AP in latin America

[wayno 9]

I guess it's been about a month now for my wife. This waiting really sucks but I guess the shock has worn off. She was approved at interview so we were really upset when she did not recieve her visa on the day they told her it would be ready. They said they were still waiting for her fingerprints to come back. That it may take a month or two. I may assume a name check as well is being done, but they never mentioned it. After reading a bunch of these posts and talking to a couple of my friends who merried from outside the US, I have come to realize that AP is normal, even after approval! The embassy in Costa Rica told her everyone goes through it.

So I am trying to figgure out an estimation on time. Just wondering how long its been, or how long it took, to go through this process from others in Latin America. Wondering if the fact that my wife is a citizen of one country (Colombia), and a resident of another country (Costa Rica, where we're going through), and that she's had a tourist visa to the U.S. is going to cause a further delay.

Thanks,

Wayne

[Bocajr27 3]

I guess it's been about a month now for my wife. This waiting really sucks but I guess the shock has worn off. She was approved at interview so we were really upset when she did not recieve her visa on the day they told her it would be ready. They said they were still waiting for her fingerprints to come back. That it may take a month or two. I may assume a name check as well is being done, but they never mentioned it. After reading a bunch of these posts and talking to a couple of my friends who merried from outside the US, I have come to realize that AP is normal, even after approval! The embassy in Costa Rica told her everyone goes through it.

So I am trying to figgure out an estimation on time. Just wondering how long its been, or how long it took, to go through this process from others in Latin America. Wondering if the fact that my wife is a citizen of one country (Colombia), and a resident of another country (Costa Rica, where we're going through), and that she's had a tourist visa to the U.S. is going to cause a further delay.

Thanks,

Wayne

Wayne;

As far as I know, unless you were specifically told at your interview that your case was being put in AP you shouldn't assume you are. I would definately be concerned if the visa was not given to your wife within a week. Something just doesn't add up though. As far as I know, they wouldn't approve your wife's visa prior to a name and background check including fingerprints. Both of you should make an appointment with the embassy and personally go down there to ask questions.

Good Luck.

Fernando

P.S. We were put on AP the day of the interview and it lasted 30 days.

[wayno 9]

They have told my wife that it is AP and she has nothing to worry about because she was approved. Just standard procedure. I also got an E-mail stating she was placed in AP. Of course the E-mail was a generic response and stated usually 90 days but it can take month's, EVEN YEARS (yes yearS) longer. Even though she was approved! She recieved a little white card after the interview that had date and time to pick up visa but when she showed up it wasn't ready. They said they were waiting on her fingerprints. From what I understand they go a little deeper into it after approval.

Unfortunatly this seems pretty common, even after approval, as I found out after reading many posts in this section. Just trying to see what an average time might be by seeing others from that part of the world who are going/went through the same process.

[TBoneTX 45,304]

Every case will be different.

In Ecuador, everyone (including the USC) is considered a criminal, and the 221(g) process takes as long as the consulate damned well decides it wants to take. Follow the advice above -- marshal your Congressional allies and keep pestering the embassy on the suggested schedule.