Administrative Processing CR1Visa

[Ali H 7]

My wife had her immigrant visa interview was on 12/3/2017 at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. The case has been under administrative processing for almost 8 months now. According to my wife, the interview went well. The consular officer (CO) did not ask many questions and the interview lasted only 5 to 10 minutes. At the end of the interview the CO kept my wife's passport and gave her a yellow card on which it was handwritten to submit additional information. The embassy requested to submit names and dates of birth of all my wife's siblings, my wife's work history and social media information (email, Facebook) for the past five years, and my wife's residence and travel history in the past 15 years. On 12/4/2017,  we submitted all this information via form DS-5535 that the CO provided at the end of the interview. The case was then placed under administrative processing. The embassy confirmed they have received the requested information. Since passing of the 60 day window as mentioned on Embassy website, we have contacted the Embassy almost every month. We even had my state senator's office put an inquiry on the case. The response to my emails and to the Senator's office has been that the case is undergoing administrative processing and that it cannot be waived or expedited due to matters of national security. They further state that Embassy will contact the applicant once the administrative processing is complete and the case is ready to move forward.

 

The embassy has responded to our emails almost in the same day but with the same response as mentioned. This whole waiting time has become very frustrating at time goes on. I am not sure what is taking so long, given that both my wife and I have clean records. We are madly in love, and the physical separation causing us quite a lot emotional and financial stress.

 

I am posting our experience here for two reasons. 1) Are there others who have gone through the administrative processing and can share their experiences? 2) Is it worth it to hire an immigration attorney at this stage of the process? What could an attorney do to help given that a case has made it this far and is under administrative processing?

 

Thanks,

Ali

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

Do not an attorney.  The administrative process can not be waived or shortened....and there no time limit........there is nothing you can do...sorry.

Edited July 15, 2018 by missileman

[Boiler 45,541]

1 There are hundreds of posts on here by people in AP

 

2. Nothing a Lawyer can do.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[Ali H 7]

Thank you Boiler and Missileman for your comments. I noticed an update on my wife's case this morning. The update was not due to any inquiry by wife or myself. I am hoping this is a good sign and that the case is moving forward.

[Z335 0]

Hello there, my wife is going through the same exact process. She has been in admin processing since January 2018. She had one update by embassy other then just my state senator has reached out every month and same exact responses. Have you had any updates? 

[Ali H 7]

Hello Z335. My wife's case is still in AP. Offices of both my senator and congressman have reached out to the embassy, and they have gotten the same response as I have been.

[Ahmed&Freda 628]

On 7/15/2018 at 1:29 PM, Ali H said:

My wife had her immigrant visa interview was on 12/3/2017 at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. The case has been under administrative processing for almost 8 months now. According to my wife, the interview went well. The consular officer (CO) did not ask many questions and the interview lasted only 5 to 10 minutes. At the end of the interview the CO kept my wife's passport and gave her a yellow card on which it was handwritten to submit additional information. The embassy requested to submit names and dates of birth of all my wife's siblings, my wife's work history and social media information (email, Facebook) for the past five years, and my wife's residence and travel history in the past 15 years. On 12/4/2017,  we submitted all this information via form DS-5535 that the CO provided at the end of the interview. The case was then placed under administrative processing. The embassy confirmed they have received the requested information. Since passing of the 60 day window as mentioned on Embassy website, we have contacted the Embassy almost every month. We even had my state senator's office put an inquiry on the case. The response to my emails and to the Senator's office has been that the case is undergoing administrative processing and that it cannot be waived or expedited due to matters of national security. They further state that Embassy will contact the applicant once the administrative processing is complete and the case is ready to move forward.

 

The embassy has responded to our emails almost in the same day but with the same response as mentioned. This whole waiting time has become very frustrating at time goes on. I am not sure what is taking so long, given that both my wife and I have clean records. We are madly in love, and the physical separation causing us quite a lot emotional and financial stress.

 

I am posting our experience here for two reasons. 1) Are there others who have gone through the administrative processing and can share their experiences? 2) Is it worth it to hire an immigration attorney at this stage of the process? What could an attorney do to help given that a case has made it this far and is under administrative processing?

 

Thanks,

Ali

 

Here is a group of others in your same situation.   

 

Attorney can only help you if you wanted to pursue a writ of mandumus which I would not advise now but perhaps in a few more months it could be an option.   It forces the embassy to make a decision but if they are not complete the background checks it could result in a denial.  Best bet is just to be patient you've come so far already.

 

 

 

 

 

[Z335 0]

Ali, yes exact same process my wife went though. They did not ask her for additional documentation, they retained her passport and put her in administrative processing. Unless I contact the embassy they haven’t updated her case. It’s extremely stressful and emotional distress on the couples. Please let me know how everything is working out for you. 

[Ali H 7]

My wife's case is still in AP, however, it was updated today. This update may not mean anything like the previous updates, but it is giving me some hope.

[AP2018 2]

17 hours ago, Ali H said:

My wife's case is still in AP, however, it was updated today. This update may not mean anything like the previous updates, but it is giving me some hope.

Please update your case if your gets her visa. I would like AP time line for kabul embassy too.

Thank you

[Z335 0]

Ali, that’s good news too hear. My wife’s case has not even been updated since November. I’m not sure why the process is taking so long. 

[Ali H 7]

Based on my conversation with my state senator's office, the reason it takes so long is because other federal agencies are involved. The overseas Consulate cannot proceed until the State Department turns the case back over to their office - the State Department cannot send the case back to the Consulate until all of the agencies conducting their investigations complete their part of the process.

[Ali H 7]

After almost 17 months being in AP, the embassy finally emailed me that the administrative processing for my wife's visa is "almost done". They requested her get a medical exam immediately and submit her passport. We have requested an appointment for a medical exam already and waiting on response from the American Medical Clinic in Kabul. In regards with the passport, the embassy kept had kept her passport after the interview in December 2017. I am not sure why they requested the passport. I hope they haven't lost her passport.

[Z335 0]

Hello Ali, I’m so happy for you!! I got that same email and same boat as you the embassy has my wife’s passport and has requested the medical exam. I scheduled an appt for her but it’s very late in May! Please let me know when you’re appt is! I have a copy of my wife’s passport which they said it should work as well.