AliTan

People have at times gotten a new medical and still waited months, but usually the visa is issued shortly after completing the medical.

Just wanted to let you all know about our happy ending; sorry it took me a bit to get this post done.  We first applied for a K1 December of 2017.  The interview was August of 2018, denied.  We applied again for a K1 January of 2019.  (Yes, it is typically recommended to marry and apply for a CR1 after a K1 denial, but we felt our case was a lot stronger and took a chance.)  We did get an RFE October of 2019 for intent to marry as well as essentially to refute the reasons for the previous denial.  We were successful in getting the petition approved and the interview was 1/28/20.  He was told the visa was approved at the interview, but that the old case still appeared active, so they had to take care of that.  (I had already received notification that it was terminated.)  It went to AP and on 2/26/20 changed to non-immigrant received.  I'm not sure how much COVID slowed things down from there, but it went to AP 4/1, Received 5/21, AP 6/22.  On 6/25 he received a call asking if he could travel before the medical expired on 7/13, and he said that he could.  On 7/6 he got another call saying that they did not have his passport in his file but would look for it.  From this point on we got persistent with our inquiries.  On 7/27 he got another call, followed by an official email, asking him to make a new passport and get a new medical.  The status changed to refused  7/28.  The embassy received the passport and medical on 8/13.  Status changed to AP on 8/19, updated again 8/20, and the visa was issued 8/26/20.  He arrived in the US on 9/6 and we married 9/26.  Thanks to God!  Now we're trying to get AOS done.  

Wow! What a story you have shared with us. Because of your persistence and your love for each other got you to each step that you faced. I am so happy for you guys. May you have a safe, healthy, and loving relationship for all the days of your life. Mazeltov!

Congratulations!
 
Hopefully the rest of the process - AOS and later, ROC - goes smoother.  

Just wanted to let you all know about our happy ending; sorry it took me a bit to get this post done.  We first applied for a K1 December of 2017.  The interview was August of 2018, denied.  We applied again for a K1 January of 2019.  (Yes, it is typically recommended to marry and apply for a CR1 after a K1 denial, but we felt our case was a lot stronger and took a chance.)  We did get an RFE October of 2019 for intent to marry as well as essentially to refute the reasons for the previous denial.  We were successful in getting the petition approved and the interview was 1/28/20.  He was told the visa was approved at the interview, but that the old case still appeared active, so they had to take care of that.  (I had already received notification that it was terminated.)  It went to AP and on 2/26/20 changed to non-immigrant received.  I'm not sure how much COVID slowed things down from there, but it went to AP 4/1, Received 5/21, AP 6/22.  On 6/25 he received a call asking if he could travel before the medical expired on 7/13, and he said that he could.  On 7/6 he got another call saying that they did not have his passport in his file but would look for it.  From this point on we got persistent with our inquiries.  On 7/27 he got another call, followed by an official email, asking him to make a new passport and get a new medical.  The status changed to refused  7/28.  The embassy received the passport and medical on 8/13.  Status changed to AP on 8/19, updated again 8/20, and the visa was issued 8/26/20.  He arrived in the US on 9/6 and we married 9/26.  Thanks to God!  Now we're trying to get AOS done.  

Just wanted to let you all know about our happy ending; sorry it took me a bit to get this post done.  We first applied for a K1 December of 2017.  The interview was August of 2018, denied.  We applied again for a K1 January of 2019.  (Yes, it is typically recommended to marry and apply for a CR1 after a K1 denial, but we felt our case was a lot stronger and took a chance.)  We did get an RFE October of 2019 for intent to marry as well as essentially to refute the reasons for the previous denial.  We were successful in getting the petition approved and the interview was 1/28/20.  He was told the visa was approved at the interview, but that the old case still appeared active, so they had to take care of that.  (I had already received notification that it was terminated.)  It went to AP and on 2/26/20 changed to non-immigrant received.  I'm not sure how much COVID slowed things down from there, but it went to AP 4/1, Received 5/21, AP 6/22.  On 6/25 he received a call asking if he could travel before the medical expired on 7/13, and he said that he could.  On 7/6 he got another call saying that they did not have his passport in his file but would look for it.  From this point on we got persistent with our inquiries.  On 7/27 he got another call, followed by an official email, asking him to make a new passport and get a new medical.  The status changed to refused  7/28.  The embassy received the passport and medical on 8/13.  Status changed to AP on 8/19, updated again 8/20, and the visa was issued 8/26/20.  He arrived in the US on 9/6 and we married 9/26.  Thanks to God!  Now we're trying to get AOS done.  

Just wanted to let you all know about our happy ending; sorry it took me a bit to get this post done.  We first applied for a K1 December of 2017.  The interview was August of 2018, denied.  We applied again for a K1 January of 2019.  (Yes, it is typically recommended to marry and apply for a CR1 after a K1 denial, but we felt our case was a lot stronger and took a chance.)  We did get an RFE October of 2019 for intent to marry as well as essentially to refute the reasons for the previous denial.  We were successful in getting the petition approved and the interview was 1/28/20.  He was told the visa was approved at the interview, but that the old case still appeared active, so they had to take care of that.  (I had already received notification that it was terminated.)  It went to AP and on 2/26/20 changed to non-immigrant received.  I'm not sure how much COVID slowed things down from there, but it went to AP 4/1, Received 5/21, AP 6/22.  On 6/25 he received a call asking if he could travel before the medical expired on 7/13, and he said that he could.  On 7/6 he got another call saying that they did not have his passport in his file but would look for it.  From this point on we got persistent with our inquiries.  On 7/27 he got another call, followed by an official email, asking him to make a new passport and get a new medical.  The status changed to refused  7/28.  The embassy received the passport and medical on 8/13.  Status changed to AP on 8/19, updated again 8/20, and the visa was issued 8/26/20.  He arrived in the US on 9/6 and we married 9/26.  Thanks to God!  Now we're trying to get AOS done.  

Just wanted to let you all know about our happy ending; sorry it took me a bit to get this post done.  We first applied for a K1 December of 2017.  The interview was August of 2018, denied.  We applied again for a K1 January of 2019.  (Yes, it is typically recommended to marry and apply for a CR1 after a K1 denial, but we felt our case was a lot stronger and took a chance.)  We did get an RFE October of 2019 for intent to marry as well as essentially to refute the reasons for the previous denial.  We were successful in getting the petition approved and the interview was 1/28/20.  He was told the visa was approved at the interview, but that the old case still appeared active, so they had to take care of that.  (I had already received notification that it was terminated.)  It went to AP and on 2/26/20 changed to non-immigrant received.  I'm not sure how much COVID slowed things down from there, but it went to AP 4/1, Received 5/21, AP 6/22.  On 6/25 he received a call asking if he could travel before the medical expired on 7/13, and he said that he could.  On 7/6 he got another call saying that they did not have his passport in his file but would look for it.  From this point on we got persistent with our inquiries.  On 7/27 he got another call, followed by an official email, asking him to make a new passport and get a new medical.  The status changed to refused  7/28.  The embassy received the passport and medical on 8/13.  Status changed to AP on 8/19, updated again 8/20, and the visa was issued 8/26/20.  He arrived in the US on 9/6 and we married 9/26.  Thanks to God!  Now we're trying to get AOS done.  

Just wanted to let you all know about our happy ending; sorry it took me a bit to get this post done.  We first applied for a K1 December of 2017.  The interview was August of 2018, denied.  We applied again for a K1 January of 2019.  (Yes, it is typically recommended to marry and apply for a CR1 after a K1 denial, but we felt our case was a lot stronger and took a chance.)  We did get an RFE October of 2019 for intent to marry as well as essentially to refute the reasons for the previous denial.  We were successful in getting the petition approved and the interview was 1/28/20.  He was told the visa was approved at the interview, but that the old case still appeared active, so they had to take care of that.  (I had already received notification that it was terminated.)  It went to AP and on 2/26/20 changed to non-immigrant received.  I'm not sure how much COVID slowed things down from there, but it went to AP 4/1, Received 5/21, AP 6/22.  On 6/25 he received a call asking if he could travel before the medical expired on 7/13, and he said that he could.  On 7/6 he got another call saying that they did not have his passport in his file but would look for it.  From this point on we got persistent with our inquiries.  On 7/27 he got another call, followed by an official email, asking him to make a new passport and get a new medical.  The status changed to refused  7/28.  The embassy received the passport and medical on 8/13.  Status changed to AP on 8/19, updated again 8/20, and the visa was issued 8/26/20.  He arrived in the US on 9/6 and we married 9/26.  Thanks to God!  Now we're trying to get AOS done.  

Just wanted to let you all know about our happy ending; sorry it took me a bit to get this post done.  We first applied for a K1 December of 2017.  The interview was August of 2018, denied.  We applied again for a K1 January of 2019.  (Yes, it is typically recommended to marry and apply for a CR1 after a K1 denial, but we felt our case was a lot stronger and took a chance.)  We did get an RFE October of 2019 for intent to marry as well as essentially to refute the reasons for the previous denial.  We were successful in getting the petition approved and the interview was 1/28/20.  He was told the visa was approved at the interview, but that the old case still appeared active, so they had to take care of that.  (I had already received notification that it was terminated.)  It went to AP and on 2/26/20 changed to non-immigrant received.  I'm not sure how much COVID slowed things down from there, but it went to AP 4/1, Received 5/21, AP 6/22.  On 6/25 he received a call asking if he could travel before the medical expired on 7/13, and he said that he could.  On 7/6 he got another call saying that they did not have his passport in his file but would look for it.  From this point on we got persistent with our inquiries.  On 7/27 he got another call, followed by an official email, asking him to make a new passport and get a new medical.  The status changed to refused  7/28.  The embassy received the passport and medical on 8/13.  Status changed to AP on 8/19, updated again 8/20, and the visa was issued 8/26/20.  He arrived in the US on 9/6 and we married 9/26.  Thanks to God!  Now we're trying to get AOS done.  

Just wanted to let you all know about our happy ending; sorry it took me a bit to get this post done.  We first applied for a K1 December of 2017.  The interview was August of 2018, denied.  We applied again for a K1 January of 2019.  (Yes, it is typically recommended to marry and apply for a CR1 after a K1 denial, but we felt our case was a lot stronger and took a chance.)  We did get an RFE October of 2019 for intent to marry as well as essentially to refute the reasons for the previous denial.  We were successful in getting the petition approved and the interview was 1/28/20.  He was told the visa was approved at the interview, but that the old case still appeared active, so they had to take care of that.  (I had already received notification that it was terminated.)  It went to AP and on 2/26/20 changed to non-immigrant received.  I'm not sure how much COVID slowed things down from there, but it went to AP 4/1, Received 5/21, AP 6/22.  On 6/25 he received a call asking if he could travel before the medical expired on 7/13, and he said that he could.  On 7/6 he got another call saying that they did not have his passport in his file but would look for it.  From this point on we got persistent with our inquiries.  On 7/27 he got another call, followed by an official email, asking him to make a new passport and get a new medical.  The status changed to refused  7/28.  The embassy received the passport and medical on 8/13.  Status changed to AP on 8/19, updated again 8/20, and the visa was issued 8/26/20.  He arrived in the US on 9/6 and we married 9/26.  Thanks to God!  Now we're trying to get AOS done.  

Just wanted to let you all know about our happy ending; sorry it took me a bit to get this post done.  We first applied for a K1 December of 2017.  The interview was August of 2018, denied.  We applied again for a K1 January of 2019.  (Yes, it is typically recommended to marry and apply for a CR1 after a K1 denial, but we felt our case was a lot stronger and took a chance.)  We did get an RFE October of 2019 for intent to marry as well as essentially to refute the reasons for the previous denial.  We were successful in getting the petition approved and the interview was 1/28/20.  He was told the visa was approved at the interview, but that the old case still appeared active, so they had to take care of that.  (I had already received notification that it was terminated.)  It went to AP and on 2/26/20 changed to non-immigrant received.  I'm not sure how much COVID slowed things down from there, but it went to AP 4/1, Received 5/21, AP 6/22.  On 6/25 he received a call asking if he could travel before the medical expired on 7/13, and he said that he could.  On 7/6 he got another call saying that they did not have his passport in his file but would look for it.  From this point on we got persistent with our inquiries.  On 7/27 he got another call, followed by an official email, asking him to make a new passport and get a new medical.  The status changed to refused  7/28.  The embassy received the passport and medical on 8/13.  Status changed to AP on 8/19, updated again 8/20, and the visa was issued 8/26/20.  He arrived in the US on 9/6 and we married 9/26.  Thanks to God!  Now we're trying to get AOS done.  

We’re K1, but I hear you.  People have no clue what this process is like unless they have been through it.  We first applied Dec. 2017 and were denied.  We’re on our second go-round and we were so close to the visa when embassies closed.  Since then I feel like I obsessively check for any shred of hope out there.  Every time we have an update on our case I get excited thinking we’ll have the visa in a few days...nope.  I find shopping for wedding items or just things we’ll need for his arrival helps me feel like there’s still something in my control.  But my bank account and my sanity will be happy when I am no longer consumed by this process.

I made a note to myself to be sure to come back here to Visa Journey to share with you all my experience with my filing of the writ of mandamus, whether the results would be good or bad, as I am hoping many of you, who were stuck like me, get the resolve you deserve. I noticed no one has documented enough about it so I'm happy to be the first.
 
My Writ of Mandamus that my lawyer filed forced the Jordanian Embassy to make a decision on our case since being stuck in AP since September 2019. It was a SUCCESS. My fiancé picked up his Visa this morning. Before I get into the process, how long it took, who I hired, etc, I will breakdown my timeline first below. 
 
I'm asking the senior and regular active members here to try to refrain from continuously sharing FALSE information about WoM. In the past several weeks I have read numerous comments from many of the senior members on other WoM posts DISCOURAGING people to move forward yet admitting to not knowing much about it or how it works.  First of all you are not lawyers. Try not discourage on a subject you don't know much about. That's what petitioners and beneficiaries should seek legal consultations for. No two WOM's are alike. Only a lawyer can tell you if you are a good candidate and hopefully, you will consult with a lawyer like mine who insisted he see the petition and hear our case before agreeing.
 
So here is my timeline and what happened with my WOM:
 
- Visa Category, K-1
- Fiance's consulate Interview was 9/8/2019 (I-129F petition filed 3/23/2018)
- Agent at window advised we need to wait for a call that would "come in shortly" and returned passport
- Numerous emails sent to the Embassy inquiring what they needed with no response
- October 31, 2019 received an email from embassy asking for proof of relationship....we sent the same exact package they returned to us 10 minutes before his interview. Only thing we added were a few more photos
- No updates or word from them until January 2020 where I saw several updates on CEAC, no communication.
- February 2020 pandemic hit, no word. AP changed to REFUSED
- Researched writ of mandamus just in case we didn't hear anything soon and in fear pandemic will drag our case
- April 2020 located the best lawyer for me with long successful track record and paid for a 30 minutes consultation. After hearing my story and seeing my case, he accepted my case.
- May 15th I started my case. 
- May 22nd my case was sent to the 8 agencies my lawyer was suing. They have 60 days to respond.
- Those 8 agencies are: USCIS,  DEPT OF STATE,  DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,  US CONSULATE AMMAN JORDAN,  SECRETARY OF THE DEPT OF DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,  THE DIRECTOR OF USCIS, SECRETARY OF STATE, CHARGE' D'affaires of the US CONSULATE AMMAN JORDAN. 
- June 29, my fiance receives a call from the US Embassy Amman asking him to update his Medical and send it in with his passport. We wait. 
- July 18, Passport is sent back to my fiance with a list of 10 questions (similar to DS-5535) and to email responses back and wait for a call. Paper states it can take 2-6 weeks.
- July 18 also, US Attorney emails my lawyer and asks for a 60 day extension since its close to deadline. Judge also grants it. 
- July 23, I email the responses to the 10 questions to Embassy.
- August 26, Embassy calls my fiance back to resend his passport again
- September 2, my lawyer receives an email from the US Attorney advising him that the Visa has been issued and CEAC status changes an hour later to "ISSUED"
- September 3, my fiance tracks the tracking number and sees Visa is already at Aramex and goes picks it up.
 
It took a total of about 3 1/2 months from the time they were served to finish. Definitely worth it. I have read some members giving incorrect information that the WoM could cost around $15,000 and read other outrageous numbers. It does not. I checked numerous lawyers before hiring mine and have received quotes anywhere from $4000 to $8000. Definitely have not heard more. I paid for my consultation which was then applied towards my WoM.  My lawyer charged me on the lower end than most.  I hired Jim Hacking of The Hacking Law Firm. I would only recommend him. 
 
Please feel free to message me if you have any questions. Wishing you all love and happiness! 
 
 

People have at times gotten a new medical and still waited months, but usually the visa is issued shortly after completing the medical.

Look, DJT's end game was to limit immigration period. The easiest path to the WH was to play the whole illegal immigration card. But a plan was in place- with a few guys like Tom Cotton to come up with policies that will limit legal immigration. Want proof? Look at what Trump has done so far and google Tom Cotton immigration plan and you will have all the proof you want to have. Corona presented the OPPORTUNITY and TIME.  There are more legal immigrants than illegal immigrants, so it made sense to him to start limiting legal immigration. Taking immigration the merit way, will basically close 3/4 of the world to America. That is Africa, South and Central America, and Asia. Also, one LEGAL opening is all DJT needs to screw everything up. You are talking about an administration which does not operate in 50 shades of grey when it comes to these matters.
Whole point is, cover your back at all times and in all ways.

Covid test was Islamabad diagnostic center and results were in 24 hours.

It took us about 11 months.  They canceled  her visa interview just three days before it’s scheduled date. It was extremely frustrating getting that close.            
     The embassy in Romania is open, but
they are not conducting physical interviews since they shut down in March.
We had been emailing the embassy about once a month to see if they would set up an interview for her. Eventually they asked us if we wanted if we thought we needed an emergency interview.  I asked my attorney about this, and she expressed her doubt that we would get one. She explained what constitutes an emergency for an interview.
With nothing to loose, I emailed them requesting an emergency interview and answered their questions.  After a few days they emailed us back and said we had been approved for the emergency visa interview the very next week.  We couldn’t believe it!  We had been praying for someway to get the visa.  So she had the interview, got the visa, and I flew her and her parents out here. We’re getting married this Sunday.

Yes!    She made it!!!!      They went through Turkish airlines with no problem.   We are so happy.     
          
Thank you all for the advice and help.

So to recap over the past few months and not repeat old news here is how things progressed after the  second interview.  
 
We were trying to be patient sending inquiries here and there and got our local Senator and congressman involved.  Around December my company started freaking out over COVID  (My boss' brother is a medical research doctor who has been working with CDC and the whitehouse during the pandemic).  I originally had a trip planned in February but with the crack downs at my firm due to covid coming our way and tax season coming we decided to hold off our trip and file the WOM.  I had been researching it for a year or so and made the decision that any progress was some progress.  Here is a list of our updates just to see how much things slowed down and to deter from the myths of how many consecutive updates produces a visa:
 
10/23/18 Day of second interview       10/30/18 Ds5535 submitted       10/31/18           11/1/18           11/2/18           11/6/18           12/9/18           12/10/18 senator inquiry       12/27/18           1/17/19 senator inquiry       1/25/19           12-Feb self inquiry         2/21/19 senator inquiry       3/4/19 self inquiry         3/25/19 congressman inquiry       4/24/19 senator inquiry       5/19/19 self inquiry         6/3/19 senator inquiry       6/27/19 congressman inquiry       7/25/19           7/31/19 Senator Inquiry       9/11/19 congressman inquiry       9/30/19 Senator Inquiry       11/15/19 self inquiry         12/5/19 senator inquiry       3/9/20           3/10/20           3/11/20           6/30/20           7/20/20           7/23/20 embassy contacted regarding medical and appt   7/24/20 Embassy confirmed medical with AZIZ center   7/28/20 Completed medical Appointment     7/30/20           8/6/20  
 
Changed from refused to Administrative about an hour after his interview
8/6/20 Changed from Administrative Processing to Issued another 1 1/2 later  
 
We filed in February with an answer date of April due from the Department of State.   Unfortunately there was some sort of snafu in or case and the United States attorney was not notified in time so they moved the date to June 12th.  I wasn't really too upset since Covid there were many cases getting extended anyway.  Before June 12th they asked for a 60 day stay in which we accepted moving the date to answer to August 11th.
 
On July  23rd my husband was notified by the embassy to come in for oath and fingerprints on August 6th, update medical and get new passport photos.  No other documentation was requested.
 
He arrived to the appointment there was some confusion about the ds260 they thought it was not updated (even though I had updated it in December) once they figured that out the counselor officer then thought I was a green card holder.  Finally after working out all the kinks they asked him to wait while they print the visa and they can give him the passport.  
 
I don't know for sure if the filing the WOM guaranteed the visa..there is a possibility that they would have issued it anyway (i've seen others in long AP get issued visas lately) but there is a possibility that  not filing it we could still be waiting.
 
Either case I'm happy the outcome.
 
Thanks to everyone who has been following us all these years and sending encouragement!
 
 

I'm still trying to get over the fact he was given his visa at the appointment.  My husband had told me of a few other WOM cases that also received their visas the same day prior but I thought he was misunderstanding something.  I kept telling him it was not possible...lol
 

This makes me so happy.  Congrats!!!

Hey guys, the US embassy Islamabad just issued my husband's visa today after 2 years of being in AP.  

There was mention of a Skype wedding? Otherwise lack of relationship evidence is the usual reason.

K1 denials are very common in Pakistan, so don't worry about that.  They kept your passport, so they intend to give you the visa, as long as there are no issues in the background checks.  I have heard of someone getting their visa in 4 days, and then there are cases that take 1-2 years.  Try your best to be patient and live your life.  Inquire every couple of months, if it takes that long, so you are not forgotten.