Egypt interview, how long is it taking?

[scholozy 8]

My nvc case was complete January 31st. Still waiting for an interview date. (CR-1 visa here) I keep thinking we should hear something soon. You talk to NVC they blame the embassy. The embassy is like talking to a brick wall. However between uscis wait times and nvc processing wait times, a couple of months seems to be a given for any kind of step forward in the visa process. I will consider myself lucky if we have the interview sometime this summer....assuming the embassy doesn't close because of presidential elections.

[dwheels76 5,468]

I know! I really feel like 6 months is not the norm at all. I would be very surprised about that based on my previous experience.

Yes, so my husband was an issued a green card in 2004 right after we first got married (living in Cairo then). That was when you could file directly through the US Embassy in Cairo (with you could do that now as it took all of 4 months- unfortunately they don't have direct consular filing anymore). After that was issued in 2004, we lived in the US up until 2011 when we moved back to Cairo. But my husband never entered the US from 2011 until now, so the residency status is lost so the green card is no longer a valid entry document. I moved back to the US with my son in July 2013 when the political situation was too out of my comfort range. My husband tried to get a Returning Resident visa so that he could keep his old green card. The US Embassy wouldn't issue it- said he had to apply for a new green card. So that's what we did. I applied 10/1/13 and it was approved 4/11/13. Since you were approved 4/8, that's within days of me, so we'll have to compare notes on how fast the apps go through the NVC and to the interview stage.

For Egypt its very much the norm. You can't compare your case that already has gone through and you are requesting a reissue.

Just to let you know since I maintain the case complete to Interview thread here is stats since September

First date is Case complete, Than Date they got interview date, Than the interview date. If you want to see the complete list click on my signature Case Complete spreadsheet.

Ahmed Mossa 8/19/2013 1/1/2014 2/11/2014 Egypt

bebobyby 1/3/2014 Egypt

EAA 11/27/2013 Egypt

luvwillprevail 3/14/2014 3/25/2014 5/4/2014 Egypt -Expedited

Marslove 9/30/2013 4/4/2014 5/5/2014 Egypt

marwaabdoulrhman 11/28/2013 Egypt

MNLOVER 3/23/2014 Egypt

SeBa 12/26/2013 Egypt

shehta 1/10/2014 Egypt

the rizkes 3/28/2014 Egypt

Verona 1/10/2014 Egypt

Verona 1/10/2014 Egypt

wa 2012 11/17/2013 Egypt

Edited April 21, 2014 by dwheels76

[KMR&MHAH 11]

We waited 5 months for a K1 interview. The embassy has gotten behind over the last couple of years, but seem to be trying to make a valiant effort to got caught up. They are inching forward to shorter wait times, but lets hope that things stay somewhat stable over the next few months for you. I have also noticed that there are some who interview at Cairo and are either not put in AP or its pretty short, so maybe that is helpful. Our interview is coming up and hoping for no AP.

[Karam and Jamie 44]

My fiance and I were just approved on April 15th and I pray to God it doesn't take 6 months for an interview!!!! We are dying without each other ughhhhhhhhhhhh

[AmberG 23]

Just to clarify correct terminology. Your husband has not applied for a new green card. You filed a petition. When the petition was approved, your husband submitted the DS260 online. That's a "visa application" but he has not yet "applied for" (a visa not a green card). He will finish the application process with the medical exam and the visa interview. The "green card" will simply come in the mail after his entry to the US, as documentation of his new LPR status.

Thanks, but I don't need any clarification. I've already been through this process once before.

[AmberG 23]

I'm not comparing our green card case from the past to the processing times now- that was a very long time ago. What I AM saying is they obviously have time slots at the embassy or they wouldn't have offered my husband a next-day interview for the Returning Resident visa in September. It seems that different visas take different amounts of time to get interviews for of course. I am saying 6 months is a very long wait time for the interview and I have a hard time believing everyone waits 6 months just to get an interview date for a residency visa . This is a very small data sampling here. All I can say is I certainly hope for me and everyone's sake that is waiting that it will not take that long!

For Egypt its very much the norm. You can't compare your case that already has gone through and you are requesting a reissue.

Just to let you know since I maintain the case complete to Interview thread here is stats since September

First date is Case complete, Than Date they got interview date, Than the interview date. If you want to see the complete list click on my signature Case Complete spreadsheet.

Ahmed Mossa 8/19/2013 1/1/2014 2/11/2014 Egypt

bebobyby 1/3/2014 Egypt

EAA 11/27/2013 Egypt

luvwillprevail 3/14/2014 3/25/2014 5/4/2014 Egypt -Expedited

Marslove 9/30/2013 4/4/2014 5/5/2014 Egypt

marwaabdoulrhman 11/28/2013 Egypt

MNLOVER 3/23/2014 Egypt

SeBa 12/26/2013 Egypt

shehta 1/10/2014 Egypt

the rizkes 3/28/2014 Egypt

Verona 1/10/2014 Egypt

Verona 1/10/2014 Egypt

wa 2012 11/17/2013 Egypt

Edited April 21, 2014 by AmberG

[dwheels76 5,468]

I'm not comparing our green card case from the past to the processing times now- that was a very long time ago. What I AM saying is they obviously have time slots at the embassy or they wouldn't have offered my husband a next-day interview for the Returning Resident visa in September. It seems that different visas take different amounts of time to get interviews for of course. I am saying 6 months is a very long wait time for the interview and I have a hard time believing everyone waits 6 months just to get an interview date for a residency visa . This is a very small data sampling here. All I can say is I certainly hope for me and everyone's sake that is waiting that it will not take that long!

I just posted what is here. But the stats for everyone that goes through Egypt is 4 to 7 months. You should see Yemen or Cambodia 8 months or more. It happens. That is just how it is.

Yes their are slots for specific interviews and seeing your husband already had a Visa at some point and went through the process and it looks like just a case of reviewing and reissuing, the embassy probably doesn't have to worry about all the issues a newbie may have to go through. There's still much vetting at the embassy stage for the beneficiary before interview.

It just like people requesting expedite. There's always space at some point. People cancel every day.

I do also pray everyday for my Egyptian peeps and that their process gets going fast.

[Soloenta 2,218]

I know! I really feel like 6 months is not the norm at all. I would be very surprised about that based on my previous experience.

Yes, so my husband was an issued a green card in 2004 right after we first got married (living in Cairo then). That was when you could file directly through the US Embassy in Cairo (with you could do that now as it took all of 4 months- unfortunately they don't have direct consular filing anymore). After that was issued in 2004, we lived in the US up until 2011 when we moved back to Cairo. But my husband never entered the US from 2011 until now, so the residency status is lost so the green card is no longer a valid entry document. I moved back to the US with my son in July 2013 when the political situation was too out of my comfort range. My husband tried to get a Returning Resident visa so that he could keep his old green card. The US Embassy wouldn't issue it- said he had to apply for a new green card. So that's what we did. I applied 10/1/13 and it was approved 4/11/13. Since you were approved 4/8, that's within days of me, so we'll have to compare notes on how fast the apps go through the NVC and to the interview stage.

Yes we will compare notes and your on my friends list now so we can keep in touch no matter what. But I'm sure it wont take that long for your husband as it will for mine. When I told my husband the wait time for the interview he became so depressed, I was find I was already depressed. This is total torture no horror movie will ever scare me again.

[Soloenta 2,218]

My nvc case was complete January 31st. Still waiting for an interview date. (CR-1 visa here) I keep thinking we should hear something soon. You talk to NVC they blame the embassy. The embassy is like talking to a brick wall. However between uscis wait times and nvc processing wait times, a couple of months seems to be a given for any kind of step forward in the visa process. I will consider myself lucky if we have the interview sometime this summer....assuming the embassy doesn't close because of presidential elections.

Much luck to you hope you get a interview very soon.

[Soloenta 2,218]

We waited 5 months for a K1 interview. The embassy has gotten behind over the last couple of years, but seem to be trying to make a valiant effort to got caught up. They are inching forward to shorter wait times, but lets hope that things stay somewhat stable over the next few months for you. I have also noticed that there are some who interview at Cairo and are either not put in AP or its pretty short, so maybe that is helpful. Our interview is coming up and hoping for no AP.

Thank you, you have given me hope I was feeling so desperate and I haven't even received our case number yet. Yes I'm a worry wart but still

it's not easy being far from your husband which is my case or wife. I would be with him right now but had to come home because of my parents ill

health. Maybe I'll be able to sleep a couple of hours tonight. Thank you again and bless you. (F) (F)

My fiance and I were just approved on April 15th and I pray to God it doesn't take 6 months for an interview!!!! We are dying without each other ughhhhhhhhhhhh

I know the feeling way to well, God willing soon for you both.

[Soloenta 2,218]

I just posted what is here. But the stats for everyone that goes through Egypt is 4 to 7 months. You should see Yemen or Cambodia 8 months or more. It happens. That is just how it is.

Yes their are slots for specific interviews and seeing your husband already had a Visa at some point and went through the process and it looks like just a case of reviewing and reissuing, the embassy probably doesn't have to worry about all the issues a newbie may have to go through. There's still much vetting at the embassy stage for the beneficiary before interview.

It just like people requesting expedite. There's always space at some point. People cancel every day.

I do also pray everyday for my Egyptian peeps and that their process gets going fast.

Thank you, your such a sweet heart bless you and your family. Would you post the link here to the one you keep up please the Case Complete to Interview please. Might help a lot of people stay out of the insane asylum.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Thank you, your such a sweet heart bless you and your family. Would you post the link here to the one you keep up please the Case Complete to Interview please. Might help a lot of people stay out of the insane asylum.

Or put them in one. And thank you for the compliment. It's in my signature all the links. But for those on phone and can't see my signature.

The form to file out to be added to spreadsheet is

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1R9AC8MPhPvp5Xo0gI1Pch6r0-mbhQz7stxctoz_stcc/viewform

to see the spreadsheet (and yes I am slowly still added back to when this thread was started back in August 2012

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtbvTEwLyHz1dEhlZjdKczRMRmJrSnc5MTk1SkVrYVE&usp=sharing#gid=0

[Soloenta 2,218]

Or put them in one. And thank you for the compliment. It's in my signature all the links. But for those on phone and can't see my signature.

The form to file out to be added to spreadsheet is

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1R9AC8MPhPvp5Xo0gI1Pch6r0-mbhQz7stxctoz_stcc/viewform

to see the spreadsheet (and yes I am slowly still added back to when this thread was started back in August 2012

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtbvTEwLyHz1dEhlZjdKczRMRmJrSnc5MTk1SkVrYVE&usp=sharing#gid=0

Thank you again no wonder so many are thankful to you and others.

[AmberG 23]

Yes we will compare notes and your on my friends list now so we can keep in touch no matter what. But I'm sure it wont take that long for your husband as it will for mine. When I told my husband the wait time for the interview he became so depressed, I was find I was already depressed. This is total torture no horror movie will ever scare me again.

Yes, let's keep in touch! I really hope it won't take my husband so long. I seriously can't imagine waiting 6 months for an interview and just the approval took 6 months and I know that NVC will take at least 2-3 months. Let's pray that the US embassy in Egypt really does speed it up, like the other poster says. At least my son and I will be back in Cairo this summer to see my husband. That's the only thing I have to look forward to from now.

[AmberG 23]

We waited 5 months for a K1 interview. The embassy has gotten behind over the last couple of years, but seem to be trying to make a valiant effort to got caught up. They are inching forward to shorter wait times, but lets hope that things stay somewhat stable over the next few months for you. I have also noticed that there are some who interview at Cairo and are either not put in AP or its pretty short, so maybe that is helpful. Our interview is coming up and hoping for no AP.

I hope that they keep up that pace towards shorter wait times! Good luck in your interview!

I am also hoping for no AP...last time my husband was interviewing in Cairo for the I-130 app. we filed for him he did not get put into AP. That was 10 years ago, but I'm hoping that will carry over since he did not have AP then and since was living in the US with a valid (previous) green card for 7 years with no problems or violations.