More than two weeks since interview- Passport not yet sent

[jaycali 415]

I had my interview on November 6th, 15 days ago. The CO said I was approved, and that I would have my passport and everything I need in the mail in two weeks. Seeing other members' timelines who interviewed at the same embassy, the normal time frame from interview until visa received seems to be 5 - 10 days. I emailed the embassy on Friday and asked if the visa had been mailed yet, but never got a reply.

Yesterday was the two week mark. Hoping I'd be able to get on a flight the next morning to make it for Thanksgiving I camped outside the mailbox, and when the mailman came with no package, I went down to the post office and had them search their entire building. Nothing.

I tried calling the embassy, but they will not answer any IV related questions on the phone, and was advised to write a new email and put "Urgent." in the subject line. In the meantime I called DOS - They told me the visa was issued and was "probably sent in the mail last week." - In other words, i don't suspect I am in AP or AR or anything to that effect.

Today I emailed the embassy once again with "Urgent." in the subject line and got a response 12 minutes later saying "It has yet to be sent. We will contact you in a near future." I replied asking what kind of time frame could be expected, and they said "Please contact us in one weeks time if you have not heard anything from us."

Is this normal? I'm beginning to freak out.

[rade2rising 205]

time for defcon 3. maybe they are investigating you further. I think you are in AP and not realize it.

[jaycali 415]

time for defcon 3. maybe they are investigating you further. I think you are in AP and not realize it.

I have a gut feeling something is not right. But if I was in AP or the visa was still processing, wouldn't the DOS have known this?

I did call DOS last night though and they specifically said "your visa has been issued. It was probably mailed out last week."

At the interview I was only asked a few questions, my DS-230 actually had an "APPROVED" stamp already on it. I wasn't asked to "swear to tell the truth" - They did not even have me sign DS-230 part 2. The CO did say at the end that "I'm going to authorize the visa." However, she said they needed to run a name check since they hadn't done that yet, and asked me to sit down a wait a bit. I was called up 3 minutes later, and she said "All clear. You will have your passport and everything you need in two weeks." On the envelope they provide for my mailing address, I wrote my mother's name and address, because I explained some of my mail was being forwarded to my wife in Hawaii (I visited her for a couple months right before the interview). They said that was fine, "we'll mail it to the address on the envelope."

That's the last I heard until now.

Edited November 21, 2012 by Jay Jay

[rade2rising 205]

well you dont have to sign part 2 of DS230. seems there are quite a few cases where this has happened so no worries about that. whats crazy is that you are not coming from high fraud country so you would think it should be quite straight foward. I am very confused how DOS saying visa issue and IV unit saying it hasnt been done.... maybe its just a matter of printing the visa but 2 weeks is very long time. I guess wait a week then call embassy again. I hope by then you receive good news in the mail. very unusual though.

[jaycali 415]

well you dont have to sign part 2 of DS230. seems there are quite a few cases where this has happened so no worries about that. whats crazy is that you are not coming from high fraud country so you would think it should be quite straight foward. I am very confused how DOS saying visa issue and IV unit saying it hasnt been done.... maybe its just a matter of printing the visa but 2 weeks is very long time. I guess wait a week then call embassy again. I hope by then you receive good news in the mail. very unusual though.

The DOS says it was issued (not sent) but that's all they were able to tell me (does the DOS know whether it has been printed/mailed?), and to contact the embassy and ask when it was mailed out, and to keep checking my mailbox. The embassy hasn't said anything about anything, just that it hasn't been mailed yet, and that I should hear from them within a week. I just wish I had a certain idea of what the hold up is.. Whether it's a simple printer error or something more serious.

Edited November 21, 2012 by Jay Jay

[rade2rising 205]

I think you are right in that DOS can see Visa was approved but I am not certain if they can confirm the printing of the visa. Call them and ask them if it has been printed at least then your mind can be at ease. Now if it hasnt been printed well its certainly cause for concern.

[bigdog 377]

Good luck on your search for answers on this.

[jaycali 415]

Called the DOS again. Spoke to a lady who said "Don't worry, they will mail it to you." I said "Are you sure? Because it has been 15 days, the embassy just told me they haven't mailed it and to wait a week and they will contact me." The lady said "They will send it, everything is ok.", I asked "Can you tell if it's been printed and everything?" - To which she replied "No, just that everything is ok. Don't worry, when it's ready they will send it."

Geez. Anyone experience anything similar? Or have any ideas?

Edited November 21, 2012 by Jay Jay

[Dana and Divine 61]

It sounds like you are just experiencing an extremely long wait for your passport and visa. It could be due to many interviews being wrapped up before the holidays. I don't believe you have anything to worry about.

[jaycali 415]

It sounds like you are just experiencing an extremely long wait for your passport and visa. It could be due to many interviews being wrapped up before the holidays. I don't believe you have anything to worry about.

Thanks. I have noticed some members on this forum interviewing at the same consulate having received their passports back later than normal recently. One member waited 13 days before they even mailed out the visa - But they got a reply email from the embassy saying it was "mailed out yesterday." I guess my main concern is the cryptic and generic "It has yet to be sent. We will contact you in the near future." IMO, anything cryptic and generic in this process is rather scary, especially once you're out of the normal processing.

Edited November 21, 2012 by Jay Jay

[Sofiane 0]

Thanks. I have noticed some members on this forum interviewing at the same consulate having received their passports back later than normal recently. One member waited 13 days before they even mailed out the visa - But they got a reply email from the embassy saying it was "mailed out yesterday." I guess my main concern is the cryptic and generic "It has yet to be sent. We will contact you in the near future." IMO, anything cryptic and generic in this process is rather scary, especially once you're out of the normal processing.

My wife was approved by the CO on November 13th , and was told that she would receive her passport with her visa through UPS, so far haven't received any.... She as I are very concerned of this delay. So I know where you coming from. I just don't understand the reason, why they say something and then it's something different..

[jaycali 415]

It has now been 4 weeks since my CR-1 was approved at the embassy. There were no questions out of the ordinary at the interview. No 221(g) or anything, just approval. The CO even commended me on having everything I needed. I was told I'd have it in my mailbox in two weeks. I'm born and raised Norwegian, no connection to any "common AP countries." I've called the DOS countless times - They assure me I'm not in AP, and last week told me to stop calling them since there was nothing they could do except tell me my visa was issued at the beginning of November, and should have been mailed weeks ago. "Ask the embassy." Easier said then done. Plus, the DOS operators I've talked to all say they cannot tell if visas have been printed or mailed, just whether they are issued or in AP.

After two weeks of trying to get something out of the embassy, I finally got an email a week ago that said "We have not yet sent it. We will contact you shortly. You should receive your visa no later than in a few weeks."

I'm inclined to believe this is good news, though very vague. I've asked this before so please bare with me and forgive my impatience on this, but now at the 4 week mark, I'll ask again - Anyone have any idea what might be going on?

This wait is just torturous.

Edited December 3, 2012 by Jay Jay

[jaycali 415]

Call from embassy in Oslo today!

"Hi, Stockholm sent us your visa package. You forgot to sign DS-230 part 2. Can you come sign it and pick up your visa today?"

[NikLR 13,232]

First.. OMG STUPID CO!!!!

Second.... YAY THAT'S AWESOME!!!!

[Roosha 51]

OMG! Finally! I guess things just fall through the cracks sometimes, right? Sooo happy you've got the visa, hope you're reunited with your loved ones soon! And in time for Christmas, YAY!

CONGRATULATIONS!