After interview, no indication on approval

[RobertAtlantaUSA 1]

My wife was interviewed today in Bangkok for our I-130 DCF. The positives were a short wait time and polite American officer, but the negatives were a rude Thai interviewer and no indication as to whether or not we are approved.

The Thai employee was condescending to my wife when the American officer asked her to translate a question, and was short tempered with my wife. At the end of the interview, my wife was told that they are keeping her passport and that we should hear back from them in 2-3 weeks which to me could mean AP. No "congratulations," no "you are approved," no "have a safe trip." Nothing. And no 221g.

All in all I would give them a 2 out of 5 for the experience and dont want to have to go through this again. I have read all of the VJ reviews for the Bangkok embassy, and almost all that were approved were told they were approved in some sort or another after the interview and that they will get their visa in a few days.

Anyone have a similar experience with their embassy? Not told approved or not? Told to wait 2-3 weeks to hear from them?

[RobertAtlantaUSA 1]

The American interviewer also told my wife not to make any travel plans until we have received the visa. Great.

[Shauneg 762]

My wife was interviewed today in Bangkok for our I-130 DCF. The positives were a short wait time and polite American officer, but the negatives were a rude Thai interviewer and no indication as to whether or not we are approved.

The Thai employee was condescending to my wife when the American officer asked her to translate a question, and was short tempered with my wife. At the end of the interview, my wife was told that they are keeping her passport and that we should hear back from them in 2-3 weeks which to me could mean AP. No "congratulations," no "you are approved," no "have a safe trip." Nothing. And no 221g.

All in all I would give them a 2 out of 5 for the experience and dont want to have to go through this again. I have read all of the VJ reviews for the Bangkok embassy, and almost all that were approved were told they were approved in some sort or another after the interview and that they will get their visa in a few days.

Anyone have a similar experience with their embassy? Not told approved or not? Told to wait 2-3 weeks to hear from them?

Keeping the visa can be positive. If they had given back then you'd know it was definite denial.

[Darnell 8,478]

Check status online with CEAC.

[RobertAtlantaUSA 1]

Keeping the visa can be positive. If they had given back then you'd know it was definite denial.

Thanks, hoping for the best.

Check status online with CEAC.

Thanks Darnell, I will keep checking CEAC which shows "Ready."

[Ning 619]

My wife was interviewed today in Bangkok for our I-130 DCF. The positives were a short wait time and polite American officer, but the negatives were a rude Thai interviewer and no indication as to whether or not we are approved.

The Thai employee was condescending to my wife when the American officer asked her to translate a question, and was short tempered with my wife. At the end of the interview, my wife was told that they are keeping her passport and that we should hear back from them in 2-3 weeks which to me could mean AP. No "congratulations," no "you are approved," no "have a safe trip." Nothing. And no 221g.

All in all I would give them a 2 out of 5 for the experience and dont want to have to go through this again. I have read all of the VJ reviews for the Bangkok embassy, and almost all that were approved were told they were approved in some sort or another after the interview and that they will get their visa in a few days.

Anyone have a similar experience with their embassy? Not told approved or not? Told to wait 2-3 weeks to hear from them?

Your wife probably knows where this attitude comes from. Its common with people from BKK just like N Y city.

I think the case was put in A P because they are backed up or simply wanted to review something possibly because its a DCF case. No reason to think they would need more than a few days to finish the case. We were told it takes 3 days to insert the visa due to computer time.

She was told to wait 3 weeks? This is not uncommon when it comes to these A P cases in BKK. I have seen the A P take several months in other cases.

Edited March 25, 2015 by Ning

[RobertAtlantaUSA 1]

Your wife probably knows where this attitude comes from. Its common with people from BKK just like N Y city.

I think the case was put in A P because they are backed up or simply wanted to review something possibly because its a DCF case. No reason to think they would need more than a few days to finish the case. We were told it takes 3 days to insert the visa due to computer time.

She was told to wait 3 weeks? This is not uncommon when it comes to these A P cases in BKK. I have seen the A P take several months in other cases.

Thanks for the note Ning. Well, Im happy to report that I emailed them today, and sure enough we were approved. They responded back in less than 2 hours after I emailed them and said that it should be issued within the next 7-10 business days. What a relief.

Yes my wife knows where that attitude comes from, but for as long as I have been coming to Thailand, I just still cant get used to it. I get very defensive when someone stomps on my wifes feelings, but thats just a fact of life here when dealing with their society, upper class vs. lower class. Im over it now.

Im very happy with the process so far, from the first officer I met when submitting the I-130, to the speed at which they processed it. Thanks Ning and others for all the advice.

[Ning 619]

Thanks for the note Ning. Well, Im happy to report that I emailed them today, and sure enough we were approved. They responded back in less than 2 hours after I emailed them and said that it should be issued within the next 7-10 business days. What a relief.

Yes my wife knows where that attitude comes from, but for as long as I have been coming to Thailand, I just still cant get used to it. I get very defensive when someone stomps on my wifes feelings, but thats just a fact of life here when dealing with their society, upper class vs. lower class. Im over it now.

Im very happy with the process so far, from the first officer I met when submitting the I-130, to the speed at which they processed it. Thanks Ning and others for all the advice.

This is good news and people can learn from what happened in this special case.

My husband feels as you do including when it occurs here in the USA which it does. I have never had this directed at me by an American but even here have experienced it at a local Thai temple gathering. Too bad they just wont leave it behind.

Lots to do but at least its done together for reasons that make sense. Well most of the time anyway.

[Jing Jing 2]

This is not unique. The embassy is changing the way they process things now. They tell ALL applicants this at the end of the interview. We and 6 other applicants got the exact same auto response. It's their way to CYA.

Like Darnell says -just monitor CEAC and it will probably change to "issued" in a day or two. Then you can exhale....