No visa

[Ta Ta 1]

Someone suggested to ask for help here. I posted in the embassy forum today

but want to try here to get specific advice from someone who is going through this.

My fiance's interview is in the other forum in detail ( Interview results )

Today at the interview after what seemed to be an in depth but easy going

conversational style interview , even a laughing and nice CO, she caught my

fiance totally by surprise when she said : I am not going to give you a visa but we will call you.

To which his response was : Why not, it took me 4 days of travelling to get here.

She said that is just the process.

He asked how long will it take.......she said maybe in March. Approved visa's at this embassy ( Dakar ) are issued within 1-2 days. He did not receive a denial letter.

The paper he received just has different boxes and this was ticked : If we need additional

information or if you need an additional interview we will contact you. Unckecked boxes were DNA test needed, more request for proofing relationship but it was not for us because

it was not marked.

She kept my affidavit of support, his cert. copy of BC and his original death cert. of his late wife who was killed in the war.

I was told 2 days before about 5 S/L applicants were approved and the interview was a breeze and short with few questions asked.

He has not emailed me the form yet as it is difficult for him to make it to a computer.

He read it to me.

What is happening, are we in Administrative Review or background/security checks?

The paper given is very vague and tells me nothing. Anyone know what this means ?

I thought a letter with a more detailed statement would be given for AR.

This just sounds like don't call us, we call you whenever , without any reason or

explanation given. Do I have a right to know exactly what is happening ?

So I can research what to do and how to watch the process?

I don't even know where to begin.

Another issue is that he had to travel through Guinea, Guinea Bisseau, The Gambia just to get to the interview in Senegal. Can a late approved visa be mailed per courrier to avoid having to make another $ 400 and 4 day long trip to Senegal ?

From what I hear this can take 2 weeks to 1 year or more , with a few month being the norm ? Should he remain in Dakar for 2 weeks just in case it may be issued then, to avoid having to turn around and go right back ? She did not say Congrats your visa is approved

pending.......blah blah......she just said not giving you a visa but we will call you .

Can it still be denied ?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Sorry to hear this.

Well it sounds like a 221g for more administrative processing and/or security checks, since they did not indicate that you need to provide more evidence. But usually there is a box to check for this. Please get the exact wording on the paper they gave him and let us know what it says.

Did they keep his passport ? A visa *can* be mailed, but it must be affixed to the passport first. My husband's visa, once approved, was sent to him via courier (due to the difficulties Palestinians have travelling in the West Bank.) If they didn't keep his passport, it's possible he could mail it to them when the time comes. Is there a reliable way he could send it to them whenever they indicate they are ready to issue ? (I am not sure of the specifics involving mail or courier in Sierra Leone, so I'm not sure if this is an option.)

Unfortunately, yes it is possible it could be denied.

Wishing you all the best to get your case completed and visa in hand as soon as possible.

-MK

Edited December 14, 2006 by wife_of_mahmoud

[Ta Ta 1]

This is what the letter handed to him says:

Dear Sir/Madam

In order to proceed with your application for a US visa , this office must confirm

eligibility for that visa.

We will contact you if we need additional information from you regarding your

relationship or if we need to conduct an additional interview. Until we have completed

this verification process, we can't move forward with your visa application.

(Then there is the section about DNA testing but N/A for us....box not checked.)

Please note that a consular officer will automatically refer all visa applications to the consular section's fraud unit in which the legal basis for visa eligibility has not been

established during the interview. This does not mean that the embassy suspects

that you havecommited fraud, it merely means that additional investigation is necessary

to establish visa eligibility.

( Then it lists documents etc. with a checkbox and none of that is marked either.)

It says nothing about a 221g

What does this all mean. He had a original death cert. of his late wife which makes

him eligible to marry me and a notarized letter of intent to marry from me and one from

him. Lots of emails, phone records and photos. She did not want to see more relationship

evidence like my flight ticket etc. that proofs I have been there.

What can she possibly suspect that he is not eligible for a K1 visa ?

No, she did not keep the passport, he needs it to travel to the stupid embassy while going through a bunch of other countries and show at all the borders.

What is this talking about ...that the visa eligibility has not been established during

the interview ? Must he do back flipps and jump through flaming hoops first or what ?????

What makes one eligible that I am missing here ??????

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Seems they're wanting to double-check something -- perhaps one of your documents. They specifically cited "eligibility," so it seems they are needing to verify something that would determine that.

Since you are having to deal between two different countries, this may be the holdup.

Have you contacted your Congress Rep or Senator ? I don't know if there's much they can do, but it's worth a shot. Maybe they can pry some info out of the consulate on what specifically they are looking for.

Hang in there -- I know it's tough, but this process is often frustratingly slow. Hope they complete your case very soon.

-MK

[kitkat1 5]

Omoba, I would also suggest contacting your Senator's office. Go to their website's constituents services section and you will usually find a place to fill out and print a privacy form that allows them legally to access your files. Then write a letter explaining everything that happened and request assistance in getting a straight answer regarding the specific reasons for the additional processing as well as the procedure. I would fax this letter and then call to follow up and find out who is assigned to your case, their direct phone number and email address so you know how to contact them and get updates. If you find they are not responsive or have no idea what to do, go to the other Senator or your local congressman. You have a right to understand fully what the process is as well as a right to ask questions about sending the visa due to the travel difficulties and I think your best chance of getting direct answers may be through an elected official.

Best of luck.

[LaL 418]

the verbiage on my 221(g) cited ineligibility at this time until further administrative processing is complete. i would certainly contact your senator/congressman to verify its just standard AP/AR and be prepared to wait it out.

[Ta Ta 1]

Seems they're wanting to double-check something -- perhaps one of your documents. They specifically cited "eligibility," so it seems they are needing to verify something that would determine that.

Since you are having to deal between two different countries, this may be the holdup.

Have you contacted your Congress Rep or Senator ? I don't know if there's much they can do, but it's worth a shot. Maybe they can pry some info out of the consulate on what specifically they are looking for.

Hang in there -- I know it's tough, but this process is often frustratingly slow. Hope they complete your case very soon.

-MK

I am beginning to think so too, verifying a document. Maybe the death cert. of his late wife.

They were married in a traditional way only without papers, the union produced a daughter, now 15. He did get a death cert. for her, but maybe did not need this but he thought it was a good idea at the time. CO kept original and cert. copy along with some other items.To him she was his wife and registering the marriage was not an issue then in his area.

I have send them an email inquiring about the specific reason for the investigation and cause for the delay and received the same letter my fiance was given minus the DNA and

document list paragraphs. It seems to center on eligibility verification of a document.

I emailed that ALL documents, even his BC and DC were previously submitted with my I-129 petition and approved by the USCIS without concern ... just to make sure because of the opinion of some seasoned members here that once it goes through USCIS it should no longer become a concern at the consulate level. ( Mark Ellis' article ).

I have emailed a second time for request of specifics and am expecting a reply today, may be another generic one.

the verbiage on my 221(g) cited ineligibility at this time until further administrative processing is complete. i would certainly contact your senator/congressman to verify its just standard AP/AR and be prepared to wait it out.

I am working on getting the senator involved but wanted to try the emails to the consular

first. Somehow I am hoping that it will last only a couple of weeks instead of 'maybe march'

according to the CO so I don't want to tick them off and dig their heels in further with having to respond to a senators inquiry at this time.

Is the absence of the verbiage '221g and AR/AP ' in the letter unusual and does that mean it is a 'softer' invesigation ?

Thank you everyone so very much, every comment has been so helpful to me.

[LaL 418]

the verbiage on my 221(g) cited ineligibility at this time until further administrative processing is complete. i would certainly contact your senator/congressman to verify its just standard AP/AR and be prepared to wait it out.

I am working on getting the senator involved but wanted to try the emails to the consular

first. Somehow I am hoping that it will last only a couple of weeks instead of 'maybe march'

according to the CO so I don't want to tick them off and dig their heels in further with having to respond to a senators inquiry at this time.

Is the absence of the verbiage '221g and AR/AP ' in the letter unusual and does that mean it is a 'softer' invesigation ?

Thank you everyone so very much, every comment has been so helpful to me.

there are several consulates who do security clearance without issuing a standard document (or none). it does not mean softer or more difficult. the fact that she mentioned a supposed time when the visa could be issued points me toward 221(g) as well as the "we will call you" bit. just my opnion.