I-601 Expedite and Waiver Approved, Juarez Requested Passport, no update

[Jen Chem 6]

Hello! My Husband had his immigrant visa appointment in Ciudad Juarez in November and was denied. We submitted the I-601 waiver and an expedite request and it was all approved on February 8th at USCIS. The consulate in Juarez took their sweet time in contacting us but a month later they sent a letter requesting us to send them nothing else but his passport.

 

From everything I have read online this means that we should be close. We shouldn't have to do the medical appointment or fingerprints again because it is all within 6 months of the time of his previous appointment and denial. We mistakenly thought we were supposed to hand-deliver his passport so we came up to Juarez and have been waiting around hoping for our approved visa and packet, but at the CEAC site it still shows REFUSED. We call the hotline daily asking if they have more information but all they see is that the passport was received at the consulate on March 23rd. They tell us to keep calling.

 

It has been over 2 weeks now since they received the passport, but only 8 business days due to la semana santa. Our lawyer called the hotline in the US and they said that average processing of the passport is 2 weeks, but it could be more, and they could still request more documents. However, people online have mentioned it taking only a week to get their approved visa and packet after the consulate in Juarez received their passport. I've only seen one person say that they sent in the passport and were waiting 2 months later.

 

Should we assume that they're going to potentially sit on the passport without doing anything for another month or two and just pack up and leave, or continue to wait another couple business days and hope that they should be sending it out any time now? It feels like we're so close but we've been here in Juarez since March 18th and with our two young children (1 and 3) it has been really hard on us, not to mention having to pay for the room we're staying in.

 

Thanks for any insight.

[Boiler 45,752]

Absolutely no way of knowing, presumably it is sitting in somebody's tray awaiting action.

[SylviaJoseph 0]

Jen Chem, I am new to this site.  Could you let me know what kind of report you provided for the 601 expedite waiver request to support "danger to mental health"?  Did you see a general physician or a psychologist?  What kind of evidence should be provided?  I ask cuz I am in a very similar situation as yours and I only recently applied for my husband's 601 waiver...

[SylviaJoseph 0]

Jen Chem- sorry, I couldn't find the correct thread where you told about your expediting the 601 waiver for your husband so I put the inquiry here... thank you.

[KristiRz 0]

On 4/7/2018 at 1:40 PM, Jen Chem said:

Hello! My Husband had his immigrant visa appointment in Ciudad Juarez in November and was denied. We submitted the I-601 waiver and an expedite request and it was all approved on February 8th at USCIS. The consulate in Juarez took their sweet time in contacting us but a month later they sent a letter requesting us to send them nothing else but his passport.

 

From everything I have read online this means that we should be close. We shouldn't have to do the medical appointment or fingerprints again because it is all within 6 months of the time of his previous appointment and denial. We mistakenly thought we were supposed to hand-deliver his passport so we came up to Juarez and have been waiting around hoping for our approved visa and packet, but at the CEAC site it still shows REFUSED. We call the hotline daily asking if they have more information but all they see is that the passport was received at the consulate on March 23rd. They tell us to keep calling.

 

It has been over 2 weeks now since they received the passport, but only 8 business days due to la semana santa. Our lawyer called the hotline in the US and they said that average processing of the passport is 2 weeks, but it could be more, and they could still request more documents. However, people online have mentioned it taking only a week to get their approved visa and packet after the consulate in Juarez received their passport. I've only seen one person say that they sent in the passport and were waiting 2 months later.

 

Should we assume that they're going to potentially sit on the passport without doing anything for another month or two and just pack up and leave, or continue to wait another couple business days and hope that they should be sending it out any time now? It feels like we're so close but we've been here in Juarez since March 18th and with our two young children (1 and 3) it has been really hard on us, not to mention having to pay for the room we're staying in.

 

Thanks for any insight.

How long did it take them to return your passport im kind of in the same situation, and we are afraid something could go wrong? 

[Jen Chem 6]

On 12/1/2018 at 7:13 AM, KristiRz said:

How long did it take them to return your passport im kind of in the same situation, and we are afraid something could go wrong? 

It took them a month... it was a terrible wait and we eventually went up to the consulate window and asked about it- they said it was out of their hands and they couldn't do anything, but then the next week we had notice that the visa was approved and then a day or two later we were able to pick up the passport.

[KristiRz 0]

55 minutes ago, Jen Chem said:

It took them a month... it was a terrible wait and we eventually went up to the consulate window and asked about it- they said it was out of their hands and they couldn't do anything, but then the next week we had notice that the visa was approved and then a day or two later we were able to pick up the passport.

Wow , That is great news it got approved. The wait is frustrating very understanding we are in the same boat they asked for my husbands passport/ medical and since the whole month of November we have not heard anything im not sure if it is because of the holidays or what could be the delay. And we don’t know what else to do, hopefully we get a answer soon this week since no holidays are coming up.

[Jd_8188 0]

On 4/8/2018 at 2:40 AM, Jen Chem said:

Hello! My Husband had his immigrant visa appointment in Ciudad Juarez in November and was denied. We submitted the I-601 waiver and an expedite request and it was all approved on February 8th at USCIS. The consulate in Juarez took their sweet time in contacting us but a month later they sent a letter requesting us to send them nothing else but his passport.

 

From everything I have read online this means that we should be close. We shouldn't have to do the medical appointment or fingerprints again because it is all within 6 months of the time of his previous appointment and denial. We mistakenly thought we were supposed to hand-deliver his passport so we came up to Juarez and have been waiting around hoping for our approved visa and packet, but at the CEAC site it still shows REFUSED. We call the hotline daily asking if they have more information but all they see is that the passport was received at the consulate on March 23rd. They tell us to keep calling.

 

It has been over 2 weeks now since they received the passport, but only 8 business days due to la semana santa. Our lawyer called the hotline in the US and they said that average processing of the passport is 2 weeks, but it could be more, and they could still request more documents. However, people online have mentioned it taking only a week to get their approved visa and packet after the consulate in Juarez received their passport. I've only seen one person say that they sent in the passport and were waiting 2 months later.

 

Should we assume that they're going to potentially sit on the passport without doing anything for another month or two and just pack up and leave, or continue to wait another couple business days and hope that they should be sending it out any time now? It feels like we're so close but we've been here in Juarez since March 18th and with our two young children (1 and 3) it has been really hard on us, not to mention having to pay for the room we're staying in.

 

Thanks for any insight.

Hello my husband was denied too now Im working on his I601 waiver may I know what did you do to expedite the waiver application? I really need him back to the US and did your husband went on another consular interview?

[Jen Chem 6]

On 8/1/2019 at 2:10 AM, Jd_8188 said:

Hello my husband was denied too now Im working on his I601 waiver may I know what did you do to expedite the waiver application? I really need him back to the US and did your husband went on another consular interview?

Sorry I just saw this. I was working with a lawyer and they helped. I am a doctoral student and at the time had a 1 and 3 year old and could not afford to pay their daycare to continue my program if he wasn't in the US. I mentioned that if I couldn't continue the program I myself and my 2 citizen children would have to live in Mexico with him and cited the violence and government corruption. I got LOTS of evidence. I paid a psychologist for an exam with results describing my terrible mental condition. I got a letter from my boss stating that it was impossible to continue the program as a single parent. 

 

They approved the expedite and the I-601 at the same time but I didn't know they approved the I-601- they just requested his passport sent to their Juarez location via DHL. My lawyer was also confused. We weren't sure what else we were supposed to plan for. It turned out they sent his visa/passport and packet back almost a month later. Then we were able to cross.

[Jd_8188 0]

On 8/7/2019 at 9:05 PM, Jen Chem said:

Sorry I just saw this. I was working with a lawyer and they helped. I am a doctoral student and at the time had a 1 and 3 year old and could not afford to pay their daycare to continue my program if he wasn't in the US. I mentioned that if I couldn't continue the program I myself and my 2 citizen children would have to live in Mexico with him and cited the violence and government corruption. I got LOTS of evidence. I paid a psychologist for an exam with results describing my terrible mental condition. I got a letter from my boss stating that it was impossible to continue the program as a single parent. 

 

They approved the expedite and the I-601 at the same time but I didn't know they approved the I-601- they just requested his passport sent to their Juarez location via DHL. My lawyer was also confused. We weren't sure what else we were supposed to plan for. It turned out they sent his visa/passport and packet back almost a month later. Then we were able to 

Congratulations!! Im glad that your together now. 

[Djsim218 3]

On 8/7/2019 at 9:05 AM, Jen Chem said:

Sorry I just saw this. I was working with a lawyer and they helped. I am a doctoral student and at the time had a 1 and 3 year old and could not afford to pay their daycare to continue my program if he wasn't in the US. I mentioned that if I couldn't continue the program I myself and my 2 citizen children would have to live in Mexico with him and cited the violence and government corruption. I got LOTS of evidence. I paid a psychologist for an exam with results describing my terrible mental condition. I got a letter from my boss stating that it was impossible to continue the program as a single parent. 

 

They approved the expedite and the I-601 at the same time but I didn't know they approved the I-601- they just requested his passport sent to their Juarez location via DHL. My lawyer was also confused. We weren't sure what else we were supposed to plan for. It turned out they sent his visa/passport and packet back almost a month later. Then we were able to cross.

Congratulations to you and your family. This gives me hope and I appreciate you sharing your story. 

 

My husband was found inadmissible based off the findings of his medical exam in Jan 2018. He was told to come back for a new medical exam (Juarez) in one year. We filed the I 601 (march 2018) and were told by our lawyer to not return to Juarez until waiver is approved. 

 

We got a letter from the Consulate last month telling my husband to go back for medical exam. He goes and then a week later gets a letter to send passport to Consulate.

 

A few days later, the Consulate sends a letter saying his visa was denied b/c he was here illegally in the US for more than 365 days....etc. I call USCIS and his waiver is still pending. Meanwhile, the Consulate still has his passport. We are beyond confused and the lawyer is too. We are beyond tired of getting our hopes up with something happening on his case only to be let down.

[geowrian 22,337]

5 minutes ago, Djsim218 said:

Congratulations to you and your family. This gives me hope and I appreciate you sharing your story. 

 

My husband was found inadmissible based off the findings of his medical exam in Jan 2018. He was told to come back for a new medical exam (Juarez) in one year. We filed the I 601 (march 2018) and were told by our lawyer to not return to Juarez until waiver is approved. 

 

We got a letter from the Consulate last month telling my husband to go back for medical exam. He goes and then a week later gets a letter to send passport to Consulate.

 

A few days later, the Consulate sends a letter saying his visa was denied b/c he was here illegally in the US for more than 365 days....etc. I call USCIS and his waiver is still pending. Meanwhile, the Consulate still has his passport. We are beyond confused and the lawyer is too. We are beyond tired of getting our hopes up with something happening on his case only to be let down.

Presumably there was a drug or alcohol issue, hence the 1 year medical-based ban. This inadmissability then made an I-601A void, requiring the I-601 to now become necessary.

I'm assuming you already knew this, but I was just recapping for the thread (and correct me if any of the above is wrong...I am making assumptions based on the limited info).

 

The new medical being requested was likely a procedural update due to the medical ban, not related to the 10 year ban ban due to unlawful presence. Now he is just waiting for the I-601 to be approved to waive that. Assuming no other issues, he should be on his way to getting the visa and being reunited.

 

Best wishes.

Edited August 26, 2019 by geowrian

[Djsim218 3]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

Presumably there was a drug or alcohol issue, hence the 1 year medical-based ban. This inadmissability then made an I-601A void, requiring the I-601 to now become necessary.

I'm assuming you already knew this, but I was just recapping for the thread (and correct me if any of the above is wrong...I am making assumptions based on the limited info).

 

The new medical being requested was likely a procedural update due to the medical ban, not related to the 10 year ban ban due to unlawful presence. Now he is just waiting for the I-601 to be approved to waive that. Assuming no other issues, he should be on his way to getting the visa and being reunited.

 

Best wishes.

Yes, you are correct. The lawyer was not concerned about the letter. Initially we were hoping that the request for the medical exam was coming from USCIS but it appears the Consulate was acting on their own. Thank you for the kind words.

[pila0308 1]

On 8/26/2019 at 10:19 AM, Djsim218 said:

Yes, you are correct. The lawyer was not concerned about the letter. Initially we were hoping that the request for the medical exam was coming from USCIS but it appears the Consulate was acting on their own. Thank you for the kind words.

May I ask was it drug abuse or alcohol

[Djsim218 3]

4 hours ago, pila0308 said:

May I ask was it drug abuse or alcohol

It was alcohol.