London Interview and AP. Please, any thoughts/suggestions?

[danielenglish 3]

Guys,

I want to copy my post here although I have just submitted it also on the general thread because my wife had her interview in London and I believe I could get here some more specific suggestion.

I am in tears while writing this..

As per the title of the topic - after one year and half - my wife had her interview and got Administrative Processing.

We are really speechless and immensely confused as we were not expecting such conclusion after the extremely frustrating process we have been going through.

I applied for her as a permanent resident back in april 2014 and since there - in order to fully comply with all the requirement and avoid any complications - we travelled only two times to see each other.

Anyways, I would like to give you some detail of our story to see if something like that happend to some of you as well and, more in general, to see what you think about all of this.

We started seeing each other 8 years ago and got married in February 2014 just before I left London to move to the United States the following month.

We made the decision to get married after I got the green card (in april 2012) because we didn't feel ready at that time; on the other hand, when it was time for me to move to the US we decided to celebrate our love once for always, also in order to apply for her green card as soon as possible.

However, our case is pretty unique because my wife has double citizenship (Italian and Iranian) and she has been currently living in London, where she works.

I am telling you this because, at time of interview, the consular officer seemed to be a little bit puzzled by the fact my wife has two citizenship, resides in UK and wants to settle down in the US.

Anyways, this was only one of the issue the CO found during the - one hour lasting - interview.

The other, and apparently more important thing that made the CO particularly unhappy was the fact that - after I got the GC (through the DV-Lottery) - I didn't move right away to the US but after 8 months.

At that time, I was aware that I was risking some issue and Port of Entry but, at the same time, I was calm inside because sure of the reason which made me postpone my permanent entrance in US.

And in fact, I was attending a master in London and - after having paid it - I didn't feel like I wanted to just quit and - being aware of the difference between entering within 6 months, after 6 months and more than one year later, I just gathered all the documentations to prove my bonafide (certificate of attendande of the master) and took my "risk".

At the PO they asked me why I waited 8 months before entering the States, I gave them my explanation and they didn't even want to see the master certificate.

However, when my wife had her interview, the CO was very upset about that, saying that I wasn't grateful because I should've moved immediately.

The CO then started doubting the bona fide of our marriage and my wife was strong enough to keep the emotion under control, explaining the CO that we really love each other (of course!) and that she also had brought picture showing our life together over this 8 years.

All that to say the interview wasn't very satisfying and - although the CO told my wife "you are done, good luck" - my wife left the consulate with a bitter taste.

The interview took place on friday last week and - the strange thing is that we checked the CEAC website straight away and the staus kept saying "READY" and the page was updated the same day.

Same thing yesterday: status "READY" and updated the same day.

Today, when I checked this morning I noticed that - even though the status still was saying "READY" - the update was from yesterday.

After couple of hours we checked again and the status had changed in "ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING" with today's date update.

Now we are really down...traumatized and don't know what to do.

Actually, we know (becuase we read online) we just should wait for them to contact my wife but we wonder why they kept the passport if they hold our case, what went wrong, what we can do other than pray...

I am sure some of you guys can feel what we have inside but, really, after 1 year and half away from each other, doing whatever we could to let the process going smooth (no checklist, prompt response and so on) we feel like our destiny may be change drastically if - in the worst case scenario - they should end up denying my wife to live in the US.

Do you know if something like that has ever happened without they ask for other documents (since I believe this is what they are looking for - although I have no idea of what exactly the need)?

I mean, is there anyone here that experienced the same situation or can tell us what to do rather than just waiting..

Please, we are desperate and completely blind as we don't understand why this is happening..

Many, many thanks from the bottom of my heart to anyone who can contribute on this.

Thank you.

Daniele

Edited October 21, 2015 by danielenglish

[tuanphan21290 1]

They hold your passport is a good news. Administrative Processing is when Visa in production. You should receive a different status after couples days from AP to ISSUED. If there is a problem, officer would give you a letter indicate what is missing or reason why they cannot accept your application at that time. Otherwise, they will keep your passport because you have been approved.

When my sister has her interview at the US Consulate for her green card, and when I renew my F-1 Visa. CEAC always changed from Ready to Administrative Processing and then Issued. Then, you will receive your passport with your immigrant Visa after 2-3 days.

Edited October 21, 2015 by tuanphan21290

[danielenglish 3]

Thanks a lot for your answer, tuanphan; you are giving me some hope..

However, it is the first time I hear that AP is the step in between "ready" and "issued"...

Plus, when I log in the Ceac website, it says: "Your visa case is currently undergoing necessary administrative processing. This processing can take several weeks. Please follow any instructions provided by the Consular Officer at the time of your interview. If further information is needed, you will be contacted. If your visa application is approved, it will be processed and mailed/available within two businnes days".

What do you think?

Is that "normal"?

Thanks a lot!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

In London, every visa applicant has the AP status before it changes to issued. It could change in a few hours to maybe two days. It just means they are doing paperwork prior to printing the visa. If it does not change to issued in a week, then it could be in the longer AP for security checks. That is possible just because of the Iranian citizenship. The extra security checks could take longer. They wouldn't have kept the passport if the officer did not think the interview went well, but it still could take weeks on a security check.

Don't worry about it today. It is still normal processing.It can change soon.

If not, there is nothing you can do but wait for them to finish their background checks.

Edited October 21, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[danielenglish 3]

Thank you Nich-Nick!

You are bringing me back to life..

I absolutly ignored that in London all the cases go through the AP before reaching the "issue" status...

Have you read the message I sent above, where I report - word by word - what I find on the CEAC website after I log in?

Is that normal?

Besides, just out of curiosity, can they make a permanent - negative - decision without even ask for further information, evidence or documents?

Thank you!!!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Is that normal?

Besides, just out of curiosity, can they make a permanent - negative - decision without even ask for further information, evidence or documents?

Thank you!!!

That is a normal generic status worldwide. It wasn't written just for you.

I suppose they could make a negative decision If they research and find out she is a terrorist and is a threat to the safety of the USA.

[danielenglish 3]

Thank you Nich-Nick,

So we don't have anything to worry about

Again, thanks for your replies that explained the situation about the AP as an ordinary step.

I feel positive and confident now and will patiently wait for them to change the status to "issued"

[Boiler 45,520]

What is your nationality, I can see issues but if the visa is obtained it matters not.

[DJ6372 111]

Please don't worry about your Visa showing AP, I think they are a little slack in updating it, mine stayed in AP after the interview

I have been in the USA for 4 weeks now, my ceac never did change!!

[danielenglish 3]

Thank you guys for all your support!

As it was predicted by some of you, the following day the status was already changed in "issued" and today my wife picked up her passport with the visa printed on it

Like I said, I was worried because I didn't know that the "AP" is the step between "Ready" and "Issued".

Again, thanks a lot for your contribution and suggestions!

[DJ6372 111]

Thank you guys for all your support!

As it was predicted by some of you, the following day the status was already changed in "issued" and today my wife picked up her passport with the visa printed on it

Like I said, I was worried because I didn't know that the "AP" is the step between "Ready" and "Issued".

Again, thanks a lot for your contribution and suggestions!

I guess I could say I told you so lol

Congrats

[danielenglish 3]

Thank you