stuck in "administrative review", NVC

[ngant17 1]

Okay, my I-129F petition is stuck in some kind of beauracratic limbo at the National Visa Center. Everytime I call to inquire about the hold-up, they just say "administrative review". No appox. time when it will be processed. It could be 6 more months, it could be 1 more year, they say.

I filed back in Oct. 2005, if you look at my timeline. I don't think the new IMBRA rules affect me, but even if it did, they should have some kind of idea when the visa for my fiancee will be processed.

I've wrote to my senators, so far I only get a form letter about the IMBRA rules.

This is not right. What is so hard about getting an estimate for the time to review my petition? How is it possible to get thru this jam?

[Jersey Girl 2]

How and where did you meet?

[chili74 0]

Ngant17- the same thing happened to us last year. The 129-F was approved in March 05 and only in November 05 was the case transferred to the embassy in Moscow. All told, I believe the admin review was 250 days. Writing to senators may help, though it is hard to say- we did that. All I can say is that it did work out eventually and now we are preparing for the AOS interview in July! So all will be well.

Edited July 1, 2006 by chili74

[crew1980 1]

Please complete your timeline. When did NVC rec your case?? Also, remember I said our case hung at NVC for about 66-67 days when we applied the first time. It might be that every so many Cuban cases get the royal investigation. Just check-in with the reps at NVC weekly or twice weekly. Some of them are really nice and once in a while you'll get some real info. Other times you'll get the "blanket statements."

Toria and Salvador

[snz1802 0]

I am so sorry to hear this, gosh I hope ours does not go into Administrative Review once we finally get our NOA2, it has been nearly 6 months, and we are still under security checks for the NOA2. I sure hope you hear something soon,, Good luck to you

[dirtyd301 0]

I am sorry to hear of your issue. Unfortunately I think that they discriminate towards certain countries and Cuba just happens to be one of them!! Its very sad that it is this way but it is. All you can do is hang in there and keep in touch with your congressman. I do not thtink that it has anything to do with IMBRA. Your case is too old. I wish you all the best and everything WILL work out in the end!!

Diana

[Ladylethal 12]

I am terribly sorry to hear this. What sort of cases go into AR at the NVC? Anyone know or is it random? 'Cus 6-12 months in AR is too much.

[ngant17 1]

Jersey Girl,

I don't know if that question is actually relevant to my problem being solved. Such questions were asked (and truthfully answered) in my I-129F and also the RFE which I sent USCIS. My I-129F petition was approved and forwarded to NVC. So I don't think that is the issue here.

OK, as to how I originally met my fiancee, I of course met her in person in Cuba. She is Cuban and BTW it is not against the law for US citizens to travel to Cuba (yes, generally and technically it is against the law to spend money there, depending on your status for entry, but that is a political issue and I'm not logging on this site to discuss international politics per se. There are other places I can do this).

so, how I met her, that would be online via internet. An old site that got gobbled up by match.com latinamerica.

Now it costs money to do what I was able to do for free a few years ago. Go figure that one out!

Where we met. Havana.

How and where did you meet?

[ngant17 1]

Toria & Salvador,

I would like to enter the timeline when my case was forwarded to NVC but as of this date I have not received any confirmation by email or postal, that NVC has my case. Except the Approval Notice, Notice of Action I-797, which is dated 21 Mar 2006. This letters states that my petition has been approved and it was sent to the NVC in Portsmouth, NH on that date.

NVC does in fact have my case, as I have called them several times over the last 2 months and they will only answer "administrative review" when I ask about the hold-up.

For the sake of accuracy, I prefer not to update my timeline until I have an official letter from NVC stating the receipt of my petition.

However, if and when the NVC forwards my case to the US embassy/interests section in Havana, I will update my timeline here if and when the NVC will send me a letter or email to that effect.

BTW my fiancee Vilma, to my knowledge, is not a member of the Cuban Communist Party, for the record. And even if she was, she would probably have been expelled from above organization once the fact became known, that she was planning to immigrate to Florida on the K1 visa. I suppose the US gov. still discriminates against members of the communist parties by prohibiting entry. It this one of the secret purposes of AR?

Vilma has previously worked in the medical/biotechnology field, which actually would have prohibited her from immigrating according to Cuban law, but this only is in effect for 5 years from the date of last relevent employment in Cuba, and she fortunately does not meet this sort of legal obligation over there.

thanks for the reply. Hope to update timeline soon.

Please complete your timeline. When did NVC rec your case?? Also, remember I said our case hung at NVC for about 66-67 days when we applied the first time. It might be that every so many Cuban cases get the royal investigation. Just check-in with the reps at NVC weekly or twice weekly. Some of them are really nice and once in a while you'll get some real info. Other times you'll get the "blanket statements."

Toria and Salvador

Chili74,

250 days in AR!!! Yikes!

I did write to Sen. Martinez of Florida, who for better or worse happens to be a Cuban-American himself. As of this date, I am still waiting for a response. I am hoping this will expedite the NVC/AR hold-up. I am basically running out of my legal options -- I really doubt if an immigration attorney could help me in this situation now.

There appears to be no guarantees for a 'fast-track' approval in this business.

still waiting to get out of AR,

Nathan

Ngant17- the same thing happened to us last year. The 129-F was approved in March 05 and only in November 05 was the case transferred to the embassy in Moscow. All told, I believe the admin review was 250 days. Writing to senators may help, though it is hard to say- we did that. All I can say is that it did work out eventually and now we are preparing for the AOS interview in July! So all will be well.

[aussiewench 9]

Nathan

No one including any congressional office are able to assist in expediating a case when it is in AR/under a SAO (Security Advisory Oppinion). The Department of State will not circumvent the process under any circumstances.

When a beneficiary/applicant is from a country considered to pose a risk or is working in a field that is considered “sensitive” in some way, or if the there is a “hit” on his/her name a security advisory opinion (SAO) it will be sent to the Department of State in Washington, D.C. for clearance from various government agencies and data bases including the FBI, CIA, Interpol, national criminal and law enforcement databases, and others. Unfortunately this takes an undetermined period of time and there is nothing you can do, except to wait....and nothing the NVC can do until they get the clearance as it is now out of their hands.

At a guess, your fiance being in the medical/biotechnology field would possibly be a reason, along with country of citizenship. There may have also been a name hit (not necessarily your fiance, but a name in common with someone else). I do wish you all the best and I hope you hear some good news soon.

Lorelle

[ngant17 1]

I don't think that my fiancee is or will be investigated in the US wrt her previous job as a biologist. As I said, this is a Cuban law which affects her, and fortunately that fact will not stop her from immigrating to US, as I understand the facts of her employment history in Cuba. I can not logically understand why someone who has previously worked as a biologist 5 years ago, that would be an issue of US national security. Unless there is a lot of paranoia in US gov. these days.

I am hoping that Sen. Martinez will add his expertise to this hold-up, as he was a Cuban immigrant himself many years ago. At least something more than a standard form letter as a reply would be nice.

In the meantime, I'm saving my money for the expenses we will have done the road.

I'll try to update my timeline when I get the straight and honest facts from the gov. which might be a tall order for them to fill under their circumstances of 'national security', probably they are making up their own rules as they play the game.

thanks for the post here,

ngant17

Nathan

No one including any congressional office are able to assist in expediating a case when it is in AR/under a SAO (Security Advisory Oppinion). The Department of State will not circumvent the process under any circumstances.

When a beneficiary/applicant is from a country considered to pose a risk or is working in a field that is considered “sensitive” in some way, or if the there is a “hit” on his/her name a security advisory opinion (SAO) it will be sent to the Department of State in Washington, D.C. for clearance from various government agencies and data bases including the FBI, CIA, Interpol, national criminal and law enforcement databases, and others. Unfortunately this takes an undetermined period of time and there is nothing you can do, except to wait....and nothing the NVC can do until they get the clearance as it is now out of their hands.

At a guess, your fiance being in the medical/biotechnology field would possibly be a reason, along with country of citizenship. There may have also been a name hit (not necessarily your fiance, but a name in common with someone else). I do wish you all the best and I hope you hear some good news soon.

Lorelle