newbie101

Hi madz. what's the status update of your mom's visa? How long did her visa took before it arrived? Thanks.
Hi everyone. Here's my experience that I would like to share so I hope you can have an idea how the process works.. This is how I understand it by the way...
I am currently in the process of my immigrant visa applications. I had my interview Aug 17. The US embassy told me I was approved of the visa. The last officer there that spoke to me was hesitant despite the consular officer's approval as I have an NBI clearance with a "NO CRIMINAL RECORD". Although I have given a certificate of dismissal to the consular officer, they said they have their own process of verification. Still, I was told my visa was approved.
So I waited. >1 week has gone by. My friend who was also interviewed the same day just messaged me at fb that she is already in Guam; and I have not even received my visa. So I called the embassy (301-2000). They said my visa was approved but still under review, as there was a need for a LETTER OF EXPLANATION from NBI (Aug 30). And that I need to wait. I called up a few times. No updates made. As far as they are concerned, they just told me the process. Every fridays, the US embassy will send the requests to the NBI and at the same time they will also pick up the letter of explanations from them. So as I was trying to account that picture, 1 friday for the request to be receieved by the NBI, another friday to be picked up by the Embassy. That would take more than 2 weeks before it would reflect on the data systems of the embassy.
Again, I called up the embassy (Sept 10). The personnel told me that a final decision was made just that day that a letter of explanation is needed. Whattttt? I thought all the while that my papers are already in NBI and that it is already in the process... I guess, every time I call. They seem to give me different responses. Anyway, if that's the case it would again take more than 2 weeks. So I called up a few times again. No updates. They don't even know exactly where my papers are, whether it was already sent to the nbi or it is still with them. I tried to make a ff-up with the nbi (Quality Control section-1st flr nbi clearance bldg). They don't know where it is. The personnel actually just tried to tell me the process that the embassy will bring it to them and that they send it back to the embassy. She said it will take several months. She actually never tried to ask the details of my situation. Just tried to say things so I can leave. That's how I perceive what she did to me. So I have to wait. Because I assumed it's not with them yet.
After waiting for another week and making ff-ups with the embassy. I'm still lost where my papers are. We seem to know someone in the nbi, so I asked for help to determine my status (I should have asked for help before, but I'm just shy enough to avoid the inconvenience for them and that somehow I believe in their system). (Sept 24)I went there. The person in charge who actually receives the documents from nbi is located in the 4th flr of the same building IRD office. But I guess if we could ladder up the process, you should start inquiring first with the quality control at the first floor. Maybe you could be received by a more approachable and knowledgeable personnel than the on I've had before proceeding to the 4th flr.
Anyway, so I inquired if they already received the request letter from the embassy for my case. They did receive it dated Sept 5. That's about 3 weeks ago. And so I was told that the process was: I will also be receiving a letter from the embassy by regular mail. Then I will bring that letter to them along with the necessary documents for my previous case that was filed. So Its another waiting game as I haven't received any letter yet. I called up the embassy again just awhile ago to ff-up on the letter I was to receive, to know when it was sent. Lo and behold, there was none sent. They are actually waiting for a recommendation from the nbi if i have to be invited for an interview for the letter of explanation...so, this is a waiting game!!! with me waiting in vain...waiting for something that will not arrive...and losing time in the process.
I may be confusing you so let me clarify. A LETTER OF EXPLANATION is needed by the US Embassy which will account for the NO CRIMINAL RECORD in your NBI CLEARANCE. It will be accomplished by the NBI only after you have received the letter from the embassy that you need to go to NBI. You will be interviewed and will be required to present the necessary documents. In my case, the US embassy sent a letter to the NBI, asking for a LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION with regards to my case if i should be required a letter of explanation. I think it was not read clearly by the NBI personnel that a letter of recommendation is needed by the embassy first before sending me the letter that I would be presenting to the nbi.
Resolution: They will make the letter (I don't know the name of the form/document)and they will call me to pick it up at the embassy so I can already bring it to NBI.
That's as far as i can share right now. But just so you know, you may me in limbo as well, and that's the reason why I wrote here so you can also be persistent with the embassy and nbi and not wait in vain. i'll update my story again...very soon I hope.