Yes...oops Sorry....212G!!!

[daliroya 7]

My Fiance and I went together to the Consulate in Tunis, Tunisia on February 21, 2011. I had the huge dossier of every document I could possible think of and then the duplicates. We had pictures, evidence, forms, taxes, letters from employers, check stubs. My fiance was asked 2 questions. I was asked 2 questions. Then he handed me a little green receipt like a dry cleaning ticket and said come back Wednesday at 2. I was stunned. I said, did we get the visa? He said tomorrow at 2 you will. I said, I fly back to America on Saturday, can he come with me. He said YES! We left on cloud 999! We began to discuss finding a ticket and all the next steps. As we climbed into our car to leave, the phone call came asking us to return to the consulate. When I got there, the same man told me, "I'm sorry, I spoke too soon." He handed back the passport and gave me a white piece of paper. 221g. I asked if he needed documents (he had never looked at anything I had with me.) and he said no. He said that he could not tell me the reason. I said, I have heard of administrative review. It takes forever, months, years. He said, no it would be 1, 2 or 3 weeks. They would call my fiance. I asked if we should just get married. He said that would invalidate the K-1 visa and we would have to start again. I said, from what I've heard, the time difference will be the same. He encouraged us just to wait and that he was sure we would get the visa.

What a story!!! As I have been reading here, there is nothing to do but call and wait. It seems the average is 4-5 months. Is there any official average wait time on 212g?

If the answer comes back denied, do we have a chance if we marry? The only "red flag" I can see is that he was born in Libya (his dad was working there when he was born) but is a Tunisian. He had a clean police record. We met all the criteria and had all the documents. He has a very common name. Any thoughts?

[Aneel 3]

It's an all too familiar story with a strange twist. The consular probably was imbued by your enthusiasm and told you what he should not have. Nearly all cases involving male beneficiary/applicants go through AP. So, don't worry. You will get your visa soon.

[together4evr 360]

Most Ap is resolved in 2 months

then 4-5 months

then a few unlucky name hits last a LONG time

So hang in there. It will be a very stressful and painful time. Talk to him daily and keep reminding each other the end of AP will come.

You can call DOS

202-663-1225

press 1 then press 0 to speak to someone

Ask them for case status updates weekly to see if he is in

MANDATORY AP or Internal AP(I think that is the name)If it is mandatory then it is name and background checks and if it is internal then the embassy is doing the background or paperwork review.

Good Luck

[salmani 0]

Most Ap is resolved in 2 months

then 4-5 months

then a few unlucky name hits last a LONG time

So hang in there. It will be a very stressful and painful time. Talk to him daily and keep reminding each other the end of AP will come.

You can call DOS

202-663-1225

press 1 then press 0 to speak to someone

Ask them for case status updates weekly to see if he is in

MANDATORY AP or Internal AP(I think that is the name)If it is mandatory then it is name and background checks and if it is internal then the embassy is doing the background or paperwork review.

Good Luck

[salmani 0]

AP is same for both male and female beneficary. My fiancee is in AP from Feb 23, just wondering do females also go through mandatory AP.

She is Tunisian and I am Pakistani american maybe that has something do with it. Thanks...

[together4evr 360]

both people have some kind of background checks

the female foreigner usually has a much shorter wait but their have been a couple long ones

[belinda63 3,041]

Even if you marry and apply for the CR-1 he will still have to undergo AP. No way out of it for certain countries/names. Hang in there and wait it out.

[evelyn1140 18]

They told u 1 to 2 weeks. In their language 1 to 2 months. They told my husband the same thing and it has been 1 month. Good luck

Edited March 3, 2012 by evelyn1140

[daliroya 7]

Most Ap is resolved in 2 months

then 4-5 months

then a few unlucky name hits last a LONG time

So hang in there. It will be a very stressful and painful time. Talk to him daily and keep reminding each other the end of AP will come.

You can call DOS

202-663-1225

press 1 then press 0 to speak to someone

Ask them for case status updates weekly to see if he is in

MANDATORY AP or Internal AP(I think that is the name)If it is mandatory then it is name and background checks and if it is internal then the embassy is doing the background or paperwork review.

Good Luck

[daliroya 7]

Thanks for responding. I have been read, read, reading! I will set my mind on 5 months (seems somewhat normal) and hope for shorter. I told the CO directly, I did not believe him for 1, 2 or 3 weeks. But what can you do? They have called my fiance after I sent an email asking for the paperwork so that we could marry while I was there. They strongly encouraged us to wait, saying that their office felt confident we would get the visa. There is really nothing else to do besides wait. We do talk daily and are best friends to each other. We have been doing this almost 3 years now, so neither of us is going to finish the relationship over this delay. We stay busy with work and stay hopeful for the best. If it is 5 months, he would be here by August 2012, which is only 1 year since we started the process. So, it's not bad. It was just so emotional to be told yes and 5 minutes later to lose it all! But God is GREAT!

They told u 1 to 2 weeks. In their language 1 to 2 months. They told my husband the same thing and it has been 1 month. Good luck

This just made me laugh sooooooooo hard! Yes, I think that is an accurate conversion. Best of luck to you both as you wait also!

[evelyn1140 18]

Thanks for responding. I have been read, read, reading! I will set my mind on 5 months (seems somewhat normal) and hope for shorter. I told the CO directly, I did not believe him for 1, 2 or 3 weeks. But what can you do? They have called my fiance after I sent an email asking for the paperwork so that we could marry while I was there. They strongly encouraged us to wait, saying that their office felt confident we would get the visa. There is really nothing else to do besides wait. We do talk daily and are best friends to each other. We have been doing this almost 3 years now, so neither of us is going to finish the relationship over this delay. We stay busy with work and stay hopeful for the best. If it is 5 months, he would be here by August 2012, which is only 1 year since we started the process. So, it's not bad. It was just so emotional to be told yes and 5 minutes later to lose it all! But God is GREAT!

This just made me laugh sooooooooo hard! Yes, I think that is an accurate conversion. Best of luck to you both as you wait also!

Same for you too, Sorry to sound so discourage but the reality will hit you soon or later. It happened to me while I was waiting for their call in Turkey (3 weeks) later. I had to come back to NY but I wanted to stay so bad. I am praying to God all this separation will pass and we will start our family.