APPLICATION APPROVED AT INTERVIEW BUT PUT INTO AP AFTERWARDS

[mominimran 0]

Hello VJ community!

 

I am in a bit of a confusion nowadays with the overall procedure of my immigration process. So basically my aunt ( mom's sister ) filed a petition on behalf of my mom and sponsored her to come to the US on a family based immigrant visa termed F41. The case took approx 15 years to complete and our case was qualifed by the NVC. As soon as our interview was scheduled hy the NVC in the Islamabad Embassy in Pakistan ( the country I reside in ), we prepared our documents and made our way to the consulate for our interview. 

 

The interview was a success. The officer congratulated us with a big smile and assured us that our application had been approved and our passports would be delivered to us within a week or so. Relieved, we left the embassy in anticipation of our visa-issued passports to return back to us.

 

Our interview was on 9 August, 2019. 

 

Guess what? Our CEAC status is still 'Ready' with more than 60 days having passed and there is no sign of our passports being with us. I emailed the Embassy and this is what I get back: 

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for writing to our office. Your immigrant visa case has been refused under INA Section 221(g) for administrative processing, an integral part of the visa adjudication and issuance process that can neither be expedited nor waived. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict the amount of time the processing will take and timing varies based on the individual circumstances of each case. The visa application will be reconsidered when administrative processing is complete.

Please be assured that we are aware of your concerns and will process the application to completion as quickly as possible, in accordance with U.S. laws. We recognize that this process can be frustrating for applicants and regret any inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy, Islamabad

 

I MEAN, WHAT?

 

So all of a sudden, we're getting a 221g by email and we have no timeframe to predict when our visas will be issued. My family has been through a lot and this visa means a lot to us. Does anybody have any idea how much longer can it take or anybody with a similar experience where you're approved on the spot and then put into 221g AP after a month via email, that too after YOU email them with an inquiry. This is getting on my nerves. I made this account specifically to enquire about my case, as I have been following VJ for the past couple of months to be updated with the whole process. I hope I get responded with help and wisdom! 

 

BIG FAT THANK YOU! 

[Liam2021 583]

AP can took few weeks, few months, or even a year. Your family come from Pakistan, so be expected a long AP before visa can be issued.

Edited October 10, 2019 by H&T

[mominimran 0]

But why would they put me into AP right after I am being told by the officer that my application has been approved and will be issued within a week or so? 

[Liam2021 583]

Everyone must go to AP before visa can be issued. The main reason your AP can took a long time because where you come from.

[Ontarkie 14,279]

~~Moved to Bringing Family of USC, from DCF - as this is not a DCF case.~~

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

On 10/10/2019 at 2:16 PM, Help2000 said:

But why would they put me into AP right after I am being told by the officer that my application has been approved and will be issued within a week or so? 

They do further checks after the interview so occasionally they discover something that makes what looked like a straightforward case, require further checking. Not much you can do about this unfortunately, other than wait. Everyone understands that the wait has already been long, as it is for everyone in this category, that doesn’t mean they can issue visas until all the requisite checks have been completed.