My husband is in AP

[Jsic220 0]

Hi all. Looking for some help or some past experience. My husband had his visa immigrant interview on 12/29/16 and at the interview he was told he was approved and given a paper that said we are pleased to notify you that your visa is approved and all the instructions for how to obtain the visa and how long. On January 3, 2017 we received an email that said he needed to present documents for an arrest 9 years ago in El Salvador in which he was never convicted or charged and the case was closed with. I court or fines. He had his police clearance form which was clear and no mention of this arrest. He did as he was told and obtained the documents they needed and sent them via cargo expreso on January 6, 2017. The embassy received them on the 9th and he has been in AP since the 10th. At the bottom of the email it says if he hasn't heard from the embassy in a month to call. We tried calling yesterday and can't get a live person on the phone so we sent an email and they said it can take up to 60 days or more but the email says 30! Has anyone experienced this? What was the outcome. We have our 5 year anniversary in may and we are having our religious wedding ceremony and a reception because when we got married in the Court we didn't have the money to do a big wedding. We have put so much money into this special day and I'm worried he won't be back in time. I appreciate all your help. 

[LionessDeon 2,060]

No one can really tell you how long it could take.  Each one of these cases is unique.  It depends if they find anything in the court documents.  How did he answer questions on the DS260 about the arrest?  Was he honest?

It can take 30.  It can take 60, It could take 180.  They have to do some investigation and review.

It is why they always say do not make any plans, pay deposits, or book things without visa in hand.  You took a chance. Hopefully, it all works out.

[Jsic220 0]

We didn't think it would take this long. I don't know our lawyer did everything but I don't remember her asking about any arrests. He wasn't convicted it was for fighting and no one pressed charges. They won't give us any info and his police clearance form was all good but they didn't even ask for anything at the interview besides his passport marriage license and birth certificate they kept and then they asked for more photos of us and everything was fine. 

[Duncan21 202]

How did they come to know of the arrest if it was not on the police report?  Did he mention it during the interview?

[Jsic220 0]

No. no mention of it. He even went back to the police station and asked how it was possible he had a clearance form if there was this arrest and they said we don't know it looks like it was closed 9 years ago!!! 

[agripa 100]

It's strange how they came to know about it, but not entirely surprising. The embassy has investigative units at it's disposable. At this point, all you can do is to call the embassy on a regular basis and just wait it out. AP takes as long as it's going to take and there's nothing you can do to speed it up. Good luck!

[Jsic220 0]

So he's still in AP but now the date changed yesterday and again today. Is this a positive? It was 21 days yesterday since the last date change.