K-1 Visa approved after interview, 2 weeks later still not issued

[amor.ecuador 0]

My fiance had his K-1 visa interview on June 5th and was told the application was approved and that his passport and documents would be mailed via DHL in a few days. However, it has been two weeks and the visa still has not been issued and there has been no update on the case I contacted the DOS and the Consulate in Guayaquil and was only told that the case is still being processed. I am worried that there is something wrong How long will it be until he has his visa in hand and can finally come to the US so that we can get married?

[estealth75 0]

My friend, my fiance and I went for the interview on May 24 and the interviewer was friendly, kept my fiances passport and was given the yellow slip to register and wait for the air bill to pick up at the DHL office. Don't know if thats good or bad as the interviewer never said anything only told us to be sure to register at the website. I'm still waiting. I called today and they said they were backed up. can you tell me if they gave you the same yellow slip? Thanks

[SH&E 0]

mine is blue

[amor.ecuador 0]

My fiance was told the application was approved and given a slip, i think it was yellow but I'm not positive, that said to register online @ usvisa-info.com and sign up for the DHL service, but I had already done this prior to the interview. His information shows up on this site and the DHL location that we chose also shows up, but it continues to say that there is no information on the waybill # at this time and there is no application status. I have emailed the consulate twice and both times they only say that they are sorry for the delay, the case is still pending, and to check back in another week. It is getting very frustrating :/

Edited June 20, 2012 by amor.ecuador

[estealth75 0]

Thank you both for the reply. Julian Assange from Wikileaks is trying to go to Ecuador under political asylum. Could it be why theres a hold up?

[amor.ecuador 0]

Ughh I hope not, such bad timing! I would hope that political asylum would be handled by a different department but who knows :/

[fantonledzepp 159]

The asylum would be granted by the Ecua government, don't think that the US consulate has anything to do with that.

[estealth75 0]

You're right, its the Ecuadorian government which I totally missed.

[Bryan and Isabel 29]

Did you get your visa yet??

[amor.ecuador 0]

not yet The consulate just keeps saying 'sorry for the delay, we hope to have it ready in one more week' :/ I check the website everyday and there is no new information and I have a feeling when I check next week they will say the same thing...but hopefully it will not take too much longer because my fiance is getting worried that they will not issue the visa, even though they said it was approved :/

[amor.ecuador 0]

Finally! they have shipped the documents and my fiance should be able to pick them up in a couple of days :) We are very excited and looking for airline tickets for him to come now. But when purchasing a one-way ticket from Ecuador there is this notice:

"If you are not a citizen or resident of the country to which you are traveling, immigration authorities require that the passenger have proof of transportation exiting the country, be it an airplane ticket or a ferry, bus, or cruise ship ticket etc., showing the final destination as another country or the passenger's home country."

does anyone know, is it required to have a return flight with this visa?? Any other tips for the point-of entry?

Thanks!

[estealth75 0]

Woo hoo, finally they shipped it the same day. Congrats and have the best maariage ever... Woo hoo....

[TBoneTX 49,824]

is it required to have a return flight with this visa?? Any other tips for the point-of entry?

A return flight is not required. Sometimes it's cheaper to purchase a round-trip ticket than to purchase a one-way ticket. If a round-trip is purchased, be sure to contact the airline immediately after Port of Entry to cancel the return portion! Record the name, location, time, & date of this call. The reason is that sometimes airlines have assigned the return seat to another passenger but failed to change the passenger manifest, and it looks like the original ticket-holder (who is actually in the U.S.) has left the U.S. This can cause terrible problems.

Other tips for POE: Have the unopened "do not open" envelope in hand (in carry-on luggage); have the beneficiary be able to state where he's ending up (address of fiancee); and have him volunteer (or readily agree to the statement) that he will absolutely marry within 90 days of his entry.

CBP typically doesn't give K-1 entrants a hard time, because CBP reasons that the beneficiary has been run through the gauntlet recently at the consulate. Of course, Guayaquil is among the worst. Congratulations on somehow wringing a visa out of that hellhole, si man. By the way, these excuses from them for delayed production & shipment of the visa are quite usual.

[amor.ecuador 0]

Woo hoo, finally they shipped it the same day. Congrats and have the best maariage ever... Woo hoo....

Thank you! Igualmente felicidades!

A return flight is not required. Sometimes it's cheaper to purchase a round-trip ticket than to purchase a one-way ticket. If a round-trip is purchased, be sure to contact the airline immediately after Port of Entry to cancel the return portion! Record the name, location, time, & date of this call. The reason is that sometimes airlines have assigned the return seat to another passenger but failed to change the passenger manifest, and it looks like the original ticket-holder (who is actually in the U.S.) has left the U.S. This can cause terrible problems.

Other tips for POE: Have the unopened "do not open" envelope in hand (in carry-on luggage); have the beneficiary be able to state where he's ending up (address of fiancee); and have him volunteer (or readily agree to the statement) that he will absolutely marry within 90 days of his entry.

CBP typically doesn't give K-1 entrants a hard time, because CBP reasons that the beneficiary has been run through the gauntlet recently at the consulate. Of course, Guayaquil is among the worst. Congratulations on somehow wringing a visa out of that hellhole, si man. By the way, these excuses from them for delayed production & shipment of the visa are quite usual.

Gracias! That is very helpful We didn't have any trouble at the consulate, my fiance was in, approved, and out within 30 minutes, it was just the waiting afterwards that was so annoying! but all is well that ends well and I can't believe he will finally be here in a week or two! soooo happy!

Edited June 25, 2012 by amor.ecuador

[Lalo & Susana 50]

Always buy a round trip ticket they are cheaper! I was going to Chile on a one way ticket bc before we decided on the k-1 visa I was going to move to Chile the one way ticket was over $3,000 while the round trip was $1,025. What my travel agent did was my round trip ticket was me to chile then me peru back to USA was about 600 cheaper that way.