How long is the wait for Visa?

[TimHorsburgh 0]

Hi there.

I had my CR-I Visa interview in London on Nov 1st. Whole thing seemed to be going swimmingly until the Consular Office said "Well, your application appears to be fine, except...."

Turns out that because my wife (USC) had not filed taxes in the last 3 years (she was a student, in the US then UK), they were not willing not accept her as a sole sponsor - despite the fact that she has been earning double the poverty limit since February, and we had lots of documentation explaining why she did not file, a letter from her employer etc, and had even seen stories on the forums of people who had not filed but we now earning enough who had been approved! However, whatever I said, the guy wouldn't budge, and he sent me home with a blue form saying my application has been 'suspended under section 221(g) etc'...

So, I immediately called my wife and told her the news, and she got her dad to fill out an I-864 as joint-sponsor and overnighted the documents to me. I have now sent them to the Embassy to process, and then hopefully they will send me the Visa... but when????? The Consular Officer made out as if all I had to do send the documents, then they'd read them, and send me back the visa in a couple of days... hasn't happened...

I tried calling the information line and the guy i spoke to was obviously not at the Embassy but in a call centre somewhere (in Scotland, i imagine, since everyone i speak to on the Immigrant visa line seems to be Scottish!), and he told me that he didn't have that sort of information available, but that it would probably take them 10 working days to process!

Why such a big discrepancy? And does anyone have any idea of what I can or what number to call to actually talk to someone at the embassy who might be able to confirm what's actually going on and maybe speed it up???

I was really hoping to be able to spend Thanksgiving with my wife and her family in the US for the first time!

Edited November 9, 2006 by TimHorsburgh

[TimHorsburgh 0]

Sorry, I have just read a couple of threads that seem to have similar difficulties with London/SMS recently. I perhaps should have just replied to those.

But please can someone still let me know what options I might have available to me?

What is the thing about getting the USC to call the department of State? Is that likely to help in my case?

[Mags 112]

Well, I am one of those affected recently by a similar thing to yours.

Firstly there is nothing you can do to speed it up. ICE2005 had to wait 28 days for her FBI checks to come through and I had to wait 31 for my visa to come through after additional evidence was requested (although 7 of those days were due to a courier ####### up).

Judging by our two experiences, it seems to be taking around a month to process additional information through their system.

Who can you phone? Well, forget the Scottish phone line. Your best bet is to phone the DOS. If there is any information to be found, they will be the ones who will have it.

Edited November 9, 2006 by mags

[TimHorsburgh 0]

That's insane! Surely it can't take that long to read an I-864 and see that it is all there and correct? How can it be that they can send the Visa to you just a day or so after the interview, and yet in this case, when they already have had the documents, they could take that long? What are they doing in there???

Deep breaths, deep breaths....

How do i call the department of state?

[Mags 112]

That's insane! Surely it can't take that long to read an I-864 and see that it is all there and correct? How can it be that they can send the Visa to you just a day or so after the interview, and yet in this case, when they already have had the documents, they could take that long? What are they doing in there???

Well, I presume they get alot of post and work through it as received. If they receive 100 bits of post before your I-864 they will do them in order. After interview, all they have to do is affix the sticker and send it out....

How do i call the department of state?

"Within the United States, you may also call the State Department's Visa Services' Public Inquiries Branch at 202-663-1225. This number has recorded information with an option to speak with a visa specialist during most business hours. Please note that this is a toll call."

Try them and good luck!

[Jackson1975 0]

I would definately all the DOS the number is as above

Then

press 1

press 1

press 0

Then wait a little while

They seem to have the most up to date info

Forget Scotland when I last called them they advised as the interview had already taken place they would not have any additional information.

Also

When it's an administration issue when you e-mail the londonconsular address they don's seem to respond.

In the 28 days of waiting I sent 5 e-mails no response

DOS were always very helpful

Good Luck