A Mo and L ma

We already got the visa last December. The case was in administrative processing for about a month month if I remember correctly (check my timeline just to be sure ). All you can do is wait unfortunately….. but if you have a US citizen in your family, I suggest they reach out to their local congressman to contact the embassy on your behalf. In my case, it helped speed up the process I believe.

I know how much these ‘good news’ updates help others as they helped me, so here we go! We have been in AP for 3 months, since my husbands interview in August, after being given a DS5355. Last Thursday, we were asked to submit his passport! CEAC still said ‘refused’, but on Sunday, it changed from ‘refused’ to ‘administrative processing’. Today, it changed from AP to ‘issued’ and we were notified his visa will soon be available for pickup! It has been a long journey guys! For those of you still in AP, especially those in or from arab/Muslim countries, have patience, and know that the wait will come to an end! 
I will give you a word of advice: inquire often, if possible get your congressman involved, and try to push through every obstacle when possible. This included trying to get an expedite in whatever way possible (regardless of who tells you it’s difficult), and make every desperate attempt to get the dang thing finished! It does take patience and perseverance but in the end so worth it!! Good luck guys! 

On 11/14/2020 at 7:56 PM, NilsaNAnil said:

Hello everyone, my husband’s status was updated from “refused” to Administrative Processing... do you think his visa will be issued soon?

I think it’s a great sign. Stay positive and keep us updated.) 

14 hours ago, Jacob18 said:

Okay well idk why I'm referring to another person. I'm dating him and I would marry him for love. Its just he wouldn't be willing to risk not seeing his family for 10 years. That would ruin his life he loves his family. Thats why I'm trying to find a way to go around the ban but it seems like the only chance is get married and apply for a waiver for the 10 year ban but I dont think he would even risk trying.

Everyone uses the “asking for a friend” tactic. Why exactly? Lol 

12 minutes ago, BS.BT said:

When did you send the DS-5535 form ! 

I sent it end of august..

6 minutes ago, BS.BT said:

Yes this is for male. I have traveled to Turkey twice to meet my wife over there. It was short trips. We have no age gap at all. We are both in our 20’s.

Ahh. Ok. Good to know.

This is just a guess, could be wrong. But the travel to Turkey could have been a red flag. Turkey is one of those countries “on the list”.

23 minutes ago, BS.BT said:

Hello, I had My interview  on late August. my interview was approved. But according to the consular officer the DS-5535 was needed. they told me the form will be sent to Washington DC for a review.

Since then, I did  not seen any status or date update on CEAC website. It's been exactly 55 days passed since the interview.  

 

 

Can you give us some more details: is this for a male or female? Travel history? Big age difference between you and spouse? Prior marriages? Trying to find any correlations 

1 minute ago, Skull78000 said:

Yepp but i hope the men that got same day same week issued i get lucky like that .. keep me in your prayers 😭😪

Inshallah you will be fine. Don’t worry. Going into long AP is common, but it’s more common NOT to go into extensive AP. I’m sure you’ll be fine. Don’t read the horror stories on here... it’s not the norm at all.

2 hours ago, Skull78000 said:

Oh mine is Islamabad. But middle east embassies are mostly the same lol .

Yes. They consider them all ‘high risk’ haha. Not the best situation 😕

15 minutes ago, Skull78000 said:

By the way your case is in Islamabad too right ? Pakistan Islamabad ?

Abu Dhabi Embassy

3 minutes ago, Skull78000 said:

 

I don’t know anyone by that name. But I assume there are a lot less Hamzas in the Muslim world than Ahmed’s or Mohamed’s or Hussein’s, so I would assume it would be less likely to have a name check ‘hit’ 

1 minute ago, Skull78000 said:

How about like Hamza  Rafaqat or Like Hassan Ahmed

So what would you say on the men that got say day issued ? Why and what was that and no i m still waiting for my interview👌

Same day issue. Perhaps they had no travel history. Perhaps no name popped up that had the same date of birth or similar date of birth. Many reasons...perhaps they are not Muslim lol.

22 minutes ago, A Mo and L ma said:

There are wayyyy more men in that database than woman haha. Plus women are not as scrutinized as men. 

More men are in it because more men are categorized into being associated with national security issues than women are. You don’t see the leader of terrorist organizations as women.  Also, more men are likely to be involved in fraudulent cases than women. This is just fact. Many Indian, Pakistani, Arab men marrying women, sometimes a lot older than them, just to get a green card and then perhaps leave them after they get citizenship. Not the same for women due to culture. No Arab Muslim woman is going to marry a non Muslim man just for a visa especially if she has never had a relationship with a man ever before in here life. I assume same for Pakistani and Indian culture as well because I know they are strict on these issues as well. This is just middle eastern culture. ... well, I won’t say never, but it’s extremely unlikely and if it’s happened I can guarantee her family doesn’t know about it lol

3 minutes ago, Skull78000 said:

Not always to be honest   . What embassy are you in ? Islamabad right

And i've heard if your case is straight than you wont face ap 😭👌

Not true at all. But you are free to do your own research. My husbands case was straight 100%. Again, as I said before, he was approved. Every one gets a security check... but if there is a ‘hit’ as I’ve said multiple times, it leads to extra processing. If your name is Mohamed Ahmed or Ahmed Mohamed or Hussein Mohamed, there are so many. They are to check each other then to make sure it’s not the same person. That’s according to my senator

7 minutes ago, Skull78000 said:

Not always to be honest   . What embassy are you in ? Islamabad right

And i've heard if your case is straight than you wont face ap 😭👌

I assume your case wasn’t straight then you think so you got AP? Lol

7 minutes ago, Skull78000 said:

Yeah but my sister in law had the most famous name lmao but she got issued second day.

There are wayyyy more men in that database than woman haha. Plus women are not as scrutinized as men. 

5 hours ago, Skull78000 said:

But you had travel history so maybe thats why

Yes.  Names can also trigger it though. If there is a ‘hit’ for a name in the database 

1 hour ago, Skull78000 said:

Right. I've always heard with males its a wait with males it a wait. But mostly males with waits are the ones with travel history, pervious wedding, and sooooo weird but if they have kids than they make the process longer too.. and not having a proper wedding Couldd not always but could be a reason too for ap ..  and on the bright side i didnt really seen any males in a long ap who didnt have any one of above sitatuions. 

We had a wedding, no prior marriages...it was weird to us too that he got put in AP. But it wasn’t the bona fide marriage that was an issue... it’s purely for security/background check 

30 minutes ago, Skull78000 said:

So if u have none of the forms but my husbands name like you said has a hit or triggers an sao . Than how long would it take for the visa ?

From what I have read, most cases are completed within 60 days. The rest are completed within 120 days. Then you have that 1% that for whatever reason takes MONTHS or even years...no said time for anyone. But it seems to be that the more travel history or being from a certain country, the longer the process.

29 minutes ago, Skull78000 said:

If a male applicant has a good interview done with no form being given to him . And as well as no form emailed . Is that good or are there chances of ap still ? 

My husband had a great interview. He was told he was approved. They took his passport and  No form was given.

later that day, he received an email with the DS 5535. A couple days later, he was told to pick up his passport with a 221g form. 
 

after the interview, routine administrative processing is done by the final officer to do a name search. This usually is resolved quickly and the visa is issued in a few days. If the name has a ‘hit’, it triggers an SAO for further review before a visa can be issued. Or, the adjudicating officer saw something that he or she decided needed further review

33 minutes ago, Sh- said:

Hi, I’m Egyptian and I lived in the gulf area, I have went through this situation (AP) and it took 100 days until I got my visa. 3-2020 There is nothing you can do but wait and pray....

🙏

Thank you for your response! This makes me hopeful. Which gulf country are you in? And what is your travel history? Also what type of visa..

27 minutes ago, minie07 said:

 

 

May I know the beneficiary Country? 

Egypt

20 hours ago, minie07 said:

Hello, My husband had his interview (Tunisia ) on late August. His interview was approved. But according to the consular officer the DS-5535 was needed to issue his visa. He was given 221g sheet and asked to fill out DS-5535 Supplemental Questions as soon as possible. He was told that the form will be sent to Washington DC for a review. We got the DS5535 form on the same day of his interview (appx. after 2 hours). We filled out and send back to them on same day. After sending the form, we sent an email to confirm that they received and send the form to Department of State. We got confirmation email on next day of interview that they received the form and sent to Department of State. He was told that his case now is under Administrative Processing. 

Since then, we have not seen any status or date update on CEAC website. It's been exactly 40 days passed since the interview. I was wondering if anyone been through same process before? I know the process does not have a fix time and it varies US consulate.

My question is, will that be helpful to involve my local congressman or senator in this situation? What rights do we have in order to get an update in our case status?

 

Thank you

We are in the same position:( it’s been one month. Congressman can’t help expedite it or anything but usually they can get more detailed responses than a generic one you would get. Especially for those who have direct, previously worked-with ‘contacts’ at that embassy (as mine does).

All you can do is wait....:( and check for updates to see if your case is at least being worked on. 
 

If it takes ‘too long’ you can file a writ of mandamus against the deciding agencies but it’s costly and not guaranteed to do anything...

17 minutes ago, payxibka said:

You need to read more.  The temporary order has been removed 

Just saw this. Thanks 

12 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

The OP is in Tennessee (where i live) and to AOS in Tn section 8 housing plus the household getting food stamps will be public charge (family issue as the whole family benefits)

I still volunteer in this state with families of handicapped children as i am a PT and i know what social services tells families This state does allow food allowance programs for children called CACFP(school year) and SFSP (summer program) and even though federally funded they are not considered public assistance / they fall under nutritional programs /  and the state now allows free wifi to familes since the covid makes them study at home.

 

this is from the TN site concerning the recent public assistance rule in Tennessee

https://www.tnjustice.org/publiccharge/

 

A new rule was proposed that would add participation in the following public programs as a factor:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, “EBT”, or “food stamps”)
• Federal Public Housing and Section 8 assistance
• Medicaid (except emergencies, children under 21 years, pregnant women, and new mothers)

From what I read, the public charge rule was suspended due to COVID. This was due to the loss of jobs by immigrants, and then being scared to use public benefits for risk of deportation. 

God people can be so unhelpful and just negative. He asked for a straight answer... yes or no.

NO, you receiving benefits or your son receiving public benefits will not affect her. She cannot receive anything under her name.

I know this was experience: I am sponsoring my husband (With my mother as a co-sponsor as my income was low at the time), and I received food stamps for 6 months... 

I specifically Talked with DHS at the time and they told me it did not affect my husband as they were not under his name and they were only giving us amounts for Me and my daughter.

 
Hope this is helpful:) 
 

I will saw one more thing: they can question your ability to support her, but if you have a co-sponsor it should be fine. I will say co-sponsor should be a family member or someone close to you because they are cracking down on co-sponsor fraud and prefer a co-sponsor to be a relative...that’s what I was told by an immigration lawyer.