Form DS-5535 'SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS FOR VISA APPLICANTS'

[Nar_fah 10]

17 hours ago, Renee2016 said:

Don't worry it takes time there we waited 10 months after our interview to be issued and that was after a first denial. I emailed and called everyone for help all you can do is wait. Once you get the new medical email you will know its near. Pakistan is tough but in the end you will be issued

It has been 9 months since my husband’s interview for CR1 and still no update  !

It’a very frustrating!

[Abdulabdul 0]

Hi guys,

 

I'm Saudi national and I applied for a B2 visitor visa and had my interview 2 days ago. While some people at the embassy got instant approvals, many others including myself were given a yellow paper and told me that my profile looks good they just need to do a routine process for Saudis and that it usually gets done in 2 weeks. But after reading your comments I started getting worried! The guy at the embassy asked me if he could keep my passport with him and I said yes, he also said that if I needed to travel somewhere I can request my passport back even without a visa. The day after they sent me the DS 5355 form asking me to fill it out. I filled and sent it on the same day and they then replied confirming that they received my form and that my application still remains in Adminstrative Processing. 

 

What does this mean?! Does this happen a lot for people who applied for visitor visas? I'm really worried as I already booked my trip to the US in August and nonrefundable ticket. 

 

Does it really take two weeks? The guy seemed pretty optimistic to me, and the form said that it takes usually 2-4 weeks for my visa to get approval. Any and all comments would be much appreciated! Thank you!

[Waiting forever 43]

was anyone on here interviewed in August 2017? 

[Waiting forever 43]

1 hour ago, Abdulabdul said:

Hi guys,

 

I'm Saudi national and I applied for a B2 visitor visa and had my interview 2 days ago. While some people at the embassy got instant approvals, many others including myself were given a yellow paper and told me that my profile looks good they just need to do a routine process for Saudis and that it usually gets done in 2 weeks. But after reading your comments I started getting worried! The guy at the embassy asked me if he could keep my passport with him and I said yes, he also said that if I needed to travel somewhere I can request my passport back even without a visa. The day after they sent me the DS 5355 form asking me to fill it out. I filled and sent it on the same day and they then replied confirming that they received my form and that my application still remains in Adminstrative Processing. 

 

What does this mean?! Does this happen a lot for people who applied for visitor visas? I'm really worried as I already booked my trip to the US in August and nonrefundable ticket. 

 

Does it really take two weeks? The guy seemed pretty optimistic to me, and the form said that it takes usually 2-4 weeks for my visa to get approval. Any and all comments would be much appreciated! Thank you!

you will get it in two weeks if not then it can take months. Just don't bother the embassy to much as they might delay your case. Keep praying you get your visa within two weeks. My husbands interview was august 2017 we submitted the ds5535 formm september 6. since that day we haven't received any updates or visa. It's insane. 

[Tarsha 24]

5 hours ago, Mia12392 said:

was anyone on here interviewed in August 2017? 

My fiance was. He has his visa now

[clw0901 0]

My Moroccan fiance was issued the DS-5535 after his interview at the consulate on September 5, 2017. We have now been stuck in administrative processing for over 9 months.  I have contacted the consulate numerous times, as well as my local congressman and senator. I will continue to follow this thread for updates. I hope that we all see the light at the end of the tunnel very soon. 

[ibnfawzi 46]

36 minutes ago, clw0901 said:

My Moroccan fiance was issued the DS-5535 after his interview at the consulate on September 5, 2017. We have now been stuck in administrative processing for over 9 months.  I have contacted the consulate numerous times, as well as my local congressman and senator. I will continue to follow this thread for updates. I hope that we all see the light at the end of the tunnel very soon. 

My fiancee was interviewed in Casablanca on Sept 29. Turned in the ds-5535 on Oct 5.

 

I've also reached out to my congressmen. Who have proved to be useless so far only telling me that she is in AP as if that's a revelation.

Edited June 13, 2018 by ibnfawzi

[clw0901 0]

16 minutes ago, ibnfawzi said:

My fiancee was interviewed in Casablanca on Sept 29. Turned in the ds-5535 on Oct 5.

 

I've also reached out to my congressmen. Who have proved to be useless so far only telling me that she is in AP as if that's a revelation.

That sounds all too familiar. I wouldn’t wish this suffering on my worst enemy. One of the times I received a response from the consulate they stated “The case is still undergoing administrative processing which can take up to nine months from the day of the interview.” Which in my mind means I should of had an answer by June 5th. 

 

[tiyyo 68]

had a update yesterday. Probably wanted to see if my husband got his passport back so he could travel for work. hmmm I think they are playing with us

[deab 4]

Our visa is also going through the Casablanca Consulate.  We applied for IR1 and my husband's interview was the third week of July last year. It went well, although they did ask him to complete the DS5535. It took us 3 weeks to gather all of the information for the form.  He is one of many many children in his family and held 4 passports over the duration they were requesting information so it took time to put it together and then our attorney wanted to review it, so we turned it into the Consulate on the 2nd of August.  They acknowledged receipt.  We saw multiple file touches between Aug 2nd and November 1st.  Then it went dark after November 1st.  I inquired in January, and April.  Both times I was told the same thing, that it was in AP and takes time.  They said the  file is at an agency outside of their offices and they have no way of knowing how long it will take.  Ten days after the April follow up I saw a file touch that was not me calling to status the case, then I saw another one in May when I registered on the STEPS site and indicated that I was coming back for a visit, hoping to bring him home with me.  Since then no new touches and no contact from the Consulate.  I fully expect this to be resolved very soon.  I do not constantly follow up since I was told by my attorney and the senator's office that their follow ups have been ineffective since the DS5535 was activated.  I understand the idea behind the squeaky wheel getting the oil, but at the same time being impatient with the process or officer could upset the officer.  They hold your future in their hands and really could just make up some random reason to return your file to the United States, which could delay your case another year.  Therefore, I have chosen to be as patient as I can and as polite with my follow up as I can. I continue to believe that it is just a matter of time and he will be here.  I believe strongly that positive thoughts give power to positive results.    He will be home very soon, inshallah.  I wish you all the outcome you are hoping and dreaming for.

[ibnfawzi 46]

1 hour ago, deab said:

....

They acknowledged receipt.  We saw multiple file touches between Aug 2nd and November 1st.  Then it went dark after November 1st.  I inquired in January, and April.  Both times I was told the same thing, that it was in AP and takes time.  They said the  file is at an agency outside of their offices and they have no way of knowing how long it will take.  Ten days after the April follow up I saw a file touch that was not me calling to status the case, then I saw another one in May when I registered on the STEPS site and indicated that I was coming back for a visit, hoping to bring him home with me.  Since then no new touches and no contact from the Consulate.

 

.....

Yeah, we hear about the outside agency too. Wish we knew who this agency was. 

 

What do you mean "file touch"? And what is the STEPS site?

[Waiting17 4]

6 hours ago, deab said:

Our visa is also going through the Casablanca Consulate.  We applied for IR1 and my husband's interview was the third week of July last year. It went well, although they did ask him to complete the DS5535. It took us 3 weeks to gather all of the information for the form.  He is one of many many children in his family and held 4 passports over the duration they were requesting information so it took time to put it together and then our attorney wanted to review it, so we turned it into the Consulate on the 2nd of August.  They acknowledged receipt.  We saw multiple file touches between Aug 2nd and November 1st.  Then it went dark after November 1st.  I inquired in January, and April.  Both times I was told the same thing, that it was in AP and takes time.  They said the  file is at an agency outside of their offices and they have no way of knowing how long it will take.  Ten days after the April follow up I saw a file touch that was not me calling to status the case, then I saw another one in May when I registered on the STEPS site and indicated that I was coming back for a visit, hoping to bring him home with me.  Since then no new touches and no contact from the Consulate.  I fully expect this to be resolved very soon.  I do not constantly follow up since I was told by my attorney and the senator's office that their follow ups have been ineffective since the DS5535 was activated.  I understand the idea behind the squeaky wheel getting the oil, but at the same time being impatient with the process or officer could upset the officer.  They hold your future in their hands and really could just make up some random reason to return your file to the United States, which could delay your case another year.  Therefore, I have chosen to be as patient as I can and as polite with my follow up as I can. I continue to believe that it is just a matter of time and he will be here.  I believe strongly that positive thoughts give power to positive results.    He will be home very soon, inshallah.  I wish you all the outcome you are hoping and dreaming for.

I wish this torture ends soon.

[JTT 0]

Hello, I just faced the same AP issue as many of you. I'm an Italian/Venezuelan citizen and I was applying to my H1b visa in the Madrid US consulate, the officer told me that in order to approve my visa he would need to verify some information and he handed me a peace of paper containing the DS5535 questions, although he only asked me to send my email, phone and social media. He told me that the review process would last aprox 3-10 days.He didn't give me any 221 paper or verbal notice. I sent the info the same day of the interview (May 21st) . I had no updates from the interview date in the CEAC website and emailed the embassy, they told my I was still in AP. On June 12th I had an update at 8pm (Spain time) and next day I had another update at 9 am. Today June 14th the status changed to ISSUED.

I wanted to share my experience because I know how painful it can be to wait. I'm a physician entering to residency in a hospital and was very worried that they would not wait for me till the visa issue was resolved. But luckily it did. Have faith, if you have nothing to be afraid of then it would work just fine :).

[Tarsha 24]

7 hours ago, JTT said:

Hello, I just faced the same AP issue as many of you. I'm an Italian/Venezuelan citizen and I was applying to my H1b visa in the Madrid US consulate, the officer told me that in order to approve my visa he would need to verify some information and he handed me a peace of paper containing the DS5535 questions, although he only asked me to send my email, phone and social media. He told me that the review process would last aprox 3-10 days.He didn't give me any 221 paper or verbal notice. I sent the info the same day of the interview (May 21st) . I had no updates from the interview date in the CEAC website and emailed the embassy, they told my I was still in AP. On June 12th I had an update at 8pm (Spain time) and next day I had another update at 9 am. Today June 14th the status changed to ISSUED.

I wanted to share my experience because I know how painful it can be to wait. I'm a physician entering to residency in a hospital and was very worried that they would not wait for me till the visa issue was resolved. But luckily it did. Have faith, if you have nothing to be afraid of then it would work just fine :).

Congratulations to you! Thank you as well for entering the field to save lives

[ibnfawzi 46]

On 6/14/2018 at 8:33 AM, JTT said:

Hello, I just faced the same AP issue as many of you. I'm an Italian/Venezuelan citizen and I was applying to my H1b visa in the Madrid US consulate, the officer told me that in order to approve my visa he would need to verify some information and he handed me a peace of paper containing the DS5535 questions, although he only asked me to send my email, phone and social media. He told me that the review process would last aprox 3-10 days.He didn't give me any 221 paper or verbal notice. I sent the info the same day of the interview (May 21st) . I had no updates from the interview date in the CEAC website and emailed the embassy, they told my I was still in AP. On June 12th I had an update at 8pm (Spain time) and next day I had another update at 9 am. Today June 14th the status changed to ISSUED.

I wanted to share my experience because I know how painful it can be to wait. I'm a physician entering to residency in a hospital and was very worried that they would not wait for me till the visa issue was resolved. But luckily it did. Have faith, if you have nothing to be afraid of then it would work just fine :).

We're all happy for you.

And a bit jealous. Good luck on your career path.