221g - no documents asked, need more time to review application, passport returned

[6999miles 13]

Hello, everyone. My parents had their interview yesterday at Abu Dhabi and they got sent home with their passports. 

They have all the required documents even their old passports, they answered all the questions but towards the end of the interview the consul asked if they have applied for visa before and they said no. The consul said my parents have visa applications from 2003-2004 showing up on the system. However, they have never submitted any applications and my petition is the very first time! 
 

They were sent home with their passports and was told that the embassy needs further “clarification” and to wait for an email for instructions. 
 

Their visa status now says “refused” on CEAC. 
 

Has anyone experienced this or heard about this kind of experience? 
 

 

[Rocio0010 5,560]

Do they have very common names?

[JeanneAdil 6,190]

could be someone else applied for them?

 

or they have names that are overused in their country is my thought but passports would show difference

[JeanneAdil 6,190]

refused is normal while the case goes thru AP  for additional security checks

if not approved ,  it will say "denied" 

if approved, " issued"

 

so, don't sweat over the Refused post

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

3 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

could be someone else applied for them?

 

or they have names that are overused in their country is my thought but passports would show difference

Visa applications would have birthdates etc. I don’t think this is a name confusion issue, especially if it applies to both of them. Wonder if they started an application but never went to interview, or something. Back in those days it would have been paper forms submitted. 

[6999miles 13]

They have common first names but not the middle and last names.

 

My mother just gave birth to my sister on 2003 and my father was working in the middle east in 2004 and they are very certain that they didn’t apply for any US visa. 
 

It’s so stressful specially I have never read about anything like this before 😢

[Mike E 11,722]

6 minutes ago, 6999miles said:

They have common first names but not the middle and last names.

 

My mother just gave birth to my sister on 2003 and my father was working in the middle east in 2004 and they are very certain that they didn’t apply for any US visa. 
 

It’s so stressful specially I have never read about anything like this before 😢

Any possibility a relatives borrowed their passports to apply for a U.S. visa?

[JeanneAdil 6,190]

Dad working in middle east in 2004 so he did have a visa to work there (maybe the CO did not mean US visa but any visa)

the CO will need to do security checks from the country worked in and any additional travel

 

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

7 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Dad working in middle east in 2004 so he did have a visa to work there (maybe the CO did not mean US visa but any visa)

the CO will need to do security checks from the country worked in and any additional travel

 

Well they interviewed in Abu Dhabi so presumably still in Middle East 

 

never heard from of US giving passports back to  check on other country visas. Pretty sure the CO meant US visas. 

[6999miles 13]

Nobody in our family/relatives have borrowed my parents passport. I have uncles that used to work in the middle east as well but the rest of family/relatives don’t have the financial ability to apply for US Visa. 
 

My parents have all the required and latest police clearances from the Philippines and the middle east and they were presented during the interview. The consul said they are good with the documents but she needs more time to clarify and verify. 
 

I don’t want to think of the worst but what could be the worst case scenario?

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

1 hour ago, 6999miles said:

Nobody in our family/relatives have borrowed my parents passport. I have uncles that used to work in the middle east as well but the rest of family/relatives don’t have the financial ability to apply for US Visa. 
 

My parents have all the required and latest police clearances from the Philippines and the middle east and they were presented during the interview. The consul said they are good with the documents but she needs more time to clarify and verify. 
 

I don’t want to think of the worst but what could be the worst case scenario?

 

 

The worst case scenario probably is they think they have something in an old visa application that contains material misrepresentation. 
best case is that they decide it wasn’t them after all. 
Tbh it’s a little concerning they gave your parents their passports back. This usually means they think it’s going to take a while to do the further examination they need. The consulates usually keep the passports when they think it’s something that can be sorted out quickly. 

[Cathi 5,609]

6 hours ago, 6999miles said:

Hello, everyone. My parents had their interview yesterday at Abu Dhabi and they got sent home with their passports. 

They have all the required documents even their old passports, they answered all the questions but towards the end of the interview the consul asked if they have applied for visa before and they said no. The consul said my parents have visa applications from 2003-2004 showing up on the system. However, they have never submitted any applications and my petition is the very first time! 
 

They were sent home with their passports and was told that the embassy needs further “clarification” and to wait for an email for instructions. 
 

Their visa status now says “refused” on CEAC. 
 

Has anyone experienced this or heard about this kind of experience? 
 

 

Yup, my husband. He was in extended AP for about 7 or 8 weeks, I am assuming it was for further background checks. We were not asked for additional  documents or evidence. After an extra several weeks he was notified that he was approved and he received his visa. Unfortunately, they don't tell you exactly what the extra background checks are for and it's a waiting game, it could be for something as simple as a common name. It's stressful but hopefully your experience will be like ours-just a little extra waiting time. If you're in extended AP for more than a few weeks I would inquire with the liaison at your U.S senator's office. They cannot get you out of AP or extended background checks or speed it up, those are done when they're done. The liaison explained to me that by reaching out to the consulate on our behalf, it merely let them know to be aware that our case was being followed by them. He continued to inquire every two weeks until hubby's AP was done. Good luck.

[JeanneAdil 6,190]

worst case 

the AP goes over 6 months from date of medical and a new medical exam is required

2 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Well they interviewed in Abu Dhabi so presumably still in Middle East 

 

never heard from of US giving passports back to  check on other country visas. Pretty sure the CO meant US visas. 

they check on the travel history 

there are some who work or travel to UAE but go from UAE to other countries "not so friendly to the US"

and this will be checked 

 

ds 260 asks about travel history and father should have indicated 2004 where he was (that's what they are questioning)

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

3 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

worst case 

the AP goes over 6 months from date of medical and a new medical exam is required

they check on the travel history 

there are some who work or travel to UAE but go from UAE to other countries "not so friendly to the US"

and this will be checked 

 

ds 260 asks about travel history and father should have indicated 2004 where he was (that's what they are questioning)

That doesn’t tie up with what OP said. Why do you think the father lied about his travel history when all he said was the parents didn’t apply for a US visa?

[6999miles 13]

7 hours ago, Cathi said:

Yup, my husband. He was in extended AP for about 7 or 8 weeks, I am assuming it was for further background checks. We were not asked for additional  documents or evidence. After an extra several weeks he was notified that he was approved and he received his visa. Unfortunately, they don't tell you exactly what the extra background checks are for and it's a waiting game, it could be for something as simple as a common name. It's stressful but hopefully your experience will be like ours-just a little extra waiting time. If you're in extended AP for more than a few weeks I would inquire with the liaison at your U.S senator's office. They cannot get you out of AP or extended background checks or speed it up, those are done when they're done. The liaison explained to me that by reaching out to the consulate on our behalf, it merely let them know to be aware that our case was being followed by them. He continued to inquire every two weeks until hubby's AP was done. Good luck.

Thank you! I’m glad everything worked out for you and your husband! I’m hoping we get the same thing.

 

6 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

worst case 

the AP goes over 6 months from date of medical and a new medical exam is required

they check on the travel history 

there are some who work or travel to UAE but go from UAE to other countries "not so friendly to the US"

and this will be checked 

 

ds 260 asks about travel history and father should have indicated 2004 where he was (that's what they are questioning)

Thank you for your input. All the information about my parents employment and travel history are all stated on DS-260. My father’s police clearance shows the years he was residing in the middle east.

 

I am certain there are no lies on the applications that we submitted  as well as having no idea about the visa application that showed up on the embassy system. 
 

8 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

The worst case scenario probably is they think they have something in an old visa application that contains material misrepresentation. 
best case is that they decide it wasn’t them after all. 
Tbh it’s a little concerning they gave your parents their passports back. This usually means they think it’s going to take a while to do the further examination they need. The consulates usually keep the passports when they think it’s something that can be sorted out quickly. 

 

I wish we have more info on what application they found on the system. This waiting game is killing me but I’m just hoping we get to provide whatever they need when we receive the email instructions..I’m also hoping it was just a glitch on the system 😓