Administrative Processing! HELP!

[Sam & Yehia 11]

Hi everyone,

My fiance had his fiance K1 visa interview today, and it went great, they told him he was approved and kept his passport and told him he would get it in 5 days via mail. Within less than an hour of leaving the embassy, he received an email that said he needs to provide his CV and work history and it said "Before we can continue processing your visa application, we need you to send the information and/or documents marked urgent to us.  No further action can be taken on your file before this information reaches our office." He sent his CV immediately and they responded that they received it. His case status is now in administrative processing. 

For context: We've been together over 3 years, have spent TONS of time together, gave ample evidence, did all the steps properly. This was in Turkey, and my finace has a chemical engineering degree (we read this happens with people who have STEM degrees). 

Has this happened to anyone else before? Others talking about administrative processing talk about being denied, and need to provide more info, but that's not our case. Or they talk about being in administrative processing with no clear reason why. We're reading online it could be in AP for up to 6 months, but were confused because they said he was approved and he would get his visa/passport back in 5 days. 

Before you suggest we check the embassy website or call/email them, we've checked everything. He called after he sent it in, they said email your question, and hung up. Nothing is on the website about this specific situation. Any thoughts on this?
Thank you!

Edited September 19, 2019 by Sam & Yehia
forgot to add tags

[Boiler 43,437]

AP is normal, part of the process, no way of knowing how long it will take.

[Crazy Cat 39,258]

Although Consulate Officers sometimes say a visa is approved, that is not always true.  Official approval is when the status changes to "issued"........Unfortunately administrative processing time is unknown.....all cases go through it, but some are completed in hours, days, a month, or many, many months.......there is nothing you can do at this point but wait.....good luck.

 

EDIT:  The fact that they kept his passport is good. They probably don't expect extended administrative processing.

Edited September 19, 2019 by missileman

[Hank_ 9,173]

That is not unusual at all.   Quite often after the interview as the case file is reviewed once more, they discover other documents that are needed.   Doesn't necessarily result in denials, but it is notated as refused until everything is completed.      Follow the instructions in the 221g ... then be patient

[Sam & Yehia 11]

1 minute ago, Hank_ said:

That is not unusual at all.   Quite often after the interview as the case file is reviewed once more, they discover other documents that are needed.   Doesn't necessarily result in denials, but it is notated as refused until everything is completed.      Follow the instructions in the 221g ... then be patient

He wasnt given a 221g though? Would a CO say approved but it is not?!!

[Boiler 43,437]

1 minute ago, Sam & Yehia said:

He wasnt given a 221g though? Would a CO say approved but it is not?!!

Happens

[Crazy Cat 39,258]

Just now, Sam & Yehia said:

He wasnt given a 221g though? Would a CO say approved but it is not?!!

There is always processing after the interview...........sometimes (rarely), discoveries are made during that processing which results in issues.

[Hank_ 9,173]

4 minutes ago, Sam & Yehia said:

He wasnt given a 221g though? Would a CO say approved but it is not?!!

That email IS a 221g ... request for additional documents.  

 

https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-iv-221ginfo.asp

 

Refusal under Section 221(g) means that essential information is missing from an application or that an application has been placed on administrative hold. The consular officer who interviews you will tell you at the end of your interview if action on your case is being refused under 221(g) pending further information. The officer will either tell you that the case has to undergo administrative processing, or will ask you to submit additional information.

[Cryssiekins 976]

No point in questioning semantics as this happens frequently. 

 

We get that you’re upset, but everyone has been through ups and downs with USCIS in our journeys to reunite with loved ones. 

 

The best thing you can can do is focus on the positive:  they kept his passport, which is a very good sign that AP isn’t expected to be overly long.  I would suggest allowing 10 business days to lapse, and if no update, send an email.

 

I was approved on the spot, and told I would have visa in hand 7 days later.  I didn’t.  It still was in process, so I emailed the embassy, and later that day it was issued and mailed back to me.

 

At the end of the day, they system is run by humans and errors and oversights occur.  It sounds like the CO perhaps didn’t realize he would need your fiance’s CV to get final sign off. 

 

Try not to worry too much during the process as it will drive you bananas.  

[geowrian 22,335]

29 minutes ago, Sam & Yehia said:

He wasnt given a 221g though? Would a CO say approved but it is not?!!

It's recommended for approval. They need to complete processing before it can be issued. This can include reviewing the case, potentially background checks, transferring it to the NIV unit for their processing, then NIV sending it back to IV, etc.

 

Nobody gets a visa the same day anymore, and until the visa is actually issued, there's always the chance they could discover an ineligibility/inadmissibility.

For example, one VJ member here was told approved but they discovered an undisclosed criminal offense for the I-129F, so it had to be refused instead. It's uncommon, but things happen.

[dwheels76 5,462]

That  kind of degree and work is standard we must see your work history and then they will do extensive background checks. Sorry

[Chia-Lyns 17]

The fact that your passport was collected, the AP won't take long.

[SJordanS 342]

17 hours ago, Sam & Yehia said:

Hi everyone,

My fiance had his fiance K1 visa interview today, and it went great, they told him he was approved and kept his passport and told him he would get it in 5 days via mail. Within less than an hour of leaving the embassy, he received an email that said he needs to provide his CV and work history and it said "Before we can continue processing your visa application, we need you to send the information and/or documents marked urgent to us.  No further action can be taken on your file before this information reaches our office." He sent his CV immediately and they responded that they received it. His case status is now in administrative processing. 

For context: We've been together over 3 years, have spent TONS of time together, gave ample evidence, did all the steps properly. This was in Turkey, and my finace has a chemical engineering degree (we read this happens with people who have STEM degrees). 

Has this happened to anyone else before? Others talking about administrative processing talk about being denied, and need to provide more info, but that's not our case. Or they talk about being in administrative processing with no clear reason why. We're reading online it could be in AP for up to 6 months, but were confused because they said he was approved and he would get his visa/passport back in 5 days. 

Before you suggest we check the embassy website or call/email them, we've checked everything. He called after he sent it in, they said email your question, and hung up. Nothing is on the website about this specific situation. Any thoughts on this?
Thank you!

@C&M.2018

[Crazy Cat 39,258]

9 hours ago, Chia-Lyns said:

The fact that your passport was collected, the AP won't take long.

Others would disagree...

[Sam & Yehia 11]

Just got an email from the embassy visa was issued and posted to my address. Also status changed to issued on CEAC. Thank you all for your inputs.