SabrinaJerome

5 minutes ago, Tarsha said:

Lol...so you can call at this time because I just spoke with someone just so I know I am not crazy and to basically inquire on some more information and I was just told that our ds-5535 information was returned back to the embassy in September. Please call now to see what they tell you. I am so interested in the response. 

hahaha sorry I don't mean to imply anything 

So... and I'm afraid to ask you this, but... which number am I calling? 

21 minutes ago, Tarsha said:

No, I have not spoken to NVC in months. I spoke with the Department of State. The number to NVC is 603-334-0888, if you want to speak to them, but as we have agreed on, they just know that the petition has not been sent back for NOIR

Sorry, I feel really dumb right about now  but I still don't understand how you were able to talk to someone at the DoS if, when you call the DoS number,  the only option to ask about visas leads you directly to the NVC.

Sorry!! I would really like to talk to someone too. 

2 minutes ago, Tarsha said:

NVC will only tell you that your case is at the embassy which you know that. Stay on the line and when you get someone (which it is a long hold), they will ask for you case number, beneficiaries name, and date of birth. They will look into your case and tell you what is going on 

Okay, sorry for so many questions, but I agree, with the first thing you said - the NVC will only tell you that your case is at the embassy...

So...do you mean that the NVC agent was able to tell you something or the NVC agent only told you "your case is at the embassy, sorry"...  and then you were transferred to some other office??

1 minute ago, Tarsha said:

Press 1 and stay on the line until you are connected to someone

So it will connect you to the NVC then? And that's where you got your information that said that the case was no longer being processed by the DoS, and that the embassy is the one that is holding up the process? 

14 minutes ago, Tarsha said:

202-647-6575 Monday-Friday 8-6

Hi, I just tried it to see what it is and what the options are. It's a public information line, and there are some options to choose from.

The first option is to check your visa status and when you choose (1) the recording says that if you are calling about an immigrant visa application please hang up and call the NVC at 603-334-0700 7am to midnight. Non immigrant questions are transferred to another number. Then it transfers you!

That's all.

19 minutes ago, Tarsha said:

Are you within the United States? The USC has to contact, but try 202-647-6575

Oh okay maybe that was the one you used. Thanks!

1 hour ago, Tarsha said:

(202) 663-1225

Tarsha are you sure that's the number you called?

6 minutes ago, Tarsha said:

Hi, yes the ds5535 is done in Washington. I was told by the DOS that their processing is done and the hold up for our case is the administrative part at the embassy. Contact the DOS and see if your case is the same 

Ohhhh Okay I see. Thanks for clarifying!! I will try to do that.

How did you contact the DoS?

1 hour ago, Nextlevel said:

guys I think there is a difference in timeline between someone sponsoring their spouse and someone sponsoring their fiance. It would be great if you could mention on your post the type of visa you applied for so we can have an idea

I was under the impression that the ds5535 administrative processing was a security issue. So I'm thinking it doesn't matter if you're married or engaged. 

What do you guys think?

On 3/19/2018 at 6:24 PM, Tarsha said:

They stated that they are not doing any processing and our case is currently in administrative processing through the Embassy

HI Tarsha,

Thanks for making that call. I don't think I understand though - - was the DoS saying that the embassy is doing the security check (basically what a ds5535 is right? ) and not the DoS or some agency in Washington?  Because that's exactly the opposite of what the embassy told us: that they aren't in control of the administrative processing, it's in the hands of other agencies. 

Maybe I am misunderstanding you.

19 hours ago, Eternity1516 said:

Hi everyone, 
I'm a USC, petitioned for my husband (CR-1) who is in Lebanon and we are still waiting for the interview, but after reading this topic, I've been very worried he could get a DS-5535, is there anything we can do to avoid this? anything specific anyone can recommend? 

This will be my second time applying for him, because the first time they didn't consider the marriage "consummated" although we had a child. It's the rules and my only option was to consummate the marriage and reapply. 

So we have been going through hell since 2015/2016 (3 years)

Any advice is appreciated.. 

Good morning Eternity, 

A few questions and comments -

Not really clear about the consummated part. 😞 did you have a document that said you are married? You can message me privately if you want. 

If you have been waiting three years (married), congrats - - you are not a CR1 anymore you're an IR1. A tiny bit of good news right?

Regarding getting the 5535 : I read somewhere that lawyers consider "pre-loading" cases they expect will be given the 5535. It means that they give that info before it is asked of them. Not all lawyers agree about this. You might want to look into this. Maybe it would save you some time.

18 hours ago, YoungPadawan said:

I'd say the median is 90 days.

Good morning Young Padawan,  have you found some data here on VJ that indicates this?  Is there another thread about people who have received the 5535 and have been granted their visa? Maybe a spreadsheet?

43 minutes ago, FrMM said:

. I’ve already had a tourist visa and been several times to the US . I was supposed to leave to Los Angeles tomorrow . 

Is your tourist visa still valid?

If so you could technically come for a short period of time. However I asked about visiting with a current valid tourist visa while in AP and the officer didn't recommend it as the border agent might think you are going to stay...

He also agreed that staying wouldn't make much sense but you still could get turned back.

I wrote to the embassy and the date of the case status changed. Not the status though 😑

Regarding who is doing this work, from what the officer said about when it will be finished, I think the social media piece is sent to Washington.  S/he mentioned that they must wait for "other agencies" to finish their parts. 

22 hours ago, MO&RA said:

They sent my husband's case to Washington for  the security check I guess. His interview was on January 10 and no approval yet. 

I'm assuming he was asked to do the DS5535? or something else?

Well, 60 days is coming up soon - hope you see some movement soon.

22 hours ago, Nextlevel said:

Hey no worries! Hope you had a great trip

 

I have contacted the NVC several times asking them if it says "administrative processing" on the CEAC does it mean its with the NVC? and they confirmed that admin processing in this case means it is with the embassy and we should contact the embassy. I suggest you call/email/use the contact us page to follow up on the case as it has been over 30 days. 

 

Regarding the cases going to Washington it is true, but the way it works is the embassy sends the case (electronically I presume) to the department of state for an "Opinion" which may take time, after the file is back from Washington the embassy takes into consideration the file + the opinion and makes a decision whether or not to issue the visa. So the entire decision is up to the consular officer

 

I haven't had any updates yet, still waiting, I believe 60 days from the interview date is the magic number in this case, lets hope. March looks like the month

 

 

Thanks, we had a really nice week. 

I am going to try calling the embassy though it says they won't talk about that over the phone. They will, however, talk about the process for getting a visa, so I could ask a general question.  

As you might remember, we didn't get the DS5535 but rather a social media request on the bottom of a 221g. But I suppose that is a security check... so maybe it went to Washington anyway.

We're still way short of 60 days but hoping they will tell us something anyway. Okay, I'm dreaming...

5 hours ago, Tarsha said:

I called the embassy where my fiancé’s case is and they told me they are still waiting on a response from Washington! 

Hmm. So do we think that all DS 5535 cases go to Washington?

On 2/15/2018 at 2:23 PM, Nextlevel said:

Hi I am on the same boat, they did not take the passport. But I just wanted to ask how many status updated did u see on the CEAC website for your case? I got 2 so far and my interview date was 11 January 2018. Still waiting it shows admin processing

 

When I call NVC they say admin processing in this case means it is with the embassy and not with NVC and they cannot give us an update

Sorry, Nextlevel, I don't think I answered this - I was abroad visiting my husband!

His interview was Jan 18 and we got an update on the 23rd when they received the social media information. Nothing since then.

I guess I hope that our case is with the embassy. I don't think it would go back to NVC as they are done with the case - anyone agree with that? I have heard, however, that cases may go to Washington. Not sure why or which ones.

Anyone have an update, or approval?  

11 minutes ago, YoungPadawan said:

Yeah, it's really a black hole and it's impossible to predict the duration of the delay. How are you guys holding up? How do you pass the time? I quit my job and let go of my apartment... So now I find myself in a rather awkward situation lol-- unable to plan for the future, and unsure about how much longer this is gonna take. I'm sure some of you can relate. 

I'm sorry to hear that. It's not easy. But we are both working and see each other on video every day. We visit each other as often as we can. We are lucky in that regard. I'm visiting right now as a matter of fact 💗😊

9 minutes ago, Munazza said:

221(g) Refusal - U.S. Visa. Some applicants are ineligible to receive a U.S. visa under INA section 221(g) due to failure to provide some information or document(s), or some further procedure, or review by the U.S. Consulate or another U.S. government agency (such as USCIS) must be completed. It is also called a temporary refusal. I saw many cases getting approved who got 221g.

221g is normally used for further processing.

For various reasons they need to look more at your case.

We had one for the tourist visa and eventually we got the visa. 

Read carefully all about the form. It's not usually a refusal.

1 hour ago, YoungPadawan said:

@SabrinaJerome were you given a 221g sheet? And,  did they keep your passport? 

Yes my husband was given a 221g only. And the agent wrote on it to send social media and email addresses. 

They did not keep his passport, unfortunately. 

On 2/8/2018 at 8:12 PM, Tarsha said:

Yes, that’s the new vetting form (security check) 

On 2/8/2018 at 9:40 PM, YooJin said:

I was asked same form. I have the question. What is a handle? Is it passwords for emails and social platforms? Because I have not submitted passwords...

My understanding is that the 221g is the standard administrative processing form that has been around a long time. I remember getting one in 2013 for the tourist visa. It can be given for a lot of reasons.

The 5535 was administered starting in spring 2017 and expired at the end of November. However it is still being given. 

We were not given the 5535 but still asked for email addresses and social media handles.

8 minutes ago, Tarsha said:

There’s different types of AP. DS-5535 AP is a Security Check AP and takes longer than the normal AP 

That seems reasonable. 

And we got a 221g that had the request for supplementary information (the social media part) written on the bottom of it. 

5 hours ago, Beth & Achraf said:

That's interesting.    Hoping all gets resolved quickly, so you both can start a new journey here in the USA

We do too!  Thanks 😊

On 2/2/2018 at 3:13 AM, NLZZLN said:

hello everyone,

 

i just want to inform everyone that whoever sent ds5535 form please contact the embassy and make sure that they have recieved the form. because we have been waiting for 3 months but yesterday got a call from the embassy saying the form was not recieved n they r waiting on the form. i was so angry that they didnt even tell us before and didnt reply to my emails. so now i sent them again but im still not sure whether they recieved it or not so im sending them by mail tomorrow. 

 

its just to be on the safe side n wait for months n u think they r working on ur case when they dont even have the form. please make sure they have recieved the form. 

My heart just sank for you. I'm so sorry. That is horrible.

On 2/1/2018 at 11:41 AM, Beth & Achraf said:

I'm curious, they did a request for social media?  What are they asking for? Pic of Facebook , Twitter? 

It was hand written on the end of the 221g form. Said something like, Please submit all social media handles and email addresses from 2013-2018. 

(and we were just to write them in an email and send them in.)