scotlandmd

Thanks Justine+David for your kind response,

Obviously it is much more than the NHS!

We have in the past tryed to contact our congressman which has led to little success. His office sent a message to the DOS and it came back with the usual "administrative processing". From what our lawyer has mentioned, the senator / congressman needs to directly contact the DOS rather than the office.

I have been calling the 090 number for the US Embassy but to be honest what I have realised is that their networks are not linked to the Embassy in London or DC. They don't have it in their files that I have sent my passport whereas DC and London have it on their system. Sad state of affairs.

I do get an email code from them and I have emailed London twice already this week. Really hoping to hear something back today or tomorrow.

Apart from that there is nothing much that I can think to do. I will look into contacting my MP. All we know is that checks have been completed and my passport is in London, god only knows why they are taking so long to send it back!

Call your senator and your house rep NOW. Explain the situation and put emphasis on the fact that you have been waiting in AP for almost a YEAR. I pray that the government shutdown will not happen either.

Keep on calling the US Embassy in London.

Two VJers in the past have had the UKC contact their local MP to ask the embassy as well.

To Ryan, lack of compassion much? They've ALREADY asked for the passport, so likely all the checks are done.

Hi there,

Well this has been a real roller coaster of a ride for me. My wife is a USC and I am a UKC and we are currently living in the UK.

After being in AP for 11 months, the US embassy FINALLY asked for me to send in my passport last month. According to the DC Office I should receive my passport, brown envelop, visa etc back in 5-10 days. As my story goes, it is well over 15 working days and still nothing!

To add to this on going saga, my wife is 27 weeks pregnant and the doctor has stated that we should go before or on the 28 week mark. I have been emailing the US Embassy asking for an update, stating that this is an emergency and still nothing!!

Very frustrating, and even more disheartening.

I really do not know what to do anymore ... I would have thought that with a medical emergency that the situation would have changed.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

It has been 13 working days since I sent my passport to the embassy. I emailed them today and they said that it is still being looked at by a Consular Officer and if I want my passport back then I should let them know. I am thinking of emailing them back and saying "yes please back my passport ... with my visa!!"

Frustrating to wait, really was hoping that I would get it this week.

Hi Rob and Jill,

I was wondering how long you had to wait to receive your visa?

We are waiting to receive our visa, (hopefully this week) then we will look into booking our flights.

Congrats!

Rumor is always about a week to get the visa. DO NOT SCHEDULE FLIGHTS based on this information. Take it from experience. We were guaranteed that same amount of time and it didn't happen.

Kristin,

Congrats on getting the big brown envelop!

How long did you have to wait for it? I am still waiting for mine, really hoping that I will get it this week!

My fiance received his passport back and the lovely brown envelope this mornign ;-) Exciting times!

Hi Nich-Nick

Thanks for the info.

Send my passport last week and I am hoping to receive it next week, fingers crossed!

Thanks again

All of your paper files are couriered back to the US by YOU. The brown envelope will have petition files, the London visa/interview files, and your medical results from Knightsbridge. You will need your passport, an I-94 form, and US customs form. Normally you fill out those forms on the plane before landing.

Look in the menu bar for a link called POE and you can find reviews where people tell what questions they were asked.

Hi guys,

I am still waiting for the embassy to get back to me with my passport / visa. I have read through the many posts and threads on here about the POE and the next stages.

Many people refer to the "brown envelop" that they receive from the embassy which they need to give to immigration upon arrival. I was wondering what is in this envelop? I was reading the reviews on the POE and was wondering if there is anything else that I need to provide? and what questions they might ask?

Any information would be great!

Cheers!

Congratulations schotland, when did you did you send your passport?

I have flown to the US from the UK a few times while my application was still outstanding, both 1-130 and through AP and have had no problems.

best to get a letter from your lawyer stating that you are visiting and that you will be returning on the selected date.

Hey everyone here

i just got married to my wife who i have dated 2 yrs ago in nigeria last month.she has gone back to the US and filled l-130 pettition and we awaits the approval.But we missed echother so much and i want to visit her and spend some few weeks and return back to nigeria.pls can anyone here advise me on the outcome of this if the embassy will refuse me visa or if it will affect my pettition if i should apply for a visitors visa.pls i need advise

Hi there,

After 11 months in AP the US embassy has finally requested me to send in my passport (8th March). Unfortunately my medical certificate was to due to expire (only valid for year) so I had this redone last week in London.

According to Knightsbridge Surgery, DX courier services, and the US Embassy it should take 10 days for me to receive my passport. I was wondering if anyone else has sent in their passport (london embassy) and how long it took to receive back your passport and visa?

Cheers!

That's great news. So did your fiance receive a text from DX Couriers?

Hi Guys,

It is going to be 1 year for me in AP come April. My wife is a USC I am a UKC and we have been living here for the last 5 years. We had our interview in London last April and since then it has a been a very frustrating time with no news.

My wife is expecting in June and we would of liked to be settled in the US by then.

I call the DoS every week and email the Embassy every month but still no words. We have even hired a lawyer in DC who has contacts in the DoS but still there seems to be little movement.

Is anyone else in AP as long as I have or done anything different?

- A Frustrated Scotlandmd

Hi Guys,

It is going to be 1 year for me in AP come April. My wife is a USC I am a UKC and we have been living here for the last 5 years. We had our interview in London last April and since then it has a been a very frustrating time with no news.

My wife is expecting in June and we would of liked to be settled in the US by then.

I call the DoS every week and email the Embassy every month but still no words. We have even hired a lawyer in DC who has contacts in the DoS but still there seems to be little movement.

Is anyone else in AP as long as I have or done anything different?

- A Frustrated Scotlandmd

Hi Guys,

Congrats to all of those who have finally received their Visas! I can understand how big a relief this can be.

I have been calling the DOS on a weekly basis and unfortunately there has been no update. I was wondering what everyone asks when they call the DOS? I call, give my reference number, and then they say its in AP. The call lasts just over a minute. Does anyone else ask any other questions or manage to get more details from the DOS?

Cheers

9 months today!

oh well......

Hi DP

It seem like you have had more luck with the congressman / senator than i have! I contacted my wives congressman to enquire about our case and unfortunately it came back as AP.

I have talked to a few lawyers and they have all said that unless the congressman / senator takes a personal interest and follows this through then nothing much will happen.

who was your congressman and what process did they go through?

"scotlandmd"... follow-up with AP through a lawyer is total waste of money (my personal take). You should do it through your US Congressman/Congresswoman OR US Senator. I did it, it worked like a charm.

I have been in AP for coming up 9 months now. I am a UKC married to a USC and what more have no links to Pakistan or any other middle eastern country.

I have recently hired a lawyer to get to the bottom of this so hopefully we will see how things pan out. It is a very very frustrating situation to be in and it gets more frustrating when people say "sit back and relax it will come when it comes" but honestly thats all you can do to keep yourself sane.

I hope that you all get through AP soon and please keep me in your prayers too!!

HI Johan,

I hope that you are doing well.

In regards to your first question, you are allowed to travel to the US as a visitor while your application is pending. I have travelled 3 times since filing my application and in each case my lawyer has advised me to carry a letter from him stating the nature of my trip and my intended date of departure.

But as my lawyer has always said, be prepared if they deny you entry. But in my experience I have had no problems with this issue.

Hi Everyone,

First of all, just wanted to say what an invaluable website this is

I'm Johan, I'm Australian and my wife is from Chicago. We are both currently residing in Colombia, South America working as English teachers. We now want to relocate to the states but my wife wants to wait until she gets a job offer before we apply for the visa. Anyways I have a few questions and it will be great if anyone can help us with it:

1. Once we have lodged the I-130, would it be possible for me to enter the US on a tourist visa?

2. Would it be possible to arrange the interview in the US? Or will I have to fly back to Colombia for this?

3. Is it possible to do the whole application process in the states?

4. How long does the process usually takes all up? From what I have read on this website is seems to usually take less than 6 months, but has anyone experience longer processing times?

5. Is it true that police clearances are valid for a year? What are people's experience with this?

Thanks everyone!

Johan

Hi Guys,

IT seems that everyone one here is applying from India through the Delhi Office.

I was wondering if there is anyone that has applied from another country??

UK? Italy? Ireland? etc..

I have applied through the London Office in the UK and have been waiting for neatly 9 months now. I have recently hired a lawyer to try and follow this up. It would be geat to hear from someone who has applied from other than India.

Cheers!

Congrats!!

Its coming up for 9 months AP for me and i filled my application in London!

Please pray for me that I hear something back this month

We did submit the passport at vfs office same day. Got call at 1.30 pm

and passport was subimtted at 2.45 pm

Thanks Amankular

And

Thank you Deep2009 for alert.

When did you get a call from the US Embassy? I thought everything was closed for the New Year!

Got a call from US embassy to submit the passport at vfs office.

Amankular,

I have been waiting for 8 months now! I am a UKC married to a USC and filed in London which is even more amazing. Who would of thought that I would be waiting for 8 months while people from Pakistan and India would already have received their visa!

Now that the holiday season is in full swing I am not expecting to hear anything till the second week of January.

Amankular and everyone else, have you hired a lawyer that is looking into your case?

All the best

I will post. . . . but still nothing...it's been almost 4 month now.. . .so do you think congressional inquiry help??

Hi guys, 8 months in AP now!

Sad times.

According to the lawyer it is because my middle name is Mohammad!

Even tho I am a UKC, have no links to Pakistan or the middle east, I seem to be in AP for the longest time!

Fingers crossed I hear some positives before the new year! :S

Any idea why youre in AP, scotlandmd?

Hoping it all comes through real soon for you!

Yes, same here.

There is one guy called Jessy who is very helpful. If you get a chance to talk to him ask him questions, he usually has some good advice.

yes 202 663 1225 then press 1 and then 0