Post-interview problem - five weeks to get a visa!!

[lemayz 2]

I just spoke to an aquaintance whose husband also interviewed here in Santiago for the CR1, but on August 8th. He is still in administrative processing and the Embassy won't give any answers. Could they have put the whole boat of CR1s in administrative processing because they are having printing problems? It also sounds a little bizarre...

[Anh map 2,098]

Well but I wish they would've at least given us some kind of paper that said we were approved but they didn't. In fact the guy told us that he was giving us a paper that demonstrated we had gone to the interview, which unfortunately we didn't read in the moment. Outside of the embassy we read it and it said that we were missing papers and so ineligible....and that we have to come back with the other papers. I thought that was also very strange. I emailed the Consulate about, but we'll see what they say.

Are you missing some things or not? Trying to follow the conversation here but getting lost.

The 5 week time period may be the length of time you have to supply the required documents/information.

[lemayz 2]

And I just found this spreadsheet...but it's only updated to Aug. 16th.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/chile/328666/visas/visa_cases_pending_feb28-Aug16_2012.pdf

Nevermind...that's only for non-immigrant visas.

Edited September 27, 2012 by lemayz

[lemayz 2]

Anh map....I am not missing anything. The CO very clearly told us that all of our documents are in order and we are approved. Just that they weren't going to be able to give us the visa in up to 5 weeks. However, now that the DOS tells me we are in admin processing, I don't understand anything...

Same thing happened to an aquaintance, as I mentioned above. Her husband was told on Aug. 8th that he was approved, but is not in admin processing with no visa in sight.

[pushbrk 12,115]

Well but I wish they would've at least given us some kind of paper that said we were approved but they didn't. In fact the guy told us that he was giving us a paper that demonstrated we had gone to the interview, which unfortunately we didn't read in the moment. Outside of the embassy we read it and it said that we were missing papers and so ineligible....and that we have to come back with the other papers. I thought that was also very strange. I emailed the Consulate about, but we'll see what they say.

I missed this post. It changes everything. You got a notice that the visa could not be issued until you submit the listed documents. Once you submit those documents, they will evaluate them and make a new visa decision. If that decision is positive, they'll issue the visa in due course.

Your failure to read and mention this 221g denial is akin to sending us on a wild goose chase ala "The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf" story. Read carefully, interpret literally and send what they say is missing. Then wait for your visa.

[lemayz 2]

Pushbrk, I did not send you on a wild goose chase.

What I am saying is that the paper does not ask us to bring ANYTHING. The CO told us that NOTHING is missing, only that they could not print the visa immediately. On the paper, the only thing that is marked is that they cannot give us the visa at this time and that we have to wait. No documents are marked or written in that we have to supply. I can scan a copy of this paper if you want.

As I mentioned the same exact thing happened to a friend's husband: they told him everything was ok and that he was approved, but that they couldn't give him the visa for a month (and almost two months have passed since then).

I am wondering if putting everyone on administrative processing is their way to protect their behinds and so justify to the DOS why they are not giving visas (if it is really a printing problem). Again, to clarify, we were told in person "YOU ARE APPROVED. WE NEED NO OTHER DOCUMENTATION FROM YOU. BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT UP TO FIVE WEEKS TO GET THE VISA."

[Givemegoodnews 9]

If I was you id be jumping in joy. I'm still waiting for a CO to review the financial docs they requested.

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

Does that sheet say "The Foreign Service of the United States of America Refusal Worksheet" at the top of it?

[lemayz 2]

Givemegoodnews...I'll be sending you good vibes.

Sweetcheeksss....nope, it says something along the lines of "Consulate of the United States of American in Chile, Immigrant Visa Department" or something like that. It looks similar to this: http://www.***removed***/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63&stc=1&d=1239557867

However, the only box marked is the one that says that they cannot give us the visa immediately because of elegibility or something like that. None of the other boxes about bringing in anything additional are marked. I will scan the document tomorrow and post here.

I insist, what seems bizarre to me is that the CO told us the embassy was having printing issues, that was the only hang-up, all of our documents were in order, so the fact that he gaves us that form just baffles me.

[Darnell 8,478]

Thanks, Chrismanilyn.

I just called DOS...the woman told us they have not made a decision and that our visa is under "Administrative Processing." How is this possible if the man told us yesterday in person that we were approved? What can we do at this point? Any advice, suggestions, good vibes?

Thanks

OK - well, there's casefile status . That'll suck for a bit - IMO/E - call back every few days and inquire again.

When you hear of 'visa approved' then later you'll hear of 'visa packet sent'

as for 'what is a timetick'

study here -> http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=123539 and note the things on the left side of the page are 'timeticks'.

You just had the interview, so possible timeticks for you:

--visa packet sent

--administrative processing started

--administrative processing ended

--administrative review started

--administrative review ended

--visa denied

but note that those are POSSIBLE timeticks, in no particular order.

See? calling DoS Hotline was useful, you learned something (in real time) that the Embassy IV Unit won't bother to tell you at all - they won't tell you pro-actively .

Good Luck - no clue how long of a wait you'll have.

[Darnell 8,478]

Well but I wish they would've at least given us some kind of paper that said we were approved but they didn't. In fact the guy told us that he was giving us a paper that demonstrated we had gone to the interview, which unfortunately we didn't read in the moment. Outside of the embassy we read it and it said that we were missing papers and so ineligible....and that we have to come back with the other papers. I thought that was also very strange. I emailed the Consulate about, but we'll see what they say.

OK - so reread that piece of paper,

it'll have:

1. what yer missing and

2. how to get it back to the IV unit.

Read it 4 times, if necessary, so that you understand EXACTLY what they want and understand EXACTLY the submittal procedure for the other documents.

Sorry.

Reading is important. Being able to regurgitate what you've read, is important here; those of us who help with triage need the COMPLETE picture.

With that said, is there anything else you might have missed to write about, here?

[Lalo & Susana 50]

Wow that is crazy! Your right the US embassy in Chile takes at most 2 days to print the visa and then a few more days to deliver it. Everyone I've spoken to that lives close to Santiago has received it in 3-5 days max. I would email them and call them until they give me a real answer. This is unacceptable and someone needs to give you a real response. I mean if its broken how are they processing any visas at all? I really hope you get ur answer and visa soon.

Good luck lets hope they fix this!

[Anh map 2,098]

How about scanning and posting the paper that you received. Block out the name and any numbers.

[lemayz 2]

Lal & Susana, muchas gracias! That's exactly why this seems so strange.

Darnell - my intention was not to confuse or mislead. When I first posted on this site, we had JUST finished the interview, and I was so shaken and stressed that I forgot to mention an important element: the slip that they gave us. I am attaching the paper. Although it's in Spanish, I think it's understandable: it says that we have not presented the necessary documentation, but they also request NO additional documentation (there are no check marks).

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o714/lemayz13/Consulateform_zps39feb62f.jpg

When we asked about the slip, the CO simply told us that we in fact ARE approved, but because they are having some printing/admin problems at the Embassy, he has to give us this paper that proves that we came to the interview. We asked again, since it made no sense, but he said that that's the way it is, that we are approved, but he has to give us something while we wait the five or so weeks for the visa. He told us to not come back and not bring any other documents. He had everything he needed.

In fact, they gave us another slip (also attached) where we have to register with DHL so they can send us my husband's passport (again, all of this because supposedly everything is set).

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o714/lemayz13/dhl_zpsd3aa76d8.jpg

Will keep calling DOS, Darnell, as you say. Thanks also for the explanation of timeticks.

Still no email response from Consulate....

[bigdog 376]

Hang in there, for a little bit, keep calling for status.