Administrative Review/AP How are You Coping

[carolynhotstuff 252]

My husband and I have been in AR for over 2 months. My husband had his interview July 15, 2010. We were told by the CO that she wanted a different co-sponsor. My ex-husband agreed that he would be our new co-sponsor so I went to see a lawyer. The lawyer said it would be highly unusual for an ex-husband to co-sponsor and also because his income was a combination of pension and social security if the embassy wanted to play hardball they could deny his social security income. Our lawyer felt we should try to get another co-sponsor. It took months to find someone else.

We finally submitted the new affidavit of support and supporting documents on November 22,2010. We have been in AR ever sense. We do not know if they will be doing background checks as well as reviewing our documents. When I call the DOS every week they just say "still Pending AR". The CO told my husband that she expected it to take 2 and a half months for them to review our documents.

I've read on VJ that AR and AP are almost the same process and that AR can last for months or years just like AP. I find it's getting harder to wait through the process. I can't sleep and even though I chat with my husband everyday I still feel lonely. I haven't seen my husband in over a year. I want to go visit him but everyone says it would be a waste of money as we are so close to getting our visa.

I'm scared. What if we go through months of AR and there is something wrong with our documents. Will they issue an RFE or just deny the visa?

How do you cope with AR/AP when there is no end in sight?

[kuraish 2]

My husband and I have been in AR for over 2 months. My husband had his interview July 15, 2010. We were told by the CO that she wanted a different co-sponsor. My ex-husband agreed that he would be our new co-sponsor so I went to see a lawyer. The lawyer said it would be highly unusual for an ex-husband to co-sponsor and also because his income was a combination of pension and social security if the embassy wanted to play hardball they could deny his social security income. Our lawyer felt we should try to get another co-sponsor. It took months to find someone else.

We finally submitted the new affidavit of support and supporting documents on November 22,2010. We have been in AR ever sense. We do not know if they will be doing background checks as well as reviewing our documents. When I call the DOS every week they just say "still Pending AR". The CO told my husband that she expected it to take 2 and a half months for them to review our documents.

I've read on VJ that AR and AP are almost the same process and that AR can last for months or years just like AP. I find it's getting harder to wait through the process. I can't sleep and even though I chat with my husband everyday I still feel lonely. I haven't seen my husband in over a year. I want to go visit him but everyone says it would be a waste of money as we are so close to getting our visa.

I'm scared. What if we go through months of AR and there is something wrong with our documents. Will they issue an RFE or just deny the visa?

How do you cope with AR/AP when there is no end in sight?

Hi...

I am in the same boat. My wife & our 1 year old daughter had interview on first week of December. they were put on AR for no reason. I am a LPR and we are in F2A category. CO said everything is fine but they need some time for further Administrative Review. we waited for almost 3 years in the I-130 process. now still waiting even after interview in this AR process. this is such a disappointing lengthy wait.... whenever I call DOS, I get the same answer like you.

AR/AP time frame is really unpredictable. I don't know when I will start living with my family in US. I really miss my wife and our little daughter!

[carolynhotstuff 252]

kuraish,

I am sorry to read that you are also in AR after waiting almost 3 years for your family. It's heart-breaking what they do to families during the visa process. I hope your AR will be over soon and you can be with your wife and daughter.

[carolynhotstuff 252]

After 3 months in Administrative Review we have now been placed in Administrative Processing where I assume they are doing background checks.

I'm still having trouble sleeping but I've tried to cope by exercising 5 days a week. I'm going to try and learn how to play video games on the X-Box to pass the time. In a few weeks the weather should break so I can get outside and do some walking.

The black hole of AP/AR is a nightmare I wouldn't wish on a dog. The hardest part is not knowing if we will get our visa when the waiting is all over. My husband has a huge family and many friends to help him get through this, while I have a small family and few friends.

We filed our I-130 in October 2009. We never thought our visa journey would last this long.

[rafetnatorop 0]

After 3 months in Administrative Review we have now been placed in Administrative Processing where I assume they are doing background checks.

I'm still having trouble sleeping but I've tried to cope by exercising 5 days a week. I'm going to try and learn how to play video games on the X-Box to pass the time. In a few weeks the weather should break so I can get outside and do some walking.

The black hole of AP/AR is a nightmare I wouldn't wish on a dog. The hardest part is not knowing if we will get our visa when the waiting is all over. My husband has a huge family and many friends to help him get through this, while I have a small family and few friends.

We filed our I-130 in October 2009. We never thought our visa journey would last this long.

Hi Carolyn,

Our timeline is pretty similar-- we also filed in Oct 2009. I kept emailing and calling everyone I could think of. Yesterday I emailed the embassy again just to prod them but didn't think anything would come of it...and they responded that our AP was over and he had to make an appt to pick up his visa! So, I would be a squeaky wheel even at the embassy level, because I don't know when they were planning to tell us if I hadn't emailed them.

Good luck. This is the most frustrating and infuriating process in the world...waiting with absolutely no information. Its enough to drive anyone up the wall.

Keep your chin up, it will end eventually!

xoxo

[WaitinforHubby3yr 0]

Well ur not alone hun. I submitted hubbys i

I130 in august of 2008. We are still in this long visa journey (see signature for story). We have no choice but to wait pray and hope that his waiver is approved. I find strength from God and my husband and our 2 year old son. Its a very depressing situation but i kinda find comfort in the fact that im not the only one in a similar situation. U have my support. Stay strong.

[sachinky 465]

You should contact other members to see what the current timeframe for ISL AP is. If my memory serves me right, it used to be around 6-8 months. No idea what it is currently.

[carolynhotstuff 252]

Rafetnatorop,

Congratulations on your getting your visa you must feel so relieved that it's finally over. I call DOS every week and email the embassy once per month. I will take your advice and be a squeaky wheel.

WaitingForHubby3yrs,

My heart breaks for you and your baby. I hope to God your waiver is approved and your hubby comes home soon.

[WaitinforHubby3yr 0]

Rafetnatorop,

Congratulations on your getting your visa you must feel so relieved that it's finally over. I call DOS every week and email the embassy once per month. I will take your advice and be a squeaky wheel.

WaitingForHubby3yrs,

My heart breaks for you and your baby. I hope to God your waiver is approved and your hubby comes home soon.

Thank You for your support!! I hope so too.

[WaitinforHubby3yr 0]

But even I have some low days. Like today. Not in the highest of spirits. Feeling really lonely. I make enough to qualify as a sponsor and support hubby but rent is so high here in the VirginIslands I can't even afford a 1 bedroom apartment and have money left over each month for food and transportation. So I've been living at home with my mom. I want so badly to be independent...to be out on my own with hubby. That's why everything is hinging on this waiver approval. Once he is approved he can come up here work and we can afford a place together.

I'm just so frustrated with that among other things and i need him here to support me. We talk almost every night and his words are great encouragement and support for me but at the same time we are both getting tired of this immigration process. We're so ready to move on together as a family.

[scotlandmd 0]

Hi Guys,

It is going to be 1 year for me in AP come April. My wife is a USC I am a UKC and we have been living here for the last 5 years. We had our interview in London last April and since then it has a been a very frustrating time with no news.

My wife is expecting in June and we would of liked to be settled in the US by then.

I call the DoS every week and email the Embassy every month but still no words. We have even hired a lawyer in DC who has contacts in the DoS but still there seems to be little movement.

Is anyone else in AP as long as I have or done anything different?

- A Frustrated Scotlandmd

[carolynhotstuff 252]

Hi Scotlandmd,

I am so sorry you have been in AP for so long. I can't imagine how hard that must be for you and your wife. Please hang in there and I pray you will get out of AP soon.

[carolynhotstuff 252]

I also have bad days. I know that we are at the end of the road of this visa journey. I know that I just have to hang on for as many months as it takes to get out of AP but it's hard.

I talk to my husband 2 times a day on skype but it's not the same as having physical contact. I am planning a trip to Pakistan to see him and everybody I know is full of negative comments. They say I should save the money and wait until he is out of AP. I try to explain that AP can last for many months and there is no telling when it will be over. But they don't understand. They feel I have gone this long without seeing him in person I can wait another year if need be.

Planning my trip gives me hope and lifts my spirits. It's very depressing to talk to DOS and be told every week that our case is still pending AP. I plan to give them 6 months to issue his visa before I go to Pakistan. If they issue the visa while I'm there he can fly back with me.

[caliguy77 1]

I also have bad days. I know that we are at the end of the road of this visa journey. I know that I just have to hang on for as many months as it takes to get out of AP but it's hard.

I talk to my husband 2 times a day on skype but it's not the same as having physical contact. I am planning a trip to Pakistan to see him and everybody I know is full of negative comments. They say I should save the money and wait until he is out of AP. I try to explain that AP can last for many months and there is no telling when it will be over. But they don't understand. They feel I have gone this long without seeing him in person I can wait another year if need be.

Planning my trip gives me hope and lifts my spirits. It's very depressing to talk to DOS and be told every week that our case is still pending AP. I plan to give them 6 months to issue his visa before I go to Pakistan. If they issue the visa while I'm there he can fly back with me.

I would suggest go visit. I have done so - and though its been very $$$, i took a second job, i attach a week to a long weekend and go. Before the interview date, I was able to meet up in Dubai, which was a nice vacation and cheaper than other places. Since his passport is with the USEM, you can either request it back - which people will advise against, or go visit, it helps.

[PurpleSky 19]

I heard from the embassy a couple days ago. They basically said don't worry this is a mandatory procedure now and since it involves getting information from other international agencies the time in AP depends on how fast the other agencies get the info back to them. One other thing is that the embassy is conducting the additional review so I believe it's a good thing (meaning our case didn't have to go back to Washington).