Nothing Outstanding Against Case in AP But No Word from the Embassy

[StuckInAP 0]

I would appreciate everyone's help with this. My spouse has been in AP for a few months now. I called the Department of State this morning and they said there is nothing else pending on the case but we have not received a call yet from the embassy. I am not sure what to do next with this. Do I just wait? Should I email or call the embassy? Is there a chance the embassy could order more checks/AP or are we in the clear? What should we do from here and what could possibly happen next?

[Lars-N-Yenia 8]

I would appreciate everyone's help with this. My spouse has been in AP for a few months now. I called the Department of State this morning and they said there is nothing else pending on the case but we have not received a call yet from the embassy. I am not sure what to do next with this. Do I just wait? Should I email or call the embassy? Is there a chance the embassy could order more checks/AP or are we in the clear? What should we do from here and what could possibly happen next?

after our interview we were informed that some sort of "AP" was needed and that the embassy would call "in a few days"...after a few days went by I called the embassy each and everyday for the next 3 weeks, and everytime I called I told them I would be calling everyday...on one call she said she was going to put a remark in the system that I would be calling everyday...2 days later the visa was approved...

[MaryandMian 1]

StuckInAP,

Most males coming from Pakistan have been running in AP for 5 -6 months. A few cases do get released sooner so not sure how long your few months have been. Once your checks are finalized in the US they are transmitted via cable back to Islamabad and then the CO will have an SAO meeting. At this meeting he/she and the staff will discuss the cases that have been sent back to them. At this meeting they will decide on whether they will issue the visa, ask for more security checks in the US, or have a field investigation.

EID falls I believe on December 9th so I would not expect to hear anything from the embassy until after then. I would call them maybe next week at this time and ask them for an update. Sometimes they do not call the applicant but send them a letter to return with their passport on certain days of the week. They would then keep the passport and mail it back to your husband via a courier usually around 2 weeks time for processing.

Good luck!

[WonTanNara 0]

I would appreciate everyone's help with this. My spouse has been in AP for a few months now. I called the Department of State this morning and they said there is nothing else pending on the case but we have not received a call yet from the embassy. I am not sure what to do next with this. Do I just wait? Should I email or call the embassy? Is there a chance the embassy could order more checks/AP or are we in the clear? What should we do from here and what could possibly happen next?

after our interview we were informed that some sort of "AP" was needed and that the embassy would call "in a few days"...after a few days went by I called the embassy each and everyday for the next 3 weeks, and everytime I called I told them I would be calling everyday...on one call she said she was going to put a remark in the system that I would be calling everyday...2 days later the visa was approved...

Well then you were one of the extremely lucky ones if you only experienced 3 weeks of AP.

MENA and sub-Saharan African countries seem to be getting the worst of it.

Welcome to the club, StuckInAP. AP can last anywhere from a few days to several months and in some cases a year or more. My fiance has been stuck in AP waiting for security checks for just over seven months. There are several others here who have been waiting between 4 and 6 months. Chaingang, also from Pakistan, was stuck in AP for something like 20 months. Prepare for the worst and pray for the best. Have faith that the visa will come when the time is right. The only thing you can do is to keep calling the DOS and the embassy. One day you'll get a nice surprise. I'm still waiting for mine.

PS Stuck you should fill in your timeline.

[StuckInAP 0]

PS Stuck you should fill in your timeline.

Thanks for the advice. This is not my real account. It is just a dummy account because I did not want to make a big deal about what the state department said or make it seem like I was finished AP. AP can take forever! The words from the state department just gave me some hope. I have never heard anything like that from them before when I called. It is always "The case is still in administrative processing blah blah blah." The case has been in Washington pending security checks so from what DOS said, all of them were completed. I just not know what this meant exactly, where to go from here, and what are the possible scenarios. Thanks!!!!

[WonTanNara 0]

PS Stuck you should fill in your timeline.

Thanks for the advice. This is not my real account. It is just a dummy account because I did not want to make a big deal about what the state department said or make it seem like I was finished AP. AP can take forever! The words from the state department just gave me some hope. I have never heard anything like that from them before when I called. It is always "The case is still in administrative processing blah blah blah." The case has been in Washington pending security checks so from what DOS said, all of them were completed. I just not know what this meant exactly, where to go from here, and what are the possible scenarios. Thanks!!!!

Oh you know I misread your original post! My head is tired. So this is good news for you! Chaingang probably has more to offer on this. He's out of Islamabad too and his AP was finished I think sometime in November but I'm not 100% sure. It should be very soon for you I think. I also think you should definitely start calling and emailing the embassy. Don't let them sit on your case and let the checks expire.

Just curious, how long did your security checks take? I'm ready to pull out my hair and my fiance is frustrated too.

[StuckInAP 0]

Once your checks are finalized in the US they are transmitted via cable back to Islamabad and then the CO will have an SAO meeting. At this meeting he/she and the staff will discuss the cases that have been sent back to them. At this meeting they will decide on whether they will issue the visa, ask for more security checks in the US, or have a field investigation.

Mary this is sooo helpful. Do you know by chance if these meetings are held regularly (daily, weekly, monthly). The completed security checks were cabled on December 2nd so they should already have them for a few days. If I don't hear anything in a week or two, what should I do?

[StuckInAP 0]

I just spoke to those sly gooses at the embassy. They said that the visa is approved and there is one last check for missing documents. They said we could get a call today and if I don't hear from them by next Thursday or Friday to call back. I know we need another police certificate but we have that ready. I know people have come this far before only to be disappointed but I am hopeful.

[MaryandMian 1]

Once your checks are finalized in the US they are transmitted via cable back to Islamabad and then the CO will have an SAO meeting. At this meeting he/she and the staff will discuss the cases that have been sent back to them. At this meeting they will decide on whether they will issue the visa, ask for more security checks in the US, or have a field investigation.

Mary this is sooo helpful. Do you know by chance if these meetings are held regularly (daily, weekly, monthly). The completed security checks were cabled on December 2nd so they should already have them for a few days. If I don't hear anything in a week or two, what should I do?

My understanding was in the past that they had the meetings weekly or bi-weekly depending on how busy the staff was and how many cases had cleared. Like I said EID is next Monday or Tuesday and I expect them to be off for a day or two so I would call them on Thursday and see if they have any news. Contact DOS late Wednesday or Thursday since that was when the embassy and DOS had communicated and new notes were on cases from Islamabad.

I just spoke to those sly gooses at the embassy. They said that the visa is approved and there is one last check for missing documents. They said we could get a call today and if I don't hear from them by next Thursday or Friday to call back. I know we need another police certificate but we have that ready. I know people have come this far before only to be disappointed but I am hopeful.

These are all good signs and make sure that your police certificate does not have a short expirary date. Good luck on getting the visa shortly and like you said try to be hopeful but do not rejoice until the visa is in hand.

[choochoo 0]

Hi,

can i ask is your spouse applying for the visa - male or female? Also, when was your interview? Just trying to figure out how long you guys were on AP.

I know this wont give me any idea for our case because every case is different but still just seeing what the trend is.

thanks,

[StuckInAP 0]

I am so sorry to hold out more details from you like gender or how long we were on AP. If I say, I think you will know who I am so I will say if we get the visa. Choochoo, it does not seem your are on AP. Your timeline says you still have not had your interview yet.

[choochoo 0]

Yes, we are not. My husband has his interview 30th this month. I was just trying to figure out the trend. Hopefully i hope he doenst get AP. Good luck on getting your visa!

Thanks,