Consulate Issues related to end of AP

[RFQ 110]

(Please move this to an appropriate spot if need be other than regional specific as I want general information)

So we've been in AP since April 2013 with Cairo Consulate-- FFWD to November 2013:

We plan a trip to England to visit beneficiary's parents, and find a middle ground we can visit each other as there has been no update on CEAC or Egypt consulate website. I send a series of emails to Cairo Consulate to ask questions about the return of beneficiary's passport so he may travel. They mention nothing more than exactly what I ask.

3 days after I sent an official email request for the passport returned, DHL delivers it. On the passport is a Post-It note that says you need an updated TB and Police report. At first I think nothing of it. Then in MENA someone who interviewed two weeks before me says they got a phone call requesting updated documents and that AP was over, so this makes me wonder a bit if this POST-IT was a cryptic message of some sort with invisible ink telling me AP is over. (Doesn't seem likely to me since there has been no official email or phone call stating so in the many correspondences over the last month). Nevertheless I send an email to Cairo Consulate asking them the meaning of this Post-It.

Today this arrives:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Consular, Cairo IV <ConsularCairoIV@state.gov>
Date: Sun, Nov 17, 2013 at 6:06 AM
Subject: RE: Passport Return: CRO########
To: R******** <********@gmail.com>

Kindly note that the admin processing has completed that is why we have asked you to renew the documents.

Regards,

Consular Section

U.S Embassy, Cairo

MO

I would be excited except that now I'm pissed off and its Sunday and I can't call anyone to find out what kind of game these people are playing now. Why did they not tell me AP was complete? Why didn't they call? We could have left the passport there a couple more weeks if we knew AP was done since our travel plans aren't for four more weeks....


What do we do now VJ family? Who do we call? And who can I send a nasty letter too about the incompetency of the Consulate (after they stamp the visa )?

Edited November 17, 2013 by RFQ

[A_M 7]

Hello! first of all Congratulations for you ... second you cant renew the TP test without the passport ... let him go and renew it and send it ASAP to the embassy with his passport and Police clearance. waiting for another few days no problem if he will get the passport back with his visa ... congratulations again and good luck in-sha-allah

[Jeanna 21]

Just be happy! Alhamdulillah. So many people LANGUISH in AP for months and years, even. I know it's been a long time but alhamdulillah it seems to be over now. You can send a letter later but NOBODY cares. It's a sad truth. People have complained for years but there seems to be little to no accountability. Our last go-round was pretty good but the first time it took them ten months just to deny our I-129F at USCIS, didn't even make it to the NVC or the embassy.

Insha'Allah you get your visa soon!

[RFQ 110]

I am afraid to be happy-- 8 months of AP... hard to believe if its really over. Alhamdulillah for this and all things we have been blessed with. Its just so idk... overwhelming-- all of it.

DH already has plane tickets to be in England/Europe for 1 month on Dec. 13. I wonder if we can get his visa/TB/PR back to them, and then back to us in time for him to depart for UK. He has an interview for a UK visa in 4 days, insha'Allah.

This will be a bit complicated.

[alex_dc4 5]

Congratulations .. Yes the wait is over .. You have less than a month before your husband leaves to UK . I think you guys should be fine .you should work on the documents needed ASAP. By the time he has his visa from UK mail every thing back to embassy and request the visa to be printed as soon as they can .. Visa should not take more than a week some times up to 2 weeks . Maybe you should send them a copy of your husband's ticket to UK to help expedite the process . No worries things will work out for you guys . Hard days are over . Good luck

[NikLR 13,220]

Congrats, get the the details they asked for and get this over and done with ASAP!!

[RFQ 110]

I'd like to see if they can get it done ASAP but it will be difficult with him having another embassy interview in the next few days-- they may hold his passport. As God wills, thus it will be. We may be able to rush it but we can't do anything that will risk him missing his flight. We may have to wait the 2 months... which at least 1 month we'll be together (isA)

Is it possible to file a formal expedite at this point? Who could I talk to in order to make sure we will have the passport in hand the week of the trip?

Edited November 17, 2013 by RFQ

[AYMAN_RINA 92]

congrats to you both

[alex_dc4 5]

Email the embassy with your questions . They should not have any reasosn to turn yoour request down since it is only a matter of printing the visa on your husband's passport .

[RFQ 110]

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWD I HATE THIS CONSULATE-- at least the email answer-er. A7l-- Its almost over.

This is the detailed explanation copy and pasted from my email. This is how they answer questions there. :/

I would appreciate a detailed explanation of what we do from here.

1) How do we deliver updated documents and passport? Via DHL
2) How long will it take to finish the final processing of the CR1 visa?We cannot predicate the time frame.
3) My husband departs on Dec. 13, 2013 for England for a 1 month stay. What is your advice on our next steps? Should be in US before the expiration date of his immigrant visa.
4) Is there a way to speak to someone in real time by telephone either at the Consulate Cairo, or US DoS? If so, can you please give me the phone numbers?no,calls all concerns have to addressed to this email address.

[NikLR 13,220]

/facepalm

[RFQ 110]

LOL...so I still have no idea who and where to send documents to other than by dhl to the embassy. Thank God for VJ and mena peeps who will help sort me out.

I would send another email but the smartass in me is just itching to do the writing prolly should lock her away for 2 more months.

Question:

Now we've made it this far and will be spending a month together soon. Do we wait it out until the first week of March to make his entry so we are passed the 2yr anniversary? Tough choice...

[AYMAN_RINA 92]

Lol wait and get pass the 2 year anniversary

[relshamy 11]

RFQ, congratsssssssssssssssss girl on the approval. Don't be upset. Remember some people would just "kill" to receive this email from the embassy about the admin processing being complete. I remember I was on cloud 9 when I got that email from the embassy :D

Just get the med. exams and police reports done and you will get your visa 10-15 days after they receive your documents. That's what happened with us and a bunch of other people. I think he should be getting the full validity visa which expires after 6 months, so if he wants to travel and then go to the USA he shouldn't have any trouble. Good luck and congrats again

[RFQ 110]

Thank you so much for well wishes, prayers, advice and all VJ.

Yes, I'm happy and still a bit in disbelief. I have calmed down a bit-- as much as I can. Maybe now I am letting myself start to miss my spouse and feel emotion again. When it gets to this long I think survival depends on being able to tuck some of the emotion away so it doesn't eat at you and hurt you so much. Is this denial? or suppression? Probably so, but its time to take down that wall and get excited!!!! Alhamdulillah.

I am researching the lifting of conditions/permanent green card now so I can make a rational decision after he returns from Egypt. Belgium has officially commandeered the passport until its time for DH to depart so as dumb as it sounds... we will not be getting our visa for another 2 months for our own fault!

Edited November 20, 2013 by RFQ