pakmani

I know its very difficult to get an operator at the embassy but they do have operators. When my wife was waiting for her visa in August, I spoke to them several times. Its frustrating but you have to keep trying. I don't remember their phone hours but try in the last half hour. It would be middle of the night here but thats the only time you can talk to an operator.

Why don't you have your spouse try from Pak at the same time? Hopefully one of you would get through. I would suggest that you shouldn't ask them about your new application that you just submitted but fiind out what is happenning with your spouse's passport they have been holding.

If you dont care about your old application, just say that he needs to go out of the country and needs his passport, they should just return it without the visa.

I know its expensive but it may be worth talking to a lawyer, considering you have been waiting for 3 years. Do you know if he is on A/P? When did A/P start?

Hope this helps!

Hello Mrs. Saiff.

Try calling the embassy in ISL and ask them how his passport could be returned. If they can't help on the phone, it may be worth just going to the embassy. I think there is about 1 hour or 45 minutes sloted for applicants to ask question at the embassy. U.S citizens can go to the embassy for inquries as well, more time is available for them. Check out state department's website and ISL embassy page to get the timing.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for replying nicely thanks since im very upset cuz of the whole situation nothing seems to b going in right direction im here in USa right now cant go to the Islamabad embassy since i know they let American citzen in , So i tired calling the Islamabad embassy last night they dont have any Live operator all in machines n i used so many of my fone cards went wasted plus the time diffrence May Allah help, im very frausterated at the moment Plus the # i tried which is 51-208-2700 sumthing like that dont even have like right option like they say for english press one i did n still kept saying for english oress one n for whole good hour wated my fone card , i just wish i could talk to live operator .I still wish if there was sum accurate site since i sent emails they never reply

Hello Mrs. Saiff.

Try calling the embassy in ISL and ask them how his passport could be returned. If they can't help on the phone, it may be worth just going to the embassy. I think there is about 1 hour or 45 minutes sloted for applicants to ask question at the embassy. U.S citizens can go to the embassy for inquries as well, more time is available for them. Check out state department's website and ISL embassy page to get the timing.

Hope this helps!

This is great news Aisha. You got an early Eid gift.

Good luck!

Hi guys,

My wife moved to U.S about 3 weeks ago. We did check the box for having SSN card sent to us on DS 230. She has received her green card but no SSN yet. How long does it take for SSN card to come.

I know for some people they have to go to SS Admin office to apply for one even though you requested one to be mailed to you so I just want to know how long I should wait before applying for one?

Thanks!

Congrats!

I would wait to buy the ticket. They told my wife she would get her passport back after 1 week but it took them more than 3. Whatever American Express office your wife selected to pick up her passport from will call her after it has been delivered to them.

She will have to go there in person to pick up the passport, she will have to show the receipt she got after the interview to pick up the passport and the visa packet.

Alhumdulilah.........that is wonderful news !!!!!!!!!! I am so very happy for the both of you!!!!!

YOu was really stressin out there for a min but look.......see all your prayers have been answered!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please do come back to the board every once in awhile, we understand that once your wife is there......you want to spend time with her and start your new life together

Also, once she gets here,,,,,,,,,please let us know how the POE experience went and do you know where she will be flying into??

Well, I wish you both all the happiness in the world.

Take very good care

Aisha ~n~ Qasim

Aisha, she is flying into ORD, Chicago.

If she had the xray done as part of her medical, yes she should take it to the embassy. Its always a good idea to take extra stuff if you are not sure. Better safe than sorry. Hope this helps!

Hi , How are you doing guys?I am not the regular reader of the visa journey news, so congratulations for successful and the patience for the APs.

My wife is going to embassy for interview on 15 th of august, please let me know if the x-ray is necessary to carry it to the embassy?

Zorro khan

Hello All,

I am soooooooooooooooooo glad to share that my wife was issued the CR1 visa on 8/1/08. She got a call from American Express today to pick up the visa. She picked up her passport and visa packet few hours ago. I never thought this day would ever come.

Thank you so much to everybody who has helped me through this journey and answered sometimes my nonsense questions. I would still help whoever I can, I may not visit VJ as often as I used to but don't hesitate to send me an email.

Aisha, hang in there, your day will come soon. Keep praying, I will pray for you guys as well.

Sorry to repost this guys, can someone please help!

I have posted about my wife's interview exp before but had a quick question. Her interview was on 7/10, she wasn't given a pink or blue slip and wasn't told anything about AP. Now when I call the embassy or DOS they say that her case is pending final review by CO. They assured me that there are no security checks pending for her so I am pretty sure she is not AP but on conulate level AR. With this being a busy summer season for them CO may not be able to get to the case files quickly since their priority at this time is to review the visitors visas first.

Has anybody gone through this? How long does it take? I have sent 3 emails to ISL consulate, no response. Any suggestions what I can try?

I have seen on cases that go through AP are placed on consulate level AR once DOS completes the checks but our case is on AR from the beginning.

Thanks for your help!

Hi guys, hope everybody is doin' well.

I have posted about my wife's interview exp before but had a quick question. Her interview was on 7/10, she wasn't given a pink or blue slip and wasn't told anything about AP. Now when I call the embassy or DOS they say that her case is pending final review by CO. They assured me that there are no security checks pending for her so I am pretty sure she is not AP but on conulate level AR. With this being a busy summer season for them CO may not be able to get to the case files quickly since their priority at this time is to review the visitors visas first.

Has anybody gone through this? How long does it take? I have sent 3 emails to ISL consulate, no response. Any suggestions what I can try?

I have seen on cases that go through AP are placed on consulate level AR once DOS completes the checks but our case is on AR from the beginning.

Thanks for your help!

There is no way to estimate the AP timing. For famales it doesn't take very long but still no way to say it would be 6 weeks or longer. It could be less than 6 weeks also. You can't find out why it happenned but DOS can tell you the status because I think there are multiple security checks one has to go through.

You may want to call DOS to check exactly what kind of processing she is being put through. If her interview was just today, give it couple of days before you call DOS. Dept of State (DOS) 202-663-1225.

Your wife will be with you soon. Its just the wait for AP which wont take long in her case hopefully.

Secondly, I wanted to ask you if your I-130 was approved or was it I-129 that got approved. R u a citizen or green card. Thats can probably explain more who are put on AP.

Congratulations and good luck again

My I-130 was approved, I never applied for the fiance visa. I'm a citizen through naturalization. So, in your guys opinion will it take only the six weeks that they said or will it be much longer like some people have experienced?

Is there any way I can find out why this happened?

Thanks for your help.

-Fahad

I think the interviews are scheduled for upt to 3 PM. Hang in there, you will hear from him soon.

Good luck!

Salaam.........

Okay guys....my husband's interview will start in a few hours in Islamabad and .....I am filled with nerves ya know. Please send prayers and good thoughts his way!!!! We have waited for so long for this day to finally come.

Insha allaah ......I just hope and pray his interview will go fine insha allaah!!!!!!

thanks to everyone here that has always helped me out and just been there to listen to me rant and rave

Much love

Aisha

Okay guys.....it is almost ( 6am cst kentucky) 5 pm in Islamabad and I have NOT heard anything from my husband and getting really worried!!!!!

I thought for sure I would have heard something by now.......

When does the embassy close it's interviews down?? Please somebody, I just need some info here.....

freakin out a lil here

Aisha

He will do fine, inshallah. Let us know how it goes tomorrow.

Salaam.........

Okay guys....my husband's interview will start in a few hours in Islamabad and .....I am filled with nerves ya know. Please send prayers and good thoughts his way!!!! We have waited for so long for this day to finally come.

Insha allaah ......I just hope and pray his interview will go fine insha allaah!!!!!!

thanks to everyone here that has always helped me out and just been there to listen to me rant and rave

Much love

Aisha

Thank you so much S_AL. It just pisses me off that they told her a week and didn't say anything about any review. I am still hoping that its the summer rush causing them not to be able to get to her file but who knows.

If they had told her its gonna take 2 months, we would have been settled, we have waited a year so 2 more months wouldn't have killed us.

But its the damn wait and not knowing what exactly the delay is. But thanks again for the encouragement.

Thank you so much Aisha, you are always so understanding.

I did email the embassy last week on Tuesday, no response. I sent them another email today, not sure if I would get a response to this either. I am still hoping that it doesn't take months and they are just holding her passport becasue they are so busy.

They should know its summer and expect huge number of applications but whatever, if they knew that I wouldn't be saying this. I will call the embassy again and see what they say. What makes me mad is that they delay immigrant visa applications and put visit visas and H1 and business visas ahead of the line.

Thanks again!

I spoke with DOS today regarding my wife's CR1 visa. She had her interview on 7/10 and was told her passport would be returned in about a week or so but still hasn't been returned. She wasn't given a blue or pink slip and no mention of AP.

DOS today said that a Counselor Officer has to review her case and since this is a very very busy summer season for them they will get to it when they get it to it and processing time for visa is 6 months. Where are they getting 6 months from? I am not sure how much longer I should wait, I just want to go to PAK and wait there with her but if its gonna be 6 months, I can't stay there for that long.

Please comment.

Thanks!

I spoke with DOS today regarding my wife's CR1 visa. She had her interview on 7/10 and was told her passport would be returned in about a week or so but still hasn't been returned. She wasn't given a blue or pink slip and no mention of AP.

DOS today said that a Counselor Officer has to review her case and since this is a very very busy summer season for them they will get to it when they get it to it and processing time for visa is 6 months. Where are they getting 6 months from? I am not sure how much longer I should wait, I just want to go to PAK and wait there with her but if its gonna be 6 months, I can't stay there for that long.

Please comment.

Thanks!

I did, they said they haven't received any requests from the consualte. I am pretty sure that its just the administrative delay at ISL consulate and they will get their act together soon.

She did not have to pay any fees.

Hi pakiman congratulations,I hope your wife would get the visa soon, By the Grace of God. But please let us know, Did your wife pay fees for the finger print or for the immigrant visa? Did they receive extra charges in the embassy against immigrant visa?

Zorro khan.

Thanks Revived. I just called DOS, the operator said 'its good to go' and I repeatedly asked her if they have received requests for background or extensive security check she said there are no such requests.

I am really hoping its the reason you quoted, maybe the operator who told me about the system issue was correct and they are just overwhelmed with all the requests.

CO told your husband about AP. My wife's wasn't told about AP and embassy is saying 7-10 not months. I guess it is still possible that she is on AP but it just seems different from other people's experiences.

Thanks!

Hi guys. How is everybody doing? I am sorry I wasn't able to post this sooner. I know couple of people were waiting for me to post my wife's interview experience at ISL. Here it is:

My wife had her CR1 interview on 7/10. She was in line at the convention center at about 6:45, made it to the embassy between 7:30-7:45.

They took her interview letter at the door. Not sure when exactly she was called to the first window but they just asked her simple questions about why she is there, didn't ask for any document.

She was called for the second time and they took her fingerprints.

She was called for the third time to a Counselor Office window. She said her interview with the CO was very smooth, he asked very general questions such as her name, my name, our wedding date, thats about it. He asked for only one document, copy of marriage certificate, didnt ask for pictures, police certificate, nothing. My wife said the CO wasn't even white, it was a Pakistani guy, he interviewed her in Urdu but his Urdu wasn't very goody. So maybe he was an expat.

Well, after the interview he congratulated my wife and told her everything is all set and she can pick up her passport after about a week or so from courier's office and gave her a token.

She wasn't given any blue or pink slip and wasn't told anything about AP. But, here is the sad part, today is 7/25/08, her passport still hasn't been returned.

I called the ISL embassy on 7/22, they said they had some system issues and were not able to issue visas to people for about a week or so and we can expect it within few days or next week, I am not sure if I really buy that but whatever. Still no mention of AP.

I called again today 7/25, different person answered the phone, didn't say anything about system issues but said MAYBE 7-10 but no exact date, still no AP.

I am really stressed and nervous, I don't know what the hold up is, not sure if its AP or something else. What I have seen with other cases if they keep your passport, its not AP. If you are put on AP, your passport is returned and you are asked to submit it when AP clears and I think they won't say 7-10 on the phone if the person is in AP because nobody can predit the timing. I believe people on AP are not given the token to pick up the passport from courier's office either.

The operator on 7/25 wasn't very helpful, he kept saying wait 7-10 days and then call back if you don't get the passport, not sure what to make of that.

So I guess this is a good news and bad. Please comment if you have seen a similar situation. I am very nervours and don't want her to fall inot the black hole of AP/AR.

Thanks!

Hi guys. How is everybody doing? I am sorry I wasn't able to post this sooner. I know couple of people were waiting for me to post my wife's interview experience at ISL. Here it is:

My wife had her CR1 interview on 7/10. She was in line at the convention center at about 6:45, made it to the embassy between 7:30-7:45.

They took her interview letter at the door. Not sure when exactly she was called to the first window but they just asked her simple questions about why she is there, didn't ask for any document.

She was called for the second time and they took her fingerprints.

She was called for the third time to a Counselor Office window. She said her interview with the CO was very smooth, he asked very general questions such as her name, my name, our wedding date, thats about it. He asked for only one document, copy of marriage certificate, didnt ask for pictures, police certificate, nothing. My wife said the CO wasn't even white, it was a Pakistani guy, he interviewed her in Urdu but his Urdu wasn't very goody. So maybe he was an expat.

Well, after the interview he congratulated my wife and told her everything is all set and she can pick up her passport after about a week or so from courier's office and gave her a token.

She wasn't given any blue or pink slip and wasn't told anything about AP. But, here is the sad part, today is 7/25/08, her passport still hasn't been returned.

I called the ISL embassy on 7/22, they said they had some system issues and were not able to issue visas to people for about a week or so and we can expect it within few days or next week, I am not sure if I really buy that but whatever. Still no mention of AP.

I called again today 7/25, different person answered the phone, didn't say anything about system issues but said MAYBE 7-10 but no exact date, still no AP.

I am really stressed and nervous, I don't know what the hold up is, not sure if its AP or something else. What I have seen with other cases if they keep your passport, its not AP. If you are put on AP, your passport is returned and you are asked to submit it when AP clears and I think they won't say 7-10 on the phone if the person is in AP because nobody can predit the timing. I believe people on AP are not given the token to pick up the passport from courier's office either.

The operator on 7/25 wasn't very helpful, he kept saying wait 7-10 days and then call back if you don't get the passport, not sure what to make of that.

So I guess this is a good news and bad. Please comment if you have seen a similar situation. I am very nervours and don't want her to fall inot the black hole of AP/AR.

Thanks!

Hi guys. How is everybody doing? I am sorry I wasn't able to post this sooner. I know couple of people were waiting for me to post my wife's interview experience at ISL. Here it is:

My wife had her CR1 interview on 7/10. She was in line at the convention center at about 6:45, made it to the embassy between 7:30-7:45.

They took her interview letter at the door. Not sure when exactly she was called to the first window but they just asked her simple questions about why she is there, didn't ask for any document.

She was called for the second time and they took her fingerprints.

She was called for the third time to a Counselor Office window. She said her interview with the CO was very smooth, he asked very general questions such as her name, my name, our wedding date, thats about it. He asked for only one document, copy of marriage certificate, didnt ask for pictures, police certificate, nothing. My wife said the CO wasn't even white, it was a Pakistani guy, he interviewed her in Urdu but his Urdu wasn't very goody. So maybe he was an expat.

Well, after the interview he congratulated my wife and told her everything is all set and she can pick up her passport after about a week or so from courier's office and gave her a token.

She wasn't given any blue or pink slip and wasn't told anything about AP. But, here is the sad part, today is 7/25/08, her passport still hasn't been returned.

I called the ISL embassy on 7/22, they said they had some system issues and were not able to issue visas to people for about a week or so and we can expect it within few days or next week, I am not sure if I really buy that but whatever. Still no mention of AP.

I called again today 7/25, different person answered the phone, didn't say anything about system issues but said MAYBE 7-10 but no exact date, still no AP.

I am really stressed and nervous, I don't know what the hold up is, not sure if its AP or something else. What I have seen with other cases if they keep your passport, its not AP. If you are put on AP, your passport is returned and you are asked to submit it when AP clears and I think they won't say 7-10 on the phone if the person is in AP because nobody can predit the timing. I believe people on AP are not given the token to pick up the passport from courier's office either.

The operator on 7/25 wasn't very helpful, he kept saying wait 7-10 days and then call back if you don't get the passport, not sure what to make of that.

So I guess this is a good news and bad. Please comment if you have seen a similar situation. I am very nervours and don't want her to fall inot the black hole of AP/AR.

Thanks!