JennaL

Receiving a 221g is not "normal" administrative processing. It indicates they are doing further background checks than they would normally do otherwise. There's really no way to find out what the hold up is, or when they might be ready to issue the visa. My fiancé received the 221g at his interview in September 2018 and we have had no updates since. I would guess in your case, it may have something to do with your previous marriage. I wouldn't stress about it, many are receiving 221g's right now. It will just take some extra time, but the visa should eventually be issued.

2 hours ago, G502 said:

I called NVC to check my case status and was told I am on AP. I am so worried this will take months of waiting. For the people that were on AP at NVC stage how long was the wait, week? Months?

Generally AP isn’t too long at this stage. Mine was in AP for a couple of weeks when it arrived at NVC back in July. They usually wait until they have collected a certain number of applications before forwarding them all to their respective embassies. I wouldn’t be too concerned about it. 

52 minutes ago, YecaCruz said:

Uffdah! Heck we were long distance for 5 years from when we met until filing the K1 and if that don't show that we were serious then what would!

@YecaCruz, Uffdah, it's good to see another North Dakotan on here  

1 hour ago, Ron12345 said:

The Ban does not apply to dual nationals. Did your fiance complete military service in Iran? 

 

I would take the following steps:

1. Consult with lawyer 

2. Wait 6 months post interview and consider possible legal action as discussed with said lawyer

Right, it supposedly does not apply to dual nationals, but through these efforts, we are trying to effect change in how people associated with the MENA region in general are processed when attempting to enter the US to be with their American spouses and fiancés.

It should not take multiple years for someone like my fiancé to attempt to receive a visa to join me here or simply visit the US, especially when he has already been thouroughly vetted like everyone else.

My fiancé was able to visit the US freely back in 2012 using only his Norwegian passport, no visa required. He is no longer able to do that, so clearly something has changed in the past two years since applying.

By encouraging this ban to be overturned, we are hopeful that the current process for MENA area citizens will not be so abhorently difficult, especially as it relates to those simply waiting to be reunited with their American fiancés, spouses, and immediate family members, whether caused by the current ban or not.

May I ask what your personal experience has been with this ban? Thank you for the comments.

Attempting to effect change may not always have the results we hope for but it’s always worth a try, right? 

Just wanted to mention I just uploaded my video to https://app.in-it.com/missions/StopTheBan - it was very easy to do and only takes a couple of minutes of your time.

If each one of us affected by the ban here on VJ would take the time to contribute a short video, in-it would be able to reach their goal and use our experiences to make a difference and hopefully allow us all to be reunited with our loved ones sooner rather than later. 

Happy recording! 

1 hour ago, Béchameloo said:

Hello all,

 

I'm a Palestinian  and the beneficiary of a K-1 visa me and my fiancée are filling all its paperwork at the moment, and we hit small obstacles. I tried calling my local consulate and embassy, but no one picks up the phone, I'm suspecting because of the recent government shutdown? And there really isn't enough resources about Palestinians applying to similar Visas on the web. so hopefully I'll find what I need here.

 

First of all, since Palestine isn't really recognized as a state by the US government, I can't be using the word Palestine or Palestinian in my paperwork, and I do not have any other nationality so i'm not sure what to use there. Second of all. my addresses and mailing addresses... etc. do they need to be specific? Because here in Palestine we do not have all our streets and houses numbered and categorized..etc so i cannot be as specific and someone else, so is that an issue?

 

Thirdly, the I-134 Form (Affidavit of Support), do we submit that with the first paperwork or do I submit that to my embassy after getting approved by the USCIS? Lastly, the meeting circumstance, do we both need to write one or is just one letter by both of us enough?

 

Thank you so much! I hope I can find help here and thank you all!

As far as the I-134, the USC should fill that out and send it to the beneficiary to bring to the embassy interview, which won't be several months from now.

For the "How We Met" explanation, just one of you can write that up. Just remember that for the Letters of Intent to Marry, you will each need a separate letter with your own individual signature.

On ‎1‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 10:25 PM, SoDa9084 said:

Hello all, Just recently saw an update on ceac website from “in transit” to “ready” with the following statement “Your case is ready for your interview when scheduled at the U.S. Consular section. If you have already scheduled an appointment for an interview, please prepare your documents as directed in your appointment letter and appear at the consulate on the appointed date and time. Otherwise, please wait until you have been notified of your interview appointment. Additional information about how Immigrant Visa interview appointments are scheduled can be found at: http://nvc.state.gov/interview”.  

 

What’s next after this online status update? We haven’t receive any information directing us to do anything as yet, as far as completing ds 160, medical, fees, and setting up an interview.   Btw, fiancé is from Saudi Arabia.. should we wait for further notice from the embassy there or can we proceed with the ds160, etc?

US embassies around the globe generally have slightly different processes depending on which embassy you are going through. But usually, the "ready" means the embassy has your file and you are now allowed to log on to their website, fill out the DS 160, and select an available appointment slot. While you are waiting, this is the time to get the medical completed as well so the results will be available on the day of the interview. The "ready" status change usually serves as notice from the embassy to go ahead with the above next steps, and they probably will not be contacting you in any other way outside of the status update. If you haven't already, you can do a search here on VJ for the Saudi Arabia specific thread for more specific details. Good luck!

Not knowing this information is fine - just fill in his first and last name. For the rest of the information on him, just write "unknown."

The important part is to fill in the boxes with at least something, just so it doesn't look like you accidentally missed a question.

https://app.in-it.com/missions/StopTheBan

This could be a helpful link for US citizens looking to get their stories heard about their struggles to get their banned spouses or fiancés here to the states. 

It looks like they want to hear from anyone affected by the travel ban, stuck in administrative processsing or waiting on waiver info. 

1 minute ago, dwheels76 said:

Let me get this straight,

1. the beneficiary filed for visitor visa to come to US 2 years ago and has been in AP since.

2. September 2018 beneficiary had K1 interview and is in AP since

3. Now you say you were called in for 2nd interview. Well that would be for the K1. 

 

Make sure he has proof of his residency in Norway when he goes (Resident card, whatever you have in that country to prove he is a legal resident).

 

All he can do is go and see what's up.

I

Thanks for the response - yes, you are correct, but his visitor's visa interview was done at the embassy in Oslo, Norway. Our fiancé visa interview was done in Stockholm, Sweden, as the embassy in Norway does not handle fiancé visas.

The Oslo embassy is the office that is asking him back for a second interview regarding his visitor's visa.

I guess we'll just wait and hope it's good news.

When my fiancé and I were first dating, he applied for a tourist visa to come and visit me in the US. He is a Norwegian citizen but born in Iran, so was told he would need to undergo additional background checks and has been in AP ever since the interview two years ago.

The other day, he received an email from the embassy requesting him to come back for a second interview.

We were pretty surprised as we had moved on to AP for our fiancé visa and had pretty much given up hope on the visitor visa.

We are not sure what to expect at this second interview, but guessing he needs to bring updated proof of his intent to return back to Norway in the event they are ready to grant him a visa - does anyone have any insight as to why they would call him back to the embassy after this long?

26 minutes ago, NearEthereal said:

I meant this more as a resource for people who have received a 221g for Additional administrative processing, or have been in Administrative processing longer than the 90% and are getting nervous. It helps to keep us all together, and supportive, and may assist new people searching for this info. On the other hand..it appears I cannot edit the first post after x amount of time...so much for master list 😕 I wonder if that can be overridden.

My fiancé is not from the UK, but he also received the 221g three months ago - we're still waiting in AP. We have been following a similar spread sheet in a thread from his area. It definitely helps to be able to keep updated on others in the same boat as us. Good luck and I hope your fiancé's visa is issued soon!

6 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? 

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.

Wow, @bashar26, thank you so much for sharing this. These types of personal stories need to get told more often. I feel like so many here in the US have no idea just how far reaching and extreme the effects of this ban have become on US citizens and their far away fiancés and spouses. 

1. Visa class:  k1 

2. Country : Norway (originally from Iran) 

3. Interview: September 20, 2018 

4:DS 5535: September 20, 2018 

5: USC/Beneficiary: USC

6: Total Time since interview: 2.5 months

2 hours ago, NJ515 said:

JennaL, I thought dual citizens are supposed to get an exception to the travel ban? When I read it the language indicates that no waiver is necessary for dual citizens.  What did you experience?

Right, he is not banned so does not get a waiver, however, as he has a connection to a banned country by being born in one, he requires extra vetting which is what the 221g is for.

Also, the last time he was here in the US was in 2014. Back then, he did not need a visa, just his Norwegian passport. Two years ago he was planning a trip to visit me here in the US and found out the rules had changed and he would need to apply for a visa since his Norwegian passport lists his birthplace as Iran. We never have heard anything from the embassy in the past two years and his visitors visa has been in AP since then as well.

I'm beginning to become a little suspicious of any "exceptions" like being a dual citizen, etc. It seems if you have any connection at all to a banned country, you are indefinitely on hold from entering the US.

Hopefully there is an end in sight and fiances and spouses will soon be allowed to be reunited with their loved ones in the US  

Today is considered National Day of Mourning (President Bush's funeral), so many government offices and agencies are closed today.

9 hours ago, JessM28 said:

Thanks so much @JennaL for your response! I am sorry to hear that you are in the same boat- but I appreciate you sharing your story and that of your sister. I totally plan on speaking about the frustrations of going through so much processing and waiting and not really seeing anyone get through. When I introduced the idea to the podcast host he was shocked to hear that people could be separated from their families for so long. I will let you know when the podcast is complete and maybe you can share with others. My goal is to get the message out there to as many people as possible so hopefully more people press Congress for changes to this situation! 

Yes, definitely let me know when the podcast is out - I’ll be happy to share it.

19 hours ago, JessM28 said:

Hi All,

  I found a new podcast- They tried to Bury Us- and the guy who is putting it together is interviewing immigrants. I contacted him and asked if he would do people in the process of immigrating. He said yes and I told him about my husband trying to come to the USA. I told him that I thought it would be great to highlight what is happening to families as a result of the travel ban. He is interested and we are trying to set up a time to do the podcast. I wanted to see if you all had any thoughts on specific things I should include. I plan on talking about how the Department of State is not giving statistics and clarification of the process. Thanks for your time and consideration in this matter. I am hoping that the more we can make people aware of the travel ban and its impact the better. 

-Jess

@JessM28, I think this is a great idea. My fiancé is a Norwegian citizen but born in Iran. Under the travel ban, he is not technically banned, but instead now singled out for additional vetting. There is no timeline and I've heard of others in the same situation that have been waiting upwards of a year now, so it actually does feel like a ban to us. My sister is also married to an Iranian refugee. They have been waiting in Turkey for his paperwork to go through for two years now. Everything was sailing along until the ban became effective and since then their process has completely stopped, with no news or direction on what will happen to them next. They have actually been featured on some podcasts and the local news in our hometown did a great interview this summer with my parents talking about the frustrations of not knowing when their daughter will be able to bring her husband home. It's so disheartening to know that our spouses/fiances have been vetted backwards and forwards just like everyone else and then some, and are still not able to enter the US because of this new ban. I think anything you can do to highlight the fact that this is happening to people who have a legitimate reason to come to the US is helpful. Especially the lack of transparency and information from the DOS that we keep running into time and time again. I would love to help in any way possible.  

58 minutes ago, MrTD said:

Hello I filed a K1 visa Feb 22 2017, interview on October 2017 in Dominican republic. We were told that my Fiancée required additional documents (Certificate of Juzgado de la Instrucción del Distrito Judicial del Distrito Nacional - general system query). We've went to a lawyer there and received the document and sent it. It's been several months now with no status update. First what exactly is this document and what other steps should I take?

Did you receive a letter (221g) listing the additional documents they wanted? Since you've given them what they asked for, all you can really do is keep waiting. Although since it's been several months, I'd give them a call or email to be sure they aren't waiting for you to send anything else in order to move your case along.

4 hours ago, Cm3957 said:

My fiancé who is an Iranian had her interview in madrid yesterday, she is studying there for the past two years under a student visa (medical field). She went into the interview and the office did not review her file before the interview. The office was surprised she only had a Iranian passport and not a spainish passport also. No where on the multiple paperwork filed did we say anything about a spainish passport. 

 

When my fiancé told her that she only had a Iranian passport she closed the folder on her desk and began to apologize about not being able to do anything. She only asked her brief and simple questions about us and then went to go speak to her supervisor for ten mins about what to do. The officer told her she needs to look into a cr1 visa and start the process over because it’s easier to get a waiver. She said no Iranian k1 visa waiver has been approved since 2016 (not sure if she was talking about the madrid embassy alone). She also mentioned the undo hardship in our case would be for the u.s citizen (me)  and not her.

 

The officer told her she will help out the best she can and get started on a wavier but issued her a 221g request for more information which includes 

-email addresses used 

-travel history for the past 15 years

-handles for all social media 

-cv resume

-prior passport numbers

-past jobs

-past phone numbers

-letter from sponsor 

 

My fiancé is from Iran also, although he's been a citizen of a European country now for most of his adult life. He had his embassy interview about two months ago and was also given the 221g. We've been waiting since then in AP, although I know there are many others on here in the same situation who have been waiting much longer. It's definitely a frustrating situation to say the least.

On ‎10‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 12:37 AM, Le212 said:

Hey guys, husband replied to his ds5535 form on Oct 27,2018. I made a simple error on the travel date/length of travel on the form. How accurate does the travel dates it have to be? He went to Barcelona for leisure for 4 days but I put 3. Should I resend it? Should I call them and tell them I made a mistake? I don’t think it’s a big deal but I really don’t know what they will say. 

 

AP since interview, on Oct 19, 2018. Sent in one additional document on Oct 20, 2018. No red flags in relationship and started consular processing on July 12, 2017. 

@Le212I wouldn't worry about it - my fiancé filled out the same form and we had to do some guessing as he's traveled quite a bit in the past 15 years and couldn't remember the exact length of stays for a lot of his older trips.

3 minutes ago, Zean said:

After reading a mildly confusing thread here on visajourney from April, and giving it a few months time, has anyone had any experience still sending in g-325a forms with their I-129f forms or not sending them in and still getting accepted?(: thank you! I’m just not sure still if they’re no longer required. But thank you for your feedback if you reply! 

They are no longer required. I filed for a fiancé visa back in December 2017 and was approved this past July - we did not include that form.  All of the info from the g-325a is already included on the I-129 you fill out.

I'll jump in with my story.  My fiancé has been a Norwegian citizen for most of his adult life, however, he was born in Iran, which is what has been holding our case up.

In December 2016, he applied for a visitors visa to come and see me in the US and it has been in AP since then - no updates on the website since that day almost two years ago.  I contacted my senators who have made inquiries for me many times, but have never found out anymore information that I have on my own.

We decided to go ahead with the fiancé visa in the meantime and everything went smoothly until the interview.  My fiancé was placed in AP immediately and given a 221g with the supplemental questions to fill out.  This was barely one month ago and we've had no status updates. Hoping this doesn't continue on for another two years like the visitor's visa.

So very frustrating and hard to see other people from other countries being approved on the spot and being allowed to begin their lives with their spouse/fiancé right away.

I'm thinking of you all and hoping and praying we all are granted the opportunity to be with our loved ones soon.

16 hours ago, Amy & John said:

how long so far have you been in AP? I was under the impression everyone goes through this after the interview but times differ obviously some for a day and some for months?

@Amy & John, technically everyone does undergo AP, usually just for a few days maybe a couple of weeks while waiting for visas to be added to passports, or if the officer asks for additional documents after the interview. In my case though, we have been put in a slightly different type of AP based on the fact that my fiancé was born in one of the banned countries. Even though he has been a citizen of Norway for most of his adult life, because he has a connection to a not so "friendly" country, he needs enhanced vetting and background checks. This is pretty standard for those with ties to certain middle eastern countries or countries with high rates of visa fraud, and there is no estimate as to how long the extra process will take. It looks like you are dealing with Australia though, so most likely you and your fiancé will be fine.