treehugger

All our American friends and family are similarly shocked...I haven't mentioned to them how much it costs, but what they all found the most surprising was the medical and the peek down below!

Nope, not Yet. Last time i did i was told to e-mail them, and judging what responses people have received from them while in AP it's pointless (It's in AP. We'll let you know when we are ready). I was giving them to Thursday of this week before i do that. Calling DOS today though to see what they can tell me.

Emailing the embassy - pointless.

When you call the DoS ask them if the processing is taking place in DC (namechecks) or at the embassy. Ask them if there are any missing documents. Basically, ask them direct questions. They won't always answer, but you're still more likely to get some information than just calling to inquire. And if you don't get anywhere with the operator that answers, just call back and hope you get someone more helpful.

Put it this way, even when AP is over and the embassy are about to issue the visa, the DoS will usually still say pending. If you ask them are the embassy about to issue the visa, they'll say yes or no accordingly.

The last 4 weeks I kept thinking we will get the visa this week <only to not> and now I have a more realistic expectation of getting the visa in like 6+ months.. <sigh> All my friends here on VJ have all been able to bring there spouse home with them after the interview... I guess what doesnt kill us makes us stronger... including our realationships.. I half way think the embassy puts us on AP to test the relationship and see if they can make it crack..Ok enough of my mopy depressed rant on a Sunday..

Hugs, Melody Whatznext is very right, the beginning is the worst as you get over the shock, but then you just settle in for the long-haul. Fellow VJ-ers who had their interview around the same time as mine are not only in the US, but they have their SSN and green cards. Hey ho, such is life. We'll get there, Melody, we will

time away from your SO is hard no matter what the circumstances, but especially hard when your destiny is in the hands of some government worker

Indeed

It does suck. It's very very sad and I couldn't imagine being in that sort of situation. Although you gave a good example with the final exams, and I completely see your point and sympathize, it doesn't change my persepctive. Why? My perspective is this:

It sucks to be away from the SO. No matter the how or why.

I do wish you the best of luck Treehugger! I honestly do and if you need a sounding board, I would be happy to help any way I can.

Well put, Rob and Jill And thanks both for your good wishes and your offer I hope you enjoy the weekend

Similar story to mine... and while i don't have difficult personal circumstances it's still hard.

I (fortunately) do have the option of my Fiancee moving to the UK, but i made the decision to move there as it's generally a daughter stays close to her parents and i believed that we would have a significantly better quality of life than we could have in the UK. Add to that the fact that i would consider my 'values' to be a lot closer to those of the US. In fact i'd consider the US 'home'. My only problem is - i wasn't born there!

Aww, that's quite sweet and considerate, your fiancee is very lucky I hope you'll be there before long!!

We also waited 2 years before we could file the petition (due to finances, school, etc) and then 9 months for the K1 to be granted, and you know what, I bitched and moaned about the wait a lot while I was going through it. Now when I look back, I thank my lucky stars that our case didn't really suffer any problems.

I wish I could give a big hug to those of you are who still waiting to be with your fiance/spouse.

Thanks, virtual hugs appreciated

I haven't been following your case, but I really do hope and pray it's resolved soon.

And btw, you said what I was trying to say, in a much better way.

Thank you, and thanks

Hello, and an unfortunate welcome to our little corner of the black hole that is known as AP!

There's quite a few of us in AP, myself included. There's a thread devoted to us (aren't we lucky lol) and whereas you don't have to read all 133 pages, the last few pages should give you a fairly good idea of our various cases. Also, the very post on the very first page, by Whatznext, has a link at the bottom to a spreadsheet with all our dates on there. Of course you're welcome to join, but you'll be able to see how long some people have been waiting. Whatznext herself is currently our longest, approaching two years.

Here's hoping that your wait won't be for much longer

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/145739-ap-tracker/

Thanks for your replies, Bev and Scott I lurked for quite a while before I started posting, and I only remember one or two cases in the UK forum, and both were men orginally from countries where AP is relatively common. Now there's three of us (that I remember) and the others are both men, one an Indian citizen.

I was just thinking, there was a week or so back in April when quite a few VJers got out of AP and their visas in hand - we could do with another one of those around now

I hear what you are saying also, but I think it also depends on the family. Cuz I think a lot of that depends how strong their beliefs may be, life experiences with other ciltures, etc. Some have been to other countries or been around ppl from other cultures since they were young, so they may have different views then the others that live in the "country" and have not experienced anything outside of where they live.

Monica, I admire you for taking my post in the spirit that it's meant - certainly not an attack on you or anyone else on here. I agree with Sachinky, it's this attitude that will see you through I just wanted to add that I know MENA families living here in the UK who have been here for forty years or more, who come from a long line of highly educated, highly cultured people and who aren't even that religious, and yet they still live by those norms.

Anyway, sorry squeaky, you're absolutely right Good luck to you and everyone else with an upcoming interview

Believe me...after my past experience I still had a bit of doubt too until I lived with him and his family for 3 mths, and how his parents are together & all of his siblings with their spouses.

I don't think many Western women realise what a big deal it is to live with their MENA boyfriends/fiances (and especially at his parents' house), and that MENA women usually have the religious ceremony but don't live with their husbands until after the 'big wedding' even though that may be months or even years later. It just shows what a huge culture clash there is between the two sides, and I've seen it happen over and over again with MENA/Western couples in real life. One may think it's not a big deal now, but for most couples (admittedly not all) this difference in culture will rear its head several times, especially when there are children.

It's this 'turning a blind eye' to MENA cultural norms that makes me wonder if a guy's family are indirectly helping their son.

I certainly don't mean to sound heartless by saying this, so don't misunderstand. These stories are really sad and heartbreaking.

It's frustrating, annoying, and enough to drive me nuts on occassion. What's holding us up now? An incompetant police department who can't seem to get it together enough in a week to sign some damn photographs.

At the end of the day the frustration for everyone on this forum is the future of OUR lives rest in the hands of a stranger. I don't think there could be much out there that is more nerve racking than that.

No, I don't think you're being heartless at all. You have waited a long time, there's no denying that, and your personal circumstances are not ideal. However, the difference between your situation and those of us stuck waiting for waiver approvals or AP is that you have some control over the situation, whilst we have none. Throughout these three years you have been working on improving certain aspects of your situation. It's a bit like being a university student, and now you're approaching your final exams. Even now, I imagine you can pick up the phone or go to the police station and ask them politely but firmly to sign those photos! At every step of the way, you do have some control / options, even though it may not feel like it at the time.

We can't do that. We can't do anything. We just wait. If USCIS or NVC go over the stated timeframes, a lawyer or congressperson CAN actually help. I don't even have that. AP deliberately has no timeframes. I have to wait approx two years before a lawyer will accept my case, let alone a court hear it. Two years of just sitting there doing nothing in the meantime, twiddling my thumbs. No lawyer, congressperson or senator can help - even they get the same bog standard reply I get when I contact the embassy - "Your application is currently still subject to additional administrative processing, which is mandatory and cannot be waived." A petitioner's representatives are not even allowed to know why the case is in AP. And if the worst came to the worst and it is denied, you're not even told why it's denied!!

Of course I can no longer visit the US under the VWP as any border guard will decide that I am probably going to stay, and of course I can't apply for a visa either. It doesn't help that, thinking I had my visa, I gave up my job, and returning to it is out of the question. There's over 5000 miles between my husband and I, and although I don't want to go into details, we also have difficult personal circumstances. At this point in time, it's not an option for my husband to move to the UK.

So, it's my turn to say that I don't mean to be heartless, but it doesn't change my perspective that three years working on being together is not as difficult as being stuck in a black hole where one has absolutely no idea what is happening or why, doesn't know what to expect and has zero control over the situation. Don't forget, I've already been through USCIS, NVC and the interview. I've already stressed about RFEs, what questions am I going to be asked, forms taking too long to arrive at their destination. I look back now and think I didn't know how lucky I was!

Never mind - everything happens for a reason, and what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I'm not usually one for cliches, but they do have some truth to them! Good luck, Rob and Jill, I hope you fly though the rest of this process and that you're together very soon

I hope so Keep us posted!

I believe the poster was just trying to advise you to not purchase a ticket which is what everyone here told me as well when my hubby was told "welcome to the US, you've been approved". I'm happy I waited as well since it took 14 days and not the 7-10 they claimed at the day of interview. He was one day late for the twins arrival so "sh!t" happens...but he got here! That's all that matters, right?

Don't stress...celebrate and smile chica!!

Thank you, that is indeed all it was

I'm sorry, I was trying to give you the benefit of my experience and spare you some heartache. I'm glad to hear that you're sensible enough not to book a ticket until you get the visa in hand. Btw, London has no where near the same percentage of AP that Cairo does, and I'm not a Muslim MENA male, and I've still had four months of namechecks. I hope for your sake that DOS/DHS approve your husband as quickly as you hope, because even the embassy staff don't really know how long that'll take.

I don't mean to exclude others waiting for a waiver, my heart goes out to all of you btw. JustJ's situation is just even more heartbreaking to me, because I have dealt with the feelings of 'what if I'm too old to conceive' and that is positively devastating.

Oh no, I agree entirely!! There are plenty of cases that are all waiting, but JustJ stands out because she has her Mum in poor health on the one hand, she and her husband wanting to start a family and a complicated situation made yet more difficult, and then on top of all that issues regarding VWP overstays (perhaps they confused her husband with someone else?) and a driving ticket being used in order to deny her application

They try to follow all the rules, get poked and prodded physically, have their pasts scrutinized to the nth degree, have to stand accountable for dumb mistakes made in their youth, and STILL they are denied entry.

Or possibly have a name similar to that of someone else (I'm still clueless about my AP, so that's all I'm left with lol)

Can you please point me to the MENA forum?

Of course

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/97-middle-east-and-north-africa/

Has anyone else noticed that on the MENA forum fewer males are going through AP? Are other regions/countries the same as usual?

I was the only AP-er on the UK forum, but there's a few more now.

The embassy takes 6 months to make a decision in some of these cases. If they deny the waiver than the process starts all over again.

And that's in addition to the normal visa process of USCIS, NVC, interview...

You're not the only ones

Prayers and positive vibes being sent her way, and of course to the other waiver applicants. Every time I go past the embassy I look up at it and wonder if they have any idea how many people are waiting on tenterhooks.

Actually, they know precisely how many people are waiting, but you know what I mean!

Yep, that's it.

I'm pulling for all of them, but especially JustJ. Her husband has some sort of ridiculously stupid CIMT from eons ago, she has an ill mother that she is sole caregiver for, so she can't move there...and due to the CIMT, he can't visit, and they want a family, but she is in her mid-30s or so. I actually pray for her almost daily.

Yes, JustJ's case in particular really tugs at the heart-strings. She's been very quiet lately - I know she got a lot of good advice here and elsewhere as to what she might do next, so I'm hoping that she and her Irish farmer will be together soon in the US.

i said are we in ap, she said no neeed for ap ,, im totally convinced,, you will get ur visa in 10 days or less, no need for anymore investigation, its over, i talked to the head consular officer and its over, congradulations to you both

Congratulations on your approval!!

Please bear in mind that just because the embassy is done, when your case is referred back to the DOS/DHS you might still be put in AP...I sincerely hope that is not the case but please don't book flights back to the US UNTIL you have that visa in hand. I speak from bitter experience! I'm a Brit applying from London: I was told I'd get my visa back in two or three days and four months later I'm still waiting, and one rather expensive ticket became even more so...

Congratulations again, I hope to hear that you got that visa very soon

When I called the Embassy today I asked if the benficiary could also call and requst info and they said, "yes, either one can call and request an update on case."

The case location: How they DoS has explained it to me, the case (your file) stays at the Embassy and checks/info requested is sent to washington DoS. Washington fwds it to other agencies---agencies do their checks---will let DoS know and DoS will fwd to the Embassy than it is up to the officer to give or not give visa.

The name check for the petitioner happens during the initially petition for K1 (atleast in my case--not sure of other visa classes). Our case extended the 5 month mark, I got 2 calls from the NVC before my case was sent there and they requested address/additional contact for my fiance. (This makes me confused---I wonder while our case was at USCIS if my they did a background check on him as well.)

http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress10/healy031010.htm (Recent congressional hearing on name checks).

Thanks for asking, now we know

Yeah, I know the case is only physically sent back to the US if it has been denied, but whenever I asked where the AP was taking place I felt I was being fobbed off with 'the case is still in London'...it was only when I asked directly about DC checks that they confirmed it.

I'm thinking now, our case at USCIS took a little bit longer than others, but not significantly so. What was strange was that when it was transferred to NVC it took over a month for us to get a case number and get started there - I don't remember anyone else waiting more than a few days...however once all the bills were paid and forms sent in it was approved quite quickly. My husband and I both have quite common surnames which probably doesn't help, at whatever stage they do namechecks

Hey what was the pink slip for? My Hubby didnt get any kind of slip at the interview... they gave him a Welcome to America pamplet...

The pink slip is the magic slip signifying you're done, approved hip hip hoorah!! Although obviously it doesn't mean you'll be getting your visa in a few days, as we've found out