Everyone going through Administrative Processing in ISLAMABAD

[ABENITEZ 0]

There has been alot of security problems in Isl lately so I'm sure thats why their closed. Just another bump in the road, Inshallah it will reopen next week and everything will be back to normal.

[ZaheersShezadi 0]

There has been alot of security problems in Isl lately so I'm sure thats why their closed. Just another bump in the road, Inshallah it will reopen next week and everything will be back to normal.

At least you guys got Warden Notices. We drove all night from Sialkot to Islamabad and slept in the car in the shuttle service parking lot for a couple hours before the security guard came. Apparently, its not the Embassy that closed. The shuttle Services were closed on Monday. But they said Embassy was closed. We called the embassy as soon as they opened and asked why they closed and there was nothing on their website or no notices for all the hundreds of people standing in the cold outside the gates waiting for their interviews (like us). They said it was not them, the Embassy was open, they just weren't letting people in from outside because the local police tightened security in that area. So, the police told them to close sunday night, so they had no time to give notices. All those poor people standing out there, some of them crying, some came from Afghanistan, some all the way from Karachi. We called AmEx office and asked can we reschedule (Thats what the shuttle services told us to do), the lady was nice and she forwarded our info to Embassy since their visa hours were not open yet, and then a man called back and spoke to my husband. He was nice and rescheduled us for Nov 23. He said "We have given you the earliest appointment available, everyone else is getting December 15th or 16th" because we called so soon. But now I see some of you guys got Nove 19th? Gosh, I hate being stuck here longer than I wanted to be. I havent been back to USA for a year. I haven't seen my kid for a year nor my family. By the time of the interview I am gonna be 6 and a half months pregnant, and it is so hard driving 6 hours to Islamabad and 6 hours back. Then, once you do get the visa, 16 hour flights.... I just get worried. I dont wanna have a C-sec in Pakistan, no way. I was already in the hospital for Hyperemesis and it was bad enough between the loadshedding and the fact that men aren't allowed in the women's wards even to visit. I just get scared. I want to go home, but I want to be here for Zaheer's interview. He will be devastated if I leave and he will be heartbroken if he didn't see the birth of his kid. Anyhow, about the Embassy closing. The shuttle service guys were telling all the people there to go to a local hotel, check in, and come back in the a.m. for their appointments. I feel bad if any of those people listened. The guy from Karachi was saying to Zaheer that if he doesn't get back to Karachi by tomorrow, he will lose his job. An Indian guy was trying to go through his embassy to get home, but he couldnt. Now he is stuck too. I know what will happen. If those poor people go to the hotel, then check in and return in the morning, they will have the same problem... and they will have to reschedule anyway. I am just glad that some of you got Notices from them instead of going through what we did. Just keep praying. Allah has given us this delay, or test, for a reason. So, we might as well make the best of it. So tell me, what kind of evidence did you all bring for your interviews, or intend to bring?

~Tara Ahmed

[ABENITEZ 0]

Well, I got the warden notice bcz I registered with the embassy, so they email me whenever somethin happens. I can't imagine how angry ppl were that were waiting there....Anyways, we took phone records, chat logs, calling card invoices, tons of pics. She didn't ask to see any of it. It seems like it happens alot at ISL, ppl bring evidence but they dont even look at it.

Just wondering, are you of Pakistani origin?

It sounds like your in a bad situation being pregnant and all. I mean after his interview he will probably have AP so you may have to decide whats best for you and the baby...stay and have the baby here or go home now before its too late. I wish you luck and Inshallah everything will work for u.

[Hopeful786 0]

I just noticed something, DOS is somewhat correct when they say the AP is usually resolved within 60 days. Naz&Omi's really took 65 working days (although it was really 3 months).. and the others who got their AP resolved when they had their interview in May or June also had it done in around 60 working days.... and with all these holidays coming up, I know 60 days is going to seem like a loooooooong time

[ABENITEZ 0]

but theres some ppl on the spreadsheet who have been on AP since May. I hope these are just members who have gotten their visa but haven't notified us. Its those few couples that have extremely long AP's that worries me...

[Omark 3]

Its been 75 business days of AP for me so far not including this week. I am wondering if the average time is 3 to 6 months(Business days only)? If it is then it will be actually up to 8 whole months.We started the K-1 process in nov 08 so by the time i get the visa it will be way over a year....if we knew we could have just gotten married and filed for CR1......for k-1s its a never ending journey we will still have to go thru AOS and 2 years GC... I wonder if naz&omi submitted the passport yet.

[Hopeful786 0]

I have a feeling those people on the spreadsheet haven't notified ALI or Feisal, and haven't been active on the visa journey. If you check their profile, maybe you can check the date of their last transaction

[Hopeful786 0]

I think average is 3-6 months, but from what I've seen... most people have got their visa within that time period, at most I believe it was 5 months. I'm talking about the VJ filers from September 2008 and so on. I'm not 100 percent confident on that, it can be longer than 6 months, but let's just pray that no one does get AP for that long insha'Allah.

[Hopeful786 0]

I have a question, I called DOS and I said I want to know if the documents were accepted. The lady was like it doesn't say anything here, it just says the documents were received and it doesn't specify what type of documents. Is it usual for them to write in the system that the documents were accepted or no they don't specify that in the system?

The lady said to call back next week, she said case is still pending under AP and I asked her what AP is and she said it is a normal routine that visa applicants go through after their interview. I asked her how long does it take she said 3 months to 6 months or maybe even more. I said from what time should I count the days, from the time of the interview or the time the documents were received, and she said from the time of the interview. However, the website states otherwise

[taj'samericanwife 0]

This is in reply to your inquiry of October 26, 2009, regarding the visa case of the referenced individual.

As you are aware, further administrative processing is necessary in this case. Consular officers need to be reasonably satisfied that all identity and relationship issues have been addressed before a final determination is made regarding visa issuance.

No additional documentation is required from you or the applicant at this time. Be assured that as soon as the review is completed, we will contact the applicant to resume processing the visa application.

We are unable to predict how long it will take to process the case to conclusion. The time required to process a visa application varies from case to case depending on the complexity of the case itself and the number and complexity of other cases awaiting review. In fact, we advise our clients not to finalize travel plans, dispose of their properties, or give up jobs until a visa is actually delivered to the applicant. We are simply unable to predict if or when an applicant would qualify for visa issuance.

we just passed out 1 month AP line...very sad and upset of all this...

[MumtazG38 1]

Alright....it's been 11 days now since AP.....I'm getting ready to call DOS on the coming Monday....which makes it over 15 days. I'm not too excited or too hopeful about it, but I assume I might as well call them soon even if it's just to hear "still pending". So I was hoping you guys could tell me what times (Paki time) to call to get the nicest operators, who, if there were any updates wouldn't hesitate on giving me them. Mainly because after the pathetic and bull sh1tty interview we had....I just need to hear a nicer person tell me about AP.....I just...need that. *shrugs*.

Oh yeh......and what's the number for DOS again??

[FEISAL 3]

MumtazG38 - DOS # 2026631225 - tough to say when is the best time cauz its different every day - best operators are Sarah and Jessica - of whom i have not been able to get hold of

Edited October 27, 2009 by FEISAL

[Mus24 0]

MumtazG38 - DOS # 2026631225 - tough to say when is the best time cauz its different every day - best operators are Sarah and Jessica - of whom i have not been able to get hold of

Sarah and Jessica,be assured they are not the real names.After all that is happening in and around Islamabad,the last thing the embassy staff would do is give out their real names.

Don't be a freak wasting time trying to find who is a better operator.Have faith in Allah, talk to whoever picks up the phone and be positive.Forget about what happened in the last interview and look ahead.

I remember my own visa interview almost 4 years ago.Being a male and a Pakistani so everyone I talked to before the interview were scaring me to hell that I was sure to be dragged on for several months as AP.

I went in there,positive and confident and ofcourse there were a lot of prayers by me and for me and I got the visa the same day,no delay or anything.

Hope it helps.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Mus24

[Omark 3]

MumtazG38 - DOS # 2026631225 - tough to say when is the best time cauz its different every day - best operators are Sarah and Jessica - of whom i have not been able to get hold of

Sarah and Jessica,be assured they are not the real names.After all that is happening in and around Islamabad,the last thing the embassy staff would do is give out their real names.

Don't be a freak wasting time trying to find who is a better operator.Have faith in Allah, talk to whoever picks up the phone and be positive.Forget about what happened in the last interview and look ahead.

I remember my own visa interview almost 4 years ago.Being a male and a Pakistani so everyone I talked to before the interview were scaring me to hell that I was sure to be dragged on for several months as AP.

I went in there,positive and confident and ofcourse there were a lot of prayers by me and for me and I got the visa the same day,no delay or anything.

Hope it helps.

Sarah and jessica are not the embassy staff they are the visa specialists at DOS( Department of State) in DC.Yes at call centers CSRs dont give out their real names ( Common Practice) but whoever sarah and jessica are they are more helpful than the others.And Mus24 every case is different, 4 years ago as a matter of fact people had longer APs but you were lucky that you got the visa same day cuz i thought it takes 2 weeks for visa to be printed and mailed........ Yes always think positive and have faith but you have to take some actions as well(in APs case call dos or isl).Cuz actions speaks louder than words.....Admin Process is for anyone depending about the person's name and background.Anways, i always got sarah when i called at 9am EST.

[Mus24 0]

You are right,4 years ago,AP was frequent and it was long,atleast 8 weeks was common,even I heard of few in this very forum getting 6 months,there was nothing you could do at that time and nothing you can do even now.

I remember in the hall we were like 6 -8 guys and I was the only one who got the visa the same day,rest were all delayed.When I walked out of the embassy,I was ecstatic and soon there was a storm and it rained very heavily...

4 years on and I am in the States but my travails haven't ended yet,as if they never began.Now my wife is stuck there,I have been suffering from this 'separation' for the last 2 years.Who knows what lies ahead.There is a mountain to conquer.

Edited October 28, 2009 by Mus24