Stuck in Administrative Processing after approval

[snicolethurston 0]

I filed for our K1 visa in May - was approved in Sept - Interview for Egyptian fiance took place in Nov - and we got approved.

He was told he would receive his passport with the visa in about 2 months -

We are going on 3 months - and after talking to the american embassy in cairo - was told his case was sent to DC for additional administrative processing.

What does this mean?

Can my Senator Help?

Are we still approved?

No one will tell us anything.

I called the EZVISA people we used to help us work on the paperwork and they said - his name must have come up on a "hot list." Which is ridiculous. Are they profiling because he is arab?

HELP!!!!!!!

[Ban Hammer 13,275]

moved from K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures General Discussion to mena for regional advice.

[Ahmed N Tina 2]

His name probably did get a hit, if it is a common name, it's very typical. This doesn't mean he did something wrong, it just means his name is similar to someone elses that may have. It probably won't help you feel better to know that Wa DC (the FBI) name checks have been back logged, although they are currently trying to catch up on this back log. This is the last part of the checks before they get his visa to him.

My husband had his interview (granted, we are CR1, not K1) in June 08 and they sent us to Wa DC in August. From August to January they told us we were in mandatory AP and that was it. It's really hard to not get any information and be left hanging, but that's what they do best. You can contact your Senator or Congressman and have them check too, but Cairo more than likely won't tell them anything either. At least they'll know it's getting Gov attention.

Something that's helped me is watching the DHL tracking number which they should have given your SO. It will show you when the package has been scanned in Cairo at the embassy (don't confuse the scans with it actually being shipped). At least it helps me to know it's being worked on. I also call DOS every week to see if they have an update.

I'm sure someone else will have some better info to give you and will correct me if I was wrong, but that's what I know from my own experience.

Good luck!

[snicolethurston 0]

Thank you so much for helping me understand!

I have a friend who used to work in immigration, I am trying to figure out how to get some information. Here's hoping!

At least I am not the only one - I know it doesn't make it any better - but it does help a little.

[Ahmed N Tina 2]

I completely understand, believe me. I hope you will have your answers soon. If I can do anything else to help, just pm me.

[~~~water~~~ 0]

links to old threads - my heart goes out to you ap is hell..........

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=87611

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=110728

Edited February 6, 2009 by ~~~water~~~

[teenutty 0]

Dear,

Really nothing to worry about...All our spouses were approved for their visa's and told, "now the visa will take one or two months to be issued" and "your case is now in administrative review."

Think of it this way:

They let the normal wheels of bureacracy move slowly forward as your application is processed. If your application is not "kicked back (DENIED)" for some deficiency, it then goes to the interview/medical exam stage. If, after this step, the application is not "kicked back (DENIED)" for a deficiency, it then goes into "administrative review."

It is the final step towards the visa.

The only downside is administrative review can take weeks, a few months or many months...The wait and lack of information about when to expect the conclusion is the hardship.

Don't lose hope, what you are going through is totally normal in the process.

Tina

[doodlebugg 10]

I am so very sorry you all are going through this! Egypt was historically slow before. Our AP lasted 8 months!!! That was nothing compared to others who went before me though! Then, for whatever reason (although I'd like to think it was because of a few of us complaining to our congressmen and senators) they caught up and were relative to other mena countries like Morocco. Those old threads that water linked would be good reading if you want to feel like you're not alone and it's not just you. The one thing that kept my hopes up was that everyone kept saying that Egypt may be slow but you probably won't get denied. Morocco is the one famous for denying.

Anyways one day at a time and get something to take your mind off of it. I hung out here a lot, forbetter or for worse hahaha, I played a lot of internet games and joined pogo.com, went to jigzone.com , made lists of things to do when he got here and just prayed. Good luck!

[snicolethurston 0]

Thank you so much everyone. We are heading into the 4th month after our interview approval and God Willing - we will get news soon!

Has anyone else waited this long before?

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

I think alot of it depends on what they are "fishing" for. I have come to believe that they don't do much with the packages they receive (if ANYTHING) before the interview... I think they hope they can find something wrong at the interview that will let them off the hook from reading everything in the packet... But if for some reason they can't find anything wrong at the interview, THEN they start actually looking for something in the paper work, etc.

Only they know what they are digging/fishing for on anyone's case. Did you have any RFE's in the first stage? Do you have any "red flags" or anything that makes them suspect a discrepency in the information???

It just seems so unfair that they aren't a little more transparent in their handling of these issues. To keep saying the same thing "You're in AP" over and over doesn't help much at all! However I'm ever so thankful that they accept emails and respond to them fairly decently...

Best of luck!

K

[maggieNomar 0]

Thank you so much everyone. We are heading into the 4th month after our interview approval and God Willing - we will get news soon!

Has anyone else waited this long before?

Llike Humpkin said, she was 8 months, and another that interviewed around the same time as my husband, but in Egypt, was 5 months. so while it's hard, it's not unusual. I heard that Egypt takes longer to approve, but they approve almost all, where as Morocco will be faster but deny more. I thought AP was the hardest part of the whole process, as it's the one part you have no time frame for. Hopefully you'll get news soon, and oh what a joyous day that will be. I was at work when I got the ''well I have good news for you ma'am. Your case is complete." Bless David at the DOS

[Robina 0]

We have been in AP for 15 months, and have been told it may take years to finish. You are lucky Egypt should finish faster. I know how hard it is to be patient, but hang in there!

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Our visa process took 1 year.

Wael had his visa interview in May. The CO told him his visa would be issued in 3 wks....received his visa Nov 1. I think it's a standard thing Cairo tells people. Don't give up.

After his interview they did a home visit. It's just up to Cairo on what they want to do and when.

Best of luck to you!!

[coyote 3]

We have been in AP for 15 months, and have been told it may take years to finish. You are lucky Egypt should finish faster. I know how hard it is to be patient, but hang in there!

How can anyone be in administrative processing for 15 months? Have they given any explanation whatsoever? Have you tried to contact them? Who told you it would take years?

[Fresita 1]

I am new to this forum but would like to share my experience which is somewhat similar I need HELP !!!! MY interview with my fiance was on July 27, 2011

Make a long story short we were approved we have been together since 2002 we have 9 years together and I have since finished college and am a school teacher.

My father and his father grew up together and I stay for months at a time at our home in the Dominican Republic we are truly in love !! The consular told me you are approved BUT the petition will expire soon. I began to cry and my fiance was calming me down while all the people were staring at me at the window. She told us that we would have to file once again for the petition, I said WHAT??? isnt there anything you can do. She turned the mic off and asked two supervisors and they spoke. She told me ok I can give it to you but you have to wait under ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING, she kept his passport and gave us the ticket to pay DOMEX but its been 2 weeks and nothing has happend the petition expired August 6. how is it my fault ??? the interview they gave it to us late.... I dont understand, I call and called the 7 dollars for the pin and they told me to call back in OCTOBER!!!!!???!!! I started to cry what is going on??? I just found out i am PREGNANT and I want to be with him as soon as possible at least before the summer ends. I did everything I paid so much money to get my papers filled out everything right and I still have to go through this??? Please help has anyone else been through this.... She was gonna fill out a green slip and give it to me but she said OH you dont even need this go pay! We are going to do Administrative processing.... please help!