Administrative processing but they kept passport

[J Laredo 25]

My husband’s appointment was July 16 and he was put in administrative processing. Officer asked him to copy his 158 Page Court file and send it in with his passport. He was the victim of a corrupt arrest claiming a drug buying charge in 2000.  His family was extorted for money by the district attorney,  but wouldn’t pay and chose to spend the money on lawyers, so he was held in jail for two years.  His police report is clear as he was completely cleared.   When the officer saw my husband’s court file (my husband was shocked they already had paperwork on it anyway) he said that they would need to have an expert review it. He said it would be 10 to 20 working days. I’m getting worried about all the stories about how long administrative process can run. People say months and years with no word and no way to find out anything.  I can’t find any contact number that I would call if we don’t hear anything. The consulate knows nothing, NVC knows less than we do, and there’s no way I can find to call the Department of State.  Obviously a waiver would not be appropriate in this case. There is nothing in the legal file that goes against my husband, and actually totally lays out what happened in his case. No surprises or secrets to work against him. This is an unusual circumstance, and all cases are different. Has anybody had anything similar? Is there a phone number then I can call if it starts to drag out longer? Do I just keep checking the CEAC website? Will they send me something? Was keeping his passport a good sign?

[TNJ17 1,329]

Don’t be surprised that USCIS had access to that. There is nothing USCIS can’t find. They’ll know before you even know. I hope your husband didn’t lie about it in the forms prior to interview. If he did that will most likely end up with misinterpretation which will make him ineligible for a visa to the US. Drug charge is a pretty big deal with USCIS, regardless if it wasn’t his fault or not. The point of the matter is they charged him. It is my understanding that any drug charge will require a waiver and some kind of temporary ban if disclosed of right. Now again I don’t know if your SO other lied or not on the forms, that will basically be the deciding factor on this. And yes, the questions are there on the forms, before interview. You need to submit what was requested ASAP and let it play out. It will be in AP until they reach a decision and there is no way on knowing how long. Every case is different and you can’t compare. Try and find out more information about how your SO filled out those forms and you may have an idea of how this will play out. 

[J Laredo 25]

6 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

Don’t be surprised that USCIS had access to that. There is nothing USCIS can’t find. They’ll know before you even know. I hope your husband didn’t lie about it in the forms prior to interview. If he did that will most likely end up with misinterpretation which will make him ineligible for a visa to the US. Drug charge is a pretty big deal with USCIS, regardless if it wasn’t his fault or not. The point of the matter is they charged him. It is my understanding that any drug charge will require a waiver and some kind of temporary ban if disclosed of right. Now again I don’t know if your SO other lied or not on the forms, that will basically be the deciding factor on this. And yes, the questions are there on the forms, before interview. You need to submit what was requested ASAP and let it play out. It will be in AP until they reach a decision and there is no way on knowing how long. Every case is different and you can’t compare. Try and find out more information about how your SO filled out those forms and you may have an idea of how this will play out. 

We told the truth on everything, because there was nothing to try to lie about as he was innocent. I personally filled out the ds 260 with that and my husband told the interviewing officer how long he was in jail before the officer whipped out the files he had hiding behind the window. He also told the psychologist in the medical exam. The CO took down all the info about the corruption and extorsion, and the fact that the DA went to prison later.  I am under the impression that a drug conviction was an unwaiverable offense, which I found scary. He was absolved and exonerated by the Mexican federal court in 2002. It was 18 years ago and we’re 60 now. Hope they don’t make him (and me) suffer more for the injustice.   y husband felt the CO was professional and fair. He said to the CO “but I told the truth” when they asked us to send in the file copy and passport, and the guy told him that’s exactly why he was giving him the opportunity. Hope we don’t have to do a waiver, there’s another two years of our lives apart since I came back to the US two years ago to work. Thanks for the info. At least I won’t be completely blindsided now. 

[TNJ17 1,329]

Unfortunately this is a long process and it is what it is. It’s a good sign they kept his passport but you won’t know anything until they make a decision. Send everything they asked ASAP so you’re not waiting longer and keep checking ceac. 

[Jha14 3]

Visa Category: F1 (Unmarried daughter of the U.S Citizen)

 

My first interview was last month July 09, 2018 in U.S Embassy Manila after the interview the lady gave me a 221(g) form but they kept my passport. July 12, 2018 I submitted all the additional documents. 

07 August 2018 received an email from the U.S Embassy Manila requesting me to return to U.S Embassy Manila and proceed to window 70. I just want to know if it is a good sign or a bad sign? I’m really nervous right now anyone can give me an advice regarding this issue. They don’t say anything only to return and proceed to window 70 😢

Edited August 10, 2018 by Jha14

[Jha14 3]

[Tuta137 0]

I have the same problem,

I had my interview in us embassy in Sudan, Khartoum since 26th December 2017.

I was put in Administrative processing until now and there is no response.

I dont know what is going on

[Jha14 3]

Tuta 137

Hi there! Have you tried to call the U.S Embassy? It says if it is under AP within 60 days you don’t hear from them that’s the time you need to call them to check on your visa application. 😊

Edited August 10, 2018 by Jha14

[Tuta137 0]

12 hours ago, Jha14 said:

Tuta 137

Hi there! Have you tried to call the U.S Embassy? It says if it is under AP within 60 days you don’t hear from them that’s the time you need to call them to check on your visa application. 😊

I called them but they say they just respond to emails, and i sent them lots of emails unfortunately they didnt respond as well.

[J Laredo 25]

2 hours ago, Tuta137 said:

I called them but they say they just respond to emails, and i sent them lots of emails unfortunately they didnt respond as well.

 I called the US Embassy in Mexico (Juarez) And they told me that they don’t handle it anymore after it’s an administrative processing. They said it’s with the state department. I’ve called a bunch of different numbers and either menus with recordings, or occasionally a real person who transfers me to a menu with recordings. 🙄 I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no way to find out anything by phone while it’s in admin processing except for the CEAC website. Of course it only shows the latest update. Ours hasn’t changed for two weeks. I feel like this may be a bottomless pit, and the most helpless and depressed I have felt during the whole process. 

[Tuta137 0]

My husband and I went through lots of frustrations and depressions during this process as well.

We dont know what to do.

[Jha14 3]

9 hours ago, Tuta137 said:

I called them but they say they just respond to emails, and i sent them lots of emails unfortunately they didnt respond as well.

The only thing you can do right now is to wait, don’t worry it will come out as long as you don’t have problems with your documents. The reason for the delay sometimes they do background check. 

😊 stay positive and pray. 

[Jha14 3]

7 hours ago, J Laredo said:

 I called the US Embassy in Mexico (Juarez) And they told me that they don’t handle it anymore after it’s an administrative processing. They said it’s with the state department. I’ve called a bunch of different numbers and either menus with recordings, or occasionally a real person who transfers me to a menu with recordings. 🙄 I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no way to find out anything by phone while it’s in admin processing except for the CEAC website. Of course it only shows the latest update. Ours hasn’t changed for two weeks. I feel like this may be a bottomless pit, and the most helpless and depressed I have felt during the whole process. 

It will come out don’t worry you just need to be patient 😊 as long as there is no problem with the documents. They processing it.

[Tuta137 0]

On 8/10/2018 at 1:50 AM, J Laredo said:

My husband’s appointment was July 16 and he was put in administrative processing. Officer asked him to copy his 158 Page Court file and send it in with his passport. He was the victim of a corrupt arrest claiming a drug buying charge in 2000.  His family was extorted for money by the district attorney,  but wouldn’t pay and chose to spend the money on lawyers, so he was held in jail for two years.  His police report is clear as he was completely cleared.   When the officer saw my husband’s court file (my husband was shocked they already had paperwork on it anyway) he said that they would need to have an expert review it. He said it would be 10 to 20 working days. I’m getting worried about all the stories about how long administrative process can run. People say months and years with no word and no way to find out anything.  I can’t find any contact number that I would call if we don’t hear anything. The consulate knows nothing, NVC knows less than we do, and there’s no way I can find to call the Department of State.  Obviously a waiver would not be appropriate in this case. There is nothing in the legal file that goes against my husband, and actually totally lays out what happened in his case. No surprises or secrets to work against him. This is an unusual circumstance, and all cases are different. Has anybody had anything similar? Is there a phone number then I can call if it starts to drag out longer? Do I just keep checking the CEAC website? Will they send me something? Was keeping his passport a good sign?

My interview was on December 26 2017, and they kept my passport since that time, until now my case is under Administrative Processing and they dont respond to my emails. It's been more than 8 months my visa is not issued yet, and my passport is still in the embassy. I dont know what is going on exactly. 

 

[J Laredo 25]

2 hours ago, Tuta137 said:

My interview was on December 26 2017, and they kept my passport since that time, until now my case is under Administrative Processing and they dont respond to my emails. It's been more than 8 months my visa is not issued yet, and my passport is still in the embassy. I dont know what is going on exactly. 

 

Wow, sorry you have even more wait than we have. I just had an uncomfortable feeling about it. It has been six weeks now and they told us 10 to 20 working days. I talk to a lawyer  last week. She told me after 60 days has passed that she can call and find out what’s going on. So the middle of September we will do that. She also mentioned I might call my congressman and have them have one of their aides make a phone call too.  There are menu options on the phone line for both of those things.  she said a waiver wouldn’t be appropriate for us, which I assumed since my husband was exonerated and wouldn’t need forgiveness. She said if we get a denial, then she can argue it with them with court paperwork, and if they still deny him then we can sue the government. She said the government doesn’t like that. I intend to pursue it to the end. It will be expensive. First round will be $2000, then more. I’m so mad I’ll take out a loan if I have to!  it’s very frustrating when you can’t even get them to answer an email that they say that they respond to when they really don’t.  They are holding the cards and we are all just waiting in the dark. Not fair.  Please let us know when you hear anything.