Wajih Naqvi

Thank you for your response.

I believe the word "hostage" has rattled a few nerves.

Please discard this word when reading my previous message - and then respond

I would appreciate it if you were a little less sarcastic!

I have been looking out for an email from the embassy for the last 8 months! My holiday of going to the US last summer has been held hostage!

Can I please have serious people who want to help me thanks.

Hello everyone!

As you can see my journey to the US embassy from the above thread.

Quick overview of the situation:

I am a UK national - born and raised in the United Kingdom.

Due to religious pilgrimage I have attended Iraq a couple of times (2016 & 2017) - this pilgrimage is well documented in the media and therefore is easier to explain to the consular officer of the intentions for visiting Iraq. Due to these trips I am ineligible for an ESTA and I had to apply for a US visa at the embassy.

I initially went to the embassy in January 2017 with 2 of my cousins - we attended the interview together and were questioned together. Both of my cousins were students at the time but they had sufficient savings maintained in their bank accounts.

The consular officer refused all 3 of us on the basis that we would not return to our country (UK).

I once again applied on 13th April 2018 (this time I went alone), I believe the interview went well - I answered all questions asked with clarity and meaning.

The officer said I have not refused your application - however I would like to make a few queries as to why your initial visa was refused?

I was clearly told at the time that I would hear back within a week the latest.

I have now been waiting for 8 months!!.......I feel like I have been held hostage and whenever I have emailed the embassy, they never get back to me or if they do decide to answer one of 10 emails sent they will send an automated reply "your application is pending administrative processing" suggesting to me they haven't even looked at the case.

I contacted my local member of parliament - and the contacted the embassy. The embassy responded to my MP that my application is under review and no further documents are required.

This is my whole situation.

Can somebody relate to this and whether they have received a response??

P.S. I have my passport - I am waiting to hear back from the embassy.

Hello everyone!

As you can see my journey to the US embassy from the above thread.

Quick overview of the situation:

I am a UK national - born and raised in the United Kingdom.

Due to religious pilgrimage I have attended Iraq a couple of times (2016 & 2017) - this pilgrimage is well documented in the media and therefore is easier to explain to the consular officer of the intentions for visiting Iraq. Due to these trips I am ineligible for an ESTA and I had to apply for a US visa at the embassy.

I initially went to the embassy in January 2017 with 2 of my cousins - we attended the interview together and were questioned together. Both of my cousins were students at the time but they had sufficient savings maintained in their bank accounts.

The consular officer refused all 3 of us on the basis that we would not return to our country (UK).

I once again applied on 13th April 2018 (this time I went alone), I believe the interview went well - I answered all questions asked with clarity and meaning.

The officer said I have not refused your application - however I would like to make a few queries as to why your initial visa was refused?

I was clearly told at the time that I would hear back within a week the latest.

I have now been waiting for 8 months!!.......I feel like I have been held hostage and whenever I have emailed the embassy, they never get back to me or if they do decide to answer one of 10 emails sent they will send an automated reply "your application is pending administrative processing" suggesting to me they haven't even looked at the case.

I contacted my local member of parliament - and the contacted the embassy. The embassy responded to my MP that my application is under review and no further documents are required.

This is my whole situation.

Can somebody relate to this and whether they have received a response??

13 minutes ago, Sunnyland said:

IMO this AP can take a few months at least. They are gonna double and triple check many things, trips to Iraq, previous visa denials, etc. 

Thank you for your advice - hopefully the checks are all clear.

I have a professional job with a good salary therefore - I have made my employers aware of the situation in case they are contacted.

Thats all I can do from my end.

All this effort for a 7 day trip to New York.

26 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Or alternatively, his countless friends who have been though the same process presumably have a much better idea of how long his AP will take than anyone here... not entirely sure why he asked us rather than them? ....that said, he only offered this information up after being asked about seeming inconsistencies, and implied it wasn’t this but the previous refusal.... on that subject, I always get sceptical when someone says “nerves” led to visa denial, however he offered no more information on that and presumably he would know what the consequences are if there was actually misrepresentation in that visa application. 

 

To others reading this thread and wondering about their own situations: when you post your own thread, it really helps if you give all relevant info upfront. It’s hard to give a sensible response when critical factors are not provided.

 

Im sorry to make anyone feel as if I am taking the mick. I honestly wanted to know your advice thats all as I have never been in an administrative process before. I have friends who have been granted visa's but everyone has their own experience - once again I apologise for any inconveniance.

3 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Ah - that’s probably the same reason you’re on AP. 

Yes - I have countless of friends who have been to Iraq and have been granted Visa for the US.

The consular can gauge what the intention of the trip to Iraq is - In my case I go over for religious pilgrimage which takes place once a year for a week. 

The consular's are fully aware of the even which is the 2nd largest peaceful gathering in the world.

11 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

So why not use VWP? ( I realize you can’t now because of previous visa refusal but why not then either?)

Because I have been to Iraq since once since 2011 - therefore I am not eligible for WVP.  

2 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

AP length depends on the particulars of your case. From what you’ve said, the reasons for your prior refusal and possibly your country of origin (assuming not UK born due to visa applications) may be affecting this. AP can take days or weeks or months. Hard for anyone here to say with any certainty how long yours will be.however if he said a couple of days and it’s been a couple of weeks, certainly no harm to contact the embassy and ask them about any progress on your application, though you may just get a standard response. 

I am a British National - Born and bred in UK. 

Can someone please answer my question!

I went to apply for a US tourist visa on 13th April 2018 in London. I gave the interview and to be fair I believed it was a great interview - The consular said "Right I am not refusing your case - however we have some further questions regarding last time (I have applied for a tourist visa before as a group - however we didn't answer properly because of nerves so we were refused).

I was told it will take a couple of days for the embassy to contact me - however I have been waiting since 13th April under administrative processing.

Can somebody advice what happens in this case scenario, - by the way the consular did not mention my application was approved he said that he was satisfied with my answers and wanted to do ask further questions about last refusal?

Please get back to me.