Administrative Procedure after interview in Kabul Embassy

[hellschild31 1]

Hello eveyone I have noticed a trend happening at the US Consulate in Kabul, Afghanistan. I looked up every K1 visa timelines concerning visas received for the last year and a half after the interview at the Kabul Embassy. What I have noticed is this nearly 13 couples have been faced with what's called Administrative Procedure after the interview has been done. This worries me because I been hearing it can weeks up to years before you are given a decision with the administrative procedure process. I would like to know how many people are being faced with this process and what countries besides Afghanistan are being effected. I have made it to the point where the application is approved and now is being sent to the Kabul Embassy. The issue is will it be worth the effort and money to go ahead with paying for all of the fees if there really is no hope that my fiance will have slim odds of receiving a visa any ways. If anyone has received their visas after this Administrative Procedure after the interview at Kabul Embassy please inform of how long it tock and if the recepiant is female or male. Thanks for reading this post and I will appreciate all your input on this subject. 

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

7 minutes ago, hellschild31 said:

Hello eveyone I have noticed a trend happening at the US Consulate in Kabul, Afghanistan. I looked up every K1 visa timelines concerning visas received for the last year and a half after the interview at the Kabul Embassy. What I have noticed is this nearly 13 couples have been faced with what's called Administrative Procedure after the interview has been done. This worries me because I been hearing it can weeks up to years before you are given a decision with the administrative procedure process. I would like to know how many people are being faced with this process and what countries besides Afghanistan are being effected. I have made it to the point where the application is approved and now is being sent to the Kabul Embassy. The issue is will it be worth the effort and money to go ahead with paying for all of the fees if there really is no hope that my fiance will have slim odds of receiving a visa any ways. If anyone has received their visas after this Administrative Procedure after the interview at Kabul Embassy please inform of how long it tock and if the recepiant is female or male. Thanks for reading this post and I will appreciate all your input on this subject. 

 

Okay, so everyone, and everyone from every country goes through some form of AP. It can be 2-3 days, 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, or even year 1-2+ years.

 

It is completely normal, it can not be bypassed or expedited. It is NOT unique to Afghanistan.

 

AP can involve simply the embassy finishing paper work, security checks, final background information, document verification, ect.

 

Some countries have to endure long AP times because the country of the beneficiary has issues maintaining good documentation or records, or is not willing to release information to the US embassy.

 

There is nothing that can be done but be patient and wait. There are no real statistics to say whether or not it will be approved or how long it could take.

Edited May 3, 2019 by Ben&Zian

[Beth & Achraf 328]

AP is the norm for men and  now women coming from MENA countries.   All you can do is wait it out.

[hellschild31 1]

2 hours ago, Ben&Zian said:

 

Okay, so everyone, and everyone from every country goes through some form of AP. It can be 2-3 days, 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, or even year 1-2+ years.

 

It is completely normal, it can not be bypassed or expedited. It is NOT unique to Afghanistan.

 

AP can involve simply the embassy finishing paper work, security checks, final background information, document verification, ect.

 

Some countries have to endure long AP times because the country of the beneficiary has issues maintaining good documentation or records, or is not willing to release information to the US embassy.

 

There is nothing that can be done but be patient and wait. There are no real statistics to say whether or not it will be approved or how long it could take.

Yes but I find it very odd that every K1 visa from the USA is facing this AP process from the Kabul Embassy. I looked at all of them in the last year and half. Perhaps people should question why Kabul Embassy is sitting it's rear on people's visas. They should in writing advise people ahead of time why this is happening and that it is expected. Not leave people in the dark like mushrooms being feed you know what. Many couples may decide different options to be together then be surprised by hidden nonsense later on in the visa process. 

Edited May 3, 2019 by hellschild31

[geowrian 22,337]

Extended background checks are commonplace with residence or travel to certain regions.

There's no way to know beforehand if any particular case will or will not have a quick response to background checks.

[hellschild31 1]

3 hours ago, hellschild31 said:

Hello eveyone I have noticed a trend happening at the US Consulate in Kabul, Afghanistan. I looked up every K1 visa timelines concerning visas received for the last year and a half after the interview at the Kabul Embassy. What I have noticed is this nearly 13 couples have been faced with what's called Administrative Procedure after the interview has been done. This worries me because I been hearing it can weeks up to years before you are given a decision with the administrative procedure process. I would like to know how many people are being faced with this process and what countries besides Afghanistan are being effected. I have made it to the point where the application is approved and now is being sent to the Kabul Embassy. The issue is will it be worth the effort and money to go ahead with paying for all of the fees if there really is no hope that my fiance will have slim odds of receiving a visa any ways. If anyone has received their visas after this Administrative Procedure after the interview at Kabul Embassy please inform of how long it tock and if the recepiant is female or male. Thanks for reading this post and I will appreciate all your input on this subject. 

I am wanting K1 visa applicants to respond to this post. Hopefully I get a response from them. 

[HA&FA 11]

I was put in AP after interview, because I didn't have the joint sponsor's IRS tax return transcript. But I submitted it via email the same day. It took the embassy a few days to open my email and let me know, they have received the email. 

After 3 weeks I received my Visa. So basically about 4 weeks in AP.

And I am a 29 years old male. 

[NeHAZ16 3]

6 hours ago, hellschild31 said:

Hello eveyone I have noticed a trend happening at the US Consulate in Kabul, Afghanistan. I looked up every K1 visa timelines concerning visas received for the last year and a half after the interview at the Kabul Embassy. What I have noticed is this nearly 13 couples have been faced with what's called Administrative Procedure after the interview has been done. This worries me because I been hearing it can weeks up to years before you are given a decision with the administrative procedure process. I would like to know how many people are being faced with this process and what countries besides Afghanistan are being effected. I have made it to the point where the application is approved and now is being sent to the Kabul Embassy. The issue is will it be worth the effort and money to go ahead with paying for all of the fees if there really is no hope that my fiance will have slim odds of receiving a visa any ways. If anyone has received their visas after this Administrative Procedure after the interview at Kabul Embassy please inform of how long it tock and if the recepiant is female or male. Thanks for reading this post and I will appreciate all your input on this subject. 

My fiancé (a male) has been in AP for almost 13 months. We started the process almost two years ago. Almost everyone who has a case with the Kabul embassy is still waiting especially if the person wanting a visa is a male. I remember a month or two ago, one or two people on this website got their visa after 17 months on AP so I’m hoping my case will get approved in a few months. It’s so unfortunate that so many people are on AP but there’s nothing applicants can do except make sure they have  a strong case and do the paperwork right. It seems like your unsure if you want to apply but I would advise you to since  there is really no other way and it is definitely worth it  if you want to be with your fiancé. Also it seems like many cases do get approved as long as there’s nothing suspicious  but it just takes a while so just be ready to wait a 1 1/2- 2 years. Good luck! 

Edited May 3, 2019 by NeHAZ16

[hellschild31 1]

12 minutes ago, NeHAZ16 said:

My fiancé (a male) has been in AP for almost 13 months. We started the process almost two years ago. Almost everyone who has a case with the Kabul embassy is still waiting especially if the person wanting a visa is a male. I remember a month or two ago, one or two people on this website got their visa after 17 months on AP so I’m hoping my case will get approved in a few months. It’s so unfortunate that so many people are on AP but there’s nothing applicants can do except make sure they have  a strong case and do the paperwork right. It seems like your unsure if you want to apply but I would advise you to since  there is really no other way and it is definitely worth it  if you want to be with your fiancé. Also it seems like many cases do get approved as long as there’s nothing suspicious  but it just takes a while so just be ready to wait a 1 1/2- 2 years. Good luck! 

There is always other alternatives to waiting that long. USCIS should advise people of the odds of being placed on AP since it seems like a good number are being placed on it with the Kabul Embassy. 

Edited May 3, 2019 by hellschild31

[SalishSea 17,837]

44 minutes ago, hellschild31 said:

There is always other alternatives to waiting that long. USCIS should advise people of the odds of being placed on AP since it seems like a good number are being placed on it with the Kabul Embassy. 

It has nothing to do with USCIS.  It is the department of state, and it is very common for US consulates in MENA and South Asian countries to do an extended AP which lasts longer than for applicants from VWP countries, for example.  There are many reasons for this, and there are no "odds."  Complaining to USCIS or to the consulate will not speed anything up. 

[SalishSea 17,837]

48 minutes ago, hellschild31 said:

There is always other alternatives to waiting that long. USCIS should advise people of the odds of being placed on AP since it seems like a good number are being placed on it with the Kabul Embassy. 

What alternatives are you referring to?  The USC moving to be with their partner is one.  Getting married and refiling for a CR-1 is an option, but will not solve the reasons for AP.

[hellschild31 1]

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

It has nothing to do with USCIS.  It is the department of state, and it is very common for US consulates in MENA and South Asian countries to do an extended AP which lasts longer than for applicants from VWP countries, for example.  There are many reasons for this, and there are no "odds."  Complaining to USCIS or to the consulate will not speed anything up. 

As the old saying goes the squeaky wheel gets the oil. If nobody says nothing or speaks up nothing surely will happen. I prefer to be the squeaky wheel. 

[SalishSea 17,837]

Just now, hellschild31 said:

As the old saying goes the squeaky wheel gets the oil. If nobody says nothing or speaks up nothing surely will happen. I prefer to be the squeaky wheel. 

That is not the case with US immigration.  If background checks are not completed, no amount of complaining will expedite it.

[hellschild31 1]

Just now, Jorgedig said:

That is not the case with US immigration.  If background checks are not completed, no amount of complaining will expedite it.

No maybe it will not but USCIS should warn people that this can happen on their website and list the countries being effected by AP procedures and which Embassies taking the longest. They do give quotes for how long it can take to process your visa application. Why can they not give a little paragraph on this matter. I think it's their duty to some what inform people. 

[carmel34 3,634]

2 hours ago, hellschild31 said:

Why can they not give a little paragraph on this matter. I think it's their duty to some what inform people. 

Government agencies typically do not have a very good customer service culture, that's the way it is.  It's a big bureaucratic mess.  They post estimated processing times on their websites but those are not always accurate, depending on the country of origin these times can change a lot.  And embassies/consulates usually do not post much information about visa processing times, except for saying things like "do not quit your job or make travel plans or buy plane tickets until you have the visa in hand."  Anything can happen and no visa is guaranteed.  There are lots of potential delays and even denials for various reasons.  I think that's why forums like Visa Journey were formed, to fill this need for information sharing, so that people going through this very long, frustrating, and complicated journey can exchange experiences and help each other to know more about what to expect.  Welcome to the forum, I hope you can find useful information here and lots of support.  Good luck!