IR5 - FORM I-130 FILED IMMIGRATION VISA FOR MY DAD. THE PROCESS AND HIS INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE!!! (merged)

[kalibrados 5]

Sent form I-130 and all related documents to NVC on April 18th 2019.

Application was approved and case opened Nov. 4th 2019 ( NVC informed me that the documents are being sent to Ghana Embassy in Accra where his interview will be scheduled)

In February I received an email stating his Interview was scheduled for April 9th 2020.

In March 2020 I received another email stating his Interview was rescheduled to August 19th 2020 due to COVID.

In June another email stating his was received saying IM and all other visas have been suspended until further notice.

I kept enquiring about when a new interview would be schedled and finally in March 2021 a new interview was scheduled for May 5th 2021.

He sent a new Police certificate and new medicals because they already expired.

His interview day arrived and he was granted an Immigrant Visa which he would collect at DHL.

 

His account of the interview process was rather long and don't want to bore all the readers so let me know if anyone's parent has an upcoming interview and is interested in knowing some of the questions asked and the new covid protocols etc.

 

 

[Letspaintcookies 2,197]

Congratulations to your dad. That's great 🎉

 

Maybe you can leave a review for the consulate with some of the basics for others to read. That would sure be helpful. 

 

 

[Sergio Martinez 0]

Congratulations.

 

My dad has the same dates

 

Mexico, Cuidad Juarez

April 2019 First interview (denied)

April 2020 Pardon approved (601) 

April 2021 Letter received to hand in updated documents and passport, Consulate kept passport

May 2021 Case status marked as Ready, pending SECOND interview.

 

Why would they schedule second interview?

[kalibrados 5]

April 18th 2019 ; Mailed form I-130 and all related documents to NVC 

Nov. 4th 2019; Approved and case opened (Documents sent to embassy in Ghana)

Received Email in February 2020; Interview scheduled for April 9th 2020.

Received Email in March 2020 ; Interview rescheduled to August 19th 2020 due to COVID.

June 2020; All visas suspended until further notice.

November 2020; Sent the embassy enquiries about case status. Auto message sent to me about visa interview suspension.

March 2021;  Another enquiry sent; Same auto message and the next day received email interview appointment on May 5th 2021.

NB: New police certificate and new medicals required and done prior to interview.

May 5th 2021;  interview was done and dad granted the visa.  Told to collect passport at DHL.

 

Dad’s account of the Interview at the embassy in Accra Ghana 🇬🇭 
* I got to the gate at about 5 min to my scheduled time of 7:00 am
- I stood at a distance waiting for my clock to strike 7th hour
- on the dot I moved towards the gate only to be called back by a police guard! The ensuing discourse:
“Man, where’re you going?”
‘I’m scheduled for an interview here today’
“Well, it’s not time yet”
‘I was asked to be here @ 7:00 am 😲’
“Well, when the Embassy’s staff are ready they’ll come out with a list and call out the names. So you may have to join the crowd there (pointing towards the trees within the circle in the autoroute) and wait to be called”
‘Thank you sir!’

- We waited under the trees until at about 7:29 when I saw a security guard appear at the gate with a white sheet of paper in hand.
- Then the police guard came to us with this invitation “The 7 o’clock and the 7:30 people, come on in”
- The security guard asked for my appointment letter and passport
- Having confirmed my name on the list he said “You can go in but your smart phones and smart watch would not be allowed in, go back and leave them somewhere and come”
- ‘can’t I deposit them at the first security check?.....”No” he retorted.
- After doing the needful I got through the security check Point and was directed to the main building door.
- After the COVID-19 protocol hand wash I entered the main building.
- a female receptionist again checked for my name on a list with her and directed me on to the waiting area.

 

Then came the start of the process 
- A lady invited me to the booth, took my finger-prints and checked my documents; then she asked me to sit down and wait to be called.

Then came the call “Mr _________, come to booth 8”
The female voice sounded very friendly so I felt relaxed as I walked to booth 8 and we exchanged pleasantries.
Ensuing discourse: 
*c/o - “Pls give me your documents”
•Dad - ‘Here they are’
*c/o- “who is inviting you to the U.S?”
•Dad- ‘my eldest son’😊
*c/o “is he married?”
•Dad- no
*c/o- “how long has he been in the USA?”

Dad- ....answered!
*c/o- what work does he do?

Dad-.... answered 
 c/o- “how many children do you have?”

Dad- Three 
c/o- “ is your other son married?.”

Dad- No
 c/o- “where are your other children?”

Dad-  all three are in the US
 c/o- where is your wife?
Dad- she is in the US too
 c/o - So your son filed for her?
Dad-  no it’s the other way round 😊

c/o- How long has your son been in the US?
Dad- ...answered

c/o- How long has your wife been in the US? 
Dad- answered.
c/o- did you go through another medical exam? 
Dad- Yes I did.
c/o  - where?
Dad- AKAI CLINIC 
 c/o- When was that?.

Dad- Answered 
**c/o was nodding to his answers as she verified the information on her computer**
c/o-  have decided to give you a visa 😊

Dad- Thank you 😁

c/o then handed  him a piece of paper with information on collection of passport through DHL.

NOTE: Dad’s visa was verbally approved but I checked the status on https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV and shows visa was REFUSED 😳. First I panicked and then I read this on the website https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV. So it says refused but not under 221(g) so no further documents are required. It’s a new status for administrative processing meaning the visa is being processed until the status changes to ISSUED then we can contact DHL.

 

Please let me know if anyone else had this status and how long it took for the visa to be issued? Thank you in advance 😊

[kalibrados 5]

Added update with step by step account cos I couldn't edit this post.

 

[millefleur 5,034]

**Similar threads merged. Please keep all discussion on this topic to this thread.**

 

VJ Moderation

[Paypay 0]

Congratulations. Please How long did it take after the interview to receive the visa. I mean issued on the ceac tracker? Thanks

[kalibrados 5]

18 hours ago, Owusu Tabiri Mark said:

Thanks for sharing, very educative.

You are welcome my brother

[kalibrados 5]

16 hours ago, Paypay said:

Congratulations. Please How long did it take after the interview to receive the visa. I mean issued on the ceac tracker? Thanks

Thank you! I just tracked it online today and it was updated to ISSUED so it took exactly 15 days from interview to issuance..

[kalibrados 5]

On 5/19/2021 at 6:25 AM, Sergio Martinez said:

Congratulations.

 

My dad has the same dates

 

Mexico, Cuidad Juarez

April 2019 First interview (denied)

April 2020 Pardon approved (601) 

April 2021 Letter received to hand in updated documents and passport, Consulate kept passport

May 2021 Case status marked as Ready, pending SECOND interview.

 

Why would they schedule second interview?

Thank you!

When my Mom filed IR2 visa for us a couple of years ago we went for a total of 3 interviews plus DNA test making it 4 trips to the embassy in total lol. It was really frustrating but eventually given the visa.They just kept asking for more documents every time. My Dad I would say is very lucky cos they didn't even ask for DNA test lol.

Edited May 20, 2021 by kalibrados

[Paypay 0]

Please my mums visa says issued but DHL hasn't sent me any pickup notice yet even though I have pays the money for collection. Please did you go to their office after you saw that the visa was issued. Please help me.. 

[kalibrados 5]

34 minutes ago, Paypay said:

Please my mums visa says issued but DHL hasn't sent me any pickup notice yet even though I have pays the money for collection. Please did you go to their office after you saw that the visa was issued. Please help me.. 

Even tho the status changed to issued you have to wait for  Ready/Ready to pick up status then you can contact DHL.. According to my research it takes a minimum of 3 weeks to change to Ready status. My dad hasn't received his yet. I erred in my previous statement by saying you can contact DHL after it has been issued. I think it takes a little bit of time from the visa issuance to mailing the passport to DHL for pickup.

Edited May 24, 2021 by kalibrados

[Paypay 0]

Why did you check the status is it ceac tracker. 

[Paypay 0]

    Did you check ceac tracker because I know it shows ready before your visa interview. 

[kalibrados 5]

18 minutes ago, Paypay said:

Why did you check the status is it ceac tracker. 

Yes CEAC Tracker the only status tracker available.