Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0

[bhajishah 4]

Salaam brothers and sisters in Islam,

wow 35 days AP Alhamdulillah thats gr8

Keep being patient and strong, Inshallah all will be ok

Allah Hafiz

cindishah

[tamztamztamztamz 0]

[slam everyone and thanks for ur kind reply.now another question for all of u.as my interview is in january,so how early should i call the doctors for an oppointment?

and samad bhai,i've got my interview letter on 19august and my interview is scheduled on 29jan 2008.so dont worry,be happy ,there is nothing we can do to prepone our interview date.best of luck and happppppy waiting.lol

[zaki 0]

[slam everyone and thanks for ur kind reply.now another question for all of u.as my interview is in january,so how early should i call the doctors for an oppointment?

and samad bhai,i've got my interview letter on 19august and my interview is scheduled on 29jan 2008.so dont worry,be happy ,there is nothing we can do to prepone our interview date.best of luck and happppppy waiting.lol

My medical was done only 2 days before the interview. If your interview is in Jan you can schedulle in December.

Zaki

[jaxguy 0]

How is everyone doing? I hope GREAT.

Islamabad embassy is taking way too long to schedule interviews. 6 months wait is norm for IR1/CR1 visa applicants, whereas K visa situation isn't better either with at least 4 months wait.

What can be done to minimize this wait? I know it has to do with limited staff at the embassy due to State Dept's Travel Advisory for Pakistan. Back in 2003 (I think) non-essential embassy staff and family members were advised to leave and haven't been allowed back yet.

I know NVC schedules interviews for some countries. I wonder what is the criteria for that? Not sure if its a good or bad thing but I have seen shorter wait time where NVC schedules interviews, Nigeria for example, has waiting period of 6 to 8 weeks. Not bad.

Share your views, thoughts and any other idea you might have.

[kim-786 0]

How is everyone doing? I hope GREAT.

Islamabad embassy is taking way too long to schedule interviews. 6 months wait is norm for IR1/CR1 visa applicants, whereas K visa situation isn't better either with at least 4 months wait.

What can be done to minimize this wait? I know it has to do with limited staff at the embassy due to State Dept's Travel Advisory for Pakistan. Back in 2003 (I think) non-essential embassy staff and family members were advised to leave and haven't been allowed back yet.

I know NVC schedules interviews for some countries. I wonder what is the criteria for that? Not sure if its a good or bad thing but I have seen shorter wait time where NVC schedules interviews, Nigeria for example, has waiting period of 6 to 8 weeks. Not bad.

Share your views, thoughts and any other idea you might have.

hi jaxguy!

I think the only control we have over this situation is at NVC level( I mean using the James shortcut). Other than that, realistically, I do not see any hope that the situation will get better in Islamabad considering the the current events in the country. Oh, Yes, there is going to be elections

The worst part is that if someone misses that interview due to family emergency, they may have to wait wait again for couple of months. I really want to know what is embassy's policy on this.

Hope they recieve your wife's petition soon!! Best of luck to you!!! and all !!!

Edited September 7, 2007 by kim-786

[jaxguy 0]

hi jaxguy!

I think the only control we have over this situation is at NVC level( I mean using the James shortcut). Other than that, realistically, I do not see any hope that the situation will get better in Islamabad considering the the current events in the country. Oh, Yes, there is going to be elections

The worst part is that if someone misses that interview due to family emergency, they may have to wait wait again for couple of months. I really want to know what is embassy's policy on this.

Hope they recieve your wife's petition soon!! Best of luck to you!!! and all !!!

I hope elections will be peaceful there. Anything we can do at the State Dept. level or write to US Ambassdor in Pak?

My wife's case (electronic data) got there on Tuesday. I am hoping she will get packet 3.5 next week.

Thanks for your well wishes

[zaki 0]

Dear VJ Members,

I enter in USA on 29th July and now i have my GC and Social security number. Today i went to a bank to open my account but a lady there told me that your social security number not yet listed in banking system. What is the meaning of not in banking system ?? She told me to come back after 2 weeks. I am now working receive my first check from my company so from where i can cash that check ???

Thanks and looking some help.

Zaki

[jaxguy 0]

Dear VJ Members,

I enter in USA on 29th July and now i have my GC and Social security number. Today i went to a bank to open my account but a lady there told me that your social security number not yet listed in banking system. What is the meaning of not in banking system ?? She told me to come back after 2 weeks. I am now working receive my first check from my company so from where i can cash that check ???

Thanks and looking some help.

Zaki

You can cash check from any "Check Cashing" place. You will find one near your house usually in a strip mall. Also try "Western Union", I know they cash Tax Return checks, not sure if they will cash a pay check. They will charge some fee, but you will have cash.

Congratulations getting paid, sounds like its your first pay check in USA. Enjoy

[Tareq 0]

Someone said that he paid only 1500 Pak Rupees, but it seems that there rates are much higher than that, but check them out. Regards, kim

Actually, Kim, I think Infinit meant Crown Palace...........NOT Crown Plaza. I spoke to someone on another forum and they stated that its a reasonable cheap place to stay. Thanks to InfinitBoy for the heads up.

Farah, I found "Crown Palace" in this list of Guest Houses from Islamabad Chamber of Commerce Site. There is also addresses and phone numbers of other guest houses on the same page:

http://www.icci.com.pk/guest.html

Tariq

[fareash 0]

Someone said that he paid only 1500 Pak Rupees, but it seems that there rates are much higher than that, but check them out. Regards, kim

Actually, Kim, I think Infinit meant Crown Palace...........NOT Crown Plaza. I spoke to someone on another forum and they stated that its a reasonable cheap place to stay. Thanks to InfinitBoy for the heads up.

Farah, I found "Crown Palace" in this list of Guest Houses from Islamabad Chamber of Commerce Site. There is also addresses and phone numbers of other guest houses on the same page:

http://www.icci.com.pk/guest.html

Tariq

oh ok kool thanks

tariq

[zaki 0]

Dear VJ Members,

I enter in USA on 29th July and now i have my GC and Social security number. Today i went to a bank to open my account but a lady there told me that your social security number not yet listed in banking system. What is the meaning of not in banking system ?? She told me to come back after 2 weeks. I am now working receive my first check from my company so from where i can cash that check ???

Thanks and looking some help.

Zaki

You can cash check from any "Check Cashing" place. You will find one near your house usually in a strip mall. Also try "Western Union", I know they cash Tax Return checks, not sure if they will cash a pay check. They will charge some fee, but you will have cash.

Congratulations getting paid, sounds like its your first pay check in USA. Enjoy

Thanks jaxguy, yes it is my first pay check.

Zaki

[nair1 0]

Does anyone know where Mary is lately?

[XStrangerX2007 0]

Does anyone know where Mary is lately?

I was wondering the same thing.. I havn't seen her for a while...

[smushtaq 0]

Zaki, that's a pretty weird situation ... I don't know if banks have access to SS database. If I were you, I would try going to another bank .... or open a joint account with your spouse.

Shahab

Dear VJ Members,

I enter in USA on 29th July and now i have my GC and Social security number. Today i went to a bank to open my account but a lady there told me that your social security number not yet listed in banking system. What is the meaning of not in banking system ?? She told me to come back after 2 weeks. I am now working receive my first check from my company so from where i can cash that check ???

Thanks and looking some help.

Zaki

[kim-786 0]

hi jaxguy!

I think the only control we have over this situation is at NVC level( I mean using the James shortcut). Other than that, realistically, I do not see any hope that the situation will get better in Islamabad considering the the current events in the country. Oh, Yes, there is going to be elections

The worst part is that if someone misses that interview due to family emergency, they may have to wait wait again for couple of months. I really want to know what is embassy's policy on this.

Hope they recieve your wife's petition soon!! Best of luck to you!!! and all !!!

I hope elections will be peaceful there. Anything we can do at the State Dept. level or write to US Ambassdor in Pak?

My wife's case (electronic data) got there on Tuesday. I am hoping she will get packet 3.5 next week.

Thanks for your well wishes

We can definitely write to the ambassador; however, I do not think they are going to reduce this waiting time. The problem, as you mentioned, is that they do not have enough staff and they also have to take other interviews, I mean Visit and Student visas. Let's hope and see what happens!! By the way, can you tell me how did you find out that they received your wife's case (Electronic data). Did you find out through NVC system or emailing them in Islamabad!! Good luck again. Regards, kim