sabrina2011

Visa Issued today alhumdulillah!

Hi Friends,

Congrats to everyone who finally got their visa issued!

Here's a quick update, they've requested a 30 day extension on our mandamus for ir5 on July 2, requested another ds5535 (which we submitted right away). We had a couple updates after we sent that. On July 28th they again asked us to submit another ds5535, weird! So we sent it again and today on August 2nd the status changed to Administrative Processing. Today, August 2nd they also requested a 30 day extension since the original one expired today. I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of how long it could take from this point? 

Hoping it is issued soon!

2 minutes ago, Ranii said:

They didn’t ask for passport or pictures? What about updated ds 260

They've only requested updated ds-260, passport pics, and re-medical. All which is sent as of may 19th.

They have not requested my father in law to send back his passport yet. 

ir5

status updated today (June 9th) since we sent off the remedical on May 19th. Still refused. No instructions on sending the passport back yet or anything else.  

I must also add that we have filed a WOM which has given the date of July 2nd to the embassy to make a decision. With the speed of things right now, I have a feeling they will end up asking for an extension. 

26 minutes ago, Ranii said:

Case got updated or no? 

no updates

12 hours ago, mominimran said:

So for those stuck on Refused and had their remedicals, any updates yet? 

Nothing yet, been 2 weeks since submitted medical. 

47 minutes ago, Sakikhan91 said:

I just checked my case it says issued June 1 😁😁 how long does it take to get passport and what else should I expect 

Congratulations!!

surprisingly 2 day later.

1 hour ago, Sara2khan said:

How many days they took to send you a reply after the inquiry?

surprisingly 2 days later

last update was May 6th when we received the request for documents. Medical completed by May 18th, mailed ds260/passport pics on May 19th.

Case updated today may 28th in response to our inquiry if documents received to which they responded no. 

We emailed the embassy and they responded today that they havent received our documents. Isnt the medical delivered electronically now? And the DS-260 was updated online. We couriered a print out of the ds-260 along with passport pictures since our Ceac doesnt have the online documentation upload option (case created 2017).  

hey guys, 

How long after submitting the medical was the case updated? Did the embassy notify you upon receiving the requested documents?

Hi Guys, I am joining this thread since we are in the same boat. Listing some background info below

ir5- applied since august 2017

1st Interview ISL Embassy- February 2018 

AP

2nd Interview ISL - April 2019

Still AP (no request for further doc. generic response)

Covid hit- ir5 paused

Congressional Inquiry- April 12, 2021

Filed WOM - April 24, 2021

Medical, updated ds260, passport pics requested- May 6, 2021

Medical complete - May 17, 2021

Pictures, passport, and updated ds260 sent via courier - May 18, 2021

Hoping and praying for the journey to end soon! 

Hi Guys,

The US embassy in islamabad has requested my father in law (ir5 filed by USC son) to upload passport sized pictures on ceac. The NVC case was created back in october 2017 and at the time they did not process documents electronically on ceac. My ceac login page does not have the additional documents option or the option to upload anything. All it allows is to update ds-260 if opened or check visa status. Any advise on how to proceed?

Included screenshot of how our ceac page looks

Congratulations! Did you use Jim Hacking for Mandamus?

apologies, I tried deleting this post but wasnt able to.

On 3/24/2021 at 10:14 AM, Rkhan@123 said:

I made Mandamus for my case which going on and lawsuit due date is March 28,2021. But today I got email from my Lawyer defendants ask for extension due date is May 10,2021. My question this is  common thing they asked for extension?

Hi who did you use to apply for Mandamus?

Hi VJ'ers,

Hope you all are staying safe. Here's a background of our story.  Please keep in mind we sent an inquiry every 60 days and got the same AP response from the embassy.

10/17- Applied for father's ir5

2/18- Interview at Islamabad Embassy in Pakistan, result AP followed by DS-5535 which was filled and sent back the following day

4/19- second interview at ISL Embassy with updated medical- updates on ceac made but no visa issuance, still AP

1/21- we requested for his passport back since he was needing it to travel and attend to business, passport received, case still in AP

3/21- Latest CEAC update on case (under AP still)

4/1/21- Today, the case on CEAC updates to EXPIRING SOON

We emailed the embassy today that we are awaiting for the AP to end and for the visa approval, not sure why its "expiring" due to their own delays. 

I know factors like the pandemic and changes in the US Administration are factors which can add to the delay, and Islamabad is notorious for long dreadful APs. Do you guys think its time we do a mandamus? 

On 5/11/2020 at 11:10 AM, WORRIEDSPOUSE said:

Thanks for sharing. I have hired Jim as well he’s so instrumental in our journey and I am so happy I decided to go with him as well. He’s the best out there. My husband been in AP for one year and five months and due to our current pandemic I decided to go with Jim we now in the waiting phase June 20 will be out 60 days to hear back unless our time gets extended. I’m positive. May Allah swt makes it easy for us all on this journey and reunite us with our loved ones. Please be safe everyone and if anyone looking for a GREAT ATTORNEY call Jim Hacking. 

I'm praying all of us can end this dreadful AP soon. Please do share your experience and outcome, Good luck!

23 hours ago, Zaib212 said:

my parents don't want to come here anymore.

How long has your parents case been in AP? Have you thought about filing Writ Of Mandamus? My father in law has had 2 interviews, been in AP for more than 2 years, submitted second medical in May 2019 (they told him visa would be issued after updated medical. Clearly that did not happen). We are debating if we should consult with a lawyer to file Writ of Mandamus. I hope your parents get their visa soon.

Hi VJ fam,

My husband applied an IR-5 for his dad, his first interview was at the Islamabad embassy in February 2018- case was put in AP. He was given the DS-5535 which we helped him complete and submitted within a week. His case was in AP, we sent inquiries and we always got the normal response. In April 2019 he was asked to come in for a re-interview. No odd questions, and they told him to send them an updated medical for the visa to be issued. He sent the updated medical in May 2019 and we received confirmation from the embassy that they had received it. We saw online updates, sent inquiries, and waited. We were not asked for anything from our end.

The last update of the case was on Feb 26, 2020 upon us sending an inquiry, we got the normal AP response. This morning, when my husband checked the status online, it is showing as "Refused". He didn't receive an email, and we are just confused and shocked. Last update is still showing as Feb 26, but the status changed to refused today. 

So, can someone please advise what the next steps are?

Info about our case

-Biological father

-has a travel history to middle east countries (Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, all for pilgrimage)

Congrats!

How long is the medical valid for before it expires?

27 minutes ago, MZe said:

Not scaring you but I know someone who travelled to 30 countries because of his job. He has been in AP since his interview in 2016. 

That's crazy! Was it an IR-5? My husband had the same travel history, I had applied for his CR-1 back in 2012 and his AP was only 5 months long, which at the time seemed like an eternity. But with all the new changes now, you can expect anything. 

3 minutes ago, MZe said:

Does he have travel history ?

Yes. He has traveled to many middle east countries (Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia) for shia pilgrimage.I know thats a potential red flag which could possibly cause delay, but 2 years of AP 😯 

Hi everyone,

My father in law had his iR-5 interview on February 2018. Everything was fine, he was given the 221g and in 3 days emailed the DS 5535. We filled that form and emailed it back within the same week. In March 2019 we received an email from the embassy requesting for a second interview. The second interview was in mid April 2019, again everything was normal, no out of the blue questions. He was told to submit his updated medical and photos so they can issue the visa. By the first week of May, we had submitted the updated medical and pictures. His case is still on AP. We have reached to our congressman and they are not getting any new information than the standard AP email we get from the embassy. We are reaching 24 months of AP since the initial interview in February. I have noticed some cases take long, but almost 2 years of JUST AP seems way too long for a genuine IR-5.

Thoughts? Comments?

We are patiently waiting, but always question what the issue could be.

2 hours ago, Sarac9 said:

Anyone still waiting after 2nd medical??

Still waiting for Medical to be completed for my fil, his appointment is tomorrow! Will keep you updated, hope you hear good news soon!