Called DOS today

[Waheed and Kris 0]

11 weeks of waiting

Writing the embassy and the only responses.... write again in two weeks

Called DOS twice only to get disappointing information that our case has had no activity since interview

But TODAY.... I called DOS and they told me the case is in Islamabad embassy. Lots of activity over the last couple of days. Our case is being processed.

I know this is not much information but at least there is activity. Made me smile

[Nita&Assaad 0]

That good!! I am Praying for you guys!!! Inshallah you will get it soon!!! Seems your Embassy is quiet hard to get a hold of and they seem to be slow Hope they response soon

Good Luck

Nita

[KandD 1]

Thats great !!!!! How do you get them to tell you anything without shutting you down? I called the other day and asked the status of our case they always say its in adminstrative processing they wont give me any other info. I even tried to get tricky and say how long have you had our case and the lady said since the interview. DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. They wont give you any indication that its even being worked on or anything. It SUCKS . I think this is the worse part of the whole process. At least at the CSC or VSC a touch gave you some kind of hope. There is no hope here.

[Waheed and Kris 0]

Oh this is the hardest part. We went through AP already when we were at the NVC level for over six weeks and I thought that was horrible... now we are at 11 weeks at the Embassy level. I think that if they would just give us some information it would be enough to keep us going. I know when I heard just that little information it was enough to lift my spirits. Hope you hear something soon.

[hyd617 1]

Oh this is the hardest part. We went through AP already when we were at the NVC level for over six weeks and I thought that was horrible... now we are at 11 weeks at the Embassy level. I think that if they would just give us some information it would be enough to keep us going. I know when I heard just that little information it was enough to lift my spirits. Hope you hear something soon.

wowwww this is great news! im sure u r suppperrr excited!! i know u had the interview the same day as my husband

ive been reading your posts as well!!

i bet your case is coming to a close and visa is sooon to be issued!!

sometimes when i call DOS they dont give me much info except mam ur case is under AP!!

when i ask them how long you had my file, they say since the interview!

but i know thats a lie bc when my congressmans office contacted the embassy they said they sent our case on aug 20th to DOS!!!

it gets soo frustrating! some good news from DOS really makes my day go by realy well!!

last ttime i talked to them, this week, CHRIS from DOS said looks like ur case in last 30 days of AP.. so i acted DUMB , and i said oh u mean to say i can hear something anytime soon within 30 days, he said yes!

i hope he is right.. how does he know? maybe he can see something on the screen on my records i dont know..

other operators say they cant tell us any more than ur case is under AP bc they cannot see anything else

anywyas keep us updated! im so happpy for you!!!!

[JULIAFERNO 0]

11 weeks of waiting

Writing the embassy and the only responses.... write again in two weeks

Called DOS twice only to get disappointing information that our case has had no activity since interview

But TODAY.... I called DOS and they told me the case is in Islamabad embassy. Lots of activity over the last couple of days. Our case is being processed.

I know this is not much information but at least there is activity. Made me smile

That's great! It looks like a lot of people are hearing positive news lately. I haven't called DOS in weeks, but maybe I should call tomorrow! Your interview was a day before my fiance's, although in a different country.

I hope this good news keeps up!

[tammy2688 1]

I agree activity is good! Just be glad your AP wasn't 13 months. Hope you guys get the visa soon!

God bless,

Tam

[chaingang 7]

I agree activity is good! Just be glad your AP wasn't 13 months. Hope you guys get the visa soon!

God bless,

Tam

congrats , to you , that u find out some thing is going on at least case is not passive some where sitting on the table covered by dust , so thats great news , now days all here are getting good news from their embassies , so keep your hopes high inshallah things will be fine ,

tammy don't worry your happiness will be better than all of us , your news will be , that embassy sent passport to your husband , having visa stamped on it ,

Have a faith in Allah , he is listening to all of us

Again i will say " THERE IS DELAY BUT THERE ISN'T DENY IN THE KINGDOM OF ALLAH"

Allah bless us all

Amin

[JULIAFERNO 0]

I called DOS today. Not sure who I spoke with, although it was a woman.

Of course she told me, case is still pending. I asked when the last update was and she said August 27th I asked, "So is that when you received the file?" She said "No, we don't receive anything - the embassy has it." I said, "So all of this is being done at the embassy?" She said "yes." Hmmm.

[tammy2688 1]

Julia,

Don't let them get you confused. The work they do in the first part of AP is in DOS then embassy review, it's not related to where the file is physically.The case is ALWAYS "at" the embassy but they wire the files to DOS and so they are "at" DOS too. Physically it is always at the embassy.

Just keep in mind that because the last update was Aug 27, that your next update is due soon. I would this this is a really good position to be in. Your next update may very well be that AP is completed.

God bless,

Tam

Edited October 17, 2008 by tammy2688

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Julia,

Don't let them get you confused. The work they do in the first part of AP is in DOS then embassy review, it's not related to where the file is physically.The case is ALWAYS "at" the embassy but they wire the files to DOS and so they are "at" DOS too. Physically it is always at the embassy.

Just keep in mind that because the last update was Aug 27, that your next update is due soon. I would this this is a really good position to be in. Your next update may very well be that AP is completed.

God bless,

Tam

Tammy - do they update on a regular basis? Our first update was almost exactly 1 month after Onur's interview. And, what are these updates anyway?

[tammy2688 1]

Usually a check that is done, among the multiple checks, they even call an embassy appintment to say they will extend AP as an "update" ya don't even get me started with that!

They call one part of a check being done an update, if they view your file at the embassy, they call it an update, if the embassy answers an inquiry they call it an update. Best updates are "the set of security checks are done" or better yet, "AP completed" update. Finally the best update, which no one calls to hear because the applicant knows first is "visa issued."

They usually take about 2 months to do one task for certain countries, and because you AP is merely 2 months long, it is normal for you not to have too many updates. At about 4 months they get 2 things done, look at it that way. 6 months, 3 things - so its 1 activity/2 months. Generally if after the checks are completed and they DO NOT EXPIRE, the visa is issued by the 5th-6th month.

-Tam

Edited October 18, 2008 by tammy2688

[hyd617 1]

Usually a check that is done, among the multiple checks, they even call an embassy appintment to say they will extend AP as an "update" ya don't even get me started with that!

They call one part of a check being done an update, if they view your file at the embassy, they call it an update, if the embassy answers an inquiry they call it an update. Best updates are "the set of security checks are done" or better yet, "AP completed" update. Finally the best update, which no one calls to hear because the applicant knows first is "visa issued."

They usually take about 2 months to do one task for certain countries, and because you AP is merely 2 months long, it is normal for you not to have too many updates. At about 4 months they get 2 things done, look at it that way. 6 months, 3 things - so its 1 activity/2 months. Generally if after the checks are completed and they DO NOT EXPIRE, the visa is issued by the 5th-6th month.

-Tam

thanks tammy, this was very helpful! apparently last update to my case was sept 2, when told by DOS..

[chaingang 7]

Usually a check that is done, among the multiple checks, they even call an embassy appintment to say they will extend AP as an "update" ya don't even get me started with that!

They call one part of a check being done an update, if they view your file at the embassy, they call it an update, if the embassy answers an inquiry they call it an update. Best updates are "the set of security checks are done" or better yet, "AP completed" update. Finally the best update, which no one calls to hear because the applicant knows first is "visa issued."

They usually take about 2 months to do one task for certain countries, and because you AP is merely 2 months long, it is normal for you not to have too many updates. At about 4 months they get 2 things done, look at it that way. 6 months, 3 things - so its 1 activity/2 months. Generally if after the checks are completed and they DO NOT EXPIRE, the visa is issued by the 5th-6th month.

-Tam

thanks tammy, this was very helpful! apparently last update to my case was sept 2, when told by DOS..

tammy nice explantion but still i am confused then why one case take years and one case is finished with in months

see what us embassy islamabad pakistan says about this

1. I appeared at the U.S Embassy for my interview. I was told that administrative processing is required for my case. What does this mean?

Administrative Processing is a standard procedure required by law for visa applications. It is a normal process and it does not mean anything is wrong with your case. The processing is not completed here at the U.S. Embassy and we have no control over the processing time, nor any influence on the processing. Some cases take longer to process than others; this does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with your case. Once the administrative processing has been completed, we will continue with your visa application. We will contact you to let you know when your case is complete, and will ask you to return your passport if we have not retained it. Once we have printed your visa, we will return your passport along with the visa packet via our approved courier. If it has been more than 10 months since your interview, please e-mail Pakivquery@state.gov with the date of your interview and case number. However, please note that routine administrative processing questions for cases less than 10 months will not be answered.

[tammy2688 1]

The cases take long time when the embassies don't work on them promptly and they are left to EXPIRE. That is deadly, as it can add over 8 more months to the case. This happened to my husband.

Embassies of richer, non-muslim or non muslim-majority countries, even ones that are slightly better financially but of the same region, like Lebanon, get their checks done fast.

It seems ones again, the rich get richer...poor get poorer. People with short AP's get it REALLY short, people who get it long get it excrutiatingly long.

For the statement of the Islamabad upon AP issuance:

Administrative Processing is a standard procedure required by law for visa applications. (standard - means they are not picking on you, or holding prejudice/bias, this is standard for every male of those regions by law and now increasingly more women) It is a normal process and it does not mean anything is wrong with your case. (yes basically what i said - you are not to worry that its ONLY you, its for everyone...thought i find that hard to believe as I see people from same coutries get out at 3 months then some at 13...its not conistent because theyre ARE differences among cases) The processing is not completed here at the U.S. Embassy and we have no control over the processing time, nor any influence on the processing. ( the secirty checks are done at DOS and there isnt much the embassy can do so if you go there begging for hep you get none unless DOS states to submit passport or that AP is done) Some cases take longer to process than others; this does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with your case. ( well thats freakin great cause it sure makes you feel like you fund to all the terrorists when they take so long) Once the administrative processing has been completed, we will continue with your visa application. ( they are really good about this step, they indeed immediately call or set appointment once AP is done) We will contact you to let you know when your case is complete, and will ask you to return your passport if we have not retained it. (yes this is very true, they call almost immediately) Once we have printed your visa, we will return your passport along with the visa packet via our approved courier. (for other embassies, they stamp the visa and ask the applicant to come pick it up, but for islamabad, and other countries, this is the case) If it has been more than 10 months since your interview, please e-mail Pakivquery@state.gov with the date of your interview and case number. (here its showing anything less than 10 months is rare...most do go over this time in islamabad, especially now, and they dont make a promise to do anything after you e-mail so this is useless at the most) However, please note that routine administrative processing questions for cases less than 10 months will not be answered. ( there is nothing to say before 10 months, it is just in AP, after 10 months it is normal to start getting restless so people are allowed to e-mail after this time frame - whether they get an answer or not is a different story.)

I am feeling sick of all these ups and downs. I want this to be over for all of us. That's purely and fully from my heart.