stated I felt it was part of the reason, meaning along with the background checks that they have to do. No CO is going to issue a visa 10 minutes after receiving the documents and not having time to review them when normally they have them 2 weeks or longer in advance and have time to review and do any background checks at the embassy level that they need too. The embassy made a mistake and scheduled our interview when they should not have, and for that reason they were not prepared when we showed up on our scheduled date and time.