Blue Slip at Guangzhou - "Additional Processing Needed"

[Phaul 0]

Hi, my fiancee recently went in for her interview on December 4 at Guangzhou. Unfortunately, she received a blue slip saying our case "requires additional processing". It did not say to resubmit any documents or any other actions.

She is not CCP, so we are not sure why the case needs AP. She did however, have some prior visa and POE issues. We met in the States while she was student. After returning to China, she wanted to come back to the US to visit, but was turned away at a POE for apparent "immigrant intent" on a visitor visa and later denied another visitor visa after that. Could that be why we we're in AP? We had spoken to an immigration lawyer before even starting the K1 process and he assured us that as long as she never overstayed or defrauded any CBP or visa officers.

In any case, does anybody know how long AP typically takes? Is there a possibility she will not be issued a visa after AP is over? What would happen then?

Also, is there a way to get more information on our case? I've read that on can call DOS (Department of State?) but I'm not sure how to do that. Does anybody know?

Thanks for reading...

The questions she was asked is below:

How do you know each other? When and where did you meet?

Have you been to US? On what type of visa? How long?

What is your school and major?

What does your fiancé do?

Do you know how much he earns?

When did he start working?

What did he do before?

Has he been to China?

Is this your first marriage?

Are you a communist party member?

Have you stay in any other country more than one year?

[Cathi 5,795]

AP can last a week, a month. six months, or a year or longer, there is no time frame or limit to how long it will last. There is no way to get around it or expedite it, it just has to run it course. In most cases no one knows why they are in put AP, it can be for any number of reasons. My husband was in AP for about 9 weeks, we were never told the reason. If AP lasts for 60 days you may contact the DOS for updates. But to tell you the truth they don't tell you anything except "your case is still under going AP, you will be contacted when it is complete." Good luck and I hope it is a quick AP.

[bigdog 377]

Prior immigration issues affect the outcome of future applications, maybe some others will read this and not make the same mistakes. Good luck.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Hi, my fiancee recently went in for her interview on December 4 at Guangzhou. Unfortunately, she received a blue slip saying our case "requires additional processing". It did not say to resubmit any documents or any other actions.

She is not CCP, so we are not sure why the case needs AP. She did however, have some prior visa and POE issues. We met in the States while she was student. After returning to China, she wanted to come back to the US to visit, but was turned away at a POE for apparent "immigrant intent" on a visitor visa and later denied another visitor visa after that. Could that be why we we're in AP? We had spoken to an immigration lawyer before even starting the K1 process and he assured us that as long as she never overstayed or defrauded any CBP or visa officers.

In any case, does anybody know how long AP typically takes? Is there a possibility she will not be issued a visa after AP is over? What would happen then?

Also, is there a way to get more information on our case? I've read that on can call DOS (Department of State?) but I'm not sure how to do that. Does anybody know?

Thanks for reading...

The questions she was asked is below:

How do you know each other? When and where did you meet?

Have you been to US? On what type of visa? How long?

What is your school and major?

What does your fiancé do?

Do you know how much he earns?

When did he start working?

What did he do before?

Has he been to China?

Is this your first marriage?

Are you a communist party member?

Have you stay in any other country more than one year?

Welcome to the forum.

Very sorry to hear about your fiancee receiving a blue slip, indicating "Additional Processing" (AP) will be necessary on her visa application. The amount of time associated AP is pretty variable and is dependent on the individual visa application and/or interview. There is a possibility that she will be approved and issued a visa, of course she may also be denied. Hope for the best. You can contact the DoS Hotline @ 202-663-1225, press 1, then 0, for a visa specialist. I would suggest that you contact them at least twice weekly until this issue is resolved. You could try to contact the GUZ IV unit, but they can only be contacted via email, and it can take them 1-2 days to respond to your message. Your best bet is the DoS Hotline.

Take some time, check in, and review some of the threads at the China regional forum. This isn't the first time someone has gotten a blue slip at the GUZ consulate. There may be some members with some pearls of wisdom for you.

Good luck and hang in there. Hopefully it will be resolved to your satisfaction quickly.

[Sam and Fen 41]

Prior immigration issues affect the outcome of future applications, maybe some others will read this and not make the same mistakes. Good luck.

Yup. Here is how it looks to a CO:

1. Entry denied at POE

2. Visitor Visa denied.

3. Now Apply for K1 = Visa fraud

When she was denied at POE what questions were asked of her and what were her answers?

[Phaul 0]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I also hope it's short for us.

AP can last a week, a month. six months, or a year or longer, there is no time frame or limit to how long it will last. There is no way to get around it or expedite it, it just has to run it course. In most cases no one knows why they are in put AP, it can be for any number of reasons. My husband was in AP for about 9 weeks, we were never told the reason. If AP lasts for 60 days you may contact the DOS for updates. But to tell you the truth they don't tell you anything except "your case is still under going AP, you will be contacted when it is complete." Good luck and I hope it is a quick AP.

[Phaul 0]

Thanks for the information, I will try to Dos Hotline.

Welcome to the forum.

Very sorry to hear about your fiancee receiving a blue slip, indicating "Additional Processing" (AP) will be necessary on her visa application. The amount of time associated AP is pretty variable and is dependent on the individual visa application and/or interview. There is a possibility that she will be approved and issued a visa, of course she may also be denied. Hope for the best. You can contact the DoS Hotline @ 202-663-1225, press 1, then 0, for a visa specialist. I would suggest that you contact them at least twice weekly until this issue is resolved. You could try to contact the GUZ IV unit, but they can only be contacted via email, and it can take them 1-2 days to respond to your message. Your best bet is the DoS Hotline.

Take some time, check in, and review some of the threads at the China regional forum. This isn't the first time someone has gotten a blue slip at the GUZ consulate. There may be some members with some pearls of wisdom for you.

Good luck and hang in there. Hopefully it will be resolved to your satisfaction quickly.

[Phaul 0]

It was some time ago, so perhaps not as bad as you put it below.

POE denial Feb 2011

Visitor Visa denial Apr 2011

K1 petition filed Feb 2012

I also went to visit her multiple times since then.

In our petition, we were able to submit an explanation of those incidents, and we got the NOA2 without any hiccups.

Of course in the interview, my fiancee was never given a chance to bring this up, let alone explain it.

After conversations with more than one lawyer, I understand that while it may rise some eyebrows (hence the AP), as long as they are not saying she defrauded VOs (which none of her paperwork following those incidents says, and she certainly did not) she should not have a problem getting a K1, regardless of the timeframe between visa/POE denials and the petition filing. I hope those lawyers were right.

I have to see if I have a condensed version of her interrogation at POE in Feb 2011. It was quite lengthy.

Yup. Here is how it looks to a CO:

1. Entry denied at POE

2. Visitor Visa denied.

3. Now Apply for K1 = Visa fraud

When she was denied at POE what questions were asked of her and what were her answers?

[Sam and Fen 41]

It was some time ago, so perhaps not as bad as you put it below.

POE denial Feb 2011

Visitor Visa denial Apr 2011

K1 petition filed Feb 2012

I also went to visit her multiple times since then.

In our petition, we were able to submit an explanation of those incidents, and we got the NOA2 without any hiccups.

Of course in the interview, my fiancee was never given a chance to bring this up, let alone explain it.

After conversations with more than one lawyer, I understand that while it may rise some eyebrows (hence the AP), as long as they are not saying she defrauded VOs (which none of her paperwork following those incidents says, and she certainly did not) she should not have a problem getting a K1, regardless of the timeframe between visa/POE denials and the petition filing. I hope those lawyers were right.

I have to see if I have a condensed version of her interrogation at POE in Feb 2011. It was quite lengthy.

If you included these incidents in your K1 filing with USCIS then DOS (GUZ-stapo) can not use that as an excuse to deny the petition at least that is what the law is.

[Phaul 0]

Do you mean that since we disclosed those incidents in the I129-F, GUZ cannot use this as a reason to deny issuing the visa?

If you included these incidents in your K1 filing with USCIS then DOS (GUZ-stapo) can not use that as an excuse to deny the petition at least that is what the law is.

[Sam and Fen 41]

Do you mean that since we disclosed those incidents in the I129-F, GUZ cannot use this as a reason to deny issuing the visa?

That is how I understand it.

If USCIS did not have a problem with those incidents and approved the K1 then GUZ can not use that against you, but GUZ seldom follows the law.

I am in no way an expert on this topic so hopefully some one like Darnell (Hey Bucky) will be able to shed more light because in this case POE denial and tourist Visa denial are part of DOS and not USCIS so not sure how that would work.

[Darnell 8,479]

Yeah, I'm not gonna say a CO would see it as possible visa fraud, just yet..

However, since there WAS a 'turn around' at the POE - they need more time to investigate the matter.

This stuff is supposed to be done prior to the interview, where a hit comes back.

So, lets say that the background check, did, in fact, come back before the interview ,

and there was no record of the turn-around at the POE in it.

There's a record of the incident submitted with the I-129F, and a CO can't find it in the background checks,

so they need more time to investigate it.

Right or wrong, that's what I think, for now.

/end of opinion...

Edited December 5, 2012 by Darnell

[Hagrid 22]

Don't worry about it. When I was in colombia I had the chance to see one of those meetings the embassy do with a vice consul who answers all the questions they are submitted to answer and they talked a lot about the k1 visa. They said, that as long as the uscis approves it here in the USA, there's no reason to deny it during the interview as all the checks were done already at that point and that basically the only reason for denial is having overstayed or being married or not a true relationship.

They talked also about the AP and they said sometimes your name matches one of those names that require especial treatment and need additional screening or to check any prior event further which is probably your case. I believe that you will end up with an approved k1 visa, it's just a matter of time. My best friend had asked for his J1 visa last year and got the same AP letter. Six weeks later he got a call from the embassy saying he just needs to go to the embassy with his passport in order to have his visa issued.

Remember that AP doesn't mean denial. If they wanted to deny the petition because of that incident at POE they would have done it already. Maybe they are just clearing all the situation up and do the AP as they know it's not worth it a denial on a k1 when you got to this point and USCIS approved the petition here before hand. I just recommend you to be patient and wait and things will be cleared up and she eventually will get her visa issued!

I know AP are frustrating but remember you are not alone

Edited December 5, 2012 by Juan L

[Sandra G. 5,079]

Juan L you said "... as long as the uscis approves it here in the USA, there's no reason to deny it during the interview", well you heard that but the Us Consulate can and often deny or refuse to issue visa ,sometimes there are grounds for ineligibility based or the application does not meet the requirements of an established visa category.We see here every day cases like this one.

Edited December 6, 2012 by sandranj

[Mangens 0]

We've been waiting for our call-in-letter for 28 days, our case is still under AP, we really dont know when they can complete the process, the only thing we can do is wait, as well as contact DOS once/twice a week, or use online form to contact US embassy.

I know exactly how you feel, just hanging there, be positive and good luck!

DOS:202-663-1225, press 1, then 0, you'll be on hold for few mins

VISA Unit online inquire: guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/immigrant-visa-unit-question.html