sk782

update:

I got my medical done on Jan 27.

US Embassy will be closed on Jan 29 and 30 i think.

What about Feb 5, 2007? as it is Kashmir Day observed by Pakistani Government?

Any idea?

Naveed are you going to the embassy on FEB 5th? Javed will be at the embassy on this date..

yes the embassy will be opend according to their e mail.

Pakistani/ american holidays on the PK embassy website..

Feb 1&2 Thu&Fri *9th & 10th of Muharram Pakistani

Feb 19 Mon President's Day American

Mar 23 Fri Pakistan Day Pakistani

Thanks everyone. We are thrilled to say the least. Shon, I hope your husband can finally come to the US in February.

Thanks babybunny . Back in octobor after my waiver got approved i went to the embassy the CO said to me" CONGRATULATION AND WELCOME TO USA" then he said they have to do the clearance first. i thought everything is o.k when he said" WELCOME TO USA" Did anybody got this kind of greeting" welcome to usa" I am wondering howcome he said that if he was not giving me the visa at that time.

My husband got that same idiotic greeting from his interviewer as well. They even gave him a video about America or something. That was on 9/1. We finally got the visa almost 5 months later.

It is more than 3 months now since i am in security clearance . we called the DOS they say they donot know how long it will take for the security clearance. How many checks they perfomed. Every time they tell different stories.

I am going for IR1 does IR1 compare to AOS or K-3 take longer when it come to security clearance? ot it is the same in timewise?

Yeah, you will keep hearing this. Out of the blue one day they will say that the clearance has been completed and that the info will be fwd to the embassy. Then it shouldn't be long after that when you will hear something from the embassy. I am not sure if the IR1 security clearance takes longer than the K3. It seems like they would be the same. Even for the K-3 it took us a full 5 months.

Thanks babybunny . Back in octobor after my waiver got approved i went to the embassy the CO said to me" CONGRATULATION AND WELCOME TO USA" then he said they have to do the clearance first. i thought everything is o.k when he said" WELCOME TO USA" Did anybody got this kind of greeting" welcome to usa" I am wondering howcome he said that if he was not giving me the visa at that time.

My husband got that same idiotic greeting from his interviewer as well. They even gave him a video about America or something. That was on 9/1. We finally got the visa almost 5 months later.

Hi Zaki,

Congrajulations u got ur interview date and i m still waiting for my medical and interview date hope i get soon and if your comes in end of april mine surely be then end of May then as i send my packet 3.5 on 18 December. Wish u best of luck for your interview and hope u get your visa soon

Hi Faal4anisa,

We are still waiting for an interview date as well. Our packet 3.5 arrived back at the embassy on Dec. 8th. The embassy told us earlier this to check back in 3 more weeks. Arghhh!!!!

I didn't realize there would be such a delay between submittal and being given a date for the interview. Is this typical for K1's?

Let me know when they give you a date. Best of luck.

It's been almost 9 months since we filed the I-129F petition and thanks to Allah, my husband finally got the K-3 visa just this morning!!! A million thanks to everyone who has helped answer questions here, especially Shon and Mary. Our case is proof that there is hope for the ladies waiting to be with their spouses. Our last name is incredibly common and it took about 5 full months from the interview date until he finally got the visa. Ironically, I just received my plane ticket to Pakistan in the mail because I was supposed to fly there next week to see him, for the first time in a year. It sure is funny how things work out sometimes. Now he can come here instead, Inshallah. Good luck to everyone who is still waiting to be reunited with their spouses and the best thing to do is keep the faith.

sk782,

I can only say that the field investigator told my husband that he hoped to issue his in one month. It was almost four more months so I would not count anything until I had my visa in hand. Hopefully, you will not have to wait more than the 2 - 3 months that they are saying. No one can say for sure how long your processing will take.

Mary

Thanks for the info, Mary.

Congratulations, Sham that is great news! May you have your wish that she is here in a few weeks before EID and now time to get ready for her arrival.

Mary

Hello,

I called the DOS this week and they stated that my husband is now going through the security checks and she gave me a timeline of 2-3 months which is average right now. I had my lawyer email the embassy and they gave a similar timeframe. Does 2-3 months really mean that, or could it be much longer? I did ask the DOS lady if it would go to 6 months and she said that she seriously doubted that and that most normal cases are completed in 2-3 months.

my guess is june 23

Thanks for the information everyone. Hopefully it's no more than 6 months. I hope everyone else gets their loved ones home soon as well.

Congrats on approvals and green cards and EADS, SSNs, all that good cheery stuff.

I am sorry i have not been posting much on VJ no more. life sometimes tosses curve balls - gotta catch them or miss them. I am so tired of this process and reading this stuff its slowly killing my sprits. I cant keep being like this. its pure hell. people just starting out get reunited faster than us. so you may have noticed my postings are few and far between. keep us in our prayers and I pray for some strengh - I am having a hard time coping.

Hi. Can someone please let me know when is the recommended time to get a congressperson involved and if it is helpful? My husband is now going through the security checks and it has been one month since he had his interview so I know it has not been that long yet. Maybe this might help speed things up a little?

thanks for the DOS info...I had no idea about all this

Anyway, I called DOS. they said they haven't yet received 'the list of checks' from the embassy that they are supposed to run. he had his interview on friday, and its monday so i can understand why they haven't yet received any info. they told me to call back in a week and they would have all his information...as in which checks are to be performed. she said it usually takes 1-3 months but can be quicker. i'm thinking they probably didn't require many checks for my husband because we've been married since dec 2004 and because the interviewer told him it would only be a matter of days...i dont know...maybe i'm just hoping for that...

ohhh so give it 1 -3 months .

the embassy is slow on issuing the checks..

but call often to the DOS once time has passed..

they dont know at the embassy -because DOS has to send clearance

to embassy for ALL AP/AR cases. me and my husband been married that long too.

they still put is through the ringer. 1 check takes about 90days or less.

see K-1 get certain checks, CR1- get certain checks, IR1 get certain checks.

thanks for the DOS info...I had no idea about all this

Anyway, I called DOS. they said they haven't yet received 'the list of checks' from the embassy that they are supposed to run. he had his interview on friday, and its monday so i can understand why they haven't yet received any info. they told me to call back in a week and they would have all his information...as in which checks are to be performed. she said it usually takes 1-3 months but can be quicker. i'm thinking they probably didn't require many checks for my husband because we've been married since dec 2004 and because the interviewer told him it would only be a matter of days...i dont know...maybe i'm just hoping for that...

Well well well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need to speak now............................

Sabah your hubby didn't get 221(g) that means he is not on AP/AR. INSHA ALLAH.

That also means that DOS won't have any info on him. Why would you need to talk to DOS and inquire about security checks when no one ever told you there are any that needs to be done???????????????

If they needed security checks they wouldn't be afraid to ask for fingerprints.

When they keep the passport and tell you to wait to receive it in mail, hopefully that passport comes with a visa on it. INSHA ALLAH.

AMEX is the courier company that delivers visa in large cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad. For other cities, TCS is used in Pakistan.

So be optimistic, and positive, and THANK ALLAH SUBHANAHU WA TA'AALA that they didn't put him on AP/AR and plan for his homecoming, INSHA ALLAH.

Meanwhile, wife had medical done, ALHAMDULILLAH Everything went ok.

I beg to differ.AE!!!!!

if he was NOT given 221g then he would be having passport in hand..

embassy uses AMEX.

next= my husband never had to give full set of prints - just the required one.

they also kept my husbands passpport and gave him a token..

try again AE.

ALLL MEN are placed on AP/AR.....

17 days -2 years is the time frame!!!!!!!!

btw, it took 3 months before the 1st security checks were ordered on our case

Does anybody know what it means if my husband was asked for prints but did not get the 221(g) form? I tried to call the DOS today but they were already closed. I will try again tomorrow. I thought this admin review stuff wasn't supposed to be as complicated for the K3 visas as for the I-130.

he didn't get a form 221(g). they took his passport and said to wait a few days and he'll get it back via fed ex. he says the translator turned out to be an acquaintance and that the interviewer was also very friendly...

Did they really say a few days or give a short time period like 15 days - 2 months which is what they told my husband. He also didn't get the 221g and said the interviewer was friendly. I guess no one can predict how long the post-interview process will be because everyones cases seem to be different.

he didn't get a form 221(g). they took his passport and said to wait a few days and he'll get it back via fed ex. he says the translator turned out to be an acquaintance and that the interviewer was also very friendly...

Did they really say a few days or give a short time period like 15 days - 2 months which is what they told my husband. He also didn't get the 221g and said the interviewer was friendly. I guess no one can predict how long the post-interview process will be because everyones cases seem to be different.

Can someone please tell me where on the form it says 221(g)? My husband is pretty sure that he didn't get this form and I am assuming that if this were the case, his interviewer would have told him. Would any person going through the normal, required admin process get a 221(g)?

wohoooooooo

well my wife got passport today.

Thanks to everyone for their advice to my question. Congrats!! When are you leaving to get her?

My husband passed his medical exam!!! Alhamdulillah!

Next thing on the list is the interview...inshAllah it will go well.

This is great news for you! I have a question. My husband has been going through the mandatory admin processing since 9/1 so I'm hoping he will get his visa in a few months. If not, I will be making a trip back over there to see him. Does anyone know if it makes any difference if the petitioner goes to the embassy in person to see what the hold up is with the AP/AR? If his case is still pending at that time, I want to see if this will help maybe speed things up? Also, does anyone know if this admin review stuff is done with the same detail and depth with both the I-130 and the K3? Cause my husband got a time frame of 15 days - 2 months from his interviewer and he did K-3 and his friend who had an I-130 interview was told about 6 months for the review process.

Salam Everyone,

I just wanted to post that my husband did his medical today in Islamabad and he said it went very well , it was a pleasant experience for him, he said it was the best experience of patient service that he has ever had Alhamdulillah. He will get his results in two days, inshAllah.

Thanks everyone for helping him to prepare for his medical.

Leona

I'm very happy to hear that. I hope everything else goes this smoothly for him.

Thankyou very much sky, that was a great answer. I appreciate it. Im happy for you that you can visit your husband...i unfortunately can not afford the plane tickets right now to go back and forth...our two year anniversary is going to have to be celebrated online...i know what you mean by " time sure flies when you're having fun" anyway, yeah my husband is gonna miss our sons first birthday too, just like he missed his first crawling, and first steps...it's sad, but the time when he would be here i think all the waiting will just be like as if it were a dream, inshAllah...or more like a night mare

Thanks again!

im sorry, your user is not sky, it's sk...oops..

Even though I feel bad for my own situation, there are people worse off. I'm sorry you have to go through this. This is definitely worse for you considering you have a son. Anyways, the bottom line is to pray and have faith first of all, and secondly patience. That's all we can do. Good luck on his interview.

sky where is your case right now

Are you referring to me? If so, my husband also had his K-3 interview on 9/1. He said it seemed really promising. He had an american lady interviewer and she was laughing with him and she only wanted to see basic things mainly my tax returns I think. Then she said it would take 15 days- 2months to get back to him and to call them back if he didn't hear back in 45 days or so. I talked to a few of my relatives and friends who went through this and they all said to go with the highest number of days in the range given in the time line from the interviewer. So Inshallah, he should get that passport back with the visa in 2 months if what they say is true otherwise I guess I'll have to go back and visit him cause in December will be our 1 year anniversary. Time sure flies when you're having fun

ok, what do test for in a physical? ( he wants to know, i have no idea what they do with the guys)

Your husband's exam will be pretty comprehensive since this is for the I-130. He'll be getting a whole slew of vaccinations like hepatitis, etc. He should get a complete list of the vaccinations with his interview date letter. My husband told me that they took some blood, took x-rays, did a bone density exam, eye exam, and checked out his complete body to make sure everything looked ok. They'll probably ask if he's had any operations, been in any fights, and probably some more things. They want to make sure that overall he's fairly healthy. Hope this info helps.

Hello again,

My husband wanted me to ask what should he expect at his medical examination in Islamabad. Thankyou for your input.

Leona

Hi,

Congratulations on getting the earlier interview date. Now these next few months can be devoted to the AP/AR nonsense instead of waiting on an interview. My husband had his medical exam for the K-3 but they only required a normal physical I believe. For your husband's exam I am sure he will be getting a physical plus all of the required vaccinations and an AIDS test I guess.

I like Iqbal's poetry too. I love his "Shikwa, Jawab-e-Shikwa". Thats just a good piece of petry, even though there are lines in that, which I dont think should've been in it.

Maybe it's just me but it seems that a lot of women whos spouses are going through longer AR/AP seem to be non-desi. Do they investigate these types of cases more than just a couple where both spouses are the same culture, background, race?

there is no truth to that. The inquiry is done over the computer. And no it doesnt get pushed in the back of the line.

once again Shon! STOP GIVING WRONG INFORMATION TO PEOPLE!

WOW, that would be a big paper file lineup

So how far back do you all think that this student visa processing will push back spouse clearances? Is it still going to take 3-6 months?

Hafiz,

Is your wife's visa coming in the mail to her or is she going to pick it up on her own? Do they have a choice in the matter? I told my husband to pick his up once his clearance is over with cause who knows if it will get lost in the mail, etc.

there is no truth to that. The inquiry is done over the computer. And no it doesnt get pushed in the back of the line.

once again Shon! STOP GIVING WRONG INFORMATION TO PEOPLE!

He wasn't really giving wrong info, he was just asking a question...chill we are all here just tryin to help each other

there is no truth to that. The inquiry is done over the computer. And no it doesnt get pushed in the back of the line.

once again Shon! STOP GIVING WRONG INFORMATION TO PEOPLE!

He wasn't really giving wrong info, he was just asking a question...chill we are all here just tryin to help each other

I c...you were talking about babybunny, i didn't read it like she is agreeing that it's true, i thought she is just being sarcastic, feeling like she is at the back of the line.. i mean she has been waiting for a very very long time...

there is no truth to that. The inquiry is done over the computer. And no it doesnt get pushed in the back of the line.

once again Shon! STOP GIVING WRONG INFORMATION TO PEOPLE!

According to your timeline you have been waiting for almost a year? you are still waiting on AR processing? why is it taking that long...it's scaring me because my husband's interview is Jan 2, and if it takes a year just to go through AR processing i think i'll die!

Thanks for all the info guys. I really appreciate it. May Allah bless us all.

Asalam Aleikum

o yes, of course i would never have any kind of relation before marriage, the day i married my husband was the day i met him in person, .i was just thinking of every lil thing that would be a benefit for us to be together again soon ,inshAllah! , but in reality, i know it is all in the hands of Allah, not of the embassy, ultimately it is He who will decide,so i wait, and pray , and we just try our best.....but of course , i find comfort and hope in hearing about every one else's experience through the Islamabad embassy.

also, i am a muslim convert, not a pakistani, and it was the first best decision of my life, the second best decision was marrying my husband ... and Allah knows best

i would like to go to his interview, but am thinking if it doesn't help, then i won't since i am in usa now , and i don't really have the money for a plane ticket for me and my baby ali...i'll keep you all posted on how his interview goes. O yeah, and i always wore hijab in my photo id's, there was never any problem with that..., also i think i read before that the religious head coverings are exceptions to the photo rule but can't remember positively, anyway it's to be expected since it's an Islamic country.

Wasalam

I heard that sometimes if people like congresspeople get involved, then the beneficiary's file is pulled in order to check the case status and then the file goes to the end of the line. Does anyone know if this is true?

He said everything went good and his visa was approved!

ok either he got the visa or he was told your visa is pending checks. So what is exactly that they said.

michigan someone mentioned that its 6 months. unless of course you want lol someone else to answer.

well sham has a cool situation, his k3 and cr1 is at embassy at the same time.

wow alot of people have inteview in september,

saeedeh and a couple of other folks.

He told me over the phone when he called that the visa was approved but they need a few days/months to process it. This most definitely is the lovely clearance process. On the plus side, the weird thing is that his interviewer gave him a book about the US and some kind of CD with info on it about coming to the US. I'm guessing these are items that everyone leaving the interview gets, even if they are on admin review, right?

well if you look at the piece of paper, it says each case is considered individually but usually it takes 45 days. Let me give u an example, I am not trying to discourage you, my visa interview went real well but I was put on AR was told to wait 45 days and I am waiting for 10 months! I am not sayingyours will take that long usually people get the visa in 3-6 months but I am saying it can take many months!

Thanks for the info. It helps to find out what people actually encounter in real life. What happens when you contact them to find out the reason for the delay? Have you gotten any congresspeople involved?

dont worry, it seems like a typical case of AR/AP. Your case is ok, just need to wait on security clearances. In which time frame cannot be predicted! Hopefully will be done soon. Minimum its taking is 3 months!

What I don't get is how they can say 60 days max when they know that it could take longer? Why don't they just say a few months or something and not get our hopes up and expect that it will be done in their "max" time of 60 days or even in as little as 15 days?

lol. you guys are so funny.

Hi everyone,

Congrats to the people whos spouses have been issued their visas. Good luck to the people who are awaiting their interviews. My husband had his K-3 interview on Sept. 1st. We went overboard getting together way more documents than were needed, just in case. He said everything went good and his visa was approved! They collected the required fees and his passport and told him he should be getting it back with a stamped visa in there within 15 days - 2 months. This sure sounds promising to me so hopefully it's true and his paperwork doesn't get lost or held up somewhere, etc.

My question is, is there ever a case where a visa has been approved, and the embassy gives a certain timeframe with a maximum amount of time for getting the stamped passport back, yet still exceeds the timeframe? I heard the collection of fees and passport is a good sign and basically it's a done deal. Any answers would be appreciated. Thanks.

REALLY? - well Congrats. maybe this is good news for all..

but, its rare to get approval for a male < k-3 > and not get AP/AR.

they gave us the time frame of 30-60 days. that was the biggest joke.

you could Email the Embassy ask the status of the case. they cant either tell you the same thing

your huband said or tell you something diffrent. again congrats...

Shon,

Which visa was your husband approved for? Did the embassy take his passport afterwards and what reasons are they citing for taking longer than 30-60 days?

we applied for both..

for his k-3 interview they collected his passport and gave him a brownish TOKEN to get his passport later. they also gave him a Greenish blueish paper :

stated 221g admin processing

30-60 days. so we are 1 year and still waiting..

Did the embassy specifically tell your husband that his K-3 was approved and that it would be 30-60 days after that for the visa issuance, or, did they just take the passport and tell him that they would get back to him in 30-60 days? I just want to know where my husband and I stand at this moment in light of your situation and how long it has taken you guys thus far. Thanks.