SabrinaJerome

9 hours ago, AP2018 said:

Does anyone of you know, How many days does it take from ready to issued

I would imagine it varies depending on the embassy.

Just to confirm that this is indeed STILL happening. My husband did not get his SS card after 3 weeks, and, nope, despite the request on the DS 260, the SS office had not been alerted. He asked for the card there and we got it about a week later.

Good evening everyone,

So I haven't given any updates recently, not since news of my husband's (Moroccan citizen) IR1 visa approval. He moved here from Spain December 19th, so we were able to spend the holidays with family. We waited , wrote and called regarding his social security card (and green card), as he wanted to start working asap, but didn't that didn't get us anywhere. We had been told that the social security card would arrive about 3 weeks after his entry into the US, so after 3 weeks, he went to the SS Card office with his passport, where the agent was able to see his immigration info, and told him - no, Homeland Security had NOT requested a social security number for him (as we had requested on the visa application about TWO YEARS AGO)... you can imagine our reaction. So the agent filed for him. At any rate, about a week or so later, we received both the green card and the social security card in the regular mail. 

Anyway, just to remind you that DS5535 "victims" do get approved, get their green cards and all... Be patient - we started our process in spring of 2016, DS5535 AP from Jan 18 to Aug 18... good luck to you all!

On 12/17/2018 at 9:27 AM, tiyyo said:

so no updates since November 19. It will be 10 months since interview and had to update the travel log in August after sending the original ds5535 in February 2018. I am planning on going to Spain to be with my husband in February. I hate our lives is on hold for this.....

Hi, we will be in Spain in February too! Drop me a line and let me know where you will be.

10 hours ago, Engr017 said:

Anyone who fill form ds 5535 questionnaire and got her/his Visa successfully?and what is the average timefor form ds 5535 questionnaire fill to decision on visa application? 

3 hours ago, JennaL said:

I haven't heard of anyone, at least specifically here on VJ, who have filled out the DS5535 and received their visa. There are a few on here that have been waiting for close to a year now.

 

Does anyone have any insight as to why the long wait times after filling out the DS5535? I'm thinking not enough staff to handle the workload, or possibly uncooperative countries who do not openly supply the info on the visa applicant the embassy is looking for for vetting purposes....or a combination of all of that and more.

 

Anyways, here's to hoping 2019 will see more visa approvals for those of us waiting through this frustrating process.

Yes there are quite a few of us who have finished the AP and gotten visas. I know this thread is soooooo long but all that convo has happened here in previous pages. I agree that this endeavor is most likely (purposely) understaffed and things probably get more complicated when more countries and less efficient ones are involved.

Look back a bit in the thread for the link for the spreadsheet of people's data. 

(Which needs to be updated)

Best of luck to those waiting. I'm not going to lie and say that it will happen soon. It will probably not happen for several months, though it might be shorter for some countries,  and yes, though your government representatives definitely need to know, they can't seem to speed things up for most cases.

4 hours ago, ibnfawzi said:

Ask me again tomorrow evening 😁

Howwwwww exciting!!! So happy for you! 🤗

Hmmm... and that will be me in about 3 weeks!!! 😍

1 hour ago, coco#1 said:

we are on the same boat as you guys, it`s only 3 weeks, but it feels like a year already.

Update!

We got a call in August to redo the medical and he got the Visa in September. He will be moving to the US next month. 

So... 8 months. Moroccan passport. 

I am seeing that long, and longer, varies with the countries so it's hard to know how long, but do assume a several month wait.

4 hours ago, ibnfawzi said:

How did your husband keep the tourist visa to the US while waiting? SOP is to cancel the tourist visa when application for non-immigrant visa is accepted. I know they canceled my fiancee's tourist visa, as they did to others, during the interview.

What is SOP?

1 hour ago, ibnfawzi said:

How did your husband keep the tourist visa to the US while waiting? SOP is to cancel the tourist visa when application for non-immigrant visa is accepted. I know they canceled my fiancee's tourist visa, as they did to others, during the interview.

Hmmm well I dont know that that's the policy in general - maybe it's up to the individual agent you interview with?

At any rate, before and during our immigration process my husband traveled with his passport, and entered and exited the US with his tourist visa throughout those years, and even immediately before his interview. The interviewing agent did not keep his passport after she served him the 5535 and we traveled within Europe during AP. My guess is he probably would have been let into the US during AP but we will never know the answer to that, and won't have to, thankfully!! 😎

That's our experience, maybe each case is different?

On 11/14/2018 at 1:00 PM, ibnfawzi said:

Wanted to share some good news to help other see it through. to sum up my last few posts, my fiancee was contacted ~2 weeks ago to update her medical and criminal records. Asked for my updated taxes as well. She had everything turned back in to the consulate in Casablanca last Thursday.  Since then noticed a few changes on CEAC (first time it was updated in over a year!). Checked her case today, and it says issued! So now it's just the logistics of getting it through the courier they use to deliver. A little bonus is I had saved up so many miles from traveling back and forth, I'm treating her to a business class ticket to her new home   Sadly because of work I can't fly there to escort her home.

 

Total time in AP: 411 days -or- 1 year, 1 months and 16 days. 

This whole process sucks. It is literally nothing but a waiting game by the administration to force people to abandon their applications. It only took 2 weeks to actually process her visa. The extra 13 months the case is just sitting in a file.

Wow. I am so happy to hear this fantastic news. The wait is over! I hope she enjoys business class and especially her arrival!! 

On 11/15/2018 at 5:59 AM, tiyyo said:

They have been updating our case about twice a month. Just so frustrating. All the way around. 9 months of AP.

Ugh I'm sorry you guys are still waiting. I'm recalling our first conversations about a year ago ... I think you shouldn't be too far behind us. 

Are you making a trip over this winter? Good excuse to go to sunny Spain. That's what I did this summer, and we got the call just before I  went back to the US. That airport goodbye was one of the happiest ones since we knew it would be our last, inshallah! !

He will arrive in about a month after packing up and closing down our business. 

Keep us posted! 😚

On 11/13/2018 at 7:39 AM, MO&RA said:

We had an update today! I just checked. But I'm sure it's because there was an inquiry from the Senator's office about our case! It's been 10 months  

I hope you get it soon MO&RA!!

On 11/14/2018 at 9:55 PM, 99balloons said:

Congrats ibnfawzi!  I am happy that your fiancee will finally come home to you.

 

I have a huge news to report too. On Oct 16 our case got touched on CEAC but I thought it was due to senator's inquiry. I had senators and congresspersons inquire over time with no avail. On 11/13, the case changed to expiring soon.  This morning, 11/14 it was back to AP.  I have an Indian co-worker whose husband's company relocated them to Canada due to uncertain immigration future and she was in the US this week. She asked if I heard anything about my hubby (she met him 5 years ago when he was in the US) and my answer was no.  5 minutes later I checked my email. There was an email from embassy...

The embassy's email starts with "Your visa is ready for issuance...."  and asks for updated forms and tax returns and medical.

 

We are IR-1 since submission Aug 6 2014!

 

 I am so happy today. For those still waiting. Never give up. One day when you are almost ready to give up hope, good news will come. We are not finished yet, but after 4+ long years this is the best news ever!!!

I can't believe it!! This really is amazing news. Best wishes to you! 

On 11/17/2018 at 1:28 PM, simplykay said:

 hi guys has anyone travelled while waiting for their visa even though the filled the ds 5535 am wondering if i travel and then it becomes an issue and may cause visa post pone i don't want to take the risk  

Hi, 

Where are you planning to travel?

I know that at least one person on this forum was asked for an updated 5535 after the applicant asked for the passport back. (I suppose they thought he was going to travel.)

Also, we were advised not to try going to the US on my husband's tourist visa during the 5535 AP.

On 10/31/2018 at 8:11 PM, tiyyo said:

In the same boat. Tomorrow will be 2 years from the beginning for us. 8 months and 10 days in AP just from the interview. We turned in the ds-5535 the day of his interview. Updated it in August with no additional traveling. We did get an update on CEAC yesterday though.....praying....

😲😲😲

I don't know but that sounds like good news to me!!!

This could be it! Fingers crossed for you guys. 🙊

3 hours ago, Munazza said:

Alhamdulillah visa issued after 8 months and 20 days.. A long wait but finally over.. Wish same to all who are waiting.. Waiting is really painful but you will forget everything once it happened.. 😊

Wow Munazza this is fantastic!! We're so happy to hear this! 

12 hours ago, Caseinquiry said:

Thank you @Roor.M yes the file at an early stage of the process was expedite, but now when it comes to the embassy level, even if the illness hardship can be proved, not sure if the embassy consider it, to be very honest I can not see why this takes too long with today's' technology should not be the case, but for whatever reason this delay is technically made to reduce the percentage of IV annually. Vetting is something every one support but they could have handled it differently not to cause pain and hardship for people as the cases could get stuck at some point without any rational reason, I know people traveled so many times to the US 
 and renewed their none immigration visas couple of times but when it comes to IV they stuck as well. 

Hi 

Yes I agree with you that what is happening is decreasing the number of approvals of "certain types" of applicants ... like my husband and so many here. One way this is accomplished is by not providing adequate funding/ staffing to support the policies that have been implemented. 

1 hour ago, aqz17 said:

, my final advice is to be polite, extremely professional and courteous to the consulate when reaching out to them. The average processing time is around the 11-13 month range (in my research/opinion). The congressman we reached out to helped 0%, we found out more info on our own than he did. 

And I will just second what you're saying about these two points. I wrote many an extremely polite email AFTER writing angry drafts with plenty of exclamation marks and sarcasm... Lol (delete!!) and just remember that more than likely, if you are in AP, the person who receives your letter is an office worker or agent who has nothing to do with the delay. Try to imagine him or her as a nice and reasonable person who also would like to see your case cleared!

Regarding asking for help from politicians, I haven't heard of any cases where this has helped. Granted I have only seen cases reported here on VJ. However, it is IMPERATIVE that politicians receive a reminder of how many people are being affected by the policies of the current administration. So please do write to your elected officials and tell them your story.

36 minutes ago, aqz17 said:

 They called/emailed her and asked her to re-do her medical plus renew additional documents. Once she returned the documents, it took them 1 week to process the visa and they asked her to pick it up in person on Tuesday Oct 16th. She flew to NYC on Thursday the 18th (had no issues at JFK), we got our marriage license on friday the 19th and had our Nikkah on Saturday night the 20th  Wanted to thank all for their support and guidance, my final advice is to be polite, extremely professional and courteous to the consulate when reaching out to them. The average processing time is around the 11-13 month range (in my research/opinion). The congressman we reached out to helped 0%, we found out more info on our own than he did. I truly believe asking to speak to a superior to escalate our case was the reason why it was finally looked at, I would strongly advise all to try the same. If any questions, feel free to reach out.

I'm so happy to hear this. 😍 What a long AP that was.

Thank you for sharing the info.  Maybe you could explain for people who are still waiting how you escalated the case.

5 minutes ago, Sarac9 said:

Yea... 

You guys did cr 1 ? I think it's longer...

Ours is k1.. 

Hoping...

Thank you for answering 

CR1/IR1 isn't necessarily longer, I don't think... anyway, we started with CR and because the process took so long we ended with IR lol

Hope you get an answer soon!

1 minute ago, Sarac9 said:

Ohhh wow

 We waited 9 months at uscis then a month at nvc now 74 days at us embassy at Islamabad in Pakistan..seriously ##### 

Sorry to hear that...

I didn't tell you that we started in spring of 2016...

3 hours ago, Sarac9 said:

Have any of you got your visas since the last time you werr on here??

Yes! We had the interview in January, and were asked to send some social media information. Moroccan passport, Madrid, Spain.

Got the visa in September, so about 8 months.

1 hour ago, mado1983 said:

if there is no red flag it will come soon

1 hour ago, Fatima el orra said:

Yesterday my husband nvc nd the lady just can say that no red flag till now...dnt know if ll take  so long yet

58 minutes ago, Munazza said:

There is no red flag at my case but I am waiting since almost last eight months. 

Hey guys, sorry you are waiting. We understand, it is such torture. 

Every case is different and it's very difficult to make genralizations. Sometimes you just don't know why similar cases take very different lengths of time. Just because 2 people are from the same country, or are both female, or have been to the US before, or, or, or... doesn't mean you can assume their wait times will be similar. There are so many factors, even things like stupid clerical errors, that will affect your wait time. Sometimes it can just be a name hit... who knows...

Remember also that there are "banned countries" ...and then there are countries on a list of 20 or so (like my husband's country,  Morocco) which will most likely be subjected to the extra vetting.  We waited 8 months.

I don't think I mentioned here that my husband has recently received the actual visa in his passport. Time to start packing!!

11 hours ago, mado1983 said:

new life start for you .. you deserve it and hopefully everyone next

Yes, a new chapter will start! We worked so hard to get this, like so many, many others. I hope for the best for everyone, and will continue getting notifications about this thread. 

11 hours ago, Fatima el orra said:

Why u dnt ask if u can fil this form now nd send to nvc with the docs..call nvc nd ask...so u save time

11 hours ago, Sal11 said:

Should I do this? I’m not sure lol. 

Hi guys... I read about this a bit after we were given the social media questions. Opinions (lawyers and lay people) were mixed at that time but I'm wondering if NOW, anyone from "our countries" and backgrounds, should just assume that they will be "extra vetted"...  so I guess the question is, what percentage of people from "our countries" are being asked? And, if you give them the DS5535 information earlier, and they weren't planning on asking you, would it delay your process??

Who knows...

Also, there's just the point of civil liberties, privacy, and all that... but I suppose we have no choice at this point. If the gov't asks us for something, and we want what they have... ya just say yes. 

I would suggest researching it a bit, or consulting with a lawyer. Also,you could search using the term "pre-load".