Any Tips for Surviving AP Hell?

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

After previously posting here about the "Home Visit" the investigator phoned my fiancee and got more information from him and then came back to Alexandria and visited his neighbors and was able to confirm that H spends some time at his shared flat and some time at his mother's flat and that he has been living in the shared flat for several years (which means he is obviously divorced). The investigator told H that he had also gone on the first trip to the court in Manchea and verified H's divorce papers. H gave him his ex-wife's address in case he wanted to go to her place and check out whether or not H was ever seen going into her flat... but we don't know if he went there or not. He misrepresented himself to H's neighbors so it's hard to tell

It seems that they should have plenty of information to substantiate H's divorce. But no one will tell us what the next step is. I emailed the Consulate and offered to give them contact information for many other people who know H and his ex-wife and know me. I asked them what more they need to know and the only response was "difficult to estimate time needed to complete AP, your fiancee will be notified of the next step".

I'm wondering if they stall even more when you ask questions just to "punish" you for asking. Any tips for dealing with this or surviving this?

I have no idea what more they want, they don't ask for anything and don't tell me anything either. It's just plain bizarre that they have the resources to spend running around Egypt asking everyone if H is divorced after they have seen the paperwork with their own eyes at the Court. So glad they are so "protective" of me.

Anyone know of anything that works to move the process forward?

[Ban Hammer 13,498]

[~Jackie~ 30]

If you're glad they are so protective of you,then so am I ! Go USCIS!

jJ

[doodlebugg 10]

It *is* hard to tell for a few reasons. Firstly, in the past we'd all know that Cairo was slllllllllllooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww. My case took 8 1/2 months from the interview till visa was in hand. This was a few months after the home visit. Some get theirs quicker.

Only thing I can tell you is do what you need to do, i.e. email consulate weekly, call DOS weekly, contact your senator/congressmen and see what they can do. Beyond that there is nothing more that can be done but wait with everyone else. I know it sucks, I've been there but for me, just trying to keep my mind off of it helped a LOT. Coming here and venting, going shopping, spending some "me" time alone, cleaning up the house and preparing...that's all you can really do. Hang in there and maybe buy some video games to pass the time. Are they even called video games anymore since there's technically no "video" in them? lol

[tammy2688 1]

You can do a search on my topics and see all my explanations, exasperations, hopes and wishes and ways to survive this AP hell. Honestly I used to afraid of 8 months of AP, I thought I could never do it. Now at 10 months, I did it and it is longer than about 98% of the people here in MENA and in most other consulates. There are a few exceptions, people who are close to me who have done this longer than 1 year - 14 months, but overall it is ridiculously long in my view.

The best thing to do is pray, keep your mind on God and remember that things only happen in God's time, not yours.

Follow Bridget's advice, and do your best to think positive. Its ok to go crazy somtimes but just pull yourself back together and tell your SO how much you love them.

It will be all right.

Tammy

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

If you're glad they are so protective of you,then so am I ! Go USCIS!

jJ

Just being sarcastic, at 50 years old I think I can manage myself.. but so glad to know Uncle Sam thinks he has to do it for me... UGH....

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

It *is* hard to tell for a few reasons. Firstly, in the past we'd all know that Cairo was slllllllllllooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww. My case took 8 1/2 months from the interview till visa was in hand. This was a few months after the home visit. Some get theirs quicker.

Only thing I can tell you is do what you need to do, i.e. email consulate weekly, call DOS weekly, contact your senator/congressmen and see what they can do. Beyond that there is nothing more that can be done but wait with everyone else. I know it sucks, I've been there but for me, just trying to keep my mind off of it helped a LOT. Coming here and venting, going shopping, spending some "me" time alone, cleaning up the house and preparing...that's all you can really do. Hang in there and maybe buy some video games to pass the time. Are they even called video games anymore since there's technically no "video" in them? lol

Thanks Bridget for the ideas... I know how to email the consultate for SURE! Who do I call at the DOS??? Is there an office that actually handles this or I call the main switchboard and start being transferred all around??? I've worked with my congressman and senators before when my ex was in deportation years ago and they were kind and sympathetic but couldn't do a dang thing. USCIS has all the cards in their hands...

I don't mind being patient for a reason, but their lack of transparency and honesty is appalling. I'm supposed to practically tell them what color of underwear I've got on at any given time but their investigator is allowed to mispresent himself and his purposes when he's out stirring up gossip about my fiancee in his neighborhood.

If you have any phone numbers or names of depts at the DOS please share and I'll start ringing their phones off the wall...

Thanks,

K

[belinda63 3,046]

call 1-202-663-1225 push 1 then 0 and wait. Depending on who you get you may or may not be told anything. I had answers that ranged from "you need to just wait until the consulate contacts you" to people who were very helpful and explained a lot of the process to me.

As to what to do while you are waiting, clean, throw out all the old stuff, bang your head on the wall, write letters to congressmen, DOS, DHS, etc explaining how messed up the process is, chase the cat, work, play video games, try to learn some of his language, beat your head on the wall some more,

OK, so maybe I have been waiting a little to long on AP.

Wonder if there is a psychiatric diagnosis for this, AP paranoia?

[S and S 12]

call 1-202-663-1225 push 1 then 0 and wait. Depending on who you get you may or may not be told anything. I had answers that ranged from "you need to just wait until the consulate contacts you" to people who were very helpful and explained a lot of the process to me.

As to what to do while you are waiting, clean, throw out all the old stuff, bang your head on the wall, write letters to congressmen, DOS, DHS, etc explaining how messed up the process is, chase the cat, work, play video games, try to learn some of his language, beat your head on the wall some more,

OK, so maybe I have been waiting a little to long on AP.

Wonder if there is a psychiatric diagnosis for this, AP paranoia?

There must be something because I think most of use waiting get some form of depression from it. I totally understand the beating the head on the wall. The urge strikes me every so often.

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

Thanks for the number belinda..... I guess I might not end up using it since I got an email this morning telling me that AP has been completed and they are now "reviewing for issuance". Whatever the HECK that means... I'm too jaded to be doing the dance of joy because only the lord knows what "reviewing for issuance" means... But at least we're out of "AP".....

My forehead is already flat from banging my head on the wall over many issues related to this process so a few more whacks won't be noticeable.... But at least they didn't take weeks to reply this time!

Thanks for your suggestions and info and I hope you get good news soon!

K

P.S. Just remember what they say, "just because you are paranoid does NOT mean they are NOT out to get you!"

call 1-202-663-1225 push 1 then 0 and wait. Depending on who you get you may or may not be told anything. I had answers that ranged from "you need to just wait until the consulate contacts you" to people who were very helpful and explained a lot of the process to me.

As to what to do while you are waiting, clean, throw out all the old stuff, bang your head on the wall, write letters to congressmen, DOS, DHS, etc explaining how messed up the process is, chase the cat, work, play video games, try to learn some of his language, beat your head on the wall some more,

OK, so maybe I have been waiting a little to long on AP.

Wonder if there is a psychiatric diagnosis for this, AP paranoia?

[Ahmed & Sue 0]

Best of luck to you......

We are going into our 6th week of "review for issuance". At one point we were put back into administrative processing. All I am saying is that it ain't over til the visa is in hand.

And yes, it drives you nuts. Join the club. Hey, they formed an "I'm married to a hot Arab" club, why didn't we form an "In AP/AR and going nuts if you want to join us" club???? Maybe we need a separate column just to vent. Might help. Maybe having somewhere to vent on the really bad days would relieve some of the stress. And let me tell you, dealing with the Cairo embassy is ALL about stress!

Hope things happen fast for you.

LOL Charles.........make mine 3 scoops. Think I deserve it!

[Ban Hammer 13,498]

LOL Charles.........make mine 3 scoops. Think I deserve it!

you better hurry, i've been chowing down while no one noticed the pic

[tammy2688 1]

LOL Charles.........make mine 3 scoops. Think I deserve it!

you better hurry, i've been chowing down while no one noticed the pic

I noticed and have been craving some since then. Gimme 2 scoops will ya?

[Ban Hammer 13,498]

LOL Charles.........make mine 3 scoops. Think I deserve it!

you better hurry, i've been chowing down while no one noticed the pic

I noticed and have been craving some since then. Gimme 2 scoops will ya?