Cambodia - K1 + K2 : DNA process wait time & experience

[K+P 2]

There isn't much information available in VisaJourney relating to how long it takes when a DNA test is requested by the embassy. This is our experience with this portion of the Visa process (thus far).

In our case, the consular officer requested a maternity test to prove the mother/daughter relationship before we could proceed further with our Visa request. Both mother and daughter live in Cambodia, so both DNA samples will be taken at the embassy in Phnom Penh.

I was able to purchase the DNA testing package from a qualified Ohio-based laboratory while in Cambodia. The package includes the required DNA test kits (buccal swabs), international shipping both ways, processing of the samples, and sending the formal results to the embassy (and an electronic copy to me).

Timeline:

Jun 01 2015

Consulate requests DNA test to prove mother/daughter direct relationship.

Jun 03 2015

Lab sends test kits to Phnon Penh via FedEx.

Jun 08 2015

FedEx tracking shows package delivered to embassy.

Oct 09 2015

Received email from embassy stating we should be contacted in 3-4 weeks with information about how to make the DNA collection appointment.

Oct 26 2015

Fiancee received phone call from embassy with the appoinment dates.

Nov 05 2015

Scheduled date to meet with IOM doctor.

$25 / person collection fee, embassy pink paper (showing case number & consular list of items needed), passport, and 5cm x 5cm photos required next two days.

Nov 06

Scheduled date to take DNA samples at embassy by IOM doctor and witnessed by embassy staff.

Note that the embassy's DNA unit did not contact us with any meaningful information from when the consular ordered the test on 1 June until 08 October. The only reason we knew the test kits arrived was FedEx tracking. Several emails to the embassy's DNA unit did not result in any status information (only form letters were returned). All responses took at least 10 days. We finally found out that we were **actually** on the appointment waiting list on Oct 09 when we received an email with information directly related to our case.

FWIW - I talked to a state department person a few weeks ago who stated that the DNA tasks are administered by the Homeland Security/INS branch of the govt and not the State Department. This makes sense to me, as the general Visa K1 communication with the embassy was quite good. The State Dept side answered emails quickly with specific answers to your questions and the appointments were scheduled quickly. I did not have the same experience with the embassy's DNA team.

I'll keep update this post as we go through this process. We didn't have any idea of what to expect ourselves. We initially though the appointment would be scheduled in a few days. Wow, were we wrong...

To anyone else going through this same process - Hang in there. It's a long journey indeed.

[Cambo 0]

i am going through the same DNA process of getting my son Consular report of birth abroad & passport in Cambodia. i had the DNA test kit mailed to Phnom Penh since July 2015 and finally received an appointment for November 13th. i did not expect to wait that long for appointment, but after lots of patience and e-mailing the embassy each month, we received an appointment date. do you know how long for the U.S Embassy to get result back from the lab? good luck to you!

[K+P 2]

My fiancee and her daughter went yesterday to the DNA collection appointment. She said the process took much longer than expected, as there were about 50 people all giving samples that day. She was told to come back to the embassy 6 weeks later, on either a Monday or Wednesday for the consulate to review the results. No appointment needed, just use the "pink paper" to get back inside the embassy & bring both passports. The 6 weeks countdown starts from the DNA collection day, btw - not the day the results actually arrive back at the embassy.

Good luck with your case.

[K+P 2]

The embassy told us to return in 6 weeks (from the date of the DNA collection appointment) to receive the official results. Note also that we have to go on Mon, Tues, or Wed around noon.

[Cambo 0]

Any update on the DNA Result? i have already past the 6 weeks waiting period and was told Someone from the U.S Citizen service will be contacting my wife to schedule a date to come back to the Embassy. The DNA Result arrived back at the Embassy 3 weeks after swab test, this is such a long process.

Edited December 31, 2015 by Cambo

[K+P 2]

@Cambo - In our case, the DNA collection folks wrote on the pink embassy sheet at the time the samples were taken instructions of when to come back (6 weeks after sample given AND Mon - Wed between 1 and 2 p.m. only]. I didn't realize this & emailed the embassy hoping to come in sooner too but they just repeated the earlier instructions.

[K+P 2]

We went back to the embassy on the 21st of December to get the results of the DNA test. After waiting a couple of hours, we were finally called up to the window. We were told the DNA results were fine but that there had been a change of policy at the embassy and now they want the police report and medical test done after the DNA testing results are complete. So even though we got and paid for both reports before and they were supposedly good for one year, we have to get and pay for both again. We saw many embassy applicants at IOM later going through the same bureaucratic nightmare.

At IOM, I learned they don't keep records. We had everything but the vaccination card (I accidentally brought the card to the U.S. and didn't bring it back since it was supposedly for the U.S. doctor's use.) Big mistake. IOM doesn't keep records, so we'll need to get all the vaccinations again.

Getting the police report again was easier. Even though we left the original birth certificate in Kampong Chhnang, they accepted a copy of it, plus family book and Khmer ID to submit the application.

Note to self. Bring all paperwork to Phnom Penh every time you go.

[K+P 2]

25 Jan 2016 - medical testing finished and results picked up a couple of weeks ago. Picked up police report this morning. Headed to embassy and ours was the first number to be called. Unfortunately we discovered were were missing the correct IOM envelope the embassy wanted to see. It took a few minutes to recall that we were in fact given 3 envelopes and several other loose papers when we picked up the medical results. Two of the envelopes were so big that they wouldn't fit with all other paperwork, so we placed them in the bottom of our traveling bag. Long story short, we left the envelopes at home, 100 kms away. Called family immediately and had the papers sent by taxi.

Two items of note. The embassy staff who helped us that day (window 9) was the nicest person we've met so far behind the windows, with the possible exception of the original interviewer. We hope we get assigned to that window again.

Second, around 4pm my fiancée picked up the missing envelopes from the taxi at the central market. While starting to walk back, a khmer woman walking directly behind here had her purse snatched by a couple of guys on a motorbike. She had a small purse on a long thin rope meant to be worn across the body (exactly like my fiancée). So be extra careful out there and make sure you carry your purse at the front of your body, not at your side. Better yet, put it under your clothes.

26 Jan. Went back to embassy, but the visa processing section was unexpectedly closed for the day. My guess is because the U.S. Secretary of State is in town today. Too bad they didn't tell us yesterday. We might have gone home for a couple of nights.