Egypt AP list....

[mybackpages 0]

I wonder if the mods could perhaps make a new thread with the posts that aren't regarding the list that I update? This thing is getting huge.

PM them doodle..ask them to split the thread AP list and AP discussion

[Aymerlu 3]

I wonder if the mods could perhaps make a new thread with the posts that aren't regarding the list that I update? This thing is getting huge.

PM them doodle..ask them to split the thread AP list and AP discussion

I agree! I can't keep up with anything now

[anitacastillo 0]

I think that the visa fees should vary by consulate. (do they already? ) Just jack those up to whatever level necessary to get things done more efficiently. One of the reasons stated for sending petitions back in Casablanca so often is lack of funding to do proper "investigation". If that's true, I think people would be willing to shell out a bit more when paying the visa fee at the interview if that meant that fewer petitions would be sent back.

It's $100 worldwide, as far as I know. One would wonder, though, if it would be possible to change it, and if tying it to country of origin might not be ethically tricky. The other worry is where is the delay? The department of state? USCIS? FBI? What does AP/AR specifically entail?

I think for many of us the delay is the name check - mostly handled by the FBI, I think I read. But the DOS line refers to them as "agencies" who are clearing the name.

There is a huge list of criminal names, mostly men, worldwide and if your SO has a same/similar name, it seems to take forever to clear.

Talking about different consulates, don't get me started about Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Waited 18 months for an interview. Now 6+ mths of name clearance.

I was required to be at his interview. The questioned us and told us they do not doubt our relationship (which if they did the AP/AR process would be different and/or longer) but needed to clear his name. Ugh!!!

I'm making holiday plans without mi amor and I'm sad.

Take Care Everyone.....

[mybackpages 0]

I think that the visa fees should vary by consulate. (do they already? ) Just jack those up to whatever level necessary to get things done more efficiently. One of the reasons stated for sending petitions back in Casablanca so often is lack of funding to do proper "investigation". If that's true, I think people would be willing to shell out a bit more when paying the visa fee at the interview if that meant that fewer petitions would be sent back.

It's $100 worldwide, as far as I know. One would wonder, though, if it would be possible to change it, and if tying it to country of origin might not be ethically tricky. The other worry is where is the delay? The department of state? USCIS? FBI? What does AP/AR specifically entail?

I think for many of us the delay is the name check - mostly handled by the FBI, I think I read. But the DOS line refers to them as "agencies" who are clearing the name.

There is a huge list of criminal names, mostly men, worldwide and if your SO has a same/similar name, it seems to take forever to clear.

Talking about different consulates, don't get me started about Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Waited 18 months for an interview. Now 6+ mths of name clearance.

I was required to be at his interview. The questioned us and told us they do not doubt our relationship (which if they did the AP/AR process would be different and/or longer) but needed to clear his name. Ugh!!!

I'm making holiday plans without mi amor and I'm sad.

Take Care Everyone.....

Not to mention the DOS is not connected to the FBI. There hasbeen somereform put inplace to improve communication bettwne agencies and departments since 2001 but bureaucratic old habits (and turf wars) are hard to break.

Anita- I am soooo glad you stopped by and posted. It's important to remember this is a situation manyof us go through and some have it worse than others. I was shocked the first time I heard the DR needed 18 months just to schedule an interview. how INSANE is that!!!

Wishing you a speedy reunion!

[doodlebug 3]

It's not the name checks in terms of the Cairo delay. Those are done for a few of us and we're still waiting. It's Cairo and whatever they have going on for administrative processing. I think once the name checks are done they look to see what else needs to be done and if the case is flagged for an investigation in Cairo then it sits in a pile and waits for it's turn. I'm sure it's a big pile and per my congressman they're very understaffed. I just don't know why they don't charge more if they're understaffed? I'd like to know where the embassies get their funding from for their payroll. Is it from USCIS? If so shouldn't the new rate hikes help with understaffing problems?

I did ask the mods to split this off beginning with the oprah discussion. Hopefully it's not that difficult to do.

[mybackpages 0]

It's not the name checks in terms of the Cairo delay. Those are done for a few of us and we're still waiting. It's Cairo and whatever they have going on for administrative processing. I think once the name checks are done they look to see what else needs to be done and if the case is flagged for an investigation in Cairo then it sits in a pile and waits for it's turn. I'm sure it's a big pile and per my congressman they're very understaffed. I just don't know why they don't charge more if they're understaffed? I'd like to know where the embassies get their funding from for their payroll. Is it from USCIS? If so shouldn't the new rate hikes help with understaffing problems?

I did ask the mods to split this off beginning with the oprah discussion. Hopefully it's not that difficult to do.

USCIS is part of the Departmentof Homeland Security and the consulate/embassy is part of the Department of State. State provides funding and regulations for operation. MAYBE USCIS flags some funds to this part of the process, but I doubt it.

[angeljan 0]

Ok guys...this thread is for those on AP....thats a tough process in MENA...we all know this...where are we in the process...any new visas issued recently?

Doodlebug what was the last you heard?

Cheryl/Medo??

Cairobound??

Sam and Becky????

Anyone?????

Sorry! Take Care and good luck

[CairoBound 0]

Well let's see. The last email my husband received from the Embassy was approximately 2 weeks ago and it's the same answer "Still in AP and he'll be contacted once it's done". The embassy doesn't respond to my emails any longer. Guess I made them mad some how. I wrote Oprah and received an email back from her folks indicating that they received thousands of emails a day and may not hear anything soon. Wrote the senator and they put an inquiry into the Embassy and they received the same information as we receive in our emails. Wrote Condeleeza Rice and haven't heard anything back from her.

So I've got a couple of questions that maybe someone will know the answers to. Since we originally filed our papers in April of 2006, isn't the medical, etc. only good for so long? I've heard that the I30 and I129F don't expire since they are "in the works". But the finger prints from the police station, medical, etc - are they the same and don't expire as long as they are in process?

It's coming up on ONE YEAR now that we've been on AP. I just don't get it. I thought for sure the embassy would have some kind of a heart and approve just prior to one year, but I guess I'm wrong. I've heard the longest from Egypt that's been on AP is 1 year and 3 months. Any bets that ours will go longer?

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Well let's see. The last email my husband received from the Embassy was approximately 2 weeks ago and it's the same answer "Still in AP and he'll be contacted once it's done". The embassy doesn't respond to my emails any longer. Guess I made them mad some how. I wrote Oprah and received an email back from her folks indicating that they received thousands of emails a day and may not hear anything soon. Wrote the senator and they put an inquiry into the Embassy and they received the same information as we receive in our emails. Wrote Condeleeza Rice and haven't heard anything back from her.

So I've got a couple of questions that maybe someone will know the answers to. Since we originally filed our papers in April of 2006, isn't the medical, etc. only good for so long? I've heard that the I30 and I129F don't expire since they are "in the works". But the finger prints from the police station, medical, etc - are they the same and don't expire as long as they are in process?

It's coming up on ONE YEAR now that we've been on AP. I just don't get it. I thought for sure the embassy would have some kind of a heart and approve just prior to one year, but I guess I'm wrong. I've heard the longest from Egypt that's been on AP is 1 year and 3 months. Any bets that ours will go longer?

First i'm sorry for your long long A/P....before they issued Wael's visa the Embassy sent him RFE for a new police record...I guess because the old one had expired....Really have no idea the time limits on everything and wouldn't know where to search to find out, but i'm sure when they are just about ready to issue his visa they will request from him any outdated documents that need to be replaced.

Wishing you and Hassan will be reunited very soon...take care

Jeanne and Wael

[JODO 2]

I came across this article today and I know some of us have commented on the number of DV candidates always on the Cairo interview list. So I think if these numbers are accurate, then it could possibly help explain some of the long wait times because of the sheer number of DV applicants to be processed.

http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/...ew_exodus/2609/

Excerpt from article:

No less attempts are made at legal immigration. The proof is the number of Egyptians who win at the US Diversity Visa Lottery. In 2006, 6,439 Egyptians got registered for the DV program, constituting the second largest number of winners from around the world.