tiyyo

My husband is Pakistani but was living and working in Spain. He received an email such as yours. We responded the day he got it. It took another 2 years AND a stokes interview that involved both of us in Madrid. Luckily I was there when they requested us both to go to the embassy.
It is the ds 5535 but in an informal email.
Good luck with your journey, it won't be quick. Just saying the truth.

My husband is Pakistani but was living and working in Spain. He received an email such as yours. We responded the day he got it. It took another 2 years AND a stokes interview that involved both of us in Madrid. Luckily I was there when they requested us both to go to the embassy.
It is the ds 5535 but in an informal email.
Good luck with your journey, it won't be quick. Just saying the truth.

My husband is Pakistani but was living and working in Spain. He received an email such as yours. We responded the day he got it. It took another 2 years AND a stokes interview that involved both of us in Madrid. Luckily I was there when they requested us both to go to the embassy.
It is the ds 5535 but in an informal email.
Good luck with your journey, it won't be quick. Just saying the truth.

Being in the medical field, (specifically radiology) the x-ray images differences  between active TB and Covid + are very distinct. The reading Radiologist would be able to tell the difference. Make sure you do have your pcr covid testing certificate to show you are cleared too.

Being in the medical field, (specifically radiology) the x-ray images differences  between active TB and Covid + are very distinct. The reading Radiologist would be able to tell the difference. Make sure you do have your pcr covid testing certificate to show you are cleared too.

Congratulations and Happy Birthday!!! I'm not sure why they target Pakis, but they did the same thing to my hubby and he was in Spain!!!
Now breathe a sigh of relief!

There is no petitioning for a K-2.
1) Either it's a K-2 visa via Follow-To-Join (FTJ) of the K-1 - in which case the K-2 must b issued within 1 year of the original K-1, or
2) It's an I-130 petition for a stepchild, who will get a CR-2/IR-2 visa.

my husband came in through JFK. It took him well over 2 hours to get through immigration and customs. His connecting flight to MCO was through the same airline. Yes, he had to collect his luggage and recheck it in. I would suggest no less than at least 3-4 hours between connecting flights. He ended up waiting 30 minutes at the gate.

All I know is what my husband told me. I asked him if he felt was being singled out and he said no, there were so many different types of passengers in there with him and the CBP kept calling people up questioning them (which I know is normal) and requesting to see their personal mobile devices. Young, old, man, woman, everyone was having to do it. Perhaps it's not something that happens frequently, but I am seeing and hearing about it more often.

It's not so rare nowadays. When my husband came through JFK as his POE in October last year, it took over 2 hours of getting through immigration because he said they had more than 20 people in there that they were going through all of their phones. The phones had to password unlocked and they read through messages on all of social websites including text messages AND looked through photos as well. Guess it's going to be the "norm" for a while.

Yes, he got the visa in August 2019 and arrived here in October 2019! Best part about it is that he has his 10 year green card so we are doing great!
Thanks for looking at our timeline!

I understand the frustration of being away from each other. My husband was in Spain and they kept his passport in his first interview in February 2018 but they gave  him the DS-5535 form to email in. We did the same day of the interview. In June of 2018 he requested his passport back due to work. They sent it to him but it also triggered the embassy to request an updated DS-5535 with any new travels he did. Instead of my husband coming to me, I went to Spain several times while we waited.
 

I understand the frustration of being away from each other. My husband was in Spain and they kept his passport in his first interview in February 2018 but they gave  him the DS-5535 form to email in. We did the same day of the interview. In June of 2018 he requested his passport back due to work. They sent it to him but it also triggered the embassy to request an updated DS-5535 with any new travels he did. Instead of my husband coming to me, I went to Spain several times while we waited.
 

It's hard for them to understand. Everyone who goes through AP for an extended time thinks they are being targeted. Just keep telling him since the changes of immigration that took place about 2 years ago, EVERYONE is in AP for some time.
Majority of those who aren't are usually from a country that is allies with the US. With all the immigrant visas that are being requested, it has really backlogged the back ground and security checks. Also, being an Islamic country, there are lengthy name checks. My husband was in AP for a year then we got an email requesting a 2nd interview with me in attendance. Luckily, I had a trip planned to see him within a few months of the email so I was able to get an appointment for us. It was brutal. Most definitely a Stokes Interview. They separated us and tried to make me feel like he was using me for fraud. While one was doing that to me, another CO was trying to say I was using him too!!!! I left out of there ready to rip someone's head off and spit down their neck. 3 months later I still haven't heard any news with the embassy so I ended up getting my congressman's liason involved. Sure enough, we get an email requesting him to redo his medical exam, get new passport photos and resubmit the DS-260. He made a new appointment and turned in everything along with his passport. He will be arriving on October 10th. Its been a long and grueling 3 years, but finally he will be here AND he will have his 10 year greencard!!!!
Best wishes and stay strong!

Yes they did ask for an update DS5535 for my husband. He originally was given the form on his first interview in February 2018. They did keep his passport. Because he was a permanent resident in Spain but has a Pakistani passport, he needed his passport because of work. We requested it in June 2018. Shortly afterwards, tbh, I don't exactly remember when they asked for an updated ds-5535, he did get an email asking to update it. Just so happen he had not traveled outside of Spain for work, he found work within the country. (He's a certified welder and works via contracts.)
He was in AP for a total of 18 months, we did 2 interviews. First one was just him, second they requested both of us which turned out to be a Stokes interview. I had to get my congressman involved repeatedly and luckily, the last one prompted the issue of his visa. He got it in August and all set to arrive here in October.
Good luck!

Just so you know, Monday September 2nd is an American holiday so don’t be looking for an update or an answer to your email until next week. 5 months in AP is just the beginning of the stay. Try 12 months of AP before they even consider looking into your file. Sorry for the Debbie downer response. Patience is a virtue but hard to maintain! 

Just so you know, Monday September 2nd is an American holiday so don’t be looking for an update or an answer to your email until next week. 5 months in AP is just the beginning of the stay. Try 12 months of AP before they even consider looking into your file. Sorry for the Debbie downer response. Patience is a virtue but hard to maintain! 

My husband was in AP for almost a year to the day before they asked for me to be at a 2nd interview in Madrid. After the 2nd interview, there were no updates until I got hold of my congressman at the end of April of this year. My husband was asked to renew his medical, update his DS-261 application, and resubmit his passport. So total AP before he got his visa was 18 months.
When we went in for the 2nd interview, they separated us and I had 2 COs who would alternate coming in and questioning me. The first officer was actually pretty nice but said really awful and mean things about Pakistanis in general. The 2nd officer was down right rude and would not sit down to talk to me, she stood over me and told me I was flat out lying about our relationship. It took a lot for me not to get down right nasty with her. I really had to bite my tongue and spoke straight forward. I think she knew she was pushing my buttons and I am sure that is what they are trained to do. Once I came out of the of the room back to my husband, he said he could hear me speaking in there and he was worried I was going to come unglued on that little girl (which she was extremely young and small), Yes I was extremely passionate with my responses. I don't take lightly to someone saying I was lying when in truth I was not.

The first time I reached out to my Congressman I didn't get a quick response. I had to submit ANOTHER request form and privacy statement and finally they send the embassy an email and got the same old in AP and don't know how long.
As we approached the 12 month mark I sent out another request for an update to the embassy and that's when they requested a second interview with me being with him. I think I surprised them because I just so happened had a trip planned. The 2nd interview was all on me. It was a Stokes interview that lasted an hour and a half. In fact, when we approached the gate, the guard said that the embassy was closed that afternoon and luckily I printed out the email with the date and time for the 2nd interview. Needless to say, they found someone to give us the interview. It was during their mandatory department meeting for the staff so I got to hear a whole bunch of stuff while waiting.

Dear fellow VJ'rs,
With great excitement I will like to announce my husband FINALLY got his visa in hand on Monday 08/12/19. So yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!
18 months of AP and 2 interviews (one being a stokes interview) can truly work on your nerves! Stay strong!
 

Dear fellow VJ'rs,
With great excitement I will like to announce my husband FINALLY got his visa in hand on Monday 08/12/19. So yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!
18 months of AP and 2 interviews (one being a stokes interview) can truly work on your nerves! Stay strong!
 

Dear fellow VJ'rs,
With great excitement I will like to announce my husband FINALLY got his visa in hand on Monday 08/12/19. So yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!
18 months of AP and 2 interviews (one being a stokes interview) can truly work on your nerves! Stay strong!
 

Dear fellow VJ'rs,
With great excitement I will like to announce my husband FINALLY got his visa in hand on Monday 08/12/19. So yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!
18 months of AP and 2 interviews (one being a stokes interview) can truly work on your nerves! Stay strong!
 

Hi everyone, update on our case.
Second interview done on Feb 25,2019. Exactly 1 year and 5 days the second interview. Yes it was a Stokes, I was sent into a little cubicle away from my husband. I had 2 different women come in and talk to me. The first one was very pleasant and pretty much wrote down the time frame of our relationship and marriage. Very nice. The second one was a whole lot more ruder. In fact she flat out called me a liar saying that it was a visa fraud he was wanting. I was like really? Why would he want to scam me when in 3 years he will be a citizen in Spain? Um doesn't make sense does? Anyways we conversed for over an hour.
Still no result, last update was 2 days after the second interview. If a NOIR/NOID is issued, I'm really for battle. Next step will be immigration court and have them decide.
Keep us in your prayers. This has been a LONG case 

Hi everyone, update on our case.
Second interview done on Feb 25,2019. Exactly 1 year and 5 days the second interview. Yes it was a Stokes, I was sent into a little cubicle away from my husband. I had 2 different women come in and talk to me. The first one was very pleasant and pretty much wrote down the time frame of our relationship and marriage. Very nice. The second one was a whole lot more ruder. In fact she flat out called me a liar saying that it was a visa fraud he was wanting. I was like really? Why would he want to scam me when in 3 years he will be a citizen in Spain? Um doesn't make sense does? Anyways we conversed for over an hour.
Still no result, last update was 2 days after the second interview. If a NOIR/NOID is issued, I'm really for battle. Next step will be immigration court and have them decide.
Keep us in your prayers. This has been a LONG case