"ADDITIONAL PROCESSING"

[Katiedog 6]

Thank you all for your input and encouragement. I will wager a highly ranked legislator could pull strings for his own benefit with them if necessary, but I am not affiliated with this sort of political animal. Unfortunately or fortunately I am just an average everyday American.

[Operator 1,927]

The Kiev Embassy kept her Ukraine Passport. They took her to another department to get the address and delivery information from her (for the packet I suppose). She was given a Pink Sheet or Card that has handwritten, Additional Processing. Nothing negative at all, nothing firing off alarms. The lady from the interview said that all was well and in a more or less roundabout way that she was approved. They needed more time to go through her package since it was so large.

It was large because of all proof of a relationship documents we filed. The package was airtight so to speak with "overkill" documentation and proof of everything. The immigration lawyer and I made doubly sure that it was comprehensive and complete with nothing left to chance.

My fiance has no criminal history and nothing that she nor I know about that would cause a flag. All doors for her to leave Ukraine are open legally. She owes no one and has no legal problems.

The Congressional office person who spoke with me said that this is common. She deals with many Embassies. She said that she can make an inquiry SIX WEEKS into the situation (from now) but that to contact them before then would maybe antagonize the personnel towards our petition. The lawyer said the same thing. So all are treading water softly. So apparently this ALL POWERFUL GOD LIKE BUREAURACY EVEN HAS CONGRESS BLUFFED. How ridiculous and absurd.

I just find this God like attitude unacceptable. We are people just like the ones reviewing the package and our lives and future depend on their decision. We hang on their whimsy. I do not like this at all.

When I was in banking for many years, I fully realized that my decisions and my ability to be responsible to other people was a big influence on their lives, that of their children and that of their future. Apparently NONE of the bureaucrats has any inkling, appreciation for this fact and little respect for the people whose lives they control.

The two things I fear are them following some misguided rabbit trail without addressing the issue with Marina and I OR them taking their own sweet time and arbitrarily judging or misjudging us and our case unfairly. We meet and exceed all qualifications required and our package was thorough and professionally prepared.

It sounds to me (with no RUB experience) that she is in good shape. As I said in my first post I learned from a visa specialist at DOS that there is a big difference between "Additional Processing" and "Administrative Processing". She told me that even printing the visa is considered additional processing.

I work in regulatory compliance and deal on a daily basis with many governmental agencies in the US and abroad. While us in the private sector have regulations to abide by we also have to be productive and keep the client or customer happy. While it is true that we pay the fees and taxes it's not part of their (USCIS/DOS) mission statement to keep the customer (petitioner) satisfied and coming back for more. They must simply follow the rules. I would imagine that they have to turn off emotion and look at facts not unlike what a homicide detective would do to look clearly at the facts presented. Now I've also seen beauocrats act above the regulations and set policy that makes no sense and I'm sure that happens with individuals in consular affairs however I don't believe it is the norm.

For us; the recipients of the benefit, this is a long, emotional and trying process. For the adjudicators and CO's its a job that they do by the numbers day in and day out. So I agree that they may have little concern for the outcome for the individuals involved but rather by serving the process they do good for the whole of the citizens of the US.

Man I know it is frustrating and we all get pissed in our own way, my wife's K-1 visa took 320+ days and I felt every minute of it. Hang in there and don't take it too personal. I think she'll have her visa in no time.

[1HappyGuy 45]

Thank you all for your input and encouragement. I will wager a highly ranked legislator could pull strings for his own benefit with them if necessary, but I am not affiliated with this sort of political animal. Unfortunately or fortunately I am just an average everyday American.

We have all been there with the frustration of waiting. Just try to be patient, find things to do that will prepare your home for her and give it time. She is frustrated too, so you need to be her calming force. Before you know it, all of this will be forgotten as you enjoy the comfort of her embraces.

[baron555 934]

AND.......you wanna talk about government officials acting totally arbitrary and like God?

Ask your now single lady /fiance what is involved with trying to formally adopt an orphan boy within the Russian Adoption system as a single female? (Maybe Ukraine is different?)

My wife did just that and that needed to happen in order for him to be issued a visa....was a deal-breaker for us and we even had to delay the interview for that process to work its way through to the end....and it took until the bitter end for it to happen.....you can't imagine the pain and suffering we both went through (more for her than me) jumping through all the hoops those two had to go through.

I can't tell you how many times we both came so close to ending the suffering and giving up; can you imagine making that decision with your fiance?

And in the end, it was up to one lone person to decide......it took three rounds of "continuances" imposed by this person and lots of persuasion to give it up to reach a final decision.

Edited November 30, 2011 by baron555

[visaveteran1 33]

Thank you all for your input and encouragement. I will wager a highly ranked legislator could pull strings for his own benefit with them if necessary, but I am not affiliated with this sort of political animal. Unfortunately or fortunately I am just an average everyday American.

Here in the US, there's two powerful, god-like positions no one can easily override: The Fire Marshall and a Consulate Immigration Officer.

I've dealt with both.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Here in the US, there's two powerful, god-like positions no one can easily override: The Fire Marshall and a Consulate Immigration Officer.

I've dealt with both.

Fire Marshalls are bastards!!!!!!! The ONLY time I ever almost got arrested was because of a Fire Marshall, suffice to say he tried to stop me on a construction project that I was under direct orders to get done that weekend by demanding I wait for a permit to be issued on Monday. I refused to stop work and he said he would have me arrested. I told him "then you better do it now, it is the only way you will stop me, I will get the permit Monday morning" (anything less than getting arrested and I would have been fired from my job for not meeting that deadline)

I went straight to the permit office on Monday. The Fire Marshall showed up at the job site WITH a police officer on Monday about 9am. To tell you the truth I am surprised he did not arrest me, I would have arrested me!

I once saw TWO Fire Marshalls get into it. I did a project that due to its size fell under the jurisdiction of the STATE Fire Marshall and a LOCAL guy showed up to do an inspection. He told me he was NOT there to look for violations but only to familiarize himself with the building, after all, it would be the LOCAL fireman putting out a fire if it occurred. Seemed reasonable. I knew the guy and he was a pretty good guy. While he was there the STATE Fire Marsahll arrived for his permitting inspection and HOLY SH*T those two got into it!

My general opinion of them is about the same as the Gopnick cops in Ukraine, they have dreamed of being a fire man since they were 6, and now they ARE one!

[baron555 934]

Obviously....you guys have never ever dealt with City of Chicago Building Inspectors..!!!!!!

It's written into every Chicago Building Code......."All of the above is subject to the interpretation of the Inspector."

If he says he wants Purple colored wires....then you better do that.

That's why in Chicago a whole enterprise system has developed called Permit Pushers. They are more effective than drug pushers.....for the price, they get you the permit!!!

Like in Russia, Like in Chicago.

I almost go into it with the local Water Inspector.....luckily the local precinct police knew me well and smoothed that out....but my company had to pay and jump through hoops for this jerk!

[Katiedog 6]

Here in the US, there's two powerful, god-like positions no one can easily override: The Fire Marshall and a Consulate Immigration Officer.

I've dealt with both.

You left out any FBI or DOJ agent/employee or Judge. They are all "GOD" in their own eyes over the rest of us and how they do love to play the part to the fullest extent.

[visaveteran1 33]

You left out any FBI or DOJ agent/employee or Judge. They are all "GOD" in their own eyes over the rest of us and how they do love to play the part to the fullest extent.

Well, maybe, but we are supposed to have "due process" with the FBI and lawyers...even high level ones. And one judge can be overturned by several judges on up to nine. Down closer to ground, we find the real "under the radar" power. Fire Marshals. Immigration Officers, building inspectors...they make lawyers and judges look like weak by comparison.

[james&olya 1,121]

Well, maybe, but we are supposed to have "due process" with the FBI and lawyers...even high level ones. And one judge can be overturned by several judges on up to nine. Down closer to ground, we find the real "under the radar" power. Fire Marshals. Immigration Officers, building inspectors...they make lawyers and judges look like weak by comparison.

The very worst IMO, family law judges and their 'friend-of-the-court' associates!

[Katiedog 6]

The FBI, Department of Injustice, Judges, etc, ALL have the power to bend/break the law and abuse it and they do, all the time. The United States Government can do anything it wants with little old you and me and don't fool yourself into believing otherwise. By the time they get through with you, you have no chance to fight back or call their hand. The laws, the power, the money are all far into their favor and they will see it stays that way. It is like pointing a double barrel 12 gauge at a mosquito and pulling the trigger. They want it that way because it preserves their power and money stream. It is NOT the country Thomas Jefferson and his peers envisioned and founded. It is not a government for the people and serving the people, it is a government serving its own interests under the guise of serving the people.

[slim 1,525]

It is NOT the country Thomas Jefferson and his peers envisioned and founded. It is not a government for the people and serving the people, it is a government serving its own interests under the guise of serving the people.

Huzzah!