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.

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.

Hello all. Really bummed because my husband has been on AP now for a month. No reason really? He is from Egypt, we live in Abu Dhabi now as a family with our daughter and he previously worked in Saudi Arabia. They said he was approved after his interview but then of course he got the email to fill out the DS 5355. His passport was returned 3 days later at the post without stamps and With a 221g slip..
I am seeing these cases taking anywhere from a few weeks to YEARS. Anyone with experience in Middle East: specifically UAE or Saudi Arabia or Egypt? And can anyone tell me if getting this case expedited again USCIS AND NVC might have caused this? Perhaps didn’t give them a chance to even do a background check in the first place for a CR1?
 
thanks..

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! 

All you can do is wait..you will continue to get the same generic response until it’s actually completed,  because there is NO way to expedite the process. 
we are in the same situation now...In contact with a senator and everything as well. They can’t do anything except for make inquiries that usually get them a little more detail on the process. Worst case is if you wait more than 6 months you can file a lawsuit against the agencies through an attorney called a Writ Of Mandamus to POSSIBLY help speed up the process (not guaranteed and very costly).
Even though you think that since your wife is a female or hasn’t traveled she won’t get one and just has a right to get one without any question. the US checks all their P’s and Q’s for anyone. The reason they ask for her relatives Names is also to do checks on them because in the future she will also be able to sponsor them to come to the US. Her brothers, father, etc...
Regardless of her getting a DS 5355 she still has to undergo a security check/back ground check like every other man and woman in every other country. Some places just take longer or DS 5355S are issued as an excuse just to give them more time to do more research on Arabs or Muslims or people who have traveled to or lived in predominantly Muslim countries...OR they want to do more research to ensure the authenticity of the marriage as some countries like Pakistan, India, Arab countries have HIGH rates of fraud (even if the age is close, religion is the same, family knows, they still want to make sure).
 
Since she is a female and hasn’t traveled, based on my research it should not take long. My estimate is less than 6 months. Possibly a lot less would say a few weeks but according to my senator COVID has slowed down the process for background checks as well, and any consulate in Pakistan or India doesn’t help either as they are backlogged with cases because they get thousands of applicants every year With many put on AP. But in the end, it’s all up to the CO. Just keep checking your CEAC and check for updates... this will help you to see if things are speeding along..Before you know it you’ll see her visa issued:)
 
this is my feedback after also researching obsessively day and night since my husband got put on AP..

My husband got it too last month:( it really puts things on hold for families. I wish there was at least a way to track the exact progress or at least have some sort of time frame. I am seeing some cases especially from the Middle East take literally YEARS. How can that even be allowed ..

Plausible deniability

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

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

Yes, I have contacted a lawyer to discuss a writ if mandamus if it does end up taking that long. I am hoping it doesn’t! I do have a very helpful congressman that helped me with my case as a whole so hoping I won’t have to get to the point of spending thousands on filing any sort of lawsuit against the involved agencies:( Thank you and you as well. I will keep you updated! Please update your timeline when you find out more on your case as well and I’ll keep up with yours!:) 

What was her interview date?
 
also can you update your timeline. Helps not only me out but many if us out these days

Still in AP still saying “refused”. I am convinced at this point that these embassies have quotas to meet for the DOS as an entity or something for these DS 5355 forms because people who really shouldn’t be getting them are anyways simply because they are from a predominantly Muslim country  it doesn’t make sense for women to get them... unless she has like a specific type of degree or work experience that they look into anyways if it’s a ‘red flag’ to them. But a house wife no... doesn’t make sense.

My husband got it too last month:( it really puts things on hold for families. I wish there was at least a way to track the exact progress or at least have some sort of time frame. I am seeing some cases especially from the Middle East take literally YEARS. How can that even be allowed ..