GoharRabia

Thanks Aisha! time was going by slow but now its all over and she's here!

the POE at JFK was VERY EASY!!! no questions or anything!

best of luck to everyone else!

okay guys..........so around how many days .........does it take once you submit your passport for it to be returned to you??

Aisha

Hey Aisha,

We mailed ours on Tuesday/Wednesday and received it on Thursday. (Just over 1 week) My fiancee is in Lahore.

She just got on the PIA for her journey to US! I am meeting her at the JFK airport tomorrow!!!!! its been 9months and 6days since we have last seen each other!!!

Goodluck to everyone else on AP!!!

gohar

gohar....

I bet your so anxious...... LOL Does the time feel like it's crawling by or what??

My husband doesn't even have his visa in hand and I am worried about getting our home in order and making list of stuff I want to get for him. It's like omgosh.....hard to describe.

Gohar....I am so very happy for you and wishing you all the happiness in the world.

Aisha

okay guys..........so around how many days .........does it take once you submit your passport for it to be returned to you??

Aisha

Hey Aisha,

We mailed ours on Tuesday/Wednesday and received it on Thursday. (Just over 1 week) My fiancee is in Lahore.

She just got on the PIA for her journey to US! I am meeting her at the JFK airport tomorrow!!!!! its been 9months and 6days since we have last seen each other!!!

Goodluck to everyone else on AP!!!

gohar

I everyone! my fiancee is about to leave home to head to the airport to come to the US!!! :-)

JFK POE!

I know this is very last minute, have been busy getting the house together and whatnot.

Have there been any big changes to POE at JFK on the fiancee visa? Anything to be careful of?

Thanks!

gohar

Hi ALL,

Have some GREAT NEWS!! My Fiancee now has her VISA IN HAND as of this past THURSDAY AUG. 7!!!!!! AP for us was APPROX. 4 MONTHS!!!

BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE ON AP!!!!

gohar

Well, my wife just finished with her interview for the I-130...

She was told congratulations you've got a visa but it's going through administrative processing, in approximately 6 weeks you'll have to send us your passport and within a week we'll return it to you with the visa.

But the gave her a letter saying that it was temporarily denied?

Help...I don't understand what's going on...

-Fahad

Hey Fahad,

My fiancee was told Visa would be issued in approx. 3 wks. It took 4months of AP for the Visa to be issued. They just tell you a close date at the interview so you dont cause trouble at the embassy. There is NO time limit, however most cases are complete within 6months!

Call DOS, press 1 then 0. You will need your ISL number. I would call them once a wk, I started calling after the 6wk mark. but use your best judgement on when to start calling.

Here is the number for DOS: +1 202 663 1225

best of luck!

gohar

Hello Everyone!!!

I've got some good news!! We have FINALLY been cleared out of AP after 4 months!!! We mailed her passport to the Embassy yesterday, July 29! :-)

Am very very excited!!! They however told us it will take from 2 to 4wks to receive the visa.

I am now going to schedule her flight for September on PIA direct.

Does anyone know the best way to schedule the flight on PIA from Lahore to JFK? Also, is it cheaper to book the flight here in the US or in Pakistan?

Thanks in advance for your help! Goodluck to everyone on AP and for those of you waiting for interviews!!!

gohar

Hey Bro,

Congrates on getting the visa, you must be hell happy about it huh? Well I would suggest for JFK to try Emirates they are running direct flights to LA, SF and Houston and may be to JFK. Remember when you get tickets of the airline which belongs to the homeland you are traveling from are expensive like PIA it will cost you more, secondly you cannot book tickets for purchase from US for your wife to fly from the Pakistan.

Thanks

Saqib

I was thinking about her coming on Emirate or Etihad, but the problem with that is that she would have to switch planes. She is really really nervous about coming here and having to switch planes and that she might get it wrong. So that is why I want to have her take PIA here.

Are you sure you can't purchase a ticket here in the US for a person in Pakistan? I think that is possible becuase they are all E-Tickets. I could then have my Fiancee go to the PIA ticket office in pakistan and pick up her ticket. I dont see a problem with that.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

You can purchase it from a PIA agent, but also you can send her the money via western union and she can purchase a ticket from a local agen in Pakistan. Your best bet is to have her come by PIA since its the first time, its a direct flight and also every one speaks urdu and it will be easy for her to communicate and people will be able to help her if needed. Good Luck and congratulations

Hey!

Thanks for the help. She was able to get a oneway from LHE to JFK on PIA for $800. The best price i can get here was $880. How much does it cost to send money via Western Union? How long does it take?

Thanks,

gohar

Hello Everyone!!!

I've got some good news!! We have FINALLY been cleared out of AP after 4 months!!! We mailed her passport to the Embassy yesterday, July 29! :-)

Am very very excited!!! They however told us it will take from 2 to 4wks to receive the visa.

I am now going to schedule her flight for September on PIA direct.

Does anyone know the best way to schedule the flight on PIA from Lahore to JFK? Also, is it cheaper to book the flight here in the US or in Pakistan?

Thanks in advance for your help! Goodluck to everyone on AP and for those of you waiting for interviews!!!

gohar

Hey Bro,

Congrates on getting the visa, you must be hell happy about it huh? Well I would suggest for JFK to try Emirates they are running direct flights to LA, SF and Houston and may be to JFK. Remember when you get tickets of the airline which belongs to the homeland you are traveling from are expensive like PIA it will cost you more, secondly you cannot book tickets for purchase from US for your wife to fly from the Pakistan.

Thanks

Saqib

I was thinking about her coming on Emirate or Etihad, but the problem with that is that she would have to switch planes. She is really really nervous about coming here and having to switch planes and that she might get it wrong. So that is why I want to have her take PIA here.

Are you sure you can't purchase a ticket here in the US for a person in Pakistan? I think that is possible becuase they are all E-Tickets. I could then have my Fiancee go to the PIA ticket office in pakistan and pick up her ticket. I dont see a problem with that.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

i used www.kayak.com But its emirates airlines usually to jfk on that site i think. Congratulations

Thanks!

I need PIA because I want a direct flight from Lahore to JFK. Etihad/Emirates don't travel direct, you have to switch planes. But thanks for your help.

gohar

Hi' Gohar

I wanted to ask you if you sponsored your wife or fiancee. Plus when they did the AP was it for you as a petitioner or the beneficiary. I assume its the petitioner if they send the case to washington.

Is there a pattern who goes on AP like mostly men or both men and women and for petitioner who are citizens or green card holders sponsoring their spouse.

Hey Ali,

I think you are getting the Marriage/Fiancee Visa confused with Family Visa's.

The AP is always for the person in Pakistan (beneficiary). The Applicant is approved before the case ever makes it to the Isl. Embassy from my understandings. In my case at least, the AP was for my Fiancee in pakistan and not me.

I had to complete for I-134 (Affidavit of Support). I make enough money so i was able to "Sponsor" my fiancee.

i used www.kayak.com But its emirates airlines usually to jfk on that site i think. Congratulations

Thanks!

I need PIA because I want a direct flight from Lahore to JFK. Etihad/Emirates don't travel direct, you have to switch planes. But thanks for your help.

gohar

Hello Everyone!!!

I've got some good news!! We have FINALLY been cleared out of AP after 4 months!!! We mailed her passport to the Embassy yesterday, July 29! :-)

Am very very excited!!! They however told us it will take from 2 to 4wks to receive the visa.

I am now going to schedule her flight for September on PIA direct.

Does anyone know the best way to schedule the flight on PIA from Lahore to JFK? Also, is it cheaper to book the flight here in the US or in Pakistan?

Thanks in advance for your help! Goodluck to everyone on AP and for those of you waiting for interviews!!!

gohar

Congrat's to everyone who has received the great packet 3.5! Try to get this out ASAP with 100% of the items COMPLETE as this PRIORITIZES your INTERVIEW DATE!

*********************************Packet 3.5*****************************************************

DS-156 -- Answer ALL questions 1-41. If the questions do not pertain to you put "N/A" or if there is no answer put "NONE". Do not leave any box with a number beside it blank because they may think you over looked it. here are some of the answers to some of the tricky/not straight forward questions.

Question: 22. Answer: When Visa is Granted

26. Answer: Permanently

27. Answer: Marriage and Relocation to the US

32. Answer: With work Authorization, Employer Unknown

DS-230 Part 1 -- Answer ALL questions in PART 1 ONLY! Do not write ANYTHING in PART II. ONLY Part 1. You DO have to sign Part 1 on the second page at the bottom where it asks. These questions are pretty easy, just, biography stuff. You should have all this information already in your original I-129F packet you sent first.

DS-156k -- DO NOT SIGN THIS! Do NOT write BELOW the LINE!!! You will have to sign infront of the officer according to the directions. Make sure you have all the proper documents they have requested attached.

You need to mail EACH of these ORIGINAL documents IN AND 1 COPY of EACH DOCUMENT! Thats what our directions said a month and a half ago and I'm assuming yours will be the same.

(US CITIZEN has to get this informtion on there behalf)

I-134, Affidavit of Support -- With ALL supporting documents..... Statement FROM Bank, on Bank Letter Head., Statement from Employer on Business Stationary, IRS Tax Returns, Fiance Letter of Intent (Same as before but date will change), Cover Letter for the I-134 (I had it to be thorough).

I also, submitted addional proof of relationship.

I think that is about it, a lot of this information is also available in the GUIDES TAB at the TOP! Check the K1 guides and you will find additonal info!

Make sure you keep COPIES of EVERYTHING you SUBMIT!! VERY IMPORTANT!

***************************************************************************

***************************INTERVIEW***************************************

Here are the questions they asked my Fiance:

Pakistani Visa Officer asked the following:

How did you meet your Fiance?

Were you ever involved with Terrorist organization?

30-minutes later a US (White) Visa Office asked the following:

What does your Fiance do for work?

What does his compnay do?

What University did your Fiance go to?

What did your Fiance study?

What has your Fiance told you about NC?

Then a lady gave my Fiance a BLUE Slip and told her Congratulations, you have received your Visa but it will take a MAXIMUM of 6 Weeks to complete "SOMETHING", my fiance doesn't remember exactly but I'm sure its a background search of some sort. She said the AMEX will call you in about 6 weeks to let you know that you need to mail your passport back to the Embassy.

********************************************************************************

*********************

~ANA~

I will ask my fiancee tomorrow if she mailed in her originial birth certificate or not.... I can't recall that was about 6months ago for us!

Elijah

You must send ALL documents requested when you submit the packet to ISL Embassy. IF they do not have everything on hand they will send you a notice and not schedule an interview 'til all the data is in there hands. Thats the way it was when I was at that stage and I haven't heard of anything changing but maybe they have... follow instructions VERY carefully! I sent more info than I needed to make sure they couldn't complain and request for more info.

Also,

Thanks Dana for this! She asked for me to come help!

GOODLUCK EVERYONE!!!!

gohar

ANYONE ELSE have trouble getting the ISL embassy to respond to you emails?

I have sent several e-mail's to the ISL Embassy and have NEVER gotten a response from them! In my opinion, its a waste of time but the most you can do except call which also is crazy w/ timing here in the NC.

GOOD LUCK!

Hi All,

My fiancee's interview was on May 13th, 2008 and she got approved. They gave her a red slip and the visa officer told her to come back on May 15th for her visa. She was very nervous, but with the help of Allah everything went smooth. She was only interviewed by an American visa officer and he asked her a few simple questions.

1. Who is your petitioner?

2. Where does he live? Give full address

3. What does your fiance do?

4. When was engagement? and where it took place?

5. When was the last time you saw your fiance?

My fiancee is fluent in english, so she had no problem except she was nervous.

I just want to take my time to thank all the people here in this forum specially Gohar for his help answering alot of my questions. Gohar, I hope your fiance get her visa soon, Insallah.

Taufik Hidayat

Congrats Taufik! glad I could help! Best of luck on the rest of the journey!

Unfortunately, I am still on AP!

Hope to have an approval soon!

INSHALLAH i will i know and i'm not disappointed to what happened to me cuz when i see you people sitting there without your families for so long, my waiting is nothing infront of that, though my family is with me and my life is running the way it was before cuz i knew this will happen and thats why i didn't pack up at all. But the question is why can't americans think the way it should be that they had two months after giving me the interview letter and they could've done the AP/AR before and this is the reason i tried to avoid the I-130 cuz i found out that it will take more time but my bad luck, avoid I-130 got me stuck in I-129F as both of my application were approved. Anyway I hope for the best and wish u all best of lucky and just be cool and have fun instead of thinking when AP will be done.

"If you go more after something, the more it goes away" Means don't call DOS or ask for AP. It will take it's time.

Hey Saqib,

I dont think thats not true at all! When I called DOS they specifically told me to call once a week to check up on my case! She said its not a problem at all for us to look it up and that they are more than happy to do it! I don't believe calling DOS will lengthen the AP process!

just from what I have personally gathered from talking with DOS

Just my 2 cents!

gohar

Hey Saqib,

The guy that interviewed my fiance for the visa told her the exact same thing! Congratulations, visa is approved and you will receive it and the pakistani lady siad you will receive the visa within 6 wks! well GUESS WHAT???? today is 6 WEEKS from the interview and NOTHING!!! NO VISA!!! I call DOS every week on thursday to get an update and they say "I'm sorry, case is in AP". I say, "Thanks, have a great day!". Then i'm sad all day on thursday!!! This is a routine for me, i look forward to Thursday every week! Her interview was 25 of March and the AP started on 27 of March. So, it seems to take about 2 days to have the case transferred back to US, DOS.

My faince's mother and father both have Green Cards, both will be US Citizen's in the next 9months or so, 1 sister is a US Citizen, 1 sister has a Green Card and yet my fiance is in AP.

These embassies people are idiots for doing what they do!! dont they know that any terrorist cna come over the mexican border??? I mean come on!!!! Anyways, best of luck to both of us and the rest on AP! Soon it shall all be over!!

gohar

Hi Gohar, Rabia, Mary & Mian

I guess I'm in the same boat as you guys are in, yesterday i went through a interview process in Islamabad and had a bad experience which i didn't thought off. It start with waiting inside from 8:00 am till 9:00 am when i was called first by a desi guy who asked me who is my petitioner which i told him my wife and then he asked the affidavit is given by who and i told him its my father-in-law. He ask that where is my daughter as her name is in the interview letter and i told you that she is already a US citizen since she was born and her name was in the dependent in all my forms so he said that do you have a passport copy and i said yes i do, then he told me to pay $131 and take a seat.

Second time i was called around 9:35 by a desi Lady saying to give her my medical report and if i have my daughters naturalization Certificate which was issued by them in Karachi as Birth Aboard Record, I said yes i have the original and photocopy with me so she said to show the consular at the time of interview and now you can take a seat.

Third time i was called by a gora guy who was right behind me in the window number 2 who was mostly calling female to interview and he knew both languages English and Urdu cuz i heard him interviewing two ladies in urdu and he was perfect in that but anyway my bad lucky that i was called by him and he said hi and would u like to give interview in english or urdu and i said i don't mind english or urdu as long as you are comfortable in Urdu and he laugh and said to honest, english would be excellent for me i said ok.

So questions were.

1. Who is my petitioner? I told him my wife name

2. Where she lives? I told him the state and city and now she is with me to help in packing up stuff and we will go together.

3. Is you daughter been issued a passport? I said yes from US Consulate in Karachi and i have the birth Aboard certificate and he said can i see that so i

showed him that.

4. Third question was you have travelled alot around the world plus dubai, china and to US too like 8 to 9 times and i guess all your visits were for 2

week to one month max right? I said yes.

5. Can i see you old passport? I showed him from the first passport i got made with a US visa on it which i got in 1986 and he checked something in

computer and came to the first page of the passport and smiled and said is that you and i smiled back and said yes its me pretty old picture of me.

After that i don't know what happen to him and he said congratulation you have got the visa but we need to do some further AP (Admistrative Processing) on your case which will be done in 4 to 6 week and then in Urdu he said Jaldi ho jayi ga and not to worry and gave me this blue A4 size paper with a 2 white tokens, one attached to my passport and other was with this white form where are american express located.

He returned me all my original documents they kept, submitted with 3.5 pack and photo's too. He also returned all my passports and he didn't see or ask for anything, no current police report, no new photo, no DS 230 part II, nothing at all and said i'm returning you your passport and if you want to travel you can for business trip or whatever and when AP is done we will give you a call on your cell phone to drop your passport at American Express in karachi with this 2 tokens and blue paper and we will return your passport back in two weeks with a visa.

I have no clue why, as i have travelled to US like anything and came back on time every time. Bad luck over here is this that I recently got done 4 month of AP on my visit visa which clearly indicates (Clearance received , dated from Washington D.C )in bold letters which i got in 2006 and visa is still valid till 2011 Feb.

Thing is if i wanted to go to US i would've gone on visit visa and applied it from there but when you think of doing the right thing or apply for a proper process and go through that they make your life hell. Its been 15 months and now on AP.

Any advice or anything you guys wanna add to this do please. but one thing i wanna say here is who ever is traveling to Dubai don't or else wellcome to dark whole of AP/AR.

I have a update, We finally made it out of CSC; Thank God. Our petition was shipped to NVC on April 25, just waiting for them to receive it , then on to the embassy soon.

thats awesome!! NVC should move VERY FAST!!! Hope you case is at ISL soon so you can receive PKT3.5 and then finally get an interview date!!

g'luck!

congrats ayaz!!! glad to see some people getting Visa without being put on AP!

Unfortunately, I am still on AP! :-(

goodluck on rest of journey

Thanks alot for your help mary! you are one of the people on here who is very helpful and I think we are all very happy to have you here with us!!

I do hope her AP is over quick!

gohar

I have to share a good news. MY WIFE VISA APPROVEDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations and look forward to her arrival home.

I then asked her if it would be alright for me to fly my fiance out to Kuala Lumpur to meet me so we can spend some time together and she told me that its best to leave her put. She didn't say if my fiance traveled it would cause delay or not but she said the best thing to do is just let her wait in pakistan.

Thanks for posting your information it now is confirmed from what I have been saying all along. Do not travel while in AP it only delays it.

Here's to hoping that her AP is almost done.

Mary

Sallam Everybody,

I have an update! nothing great on my end but I think its good information to pass!

I called DOS yesterday (April 17) and they informed me that they are still working on the case for my Fiance. There is no time limit of course as we know and she said that some cases can be complete in as little as 4weeks! Which we know from VJ that some are done in even less time (3wks is the fastest I have seen).

I also told her that I travel for business quite often and if this would delay the Application and she said that they are done with me and I am all clear. They are now just looking into my Fiance and that I can travel for work as needed.

I then asked her if it would be alright for me to fly my fiance out to Kuala Lumpur to meet me so we can spend some time together and she told me that its best to leave her put. She didn't say if my fiance traveled it would cause delay or not but she said the best thing to do is just let her wait in pakistan.

Just FYI for my VJ friends!

gohar

thanks allah my brother interview is good and the consoler officer sad congrat but you should wait for your A/P .everythings is fine with him here is his case detail

about my older brother

Jan 01 2002 - submit my case by my father when he was GC Holder

March 1st 2002 - I-130 sent.

jan 20th 2005 - APPROVED

NVC FOR (I-130)

March 01 2005 - NVC receives petition and case # assigned.

May 15 2005 - CASE COMPLETED!!! Thanks ALLAH

May 25 2005 - Case fwd to Islamabad embassy

US EMBASSY Islamabad

June 25th 2005- Recevie Letter From Islamabad embassy Visa Is not Current (Priority Date Not Current)

please wait for your priority date

Dec 15th 2007- Recevied Packet 3.5 when My visa current

Dec 29th 2007- sent to the embassy packet 3.5

jan 05th 2008- recevied packet 4

March 20th 2008 - Medical Appointment

April 08th 2008 - INTERVIEW IN Islamabad (APPROVED PUT ON Administrative Processing )

Congrat's on the Approval! Wish you and everyone else (including myself) a speedy AP!

gohar

Hi everyone,

I wanted to let everyone know that today my husband received an email stating "Our record's indicate that in order to issue you the K-3 Visa please send either your passport or visit our office on any working Monday between 8:00am to 10:00am."

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: Yea I am so happy finally :dance: :dance: :dance:

THANKS everyone for their support and prayers, I wish everyone inshallah a speedy visa process and those on AP to have patience just like I tried to and need lots lots of support and patience.

Especially MARY thanks so much!!!

CONGRAT'S FAREASH!!!!!!!!! Great news and best of luck on the rest of the journey!!

gohar

Random Question:

Is there a way to find out what are "COMMON NAMES"? Both older sisters received Visa's without AP, the last one received it 2yrs ago. I would of thought becuase 2 sisters were in US and Mother/Father both soon will have Green Card's then it wouldn't be a problem but boy was I WRONG!

thanks,

gohar

Hi all,

Just wanted to share some good news. Never thought this day would come.. My wife got her visa today. (FINALLY ITS OVER).. she had her interview on the 6th of march and was given a blue slip that said her case needed additional processing and the minimum time is 6 weeks. Well, exaclty 3 weeks after her interview she got a call from the embassy saying she needs to send her passport to them and that her visa has been approved. I could not believe it as I thought it was going to take months before she got her visa by reading everyones experience here.. So she sent her passport on the 27th of march and got a call from EX today to come and pick up her passport along with the visa package. So 4 weeks later "VISA IN HAND".. she does not have a common name at all and has not traveled at all before which might be the reason for a quick AP... or it might of been AR.. watever it was its over now thank GOD.. Hopefully everyone who is on AP comes out of it soon.. Don't lose hope and the day will come..

Good luck to everyone and feel free to ask if anyone has any questions...

I also want to thanks Mary for her help.

Ali.

Congrats murtaza!!! My Fiancee is on AP right now, as of 25 March. She received the Blue Slip as well. This coming Tuesday will make 2weeks! So, I hope 1 wk from this Tuesday my fiancee receives a call from Embassy. My Fiancee has never left the country either, she has always been in Pakistan.

BUT, I have traveled all over the world on Business trips. Great expereince but I hope this doesn't negatively affect my case in ISB right now!

Anyways, hope to have Visa in hand by End of Month!!! April 30 will be our 1 year Engagement Anniversary! would be really nice to have her here with me!!

gohar

Gohar,

my fiance had the 6 wk (max) and passport was not retained... been nearly 4 mons=( still waiting.. but i m sure it will b a quick one for your fiancee, since shez a girl.

good lucks n duas

Hi Sidh,

I really hope its going to be a max of 6 weeks!! Going to try to make the best of it, but its really difficult! I hope your visa for your fiance comes soon!!

Best of luck to us both!

gohar

Hi Gohar,

congratulations to both of you for receiving the visa. Inshallah the AP will be over sooner than 6 weeks. Was the Visa office Male or Female? and how long was the interview?

Thanks

Taufik

Thanks Taufik,

The first was a Male, 2nd was a Male, and the person who told her congrats and it takes upto 6Wks was a female.

The interview took a total of about 3.5 hours...... thats the total amount of time from when she entered until she left the building. a lot of the time was just sitting and waiting

Proof of on going relationship --- She took pictures of us together when I was in Pakistan in Dec., she took e-mails, Skype Logs, Raza.com phone records, flight info, copy of passport stamps ---- they VO did not ask for any of this information. She tried to give them the information and they told her they had all the information they needed from her......she they only have what we submitted with Pkt3.5 back in Dec....... not additional info was needed for my case, yours may be different...... depends on what you have already submitted.

They didnt' ask anything of her except for the medical and police, no more personal information or anything of that matter

let me know if you have any other questions

gohar