AP question

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Knight here,

I am wondering something. Is it normal for the visa officers in London (or anywhere) to keep the documents you bring to the embassy for their review? Magpie's documents were looked over and were not returned, though they did return her passport. Is it normal for them to hand everything back at the end of your interview with their informing of you having to go into AP?

Thanks,

Knight

[Whatznext 2]

they keep the paper work

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

I see.

On to my next question then: Magpie is, obviously, a woman. She's a British national who was born in India but received her UK citizenship at 1 year of age.

She has been to 13 different countries in the last decade because her father liked to bring the family on his business trips.

Magpie also has a name that is sadly, common as dirt.

From what I understand, women don't spend nearly as much time in AP as men do. Now, after having been told that "all of her documents are in order," by the visa officer, I'm guessing they are doing a...

Background check? To make sure she isn't a "terr'rist," I assume?

A review of all the countries she has been to? (And what is the info on this? How do they find out where she's been, what kind of database stores that info?)

A name check? I assume this is a given because her name is about as common as John Smith in the Islamic world.

Also, even though she's a British national, are they going to put her into the jurisdiction of Indian AP, whereby I mean that they're going to assume she's really an Indian? (Because as we all know, our birthplaces tie us there FOREVAR!!!11 - even though she's never been back).

I'm also wondering if there's a "backlog" of other people in AP - especially at the London consulate. From what little I know, it looks like people (mostly Indian women and males) are subjected to background checks and compared with different databases with stuff.

I know it's absolutely not possible to get even a general idea, however, I would like to figure out a ball-park estimate for my Sunshine, based on what knowledge (if any) you all can provide.

Thanks!

Knight

[emt103c 10]

Girls do frequently get out faster. There are lots of people with dual nationality who get stuck in AP. . .frequently they get out faster than those in home countries where AP is frequent. . .partially because there is a huge paper trail for them in the new non-AP country.

They keep the documents when you are in AP because sometimes they are investigating the validity of those documents. The document in question in our case was kept and the others returned. . . .my husband who is Pakistani processed in Canada as a Canadian citizen. . .the document in question was returned after validated and the visa was issued.

[Fred N Emilia 0]

They gave her the passport back? any word on when you need to get the passport back to them for a VISA?

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

They're supposed to call her when everything is ready to go. The time they do that is known only to God.

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Also, she is NOT a dual citizen. Her only nationality is British.

[Fred N Emilia 0]

Oh ok, it's the "WAIT TILL YOU HEAR FROM US" routine.

That's what my SO got right after her interview. My SO went from AP to AR. Now we are just submitting additional documents, hang in there, these delay can get quite stressful I tell yah. Good luck and be strong.

[emt103c 10]

Also, she is NOT a dual citizen. Her only nationality is British.

Will probably be faster, but with all of the countries you mentioned, they're likely doing document verification.