Form DS-5535 'SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS FOR VISA APPLICANTS'

[TangierMorocco 52]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/24/opinion/schulman-immigration-extreme-vetting-ds5535.html?fbclid=IwAR1ComLbtYgt5_ldZeAhem7ipRqw1qZZRJOFX7cG34URQS1Fl75D5aRjw84#commentsContainer

[aqz17 6]

On 10/21/2018 at 8:24 PM, SabrinaJerome said:

I'm so happy to hear this. 😍 What a long AP that was.

Thank you for sharing the info.  Maybe you could explain for people who are still waiting how you escalated the case.

Thank you! As the petitioner, I just called the consulate and asked to speak to an escalated contact. I was respectful and after multiple attempts, finally spoke to someone very senior. They said being in AP for 11 months is common and that they would escalate the case. Within 1 week we got a phone call/email asking to redo the medical. 

 

I would strongly suggest the petitioner does all inquiries rather than the applicant. Be extremely polite/respectful and professional and kindly ask to speak to someone senior. If you are in AP for 2-10 months, I believe you may need to wait until it hits 11-12 months before they take a look as so many are pending.

[aqz17 6]

On 10/21/2018 at 11:34 PM, TangierMorocco said:

Congratulations! You mentioned in your advise to us to speak to a superior to escalate. Who are those superiors? at the state department? or at the consulate?

Thank you!

 

At the consulate. They were able to reach out to the US themselves. I believe all our cases are just a needle in a haystack. Once I escalated, I believe they pulled our case out of the large amount of pending files, saw no issues and that it had been pending for 11 months and instantly provided clearance. Took about 1-2 weeks after I escalated the case for them to provide an update. Best of luck!

[Shazyyo 37]

6 minutes ago, aqz17 said:

Thank you! As the petitioner, I just called the consulate and asked to speak to an escalated contact. I was respectful and after multiple attempts, finally spoke to someone very senior. They said being in AP for 11 months is common and that they would escalate the case. Within 1 week we got a phone call/email asking to redo the medical. 

 

I would strongly suggest the petitioner does all inquiries rather than the applicant. Be extremely polite/respectful and professional and kindly ask to speak to someone senior. If you are in AP for 2-10 months, I believe you may need to wait until it hits 11-12 months before they take a look as so many are pending.

My case is in AP since 13 months... Can you tell me the contact number at which my mother who is my petitioner can call and ask them about my case ...plz

[Sarac9 1,122]

Just now, Shazyyo said:

My case is in AP since 13 months... Can you tell me the contact number at which my mother who is my petitioner can call and ask them about my case ...plz

US consulate in Islamabad doesn't answer phone calls regarding visa inquiries.  You have to send an email through their online inquiry form. I think it would be better if your mom went through the senator from her state to make an inquiry since it's been 13 months.

[aqz17 6]

1 minute ago, Shazyyo said:

My case is in AP since 13 months... Can you tell me the contact number at which my mother who is my petitioner can call and ask them about my case ...plz

Hi Shazyyo - did you have your interview in Casablanca? or different location?

[Shazyyo 37]

10 minutes ago, aqz17 said:

Hi Shazyyo - did you have your interview in Casablanca? or different location?

I m from Pakistan. I gave my interview in Islamabad embassy. Should I ask my mom to call here? I don't think they will respond 

[Shazyyo 37]

10 minutes ago, Sarac9 said:

US consulate in Islamabad doesn't answer phone calls regarding visa inquiries.  You have to send an email through their online inquiry form. I think it would be better if your mom went through the senator from her state to make an inquiry since it's been 13 months.

I have been sending them emails and they reply me but it's the same automatically generated reply that case is in AP and can neither be waived nor expedited. I have heard that going to senator is of no use.. I have no idea what to do. 

[Caseinquiry 4]

1 hour ago, Shazyyo said:

I have been sending them emails and they reply me but it's the same automatically generated reply that case is in AP and can neither be waived nor expedited. I have heard that going to senator is of no use.. I have no idea what to do. 

Hello, Shazyyo and @Sarac9  I would suggest considering @aqz17 experience and send an email to the Chief of immigration visa dep at the embassy you had your interview, explain the hardship you are facing due to the delay of being apart for more than 5 years, etc.... I believe at least they will send to the US asking for an update and this may move along the process and you may get positive feedback, don't just wait and being frustrated DO something. You have nothing to lose.

 

Thank you @SabrinaJerome you raised this question and Thank you @aqz17 for sharing your experience.  I have just recently tried the same approach, and it seems you are correct, monitoring any update during the forthcoming weeks if no update, then I will do it over again.  Good luck all.

 

[ibnfawzi 46]

On 10/21/2018 at 7:48 PM, aqz17 said:

Hi all,

Been awhile since I last posted on here. Just wanted to give a quick update. My fiancee had her interview back in October 2017 (K1 visa - Casablanca Morocco). She had 0 updates until Saturday September 28th, about 12 months into AP (apparently the consulate worked that saturday due to the pending lottery visas). They called/emailed her and asked her to re-do her medical plus renew additional documents. Once she returned the documents, it took them 1 week to process the visa and they asked her to pick it up in person on Tuesday Oct 16th. She flew to NYC on Thursday the 18th (had no issues at JFK), we got our marriage license on friday the 19th and had our Nikkah on Saturday night the 20th  Wanted to thank all for their support and guidance, my final advice is to be polite, extremely professional and courteous to the consulate when reaching out to them. The average processing time is around the 11-13 month range (in my research/opinion). The congressman we reached out to helped 0%, we found out more info on our own than he did. I truly believe asking to speak to a superior to escalate our case was the reason why it was finally looked at, I would strongly advise all to try the same. If any questions, feel free to reach out.

Very happy for you! But at the same time jealous... My fiancee had her interview in Casa on Sept 28, 2017. And still no updates 😢

What superior did you talk to? The consulate will not even talk to me because of 'confidentiality' of my fiancee's visa. And i can't reach anyone at USCIS.

 

Edited October 25, 2018 by ibnfawzi

[aqz17 6]

6 minutes ago, Caseinquiry said:

Hello, Shazyyo and @Sarac9  I would suggest considering @aqz17 experience and send an email to the Chief of immigration visa dep at the embassy you had your interview, explain the hardship you are facing due to the delay of being apart for more than 5 years, etc.... I believe at least they will send to the US asking for an update and this may move along the process and you may get positive feedback, don't just wait and being frustrated DO something. You have nothing to lose.

 

Thank you @SabrinaJerome you raised this question and Thank you @aqz17 for sharing your experience.  I have just recently tried the same approach, and it seems you are correct, monitoring any update during the forthcoming weeks if no update, then I will do it over again.  Good luck all.

 

Great, best of luck - you are doing exactly what I did. Please let me know if you need any additional assistance

[Caseinquiry 4]

32 minutes ago, aqz17 said:

Great, best of luck - you are doing exactly what I did. Please let me know if you need any additional assistance

Thank you again, i am very positive and will remain even at this challmegimg times, to all keep faith that everything has a time, and i believe the time will come soon and before too long.

[Caseinquiry 4]

52 minutes ago, ibnfawzi said:

Very happy for you! But at the same time jealous... My fiancee had her interview in Casa on Sept 28, 2017. And still no updates 😢

What superior did you talk to? The consulate will not even talk to me because of 'confidentiality' of my fiancee's visa. And i can't reach anyone at USCIS.

 

If you are in the US try +1 (202) 663-1225

Or +1 (202) 647-4000 and an additional number +1 (202) 485-7600. talk to them DOS 

 if you call these numbers from outside the US you will be forwarded to NVC and normally they don’t tell you something that you don’t know already, try and let me know 

[S.S 6]

1 hour ago, Caseinquiry said:

Hello, Shazyyo and @Sarac9  I would suggest considering @aqz17 experience and send an email to the Chief of immigration visa dep at the embassy you had your interview, explain the hardship you are facing due to the delay of being apart for more than 5 years, etc.... I believe at least they will send to the US asking for an update and this may move along the process and you may get positive feedback, don't just wait and being frustrated DO something. You have nothing to lose.

 

Thank you @SabrinaJerome you raised this question and Thank you @aqz17 for sharing your experience.  I have just recently tried the same approach, and it seems you are correct, monitoring any update during the forthcoming weeks if no update, then I will do it over again.  Good luck all.

 

Did you send an email to Chief of immigration visa dep at your embassy? What reply did you get and from where to find the email address? Its been 8 months now.. we contacted the senator but they got the same reply to wait, but how long no body knows that.

1 hour ago, Caseinquiry said:

Hello, Shazyyo and @Sarac9  I would suggest considering @aqz17 experience and send an email to the Chief of immigration visa dep at the embassy you had your interview, explain the hardship you are facing due to the delay of being apart for more than 5 years, etc.... I believe at least they will send to the US asking for an update and this may move along the process and you may get positive feedback, don't just wait and being frustrated DO something. You have nothing to lose.

 

Thank you @SabrinaJerome you raised this question and Thank you @aqz17 for sharing your experience.  I have just recently tried the same approach, and it seems you are correct, monitoring any update during the forthcoming weeks if no update, then I will do it over again.  Good luck all.

 

Did you send an email to Chief of immigration visa dep at your embassy? What reply did you get and from where to find the email address? Its been 8 months now.. we contacted the senator but they got the same reply to wait, but how long no body knows that.

[Caseinquiry 4]

2 minutes ago, S.S said:

Did you send an email to Chief of immigration visa dep at your embassy? What reply did you get and from where to find the email address? Its been 8 months now.. we contacted the senator but they got the same reply to wait, but how long no body knows that.

Did you send an email to Chief of immigration visa dep at your embassy? What reply did you get and from where to find the email address? Its been 8 months now.. we contacted the senator but they got the same reply to wait, but how long no body knows that.

Just send an email to supervisor IV attention , use normal email that you use for your normal inquiry, and you will get a reply, either the same one you usually receive or additional information, and consider to do the same from time to time,  we got a reply same meaning as mentioned by @aqz17 and majority of these pending cases backlogged in DC , unless they do something in your case at the embassy level, send an email and likely you can find out more information over your case.