What does "Administrative Processing" mean when case is already at the Consulate (GUZ, K1, pre-P3)

[Hemutian 68]

Currently waiting for P3.

Our case status according to the NVC changed to "Ready" on July 4, 2019, which we interpreted to mean it had arrived at the US Consulate in Guangzhou (GUZ).

In a response to an inquiry last week, GUZ Consulate confirmed that they did in fact have our case in possession.

It's been almost two weeks and still no P3, so went back to the NVC check case status website today, and was surprised to see that status has changed from "Ready" to "Administrative Processing".

Did an exhaustive search on VJ to try to figure out what "Administrative Processing" means, but seems that most of the information on AP out there is not relevant to us. Most of the discussion of AP I see on VJ is referring either to cases which either already completed interview (not us) or are still at the NVC (also not us, since our case already left NVC weeks ago and has been at GUZ for almost two weeks).

I do see a few old posts on VJ implying that AP at the NVC is nothing to worry about, but AP at the Consulate is "an entirely different beast" and therefore "something to worry about" (I didn't reply to those posts because they're several years old). 

 

Has anyone else recently encountered something similar to what we're seeing? Any idea what it means?

 

Attached are two screenshots from the NVC case status page, the first showing the "Ready" status from two weeks ago, and the second showing the "Administrative Processing" status from today

 

Thank you

Edited July 16, 2019 by Hemutian
clarification

[samnrong 52]

Nothing to worry about. Status changes to AP anytime someone goes into the account to update. The status will jump in and out of AP several times throughout the rest of the process.

 

Only time to worry is if you get denied at the interview and your case is sent to AP because they need further info. 

 

Your current AP is likely because they’re getting ready to send you the P3.

[Hemutian 68]

7 minutes ago, samnrong said:

Nothing to worry about. Status changes to AP anytime someone goes into the account to update. The status will jump in and out of AP several times throughout the rest of the process.

 

Only time to worry is if you get denied at the interview and your case is sent to AP because they need further info. 

 

Your current AP is likely because they’re getting ready to send you the P3.

Thanks!

[Hemutian 68]

Update from OP

 

P3 arrived two days after status changed to "Administrative Processing".

So for those who see this in the future, expect to get your P3 soon after you see this status update.

[flfreddy 92]

Same here.. mine stayed at AP all the way and now P4 just arrived yesterday.