Pig&Monkey

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone is still in AP after the interview for about 10-11 months..

It definitely tests our relationship! But we've been together for over 6 years now:) Besides my fiance's advanced science background, we couldn't really think of any other reasons, like any red flags. I think we're a rather straightforward case, like our ages are about 2 yrs apart and we both share the same languages and cultural backgrounds. So we think they put my fiance in AP because of his graduate degree in Material Science and Engineering. My fiance had his interview in Guangzhou, China. After my interview, the CO said it shouldn't take very long, about 3 wks. But now look at us haha. I sincerely hope both of us will get some updates and hear great news! Sadly I don't think we've had any updates since we emailed my fiance's detailed resume:(

Hey Jovy&Jerry!

We're in a similar situation. My fiance and I have been stuck in AP, since we submitted my fiance's detailed resume on 1/29/19. His interview was on 1/24/19, and we even prepared a resume due to his advanced science/engineering background for the interview. The CO took the resume and then the consulate asked us to email a detailed one on 1/29/19. So now we have been in AP for about 9 months now, with an expired police certificate and medical... I have contacted my senators and congressman as well. My congressman did note the DOS prefers they contact them in 3-month increments, so my congressman will try contacting the DOS again in early-mid Dec. We are beyond frustrated with this uncertainty, but what can we do but wait:(

Thanks for the info Randy!

Hey guys (especially Darnell),

I was finally able to get through to a Tier 2 officer. She said the last note for my case at the USCIS was that it was approved in Oct 2018 and subsequently sent to the NVC. But she will submit an inquiry to the California Service Center, since they are the last place to work on my case. She was also unable to tell me the casefile location, current review status and codified reference #. Is this because the USCIS doesn't have my case, so then the case was not actually returned? I also wonder if the NVC either made an error, or it accidently told me that my case has been collecting dust at the consulate until 5/31/19 and is only now being reviewed for further background checks?

Hey all,

Does anyone know any attorneys I can try contacting regarding complex K-1 cases like mine? Mark Ellis just emailed me that he's retired and suggested that Leda Fan in Louisiana may know someone who may be able to help me. Has anyone worked with her before? I also saw a recommendation for Allan S Lolly on Candle for Love. Does anyone have any other recommendations, so I can consider my options. Thanks!  

Oh thanks so much Darnell; that's very helpful! I'm going to try tonight!

So USCIS would have all this info? If I ask a Tier 2 to look up the casefile location and codified reference #, the officer should tell me this info?

Thanks for the support Pitaya! We keep hoping everyday this will all be resolved relatively soon haha. If not fast, we hope at least it'll be good news!

Thanks again Randy; the reassurance definitely helps!

Some more background info: My fiance's research areas are diamond/copper copposites (basically making materials better at releasing heat). He is a recent PhD graduate and has no work history aside from labwork in school. He has been traveling to/from the US multiples times/yr since 2014 for tourism and conferences, but he's never been questioned and interviewed for any of his visas (incl the 10-yr tourism visa). All his family (mother, father, 1 older brother and 1 younger sister) have never traveled outside of China. What would they look for related to his family?

I also emailed Marc Ellis. I think his site was last updated in 2011, and I remember reading someone mentioned they couldn't get ahold of him. So fingers crossed that he responds to my email. I'll also try calling him next wk.

Thanks for the info Randy! I know you've been a big help on here and Candle for Love. We understand this processing can take a very long time. Though I have seen others in TAL fields who've been approved in 1.5-2 months after submitting their resumes, we understand every case is different. But since we received that conflicting info from NVC about a possible case return to USCIS, we are very worried this means a denial. Would someone even notify us by now if we were denied? We have thought about withdrawing our K-1 and filing a CR-1 instead, but if we don't know why we were denied, we wouldn't be able to overcome it even if we file again. All I can think of now is that I'm going to try calling USCIS to see if I can find out anymore on Mon. We just feel very defeated.

Hi all,

I've been a long term reader of this very helpful and supportive site! As I've been reading so long, I'd like to share and ask if anyone is going through a similar situation as my fiance and me.

1) My fiance had his interview in Guangzhou on 2019-01-24. The interview was ~10 min, and the CO did ask about his PhD in Materials Science & Eng and also kept the resume my fiance brought. None of the instructions asked to bring a resume, but we wanted to be very prepared as my fiance is in a TAL field. Atfer the interview, the CO gave my fiance the blue slip with only "Administrative Processing" marked and informed him there were no problems and the processing would take ~3 wks. 

2) On 2019-01-28, we received a follow-up instructions email from the consulate with a Word doc attached named "SAO-M" (we presume SAO indicates Security Advisory Opinion-Mantis"??). When we opened the doc, the header was "Administrative Processing". The doc asked for my fiance's detailed resume in both English and Chinese (format resembled the DS-5535). And on 2019-01-29, we emailed the resume as instructed by the consulate, and we have been waiting every since..

3) We have emailed the consulate multiple times. I have called and emailed both my senators and my congressman. My congressman has been very helpful in contacting the consulate and then the DOS (Bureau of Consular Affairs). But each time, we still receive the same AP comment. I did call NVC last Fri, and received conflicting responses: 1st response said a note had been placed into the system stating the case has been returned to the USCIS on 2019-05-31. When I called again to confirm, the 2nd response said there was no such note. One of my senator's office did say the consulate will often return cases for further background checks.

Right now, we are just very confused and frustrated. Any tips would be much appreciated; thanks!