Form DS-5535 'SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS FOR VISA APPLICANTS'

[ibnfawzi 46]

6 minutes ago, aqz17 said:

Hi all,

 

Just a little background:

 

My fiancee's interview date was October 25th, 2017 in Casablanca Morocco for a K1 visa (we originally applied for the visa at the end of March in 2017). She was told she would receive her passport back in 2 weeks (the day of her interview), she was given the DS 5535 form which she returned the next day and she's been in Administrative Processing since then (8 months and 2 days have passed).

 

At 2 months into AP, we were told that it will take 4 months to complete (by the consulate over the phone). At 4 months, I called again while I was visiting her in Morocco and we were told it will take 6 months to process. At 6 months I called again and we were told it will be 6-9 months.

 

Now, 8 months later, I spoke to the consulate this morning and they said that they just issued a visa for a case that was pending in AP for 13 months. They were polite and said to email and call whenever; however, the case is still pending in DC, they have piles of cases and as soon as they hear from DC, they call the applicant right away. They said they have seen cases take 6 months but others are taking 13 months and some even 16-18 months from their interview date. She had said that currently many are still pending from over 1 year (so I believe those cases have priority over others; however, this is just my opinion). 

 

Have others heard 13+ months or 16-18 months to process?

Looks like we're just 1 month ahead of you. I petitioned in Feb 2017, and my fiancee had her interview in Casa Sept 29, 2017. You seem to have gotten more info that we get, when we call we aren't given any details other than the case is with "another agency". 

[MO&RA 22]

4 hours ago, aqz17 said:

Hi all,

 

Just a little background:

 

My fiancee's interview date was October 25th, 2017 in Casablanca Morocco for a K1 visa (we originally applied for the visa at the end of March in 2017). She was told she would receive her passport back in 2 weeks (the day of her interview), she was given the DS 5535 form which she returned the next day and she's been in Administrative Processing since then (8 months and 2 days have passed).

 

At 2 months into AP, we were told that it will take 4 months to complete (by the consulate over the phone). At 4 months, I called again while I was visiting her in Morocco and we were told it will take 6 months to process. At 6 months I called again and we were told it will be 6-9 months.

 

Now, 8 months later, I spoke to the consulate this morning and they said that they just issued a visa for a case that was pending in AP for 13 months. They were polite and said to email and call whenever; however, the case is still pending in DC, they have piles of cases and as soon as they hear from DC, they call the applicant right away. They said they have seen cases take 6 months but others are taking 13 months and some even 16-18 months from their interview date. She had said that currently many are still pending from over 1 year (so I believe those cases have priority over others; however, this is just my opinion). 

 

Have others heard 13+ months or 16-18 months to process?

On the interview day, They told my husband it would take up to a year for AP to be cleared  

[Waiting17 4]

6 hours ago, aqz17 said:

Hi all,

 

Just a little background:

 

My fiancee's interview date was October 25th, 2017 in Casablanca Morocco for a K1 visa (we originally applied for the visa at the end of March in 2017). She was told she would receive her passport back in 2 weeks (the day of her interview), she was given the DS 5535 form which she returned the next day and she's been in Administrative Processing since then (8 months and 2 days have passed).

 

At 2 months into AP, we were told that it will take 4 months to complete (by the consulate over the phone). At 4 months, I called again while I was visiting her in Morocco and we were told it will take 6 months to process. At 6 months I called again and we were told it will be 6-9 months.

 

Now, 8 months later, I spoke to the consulate this morning and they said that they just issued a visa for a case that was pending in AP for 13 months. They were polite and said to email and call whenever; however, the case is still pending in DC, they have piles of cases and as soon as they hear from DC, they call the applicant right away. They said they have seen cases take 6 months but others are taking 13 months and some even 16-18 months from their interview date. She had said that currently many are still pending from over 1 year (so I believe those cases have priority over others; however, this is just my opinion). 

 

Have others heard 13+ months or 16-18 months to process?

Thanks for sharing your story. I am in the same boat. I have applied for a non immigrant visa(e2) in Karachi, Pakistan. My interview was on sep 14th 2017 and submitted the DS 5535 form on Sep 20th 2017. Since then there is no update on my case. It shows AP and every time i email the consulate they say to wait till this AP is finished. Its been 9 months and 1 week. I saw people got it in 6-10 months. But there are people that are still waiting. I hope this wait ends soon for all of us.

[Waiting forever 43]

10 months complete in AP today and no sign of luck for me :/ 

[aqz17 6]

16 hours ago, ibnfawzi said:

Looks like we're just 1 month ahead of you. I petitioned in Feb 2017, and my fiancee had her interview in Casa Sept 29, 2017. You seem to have gotten more info that we get, when we call we aren't given any details other than the case is with "another agency". 

Have you reached out to a Senator or Congressman in the meantime?

12 hours ago, MO&RA said:

On the interview day, They told my husband it would take up to a year for AP to be cleared  

How long ago did your husband interview? and was it at the Casablanca location?

[aqz17 6]

9 hours ago, Khan1985 said:

Thanks for sharing your story. I am in the same boat. I have applied for a non immigrant visa(e2) in Karachi, Pakistan. My interview was on sep 14th 2017 and submitted the DS 5535 form on Sep 20th 2017. Since then there is no update on my case. It shows AP and every time i email the consulate they say to wait till this AP is finished. Its been 9 months and 1 week. I saw people got it in 6-10 months. But there are people that are still waiting. I hope this wait ends soon for all of us.

I hope so too - hope for the best, expect the worst

[ibnfawzi 46]

1 hour ago, aqz17 said:

Have you reached out to a Senator or Congressman in the meantime?

 

Yes, both my Senators and Representative. Useless. All they tell me is that she is in administrative process, they can't influence the process, and sorry for delay. blah blah blah.

[MO&RA 22]

12 hours ago, aqz17 said:

Have you reached out to a Senator or Congressman in the meantime?

How long ago did your husband interview? and was it at the Casablanca location?

Interview was in Sweden on January 10, 2018!

[aqz17 6]

On 6/28/2018 at 11:21 AM, ibnfawzi said:

Yes, both my Senators and Representative. Useless. All they tell me is that she is in administrative process, they can't influence the process, and sorry for delay. blah blah blah.

I was told that after 9 months that Senators and Representatives can be of more help (potentially get a better idea of what's taking so long and maybe a time frame until completion) - not sure how accurate that is. I did speak to a Congressman and he said that it'll take 9 months and that he did hear that my fiancee's background check had cleared with no issues (that was around 6.5 months into AP)... at this point, i'm waiting for 9 months to be completed before reaching out to him again...

Edited June 30, 2018 by aqz17

[aqz17 6]

On 6/28/2018 at 10:04 PM, MO&RA said:

Interview was in Sweden on January 10, 2018!

oh my - i'm surprised they told you 1 year upfront. I wish they would've done the same for me... my fiancee was told multiple times that her passport would be returned in 2 weeks so I booked her a one way ticket to the US (and myself a round trip ticket to pick her up), booked a rental car as well as hotel for my time there.... all of which were non-refundable. the airline tickets expired after 6 months  

 

at this point, don't care for the lost money, care more for the lost time... just wish we had an accurate time frame that does not keep extending every 2 months

Edited June 30, 2018 by aqz17

[Abdulabdul 0]

Am I the only one who got DS5535 for a visitor b1/b2 visa? Mine is still in AP and I'm in Saudi Arabia. Please tell me how long is AP for visitor visas  

[Nar_fah 10]

I emailed my congressman last week, and on Saturday, June 30th, my case was updated. The embassy is closed on Saturdays. It might mean that the congressman might have inquired and the embassy might have replied to him and that's why the case date got updated. My question is, do cases get updated on Saturdays? 

[StoneLand 15]

3 hours ago, Nar_fah said:

I emailed my congressman last week, and on Saturday, June 30th, my case was updated. The embassy is closed on Saturdays. It might mean that the congressman might have inquired and the embassy might have replied to him and that's why the case date got updated. My question is, do cases get updated on Saturdays? 

I had an update on a Sunday and the same week I was contacted and told my AP has been completed that I should submit medical and passport. It has only happened to me once and at the end.. I have had more than 10 updates since I returned the DS5535 form. I have received my Passport with visa. Spent 10 months on AP

Edited July 1, 2018 by StoneLand

[S.S 6]

3 hours ago, StoneLand said:

I had an update on a Sunday and the same week I was contacted and told my AP has been completed that I should submit medical and passport. It has only happened to me once and at the end.. I have had more than 10 updates since I returned the DS5535 form. I have received my Passport with visa. Spent 10 months on AP

Please tell me your country where you submitted DS5535

[Nar_fah 10]

5 hours ago, StoneLand said:

I had an update on a Sunday and the same week I was contacted and told my AP has been completed that I should submit medical and passport. It has only happened to me once and at the end.. I have had more than 10 updates since I returned the DS5535 form. I have received my Passport with visa. Spent 10 months on AP

Thanks for the info.

Where was your interview location?