Need some good advise, please read this posting

[augustapplicant 0]

You may have seen my previous postings about my fiance's case status, who's is in AP for more than 8 months now, here is my story,

my fiance (she) is a Field Petrophysicist who worked for various Oil Compnaies in Arabic Countries. In August of 2006, she and another 50 Iranians arrived at San Francisco's airport for a conferance regarding different topics (some regarding techmology) all graduated from top universities, some scientiests. Those who only traveled with iranian's passport including my finace, their visa was revoked at the port of entry for no good reason and others with Europoean passports made it in US and goahead with the conferance. She voluntraly withdrew her application at the airport and traveled back to where she works.

It took us one year to get an interview after i filed for k-1 visa, waiting for FBI and Home Land to claer her case. Finally we went for an interview, she was approved, and the officer told us she made a good decision withdrawing her case, and she can pick up her visa in two weeks. However she is in AP for 8 months, and we are waiting for 2 years since i applied for K1 visa. Here is my question?

Does her job as a field petrophysicist, falls into a threat for US technology, which i dont think so?

Also from most postings, SAO takes three to four months to determine if her field is a threat to US, since her case is still pending, is it possible they are ok, and maybe another agancies are checking.

I have discussed her case with many attornies, and paid so much money and they have no clue. I am asking for your opinion and help. please share your inputs. this forum is so good and helpful and i learned alot from here. please reply ASAP

[MaryandMian 1]

I wrote to you quite some time back. Her being from Iran puts her in a t-country and they are double and triple checking everything with her. Her traveling also has effected the process as well. Her job I am not too sure it would fall into a technology field that they would want to run more checks on her concerning the job/schooling. Two years back a new check started that checks out applicants and their families for material support and this has been one that was brought up by the Red Cross that concerned them for keeping Amarisan widows on hold for these checks to complete. This new check does a background check on the person as well as their family to make sure that they did not willingly or unwillingly give financial support to any group that could be a terrorist front.

8 months of AP for someone from Iran does not seem like it is not average either. An attorney would not know what checks they are running on her and they cannot expedite the process either. All they can do is inquire just like you would with DOS or the USE. Good luck to you.

[augustapplicant 0]

thank you MaryandMian,

i know most iranians being cleared after 15 or 16 months, so i am expecting that on my case too, i am just worried if they deny our case for her being a Field Petrophysicist, or her job is a threat, we are not worried about any other checks because she has done nothing wrong. Since i read SAO will take three months to clear or deny, i was wondering maybe she is ok with her job in this respect!!!

I wrote to you quite some time back. Her being from Iran puts her in a t-country and they are double and triple checking everything with her. Her traveling also has effected the process as well. Her job I am not too sure it would fall into a technology field that they would want to run more checks on her concerning the job/schooling. Two years back a new check started that checks out applicants and their families for material support and this has been one that was brought up by the Red Cross that concerned them for keeping Amarisan widows on hold for these checks to complete. This new check does a background check on the person as well as their family to make sure that they did not willingly or unwillingly give financial support to any group that could be a terrorist front.

8 months of AP for someone from Iran does not seem like it is not average either. An attorney would not know what checks they are running on her and they cannot expedite the process either. All they can do is inquire just like you would with DOS or the USE. Good luck to you.

[LondonLad 0]

August applicant,

You mention good schools where your fiance has studied... where are these schools? Has your fiance lived in US before? Has she ever visited US successfully before? Her age group?

[augustapplicant 0]

No, she did not live nor visited in US before, she is 32

August applicant,

You mention good schools where your fiance has studied... where are these schools? Has your fiance lived in US before? Has she ever visited US successfully before? Her age group?

[MaryandMian 1]

I have been trying to research the TAL (Technology Alert List) listings for the fields that would be checked. Here is an excerpt from the 2002 listings. You can find the complete article here. I am copying the one area that deals with geography and urban planning that your fiance's field may be linked too. Not sure if it will help or not. I do not think that they would deny the visa because of her work but I do think that they will be reviewing her case very closely under the TAL and being from a state sponsor of terrorism. At the embassy level they run three main checks and then the TAL and/or other checks as well if the CO asks for them. Checks may clear and some may take longer to clear but the CO cannot issue the visa until ALL checks have cleared. So you cannot say that it takes xx amount of days to clear because in some cases it may take longer or another check could be the issue. Good luck.

O. URBAN PLANNING: Expertise in construction or design of systems or technologies necessary to sustain modern urban societies. (PLEASE NOTE: Urban Planning may not fall under the purview of INA section 212 (a)(3)(a), U.S. technology transfer laws, or any other U.S. law or regulation. However, Urban Planning is a special interest item and posts are requested to refer such visa application requests to CA/VO/L/C for further review.) Look for technologies/skills associated with:

-- Architecture

-- Civil engineering

-- Community development

-- Environmental planning

-- Geography

-- Housing

-- Landscape architecture

-- Land use and comprehensive planning

-- Urban design

-TAB B: DEPARTMENT'S LIST OF STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM:-

CUBA IRAN IRAQ LIBYA NORTH KOREA SUDAN SYRIA

[LondonLad 0]

I don't think her occupation would have an impact on the clearance. Normally, its material engineers and nuclear engineers that have difficulty.

I think the current wait time for clearance for Iranians is around 15 months upwards. So no need to be alarmed yet.

Good luck!

[augustapplicant 0]

Thank you so so very much.

I have been trying to research the TAL (Technology Alert List) listings for the fields that would be checked. Here is an excerpt from the 2002 listings. You can find the complete article here. I am copying the one area that deals with geography and urban planning that your fiance's field may be linked too. Not sure if it will help or not. I do not think that they would deny the visa because of her work but I do think that they will be reviewing her case very closely under the TAL and being from a state sponsor of terrorism. At the embassy level they run three main checks and then the TAL and/or other checks as well if the CO asks for them. Checks may clear and some may take longer to clear but the CO cannot issue the visa until ALL checks have cleared. So you cannot say that it takes xx amount of days to clear because in some cases it may take longer or another check could be the issue. Good luck.

O. URBAN PLANNING: Expertise in construction or design of systems or technologies necessary to sustain modern urban societies. (PLEASE NOTE: Urban Planning may not fall under the purview of INA section 212 (a)(3)(a), U.S. technology transfer laws, or any other U.S. law or regulation. However, Urban Planning is a special interest item and posts are requested to refer such visa application requests to CA/VO/L/C for further review.) Look for technologies/skills associated with:

-- Architecture

-- Civil engineering

-- Community development

-- Environmental planning

-- Geography

-- Housing

-- Landscape architecture

-- Land use and comprehensive planning

-- Urban design

-TAB B: DEPARTMENT'S LIST OF STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM:-

CUBA IRAN IRAQ LIBYA NORTH KOREA SUDAN SYRIA

[augustapplicant 0]

Thank you so much, i believe you are right and maybe we have to wait for another 8 months. any way thanks alot.

I don't think her occupation would have an impact on the clearance. Normally, its material engineers and nuclear engineers that have difficulty.

I think the current wait time for clearance for Iranians is around 15 months upwards. So no need to be alarmed yet.

Good luck!

[emt103c 10]

I agree with Mary. The simple fact that she comes from Iran, and travels a lot is enough to put her into lengthy AP, as you have already seen. . .and her career probably also has a bit to do with it. The annoying fact is, any Iranian based company (I'm making an assumption that her travel was work related. . .) with that type of reach will probably also require more research.

The good news is, as long as her company is not on one of the lists Mary mentioned, after the long (horrible) wait, she should be issued her visa without a problem. It is usually just a matter of the wait.