Calling Islamabad Embassy v 3

[FEISAL 3]

BhajiShah- Yes i get that all the time - I about to turn 28 so i suppose i m

Edited September 4, 2009 by FEISAL

[FEISAL 3]

Mumtazg38 - Yes there have been some who have been lucky not to get an AP - 98% of the males do get it so u need to be mentally ready to hear that. Good Luck

[Omark 3]

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

That's pretty much how I'm handling it...hoping for the best, but am totally prepared for the worst. Ya Ali Madad!

just wanted to know how many people(male) have gotten AP and how many have gotten lucky....it's just that everyone I've talked to off of VJ that went through ISL hasn't experienced AP....in fact they have no idea what that is.....all they know is visa approved and visa mailed right away. That's 5-6 people I know...and I'm not even going to include the people they know and tell me about.lol.

I'm always praying we get lucky and Allah Tallah has mercy on us and my situation..as a expecting mother and a wife.......I cannot make the decision of which is more important to me and Allah knows.....Ya Allah Khair. Ya Hakeem!

Day of my interview,i got there at 8am and my name was called at 12:30pm.Time i had to wait i observed ppl going to the window and leaving with the green letter including women.I remember only one old man got off with no AP and CO drilled him with questions. I was sitting right there i could hear everything and he sounded very frustrated and even at the end he said i dont want to go with this any further.But right after that i heard CO was asking if he knew where AMEX was in islamabad and told him to pick his passport up in 2 weeks. I m not trying to make u feel depressed it is a fact that all men at isl goes on AP.CO told me its a common pratice at ISL and everyone gets AP.......Good Luck and all the best.

[ABENITEZ 0]

Just out of curiosity, are the conditions really bad in Pakistani hospitals for women giving birth??? Good luck and Allah Hafiz.

Well, there are really nice private hospitals here too.....but I've been to 3 deliveries (husbands sister-in-law, and both of husbands sisters) and had been appointed as birthing partner each time....sorta unwillingly (okay...totally unwillingly, but I just don't know how to say no to my mother in law...lol...she scares me...) so I was able to see and experience quite a bit. And to tell you the honest truth....I don't know how pakistani women can do it....they must have tremendous will power and ability to suppress their fears because throughout the entire delivery (each one).....their was NO DOCTOR present untill a bit before the birth and a little after....for taking vitals and signing the paperwork and whatnot. Only the "sisters", (not necessarily nurses....just mid-wives I guess you could say). I know you're a guy and all....but just imagine trying to maintain your calm so you can deliver a baby (excruciating pain and being unable to properly breathe) and being told again and again to "shuttup and stop whining, it's not that big a deal...and it happens like a hundred times a day...and you're being a baby, and no you don't need an epidural...no spinal...not even a tylenol because..well, we went through the same thing and we werent big spoiled babies like you" Then having them ignore you as you are panting for breath and heaving badly so they can turn around (and leave your girly parts just all open for the world to see) to tell you're birthing partner the story of how when she was in labour how she could barely feel it...in fact she gave birth to her baby on a swing in a park and didnt no one notice she was so quiet.....blah blah.

And that went on throughout the entire delivery for my younger sister in law. My older sister in law was told to sit and wait in the waiting room for 2 hours AFTER her water broke infront of the nursing staff. After wards she was told she had not dialated enough for them to give her a room....as all were currently occupied ( we even told them we'd pay upto 3 times as much for a room...any room, but they said no because apparently some lady(liar) said she was some politicians sister!!!, so she got the last room). Eventually my sister in law went into late labor and was ready to have the baby right there in the lobby when they decided to put a stretcher in some nasty store room and had her deliver there. She has some very serious complications during and after the birth and the baby had a broken foot....

And the 3rd one......I was so disgusted when I saw her(my husbands bhabhi - sister in law) husband hand the doctor a wad of cash and then pretend to call some guy named something Rehman...apparently he is some really important govt official or something and without even checking vitals or whether the women is even due today.....they did as she asked them and went straight for a c-section because she just didn't want to deal with the fuss of labor apparently.

I don't know if this is considered "bad enough conditions"......but NO WAY can I risk it! No way I ever will.

Actually, I am a girl, and I have had a baby before, so I deffinetely understand. I dont think I could do that, if I ever have another baby, I want it in a white, steril room, drugged up with a team of medical proffessionals around me at all times lolz. Well, good luck on the interview and I hope you guys figure something out.

[Revived 0]

^you will provide the affidavit of support at the NVC(National Visa Center) stage.. USCIS would approve the case and send it to NVC, thats where you provide the rest of the documents.

K-1 still goes through ISL not NVC. So, above is inaccurate. You will provide I864 w/package 3.5, once approved, your case will be transferred from NVC to ISL, ISL will post mail you a package w/couple of forms and I-864 will be one of them. It's good to be prepared for it in advance.

As for pics you take them w/you to the interview.

good lucks,

[waiting4approval 2]

oh I am sorry, I just assumed that it was CR/IR visa.... my bad!

[waiting4approval 2]

Just out of curiosity, are the conditions really bad in Pakistani hospitals for women giving birth??? Good luck and Allah Hafiz.

Well, there are really nice private hospitals here too.....but I've been to 3 deliveries (husbands sister-in-law, and both of husbands sisters) and had been appointed as birthing partner each time....sorta unwillingly (okay...totally unwillingly, but I just don't know how to say no to my mother in law...lol...she scares me...) so I was able to see and experience quite a bit. And to tell you the honest truth....I don't know how pakistani women can do it....they must have tremendous will power and ability to suppress their fears because throughout the entire delivery (each one).....their was NO DOCTOR present untill a bit before the birth and a little after....for taking vitals and signing the paperwork and whatnot. Only the "sisters", (not necessarily nurses....just mid-wives I guess you could say). I know you're a guy and all....but just imagine trying to maintain your calm so you can deliver a baby (excruciating pain and being unable to properly breathe) and being told again and again to "shuttup and stop whining, it's not that big a deal...and it happens like a hundred times a day...and you're being a baby, and no you don't need an epidural...no spinal...not even a tylenol because..well, we went through the same thing and we werent big spoiled babies like you" Then having them ignore you as you are panting for breath and heaving badly so they can turn around (and leave your girly parts just all open for the world to see) to tell you're birthing partner the story of how when she was in labour how she could barely feel it...in fact she gave birth to her baby on a swing in a park and didnt no one notice she was so quiet.....blah blah.

And that went on throughout the entire delivery for my younger sister in law. My older sister in law was told to sit and wait in the waiting room for 2 hours AFTER her water broke infront of the nursing staff. After wards she was told she had not dialated enough for them to give her a room....as all were currently occupied ( we even told them we'd pay upto 3 times as much for a room...any room, but they said no because apparently some lady(liar) said she was some politicians sister!!!, so she got the last room). Eventually my sister in law went into late labor and was ready to have the baby right there in the lobby when they decided to put a stretcher in some nasty store room and had her deliver there. She has some very serious complications during and after the birth and the baby had a broken foot....

And the 3rd one......I was so disgusted when I saw her(my husbands bhabhi - sister in law) husband hand the doctor a wad of cash and then pretend to call some guy named something Rehman...apparently he is some really important govt official or something and without even checking vitals or whether the women is even due today.....they did as she asked them and went straight for a c-section because she just didn't want to deal with the fuss of labor apparently.

I don't know if this is considered "bad enough conditions"......but NO WAY can I risk it! No way I ever will.

what kind of hospitals have you been visiting.. really?!?! It may not be as great as in the US but its not THIS bad!

My sister had two of her boys in Islamabad and one in Sargodha.. for her second baby, doctor came from home as soon as he found out that her patient was in for delivery.. nurses were always helpful even those kaam wali were super nice.. yeah they all want money when you leave the hospital but then it's a cultural thing in Pakistan.. you celebrate your baby and if that means giving out money to poor people, no harm being done!

I have worked in the ER in US and I have seen doctors treating patients with attitude and nurses showing disgust.. I wont go in details but it really varies! You just had a bad experience not once but thrice but that does not mean everyone had just this miserable of delivery as them! :-)

I wish you a safe and easy delivery. :-)

[MumtazG38 1]

That's completely fair w4a, I completely get your point.....my own sister had her first baby in Pakistan (Lahore) and everything went very pleasently, but that's 1 out of 4 you know.....I just can't get my mind to over look the bad experiences that I did have you know...it's not always like that.....but I just don't know how to forget what I experienced. Trust me, I'm trying my best to over look it and just go to an even better hospital (sialkot has a limited selection of good hospitals....I've checked most of them out)....but the fear just won't let me think straight enough to completely re-assure myself.

[ABENITEZ 0]

Guys, I booked my flight on September 30th from Chicago to Islamabad, stop in Abu Dhabi. Tell me what you think abt Etihad? I'm nervous as I have heard mixed reviews. It was only $571 for one way and just one stop so thats why I took it. Plz tell me your reviews of the airline, I'm so nervous, going to see my husband, interview, meeting his whole family, I cant even think straight!

[waiting4approval 2]

Mumtaz Don't worry about it too much.. inshaAllah everything will be fine.. Allah is the best of the Planners and He has it all planned for you and the baby.. keep praying

Abentiez.. I have been using Etihad since the service has started.. no problems ever.. people have complained about losing their luggage, bad customer service and what not but I always had a good experience.. ALWAYS and I have taken Etihad lets say about six times if not more! The only problem I have is a ratio of journey time from here to Abu Dhabi and then from Abu Dhabi to Pakistan.. it's like 13:2 and those 13 hours seem longer than that since I can't even fall asleep on plane hence teh crankiness when I land at the airport.. so be prepared for a long flight from here and you should be fine.

Good luck and if possible keep us posted from Pakistan.. Enjoy your trip, eat good food, and take lots n lots of pic. :-)

ps: Don't expect much at the Abu Dhabi, it's a small crappy airport with nothing much to offer!

Edited September 5, 2009 by waiting4approval

[Omark 3]

Mumtaz Don't worry about it too much.. inshaAllah everything will be fine.. Allah is the best of the Planners and He has it all planned for you and the baby.. keep praying

Abentiez.. I have been using Etihad since the service has started.. no problems ever.. people have complained about losing their luggage, bad customer service and what not but I always had a good experience.. ALWAYS and I have taken Etihad lets say about six times if not more! The only problem I have is a ratio of journey time from here to Abu Dhabi and then from Abu Dhabi to Pakistan.. it's like 13:2 and those 13 hours seem longer than that since I can't even fall asleep on plane hence teh crankiness when I land at the airport.. so be prepared for a long flight from here and you should be fine.

Good luck and if possible keep us posted from Pakistan.. Enjoy your trip, eat good food, and take lots n lots of pic. :-)

ps: Don't expect much at the Abu Dhabi, it's a small crappy airport with nothing much to offer!

I called DOS yesterday and so called VS said case is pending at the embassy and she said "I suggest you just contact the embassy". Calling DOS is useless in my opinion they never told me any useful info besides the magic word Pending, its better to directly call the embassy to get the update which i will try on monday...hope i get to hear something good soon IA.

[waiting4approval 2]

yeah DOS is good for nothing...in fact even the embassy doesn't reply back until there is any update.. phone service sucks, hubby called couple of times and it didn't even went through then I sent several emails too, the only reply I actually got was once the DOS operator told me it's in teh final review and I shall check back after a week.. I sent an email to embassy on Friday, they replied back on Monday saying the applicant should recieve a call from embassy soon and a few hours later I found out from DOS that visa has been issued. AP is such a frustrating process because they just don't tell you anything whatsoever.. so unfair :-(

good luck and inshaAllah this will be over soon!

[mahzesh 0]

I called DOS yesterday and so called VS said case is pending at the embassy and she said "I suggest you just contact the embassy". Calling DOS is useless in my opinion they never told me any useful info besides the magic word Pending, its better to directly call the embassy to get the update which i will try on monday...hope i get to hear something good soon IA.

I didn't try this but a friend of mine told me that to call islamabad embassy keep pressing 1 and it will go through easily rather than redialling the number

[Omark 3]

I called DOS yesterday and so called VS said case is pending at the embassy and she said "I suggest you just contact the embassy". Calling DOS is useless in my opinion they never told me any useful info besides the magic word Pending, its better to directly call the embassy to get the update which i will try on monday...hope i get to hear something good soon IA.

I didn't try this but a friend of mine told me that to call islamabad embassy keep pressing 1 and it will go through easily rather than redialling the number

Press 1 for english but when they pick up they talk in urdu,i started asking them questions in pushto.....kidding its always busy and ya gotta be keeptryin.

[transformer 0]

That's completely fair w4a, I completely get your point.....my own sister had her first baby in Pakistan (Lahore) and everything went very pleasently, but that's 1 out of 4 you know.....I just can't get my mind to over look the bad experiences that I did have you know...it's not always like that.....but I just don't know how to forget what I experienced. Trust me, I'm trying my best to over look it and just go to an even better hospital (sialkot has a limited selection of good hospitals....I've checked most of them out)....but the fear just won't let me think straight enough to completely re-assure myself.

i live in sialkot.

in the recent past many new hospitals have been built including the islam central hospital(if i am correct) which is pretty good.