O1 visa journey

[Crazy Cat 42,028]

2 minutes ago, Ssrpk said:

The DOS states, “when” AP is required, not that it is required ALL the time. Please provide some references. Thank you

As I stated, it can be hours, days, weeks, months, or years......depending on the individual circumstances of the case and country.

[Ssrpk 0]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

It used to be manay years ago you would leave the Consulate with your Passport and a Visa in it, not sure how long ago things changed, 10 years? maybe longer.

Got it. Yeah I haven’t even heard of anyone leaving the consulate with their passports and visa the same day. 

 

Btw any of you have any idea regarding DS-5535? 

[Crazy Cat 42,028]

This comes from an official US embassy web site:

"What is Administrative Processing?
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply....."

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

1 hour ago, fs2439 said:

Anyway, if you don't recognize racism in America, I recommend any history book, tv show, radio show, anything really  

Of course there are racists in America. There are racists in Pakistan too. Sad to say there are racists everywhere. This doesn’t make an entire country racist. 

 

There are also many countries which are predominantly Muslim, black, non-white, whatever, which have perfectly straightforward processing for visas because they don’t have the security issues and lack of reliable documents that Pakistan has. I come from one of these countries, so I know. If your claim about institutional racism was true, then the vast majority of immigrants/visa applicants would be undergoing exactly the same kind of protracted problems as many Pakistanis do. A little bit of logic is nice occasionally. 

 

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by SusieQQQ

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

8 minutes ago, Boiler said:

It used to be many years ago you could leave the Consulate with your Passport and a Visa in it, not sure how long ago things changed, 10 years? maybe longer.

I got my first US B visa in 1990, I honestly don’t remember if I left the consulate with it or had to go back. Of course it was a wet ink stamp in those days so easier to do immediately. Certainly I can recall having to go back and get it/or get it couriered long before 10 years ago.

[Boiler 45,856]

6 minutes ago, Ssrpk said:

 

Btw any of you have any idea regarding DS-5535? 

 

Basically it is a form that collects all the additional data that may have been asked for into one place.

[Ssrpk 0]

And of-course there are documentation problems in every country.  So please, let’s not make this thread about Pakistan’s shortcomings  as we all have it, and it’s  clearly well beyond the scope of this discussion. 

[Ssrpk 0]

44 minutes ago, Boiler said:

 

Basically it is a form that collects all the additional data that may have been asked for into one place.

Should I be prepared to take that form with me at the time of interview or provide it only if asked for it?

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

12 minutes ago, Ssrpk said:

And of-course there are documentation problems in every country.  So please, let’s not make this thread about Pakistan’s shortcomings  as we all have it, and it’s  clearly well beyond the scope of this discussion. 

Sorry but Pakistan is more than most, read the reciprocity tables. I have extracted Pakistan for you. I do believe it is important to highlight that it is a documentation issue and not a racism issue. Please feel free to compare the “unavailable” indicators below to whatever countries you wish and still see if you think the problems are similar to everywhere.  Most places at least have reliable police records available. 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Pakistan.html

 

Police Certificates

Unavailable

Comments:  Pakistan does not have a nationwide system to track criminal activities.  Police Character Certificates are available for a fee from District Coordinating Offices.  However, they are not an accurate reflection of an individual's criminal record.  An applicant who has committed a crime in one district may be able to obtain a clean Character Certificate from that district or another.  Given the inaccuracy of these certificates, they are not required for consular processing.

 

Prison Records

Unavailable: Prison records are unavailable.

 

There are also security issues. Pakistan is also on the list of 26, TAL alerts etc also matter. 

 

Separately, I thought many of of the DS5535 questions have now been incorporated into the general visa forms?

 

[Ssrpk 0]

1 minute ago, SusieQQQ said:

Sorry but Pakistan is more than most, read the reciprocity tables. I have extracted Pakistan for you. I do believe it is important to highlight that it is a documentation issue and not a racism issue. Please feel free to compare the “unavailable” indicators below to whatever countries you wish and still see if you think the problems are similar to everywhere.  Most places at least have reliable police records available. 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Pakistan.html

 

Police Certificates

Unavailable

Comments:  Pakistan does not have a nationwide system to track criminal activities.  Police Character Certificates are available for a fee from District Coordinating Offices.  However, they are not an accurate reflection of an individual's criminal record.  An applicant who has committed a crime in one district may be able to obtain a clean Character Certificate from that district or another.  Given the inaccuracy of these certificates, they are not required for consular processing.

 

Prison Records

Unavailable: Prison records are unavailable.

 

There are also security issues. Pakistan is also on the list of 26, TAL alerts etc also matter. 

 

Separately, I thought many of of the DS5535 questions have now been incorporated into the general visa forms?

 

Acknowledged!

 

Exaclty, I looked at the DS 5535 form and realized I have already provided most if not all that information on the DS 160 form.