How much detail does DoS keep track of?

[Linasaur 0]

I have a question for people familiar with what happens post-interview but before the visa arrives by mail.

I know the Department of State (202-663-1225) can give you several details about the visa status. I'm a little confused about a few terms I keep seeing, and whether some of them are the same thing. As far as I currently understand, the process is approving -> issuing -> printing -> mailing. Are they indeed very separate steps, or does an issued visa mean it's also printed?

A side-question: On 09/28 my fiance was told in person that the visa is approved, after submitting additional documents, and received the Welcome paper. The visa specialist I last talked to from DoS said the approval date was 10/08 - is such a discrepancy pretty standard? Do they have to look the case over a few more times, for example? This ties into my first question because the previous operator I talked to said it was issued on that date, and the second said it was approved but not printed. So I'm wondering what exactly they mean, and I can't take any more time off work to call again

Thank you in advance!

[brightskte 18]

I spent an entire month after Mathew's visa was approved freaking out over what DOS says. One thing is certain, it is never consistent and is very rarely correct when it comes to the visa issued/printed thing. I was told multiple times during the same day that we were in AP, visa had been printed but not mailed, and that it had just been approved but not printed. When I talked to someone who had been there for a while(backed up by some of the other wonderful DOS employees), it was confirmed that there is a separate screen for K-1 visa people, a screen that most people tend to overlook. This magical screen is the one that holds all the correct answers, and this screen is the one that finally gave us that correct answer--that his visa had been printed AND mailed already(he had just written his address down wrong, which was why we didn't recieve it).

Next time you call, ask them to go a step further, mention that magical screen(but don't call it that, they'd probably think you were nuts ). The employees who know what they are doing will know what you're talking about.

Good luck!

[decocker 7,198]

i got told a various number of things as well. (approved, pending, issued, ap)our wait was also a full month from our interview. however - dos never told me that it 'printed' until it actually had in fact printed. i wouldn't trust terms such as 'issued' or 'processing'. in our experience - which was a month of total hell - when dos said the visa had printed, it actually had been printed and my fiance had it in two days. if you get an operator that says 'printed', call back and get a different operator to make sure you get the same response (i did this three times the day i finally heard 'printed' and all three times i got the same answer)

[Linasaur 0]

Thanks guys! Yesterday Matt got a call from the consulate - they tried printing the visa, and a warning came up about his fingerprints not being clear enough. So this morning he went back to redo them, and they started the process of printing it. Which basically seems to mean "The System" starts automatic security checks by itself, and it could take up to tomorrow to finish. They'll mail it ASAP instead of waiting for the mailing day. Matt was told that he's definitely bound to have it in his hands by Tuesday.

We'll keep our eyes on the tracking number. Let's hope they actually scan it =P