Put on AP, but confused...

[Shabz 0]

Hi,

My fiance had his interview yesterday on Monday, Feb 22nd. He was asked questions by two people. After 2 hours they told him that he had an issue with his passport and that he was on AP, but they did not give him a reason why. They also returned back all his paperwork meaning like the substancial evidence of us being 2gether. They took his fingerprints and he also signed the DS230 Part II Sworn Statement.

My question is whoever was put on AP did they also sign and have their finger prints taken? Any advice would be helpful. They told him not to call him and when he gets his passport stuff sorted to juss wait for their fone call. When they call he can send them his passport with a Return Airway Bill. So do we not contact the embassy at all? I mean was anyone given a reason why there were on AP, because we weren't given a reason.

Infact anyone from Saudi that is put on AP given a reason or had to contact the embassy? But i appreciate advice from anyone.

Thank you for your help!

[Bobby+Umit 161]

MENA countries almost always get put on AP (additional processing) -

basically - further name checks/security checks.

[sara..... 371]

most muslims receive some sort of AP.......i contact the embassy every week about ours sure they send the same old tired message of still in AP but at least they know you have not given up

good luck and i hope your out of AP soon

sara

[HeatDeath 430]

The fact that they gave him instructions for eventually sending his passport is a positive sign. It probably means that he's basically approved except for this issue. Taking his signature and finger prints is also positive. If it was to be a flat denial based on lack of relationship bonafides (their usual catch-all excuse) they wouldn't bother with biometrics.

As a result of compromises put in place when the Department of Homeland Security was formed after 9/11 (see the article I posted in Immigration News about the Christmas Bombing and the "turf war" that exists between USCIS and the State Department on visas), every visa section at every US embassy in the ME has, in addition to the Department of State consular officers, officers of the DHS who do additional background checks, which they usually refer to as "Administrative Processing", on virtually all visa applicants. It's a very normal part of applying in any MENA country, and is nothing, in itself, to worry about. And yes, they never do give you the actual reason for AP background checks, and if they've told you not to bother contacting them until AP is done, then you should not bother contacting them until AP is done.

It sounds like he was basically approved pending two issues: the very common security background checks, and the issue with his passport. Normally they would keep the passport during AP, but it sounds like there's some sort of problem with his, so they're just letting him sort that out while they do the AP. AP can normally take several months, so he has plenty of time to order a new passport or do whatever he needs to do, but just the same I would get right on that.

You can take heart: if they had a reason to deny they'd have done it by now, to save themselves the effort of the background checks. If the AP checks go well (and they virtually always do, even if they take several months) and he gets his passport sorted out (I assume they gave him more detailed instructions about what was wrong with it and how to fix it), then everything should be fine.

I don't think there's anything to worry about right now. Just more waiting, and that'll be over before you know it

[Shabz 0]

The fact that they gave him instructions for eventually sending his passport is a positive sign. It probably means that he's basically approved except for this issue. Taking his signature and finger prints is also positive. If it was to be a flat denial based on lack of relationship bonafides (their usual catch-all excuse) they wouldn't bother with biometrics.

As a result of compromises put in place when the Department of Homeland Security was formed after 9/11 (see the article I posted in Immigration News about the Christmas Bombing and the "turf war" that exists between USCIS and the State Department on visas), every visa section at every US embassy in the ME has, in addition to the Department of State consular officers, officers of the DHS who do additional background checks, which they usually refer to as "Administrative Processing", on virtually all visa applicants. It's a very normal part of applying in any MENA country, and is nothing, in itself, to worry about. And yes, they never do give you the actual reason for AP background checks, and if they've told you not to bother contacting them until AP is done, then you should not bother contacting them until AP is done.

It sounds like he was basically approved pending two issues: the very common security background checks, and the issue with his passport. Normally they would keep the passport during AP, but it sounds like there's some sort of problem with his, so they're just letting him sort that out while they do the AP. AP can normally take several months, so he has plenty of time to order a new passport or do whatever he needs to do, but just the same I would get right on that.

You can take heart: if they had a reason to deny they'd have done it by now, to save themselves the effort of the background checks. If the AP checks go well (and they virtually always do, even if they take several months) and he gets his passport sorted out (I assume they gave him more detailed instructions about what was wrong with it and how to fix it), then everything should be fine.

I don't think there's anything to worry about right now. Just more waiting, and that'll be over before you know it

Thank you for that helpful reply. He was also given a pink slip and a blue slip. Now my question is that good news or bad news or no news at all. I understand the security check. they told him to send the passport when they call him. Several months just seems liek forever compared to how fast our process *by the grace of god* has been. Not even 10 days and he got an interview call. I just want to make sure things are ok.

[HeatDeath 430]

Thank you for that helpful reply. He was also given a pink slip and a blue slip. Now my question is that good news or bad news or no news at all. I understand the security check. they told him to send the passport when they call him. Several months just seems liek forever compared to how fast our process *by the grace of god* has been. Not even 10 days and he got an interview call. I just want to make sure things are ok.

Slips I don't know anything about. But I do know that the people here who do know slips will need you to type out the precise wording on the slips in order to be able to give you a solid answer.

[Darnell 8,478]

you might want to ask him, to get to an internet cafe, SCAN IN all papers the VO gave him, that day, and email it all to you, for review.

Usually, the instructions are really specific on 'whats what'.

'issue with his passport' - what is that? what was the issue?

The only thing I can think of - is that he not enough 'duration' on his passport to come into the USA. I think this is '6 months' but might be longer.

When does his passport expire?

From what I've read of this post, your words, whenever he gets his passport issue 'sorted' out, he's to send it in to the Embassy.

Really - what is 'the passport issue' to 'get sorted' ?

Good Luck !!

Edited February 23, 2010 by Darnell

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Duplicate threads merged

[UN-KNOWN 0]

My finger prints were taken on the day of my interview & i also sighned DS-230 but they kept my all originals including passport and gave me blue slip said you are on AP and i asked for how long will it be they said NO TIME FRAME but we will call you if we will need anything. Anyway best of Luck inshAllah we will succeed.