Form DS-5535 'SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS FOR VISA APPLICANTS'

[sabrina2011 6]

Hi Everyone,

 

I have been following this thread for some time now. My husband is a USC who applied for an IV for his dad in December of 2016. He was finally scheduled for an interview at the Islamabad Embassy in February of this year. He was not asked to submit any additional documents, everything was fine but he was given the 221(g) AP form. The next day, they emailed him the DS 5535 questionnaire and he had it sent back within the same week.

The case was updated a few times, but the last update was on July 25th. My husband sent an inquiry through the website but he only received the automated response. It has now been 9 months, going on 10. It seems like an awfully long amount of time compared to other time lines where a USC has applied for a parent. But unfortunately, lengthy process time seems to have become the norm.

We are thinking to write to our congressman to follow up. My question is, would USCIS still be the "federal agency" at this point of the process? Or would it be the Department of State? I would really appreciate your input and pray everyone on here receives their visas soon InshaAllah.

 

Thank you,

Sabrina

[ibnfawzi 46]

1 hour ago, sabrina2011 said:

Hi Everyone,

 

I have been following this thread for some time now. My husband is a USC who applied for an IV for his dad in December of 2016. He was finally scheduled for an interview at the Islamabad Embassy in February of this year. He was not asked to submit any additional documents, everything was fine but he was given the 221(g) AP form. The next day, they emailed him the DS 5535 questionnaire and he had it sent back within the same week.

The case was updated a few times, but the last update was on July 25th. My husband sent an inquiry through the website but he only received the automated response. It has now been 9 months, going on 10. It seems like an awfully long amount of time compared to other time lines where a USC has applied for a parent. But unfortunately, lengthy process time seems to have become the norm.

We are thinking to write to our congressman to follow up. My question is, would USCIS still be the "federal agency" at this point of the process? Or would it be the Department of State? I would really appreciate your input and pray everyone on here receives their visas soon InshaAllah.

 

Thank you,

Sabrina

Yes, this extended process has more than tripled the wait time that it was before trump. Ds5535 was put in place in May2017, and is considered "Muslim Ban Lite" as it doesn't outright ban, but puts us under extreme extended vetting.

 

USCIS falls under Department of State, and yes a Federal agency. If it's under AP there is little your representative can do, but I urge everyone to reach out anyways. They must know the hardships their constituants are going through under this administration. 

[Sarac9 1,122]

@ibnfawzi is your fiance in the states? 

Honestly, although you waited 13 months, it gives me hope. 

[ibnfawzi 46]

3 hours ago, Sarac9 said:

@ibnfawzi is your fiance in the states? 

Honestly, although you waited 13 months, it gives me hope. 

Ask me again tomorrow evening 😁

[SabrinaJerome 52]

4 hours ago, ibnfawzi said:

Ask me again tomorrow evening 😁

Howwwwww exciting!!! So happy for you! 🤗

Hmmm... and that will be me in about 3 weeks!!! 😍

[S.S 6]

Congratulations to everyone who are getting united with their loved ones and prayers for all of us who are still stuck in this.

[ibnfawzi 46]

My bride is home! She landed in IAD a couple hours ago. Immigration/passport control took 'the packet' and she's home with me. Now we'll get legally* wed to get her citizenship on the way. Worth the wait, but would have been sweeter if it was sooner. I'm going to 'unsubscribe' from this thread, but if anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me as I'll be active on other threads.

 

*we only had a halal ceremony, because we didn't really know how long it would take and didn't want to start the process all over again from the begining.

Edited November 29, 2018 by ibnfawzi

[Sarac9 1,122]

18 hours ago, ibnfawzi said:

My bride is home! She landed in IAD a couple hours ago. Immigration/passport control took 'the packet' and she's home with me. Now we'll get legally* wed to get her citizenship on the way. Worth the wait, but would have been sweeter if it was sooner. I'm going to 'unsubscribe' from this thread, but if anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me as I'll be active on other threads.

 

*we only had a halal ceremony, because we didn't really know how long it would take and didn't want to start the process all over again from the begining.

Good luck!!! 

So your advice for those waiting?? 

Is it better to wait until the embassy contacts you or do you think it's better to send inquiry every once in a while? 

[tiyyo 68]

On 11/27/2018 at 8:12 PM, SabrinaJerome said:

Howwwwww exciting!!! So happy for you! 🤗

Hmmm... and that will be me in about 3 weeks!!! 😍

How exciting!!! Still waiting...now at 9 months....nothing but a gaping hole. I think because we asked for his passport back is why we are still in limbo.

[S.S 6]

1 hour ago, tiyyo said:

How exciting!!! Still waiting...now at 9 months....nothing but a gaping hole. I think because we asked for his passport back is why we are still in limbo.

I think people who are from Pakistan are taking longer time.. as i see in this thread. 

[Sarac9 1,122]

6 hours ago, tiyyo said:

How exciting!!! Still waiting...now at 9 months....nothing but a gaping hole. I think because we asked for his passport back is why we are still in limbo.

Have you inquired? Keep asking. Also ask your state senator to send in an inquiry just so they know that you are not alone. At least you are at the end of this process, almost there. It could be another month or maybe 4 more before they issue the visa. 13 months seems to be the quota here .. but it's really case by case.

[ibnfawzi 46]

19 hours ago, Sarac9 said:

Good luck!!! 

So your advice for those waiting?? 

Is it better to wait until the embassy contacts you or do you think it's better to send inquiry every once in a while? 

If you are waiting, be patient, but persistent in contacting your congressional representatives. They will tell you there isn't anything they can do if they are in AP, but as I keep saying, they must know and be kept reminded of the BS that their constituents are going through. I outright told my rep "Why would I want to be in a country that doesn't want the rest of my family?" 

[tiyyo 68]

22 hours ago, S.S said:

I think people who are from Pakistan are taking longer time.. as i see in this thread. 

I don't know if that is why it's taking so long, I kind of feel like it's because of living and working outside of Pakistan may be the reason. They initially kept my husband's passport but due to his work, we waited for 4 months then requested it back. The embassy in Spain asked for an updated travel log, but he hasn't been out of Spain since the interview.

 

[tiyyo 68]

17 hours ago, Sarac9 said:

Have you inquired? Keep asking. Also ask your state senator to send in an inquiry just so they know that you are not alone. At least you are at the end of this process, almost there. It could be another month or maybe 4 more before they issue the visa. 13 months seems to be the quota here .. but it's really case by case.

I have made so many inquiries that even my senator and congressman have stopped replying to my emails and phone calls. Even the embassy was sending me clipped responses. I had to send a fairly rude email to them stating that a one sentence response of "still in AP'  was not an appropriate reply. I got a lengthy response after that one, but still no end in sight.

[S.S 6]

1 hour ago, tiyyo said:

I don't know if that is why it's taking so long, I kind of feel like it's because of living and working outside of Pakistan may be the reason. They initially kept my husband's passport but due to his work, we waited for 4 months then requested it back. The embassy in Spain asked for an updated travel log, but he hasn't been out of Spain since the interview.

 

 That might be the reason that you resubmit his passport.. When i see people from Pak embassy, one has reached to 15 month with no response from the embassy and its also case by case. I am also close to 9 month now and unless i make any inquiry i dont see any update any more.