Bad NEWS, for anyone who filed visa, recently!!!

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Of course I know...I'm not dense. You are dealing with Federal agency though not Wal-Mart. They always say don't book flights before you have the visa in hand. They was the decision and risk you both took. Being military, I'm more than aware of what it feels like to be apart from family during holidays...it sucks. It is completely self-serving to wish they worked, what else would it be? Nothing is stopping you from spending the holiday there with him.

Where did they promise they'd work this weekend?

Right, because only Wal-Mart is open today..

Regardless, this isn't about changing our flight. That's not a big deal to me because I had insurance on it for this very reason. What's a big deal is you calling people selfish and misguided because we think it would be nice for them to be open a few hours on what's not even the actual Independence Day, after this process has screwed us all over multiple times. We CANNOT visit our loved ones; that's the point. What's keeping me from spending the holiday there? First of all, there isn't one. They don't celebrate it, which is why I find it unnecessary to have them closed. And second, not many people can just up and book a flight to the other person's country or I would be on my way right now. HE was supposed to be HERE, per the consulate TELLING US that. So 'no making plans', my foot. People had weddings and plans a year in advance that they had to cancel because of this, and they had no idea about all of this. And we made plans before even knowing about this visa process. We definitely didn't think it would be this long and that we'd be apart tomorrow, especially as it was supposed to have been printed and sent by now. And besides that, we HAVE to make plans or else we lose more money waiting until the last minute.

Sorry if this sounds like 'bickering', but I don't appreciate snide or demeaning comments on here, so I felt the need to respond directly.

Hope everyone else is able to enjoy their holiday regardless if their loved one is at a distance or not. I know I'm going to try.

[SantyAndAllie 155]

They said they expected to clear the backlog early this week. There was a one word 'yes!' Reply from them to this question. It's not about expecting them working 19 straight days. It's about their communication consistency as people started feeling comfortable checking on updates there rather than dreaming to get through anyone on the phone or checking on our email hoping for a single reply after we send an enquiry by email.

So it would have been nice if we saw another post like: 'we're not working this weekend due to holiday and we could not clear the entire backlog but we continue..........etc etc' I am sure people will appreciate more and not expecting anything this weekend. It matters they way we communicate to build trust and commitment.

Amen. Our consulate communicated to us directly that they would be open, and they weren't. So that's miscommunication, not us being selfish!

[dizzdemey 31]

Right, because only Wal-Mart is open today..

Regardless, this isn't about changing our flight. That's not a big deal to me because I had insurance on it for this very reason. What's a big deal is you calling people selfish and misguided because we think it would be nice for them to be open a few hours on what's not even the actual Independence Day, after this process has screwed us all over multiple times. We CANNOT visit our loved ones; that's the point. What's keeping me from spending the holiday there? First of all, there isn't one. They don't celebrate it, which is why I find it unnecessary to have them closed. And second, not many people can just up and book a flight to the other person's country or I would be on my way right now. HE was supposed to be HERE, per the consulate TELLING US that. So 'no making plans', my foot. People had weddings and plans a year in advance that they had to cancel because of this, and they had no idea about all of this. And we made plans before even knowing about this visa process. We definitely didn't think it would be this long and that we'd be apart tomorrow, especially as it was supposed to have been printed and sent by now. And besides that, we HAVE to make plans or else we lose more money waiting until the last minute.

Sorry if this sounds like 'bickering', but I don't appreciate snide or demeaning comments on here, so I felt the need to respond directly.

Hope everyone else is able to enjoy their holiday regardless if their loved one is at a distance or not. I know I'm going to try.

Agreed! We were told our wedding date would be ok per the embassy. It's the 11th. In order to legally get married, he would of had to have his visa issued by today. Well they are closed today.

On another note. Our creation date changed yesterday to July 2nd. Still says ready. I asked, but no one has really said. This is good correct?

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Agreed! We were told our wedding date would be ok per the embassy. It's the 11th. In order to legally get married, he would of had to have his visa issued by today. Well they are closed today.

On another note. Our creation date changed yesterday to July 2nd. Still says ready. I asked, but no one has really said. This is good correct?

Ugh. Hate that we were told multiple times, by multiple people (USCIS, included) that this WHOLE thing would be done months ago. I know it's unpredictable, but to not have any plans at all? Come on. A 5 month processing time turned into 6-8 months, an interview wait time for us took 2 weeks longer than expected, visa printing took 3 extra weeks since the DOS technical error, and then now we miss out on the 4th of July because the consulate told us we'd have it by now, and we don't. If you had told me months ago that he wouldn't be here by now, I'd not have believed you.

So sorry that you have to rebook the wedding. This is not nearly as bad, but we did have to change honeymoon plans, and can't be in our desired overseas location and have to spend more money to get the same thing in a US location. We didn't think we'd cut it that close to our wedding in September, but yep, the unpredictable processes of a visa. Joy.

Also- I keep hearing about people's cases being updated daily. Ours wasn't updated for a week then went from AP to Issued in a day. Hasnt changed status since the 30th. I'm assuming it's them updating your case, so I'm not sure it means too much else Hopefully you guys get into AP on Monday!!

Edited July 3, 2015 by SantyAndAllie

[dizzdemey 31]

Ugh. Hate that we were told multiple times, by multiple people (USCIS, included) that this WHOLE thing would be done months ago. I know it's unpredictable, but to not have any plans at all? Come on. A 5 month processing time turned into 6-8 months, an interview wait time for us took 2 weeks longer than expected, visa printing took 3 extra weeks since the DOS technical error, and then now we miss out on the 4th of July because the consulate told us we'd have it by now, and we don't. If you had told me months ago that he wouldn't be here by now, I'd not have believed you.

So sorry that you have to rebook the wedding. This is not nearly as bad, but we did have to change honeymoon plans, and can't be in our desired overseas location and have to spend more money to get the same thing in a US location. We didn't think we'd cut it that close to our wedding in September, but yep, the unpredictable processes of a visa. Joy.

Also- I keep hearing about people's cases being updated daily. Ours wasn't updated for a week then went from AP to Issued in a day. Hasnt changed status since the 30th. I'm assuming it's them updating your case, so I'm not sure it means too much else Hopefully you guys get into AP on Monday!!

Oh shoot! I thought when the case creation date changed we would be in AP. the status date changed multiple times up to this point. So frustrating. We are going to lose so much $$ in the wedding and he hasn't seen his son in 15 months (he's 16 months). Hate this

[Shauneg 762]

Right, because only Wal-Mart is open today..

Regardless, this isn't about changing our flight. That's not a big deal to me because I had insurance on it for this very reason. What's a big deal is you calling people selfish and misguided because we think it would be nice for them to be open a few hours on what's not even the actual Independence Day, after this process has screwed us all over multiple times. We CANNOT visit our loved ones; that's the point. What's keeping me from spending the holiday there? First of all, there isn't one. They don't celebrate it, which is why I find it unnecessary to have them closed. And second, not many people can just up and book a flight to the other person's country or I would be on my way right now. HE was supposed to be HERE, per the consulate TELLING US that. So 'no making plans', my foot. People had weddings and plans a year in advance that they had to cancel because of this, and they had no idea about all of this. And we made plans before even knowing about this visa process. We definitely didn't think it would be this long and that we'd be apart tomorrow, especially as it was supposed to have been printed and sent by now. And besides that, we HAVE to make plans or else we lose more money waiting until the last minute.

Sorry if this sounds like 'bickering', but I don't appreciate snide or demeaning comments on here, so I felt the need to respond directly.

Hope everyone else is able to enjoy their holiday regardless if their loved one is at a distance or not. I know I'm going to try.

Again, well aware that Wal-Mart isn't the only place open, but no matter which place I said you would have said there's more than that open. You were told the embassy would be working and they were not....that's misguided even if you don't like the term. I said it was selfish because people think they should be working on Federal Holidays (specifically this weekend). The people working in the embassies live overseas but that doesn't mean they don't deserve the right to celebrate their holiday regardless if the country they live in does or does not. The American community is small in those countries and it's only on holidays that they all can get together and celebrate something with one another. It's these holiday breaks that the American community looks foward to. Taking that away wouldn't be right.

I hope everyone can also enjoy their holiday, including those in overseas embassies and am glad they don't have to work. I would feel guilty if they were. I wish everyone here no matter their job or postion were off also....the day before and day of every federal holiday.

[tarzan31 27]

Well Guatemalan Embassy said they were closed today, but somehow our package was delivered to cargo expreso....

[UnicornToes 8]

I've heard nothing this week either. Got an update June 30 (London), but then nothing else. Fingers crossed for next week! My thoughts are with you all! Like I have said, although this is really hard for everybody, at least we have each other to talk about this here rather than worry alone. Thank goodness for VisaJourney!

[saracatherine 4]

Yikes... After reading all the replies lately I am a little hesitant to post this as I don't want to tread on any toes but merely share the good news and some hope!

I had my interview on June 30th.. That day, they had a case creation date and it went directly into AP. I checked it yesterday as everything was closed for Canada day and nothing. But today when I checked the status changed to issued! I am in shock that it took merely two days!! Montreal seems to be moving quite quickly- when I asked the consular officer how long to receive my passport back he told me 1-2 weeks so Montreal must be close to getting back to their normal processing times.

I know this entire process is frustrating for everyone but there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

[Shauneg 762]

Yikes... After reading all the replies lately I am a little hesitant to post this as I don't want to tread on any toes but merely share the good news and some hope!

I had my interview on June 30th.. That day, they had a case creation date and it went directly into AP. I checked it yesterday as everything was closed for Canada day and nothing. But today when I checked the status changed to issued! I am in shock that it took merely two days!! Montreal seems to be moving quite quickly- when I asked the consular officer how long to receive my passport back he told me 1-2 weeks so Montreal must be close to getting back to their normal processing times.

I know this entire process is frustrating for everyone but there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Congrats. Mine was updated today also even though it was closed. The date was July 1 but didn't show on the site until today.

[Danielle and Jake 24]

Yikes... After reading all the replies lately I am a little hesitant to post this as I don't want to tread on any toes but merely share the good news and some hope!

I had my interview on June 30th.. That day, they had a case creation date and it went directly into AP. I checked it yesterday as everything was closed for Canada day and nothing. But today when I checked the status changed to issued! I am in shock that it took merely two days!! Montreal seems to be moving quite quickly- when I asked the consular officer how long to receive my passport back he told me 1-2 weeks so Montreal must be close to getting back to their normal processing times.

I know this entire process is frustrating for everyone but there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Happy for you, a little bit jealous haha. I had my interview in Montreal on June 25th, and my status changed to Administrative Processing June 30th. Hoping with everything in me that monday will be the long awaited "Issued" day.

[dizzdemey 31]

Happy for you, a little bit jealous haha. I had my interview in Montreal on June 25th, and my status changed to Administrative Processing June 30th. Hoping with everything in me that monday will be the long awaited "Issued" day.

Does it actually say AP or just ready with a diff message? I'm trying to figure mine out but no one has helped. My case creation date updated but still says ready.

[Danielle and Jake 24]

Does it actually say AP or just ready with a diff message? I'm trying to figure mine out but no one has helped. My case creation date updated but still says ready.

No mine says Administrative Processing on the top. Before it still said Ready but they just changed the case creation date and the message on the bottom. I assume if you see that at least the message has changed, that means they're working on your case somehow, and that's a good thing.

[dizzdemey 31]

No mine says Administrative Processing on the top. Before it still said Ready but they just changed the case creation date and the message on the bottom. I assume if you see that at least the message has changed, that means they're working on your case somehow, and that's a good thing.

Thanks!!! Still wish I saw issued gerrrr lol

[Danielle and Jake 24]

Thanks!!! Still wish I saw issued gerrrr lol

Oh I'm with you there, would give anything to see a status change.