We got AP

[Avantgarde 0]

Please clarify this for me.

Although we are out of *AP now but when we got the 221g in october last year and I called DOS they told me they were doing documents verification in Lagos.

So if they were doing document verification should they not have said we were in AR and not AP; it is just ringing a bell now that light has been shed on the difference. Because come to think of it besides our birth and divorce certificates all other documents were from the states. Or do they use both terms regardless.

Thanks

Please note that the difference in terminologies (AP & AR) is not generalized by DOS. It varies from embassy to embassy.

[I+H 11]

Okay, I have kind of a similar case as yours except that it was direct consular filing in our case. My wife (USC) & I both live together in U.A.E & we both have Pakistani origin. I've been in A.P since last 2 months.

First of all, although the blue sheet mentions 'refusal', it doesn't actually mean a visa denial. It is just their standard practice that they give blue sheet to people they put under administrative review/processing.

Further on, I second Illnevergetthis. There are actually 2 kind of APs, usually called administrative review & administrative processing. Mostly (not always), the former refers to A.P at embassy level while the latter refers to security checks at D.C level. I contacted DOS several times & they always say that my case is in administrative processing at Abu Dhabi embassy & the embassy will take the final decision on my case. This means my case is not in security checks at Washington DC level, which I think is a good sign since it would only go through at embassy level & hence would be shorter InshAllah. You need to contact DOS after some time & ask for the status of your case. Their contact # is 0012026631225 (dial 1 after the operator speaks & then dial 0 for talking to a visa specialist).

On contacting the embassy via email, you will get this sort of response "Our records indicate that your case is in Administrative Processing. A.P takes around 3 months or longer but in some cases could take months or even years". I think this sort of response would make you scared.

Anyways, I hope most of the cases don't take much longer if their A.P is at embassy level.

Wish you best of luck.

Thank you for the information. We really appreciate it. Please let us know when your AP is over. At least then we may have some sort of timeline and we will let you know the same.

I hope it is not much longer for you. This is so sad. I have to say you two are lucky though. At least you are together though. We are not and it makes it very hard.

Thank you once again.

[I+H 11]

Don't give up! This is the standard form...which tends to scare people to death due to it's ridiculous wording! AP is very normal and as hard as it is, you must just wait for them to finish their process. We went through it, if you read through many of the posts in this section, you will see you are in good company! Best of luck, it will all work out!!

Thank you. It is scary. Just not knowing what is going to happen or how long it is going to take is very upsetting.

[Nattychic 1]

Thank you. It is scary. Just not knowing what is going to happen or how long it is going to take is very upsetting.

One year and six months of my life is wasted all because of one stupid decision. Now I might be denied and stuck down here for 10 years if my waiver don't approve.

[I+H 11]

One year and six months of my life is wasted all because of one stupid decision. Now I might be denied and stuck down here for 10 years if my waiver don't approve.

Waiver for what? To file a different petition?

[illnevergetthis 5]

Additional documents were not requested. He was given a blue sheet called a "Refusal Worksheet" It says "This office regrets to inform you that it is unable to issue a visa to you because you have been found ineligible to receive a visa under the folling section."

The box marked was section 221(g). And it says "Your case requires additional administrative processing" It further instructs us to check the embassy website.

Sounds like a denial, but not 100% sure.

This actually sounds like name checks because they are telling you to check the embassy website. There is probably a link on the embassy website that you can put the passport number in. If this is the case, you are in name checks.

Call DOS to make sure... try to be patient!

[illnevergetthis 5]

I replied what the letter said to another VJer in this topic if you can find it. But basically he was handed a blue slip and 221(g) was marked and it say requires additional administrative processing.

I know that it will not eliminate the need for the security checks. We are not allowing this visa to dictate the future of our relationship. We just want to be together. I do not want to live in his country forever, and at some point in time I want him to come to my place. We are just exploring options for now and want to know what to do.

Thank you for that info. Would you happen to know how I can contact DOS.

And from what you know does one type take longer than the other or is this like everthing else within this process, it gets done when it gets done?

I am sorry that I am just seeing this...There is no way to know which one takes longer. At the embassy level, it just depends on how quickly they do their verifications. As far as name checks, how common is your husbands name? Hopefully it won't take more than a couple of months, but there are no guarantees.

[illnevergetthis 5]

Please clarify this for me.

Although we are out of *AP now but when we got the 221g in october last year and I called DOS they told me they were doing documents verification in Lagos.

So if they were doing document verification should they not have said we were in AR and not AP; it is just ringing a bell now that light has been shed on the difference. Because come to think of it besides our birth and divorce certificates all other documents were from the states. Or do they use both terms regardless.

Thanks

Uphill,

This is definately at the embassy level. They are checking your papers. When you are in AR, you are in AP. AP is used as a catch all. Different embassies use the AR and AP differently. But, I am sure because they are checking your documents that you are at the embassy level. Hope they finish soon!

[I+H 11]

I am sorry that I am just seeing this...There is no way to know which one takes longer. At the embassy level, it just depends on how quickly they do their verifications. As far as name checks, how common is your husbands name? Hopefully it won't take more than a couple of months, but there are no guarantees.

I really appreciate all of your posts. You have been very helpful.

[EAbbas 213]

Just to let you know.. my husband had his interview june 15th and was given the 221g requesting one document to verify household so we submitted proof as to who lives with me (even tho they already had it)

In the meantime, he was placed in mandatory AP due to being from pakistan. During the AP process, we did call DOS and at one time someone mentioned we were in standard review... so they were reviewing our case documents and the new submitted docs. Now as of June 25th our case is approved pending ap... i got a call from the embassy on monday, the same co that interviewed my husband called and asked me some questions and finally said that our case has nothing to worry about and now that they have verified evthing they are putting him in namechecks and it can take 1 week up to months depending on the variables.

So at least we know that our i864 was accepted, our case is approved and the namechecks have officially been started.

I'm sure its the same with you, in the MENA group, they are being very careful due to some of the intending immigrants being fraudulant but that also creates hardship for those of us who are genuine. (That isnt' just MENA either that is ANY of the embassies who are high risk for fraud)

HAng in there.... who knows how long it will take... i do wish I could find statistics on the ap process to see how many actually get thru within a few weeks, months and how many actually end up spending a year or more... there are few cases denied after ap but that is only because something really significant came up in background checks.

It's a dark lonely place this ap but ...there is light at the end...

Good luck

[I+H 11]

Just to let you know.. my husband had his interview june 15th and was given the 221g requesting one document to verify household so we submitted proof as to who lives with me (even tho they already had it)

In the meantime, he was placed in mandatory AP due to being from pakistan. During the AP process, we did call DOS and at one time someone mentioned we were in standard review... so they were reviewing our case documents and the new submitted docs. Now as of June 25th our case is approved pending ap... i got a call from the embassy on monday, the same co that interviewed my husband called and asked me some questions and finally said that our case has nothing to worry about and now that they have verified evthing they are putting him in namechecks and it can take 1 week up to months depending on the variables.

So at least we know that our i864 was accepted, our case is approved and the namechecks have officially been started.

I'm sure its the same with you, in the MENA group, they are being very careful due to some of the intending immigrants being fraudulant but that also creates hardship for those of us who are genuine. (That isnt' just MENA either that is ANY of the embassies who are high risk for fraud)

HAng in there.... who knows how long it will take... i do wish I could find statistics on the ap process to see how many actually get thru within a few weeks, months and how many actually end up spending a year or more... there are few cases denied after ap but that is only because something really significant came up in background checks.

It's a dark lonely place this ap but ...there is light at the end...

Good luck

Thank you for your kind words. AP sure is a dark and lonely place. Days feel like weeks. Please let us know when your AP ends. We just want to keep up with everyone and give ourselves a timeline as well. It is so unfortunate that because of a few bad eggs the good ones don't pass on through.

[EAbbas 213]

Thank you for your kind words. AP sure is a dark and lonely place. Days feel like weeks. Please let us know when your AP ends. We just want to keep up with everyone and give ourselves a timeline as well. It is so unfortunate that because of a few bad eggs the good ones don't pass on through.

You're right but at the same time we can be proud that we are going thru the process the right way and we will be with them soon... Inshallah!!!

Edited July 30, 2011 by EAbbas

[I+H 11]

You're right but at the same time we can be proud that we are going thru the process the right way and we will be with them soon... Inshallah!!!

Inshallah we will. I have thought of that before. Thousands of people enter into the US illegally every year and here we are doing things that right way and we suffer. But in the long run, I know it will pay off. I just hope that our AP is the standard. Like I have sad in other posts, the women was much too concerned with the fact that I had kids and that I have previously been married. She was very cold to him and that worries me. We just have to remember to keep our faith and know that this is not in our hands.

[sowfamily 0]

I really appreciate all of your posts. You have been very helpful.

I just wanted to mention that I feel your pain. My husband's interview was last thursday, July 28 in Dakar, Senegal. Our petition was also placed on the AP. ............. ....... This was a tremendous blow to us after almost one year of separation. But it is bitter-sweet because our love only increases each time we face difficulty..... I know that sounds corny, but it is so true.

If you would be interested in some spiritual help, then I can offer you the following advice:

We have a belief in Christianity that God molds us like clay , and that is a tenacious process ........ and also that the purest gold is tested and refined by fire. My husband who is Muslim completely agrees with this concept as it is in his religion too. And while it is all we have at times it remains all powerful.

Believe me, my poor husband and I suffer depression about these things, but we have learned to except the sadness as much as the happiness. There are as many nights in this world as there are days and we are half alive living only in the sun........ So we cry and we don't reject our vulnerablitiy ....... in all our smallness we reach out to God Who is stronger than we ..... like helpless little children, and He picks us up and helps us to stand on our feet again and continue on. ...... it feels good letting Him rescue us now and then ......( I am a mother, and when my children were young and would fall down I never thought twice about picking them up in my arms... it was an instant reflex to hold them and comfort them and just let them cry until they felt better. Now they are grown and they still know they can always turn to me. )

So how much more would a heavenly Father be willing to do this for us .... I just keep telling myself that this AP stuff is just a turn in the road ....... a difficult one ....... but in no way is it the end of our journey.

I wish you God's comfort and consolation and just to let you know that you are never alone.... and it is so very helpful to read your supportive posts here and welcome the comradery.

[uphill 0]

Thanks for the clarification. We hope all goes well for everyone.