Refused after Administrative Processing MEGATHREAD

[fatututu1985@yaho 2]

Just now, fatututu1985@yaho said:

Congratulations! I am from Liberia I have been on Admisdritive processing from February 2019 to January 2021 hope I get issue this year!😢

My case was updated yesterday but still showing refused!

[wd250g 3]

So it has been more than three weeks now, and now I can only wait for the next update of the case.
My case stage:

Case Last Updated:

10-Dec-2020

Case Last Updated:

30-Dec-2020

 

Edited January 8, 2021 by wd250g

[HKS 169]

Anyone get DS-5535 lately?

[RoseMalaysia 10]

Just checked my visa status and it says:

Refused

Case Created:	07-Jul-2020
Case Last Updated:	28-Jan-2021

 

Is this ok? does this mean that they are waiting for my reply and still processing my visa application?

[wd250g 3]

On 1/29/2021 at 3:08 AM, RoseMalaysia said:

Just checked my visa status and it says:

Refused

Case Created:	07-Jul-2020
Case Last Updated:	28-Jan-2021

 

Is this ok? does this mean that they are waiting for my reply and still processing my visa application?

Your current situation is normal. It took me 55 days from Refused to AP after the replacement.

[RoseMalaysia 10]

33 minutes ago, wd250g said:

Your current situation is normal. It took me 55 days from Refused to AP after the replacement.

Thanks, actually they got back to me and scheduled a 2nd interview appointment

 

wish me luck 

Edited February 4, 2021 by RoseMalaysia

[fatututu1985@yaho 2]

On 2/4/2021 at 8:30 AM, RoseMalaysia said:

Thanks, actually they got back to me and scheduled a 2nd interview appointment

 

wish me luck 

Wish u good luck,

[D2345 2]

On May 6, we had our CR1 visa interview at the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, and they happily approved my wife's visa in 5 or 10 minutes. They also kept her passport and gave her an approval letter. Great.

 

Then, on May 7, we got a cryptic email from JakIV (same place) saying her application requires additional administrative processing and it's "suspended" until they receive more information. At first, we thought the email was a glitch because like I said, they already approved her visa.

 

We responded to their email and asked if it was a mistake, and we attached a photo of her visa approval letter they gave us the day before. Today they replied with the exact same email again, saying it needs additional administrative processing. We also noticed her visa status on CEAC says Refused.

 

The problem is, all of the questions in their AP email are questions we already answered in her original visa application. They didn't tell us about any problem with her application.

 

They're asking her full name, DOB, visa type, past travel history, names of relatives or children, past addresses, emails, phone numbers, and social media handles.

 

We already answered all of these questions in the original application, so today we replied to them with the same exact answers. What happens next?

 

They didn't even explain to us what information or documents are missing. Everything was accurate the first time. Why are they being so difficult and/or incompetent?

[silverhawk 34]

22 minutes ago, D2345 said:

On May 6, we had our CR1 visa interview at the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, and they happily approved my wife's visa in 5 or 10 minutes. They also kept her passport and gave her an approval letter. Great.

 

Then, on May 7, we got a cryptic email from JakIV (same place) saying her application requires additional administrative processing and it's "suspended" until they receive more information. At first, we thought the email was a glitch because like I said, they already approved her visa.

 

We responded to their email and asked if it was a mistake, and we attached a photo of her visa approval letter they gave us the day before. Today they replied with the exact same email again, saying it needs additional administrative processing. We also noticed her visa status on CEAC says Refused.

 

The problem is, all of the questions in their AP email are questions we already answered in her original visa application. They didn't tell us about any problem with her application.

 

They're asking her full name, DOB, visa type, past travel history, names of relatives or children, past addresses, emails, phone numbers, and social media handles.

 

We already answered all of these questions in the original application, so today we replied to them with the same exact answers. What happens next?

 

They didn't even explain to us what information or documents are missing. Everything was accurate the first time. Why are they being so difficult and/or incompetent?

there could be many reasons that they are asking information once again and one of the most likely reason could be that they lost your file or evidences so asking all stuff once again. but i'm not sure.

[Chancy 6,241]

23 hours ago, D2345 said:

The problem is, all of the questions in their AP email are questions we already answered in her original visa application. They didn't tell us about any problem with her application.

 

They're asking her full name, DOB, visa type, past travel history, names of relatives or children, past addresses, emails, phone numbers, and social media handles.

 

Unfortunately, regardless of any verbal approval or approval letter from the consul officer, the only true indication of visa approval is when the CEAC status turns "Issued".  It is not unheard of for the embassy/consulate to ask for more information even after an apparently smooth interview.  From the requested information you listed above, it seems like your wife is getting the DS-5535 treatment, even without the actual DS-5535 form.  You'll have to wait for them to finish whatever background checks they need to do before they issue your wife's visa.

 

[D2345 2]

How long can they legally hold onto her passport without giving us a specific reason?

 

We already gave them all of the info they requested.

[SalishSea 17,803]

10 hours ago, D2345 said:

How long can they legally hold onto her passport without giving us a specific reason?

 

We already gave them all of the info they requested.

"Legally"?  You can ask for your passport back if you need it, and they will give it back.  They are not required to give you a reason.

[silverhawk 34]

5 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

"Legally"?  You can ask for your passport back if you need it, and they will give it back.  They are not required to give you a reason.

yes, agree. 🙂

[Amerussian 19]

On 5/12/2021 at 1:11 PM, D2345 said:

How long can they legally hold onto her passport without giving us a specific reason?

 

We already gave them all of the info they requested.

Those questions they asked you are from form DS5535 (extreme vetting).  They can give you back the passport, but they are not required to explain why they want more info or why you got picked for background checks.  No one really knows what their exact criteria is.  

 

It's good that you answered them promptly, hopefully you won't be in AP for too long.  

Edited May 15, 2021 by Amerussian

[Amerussian 19]

Just wanted to share our AP experience.  

 

My husband (CR1) is a Russian citizen who was interviewed March 2 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.  Same day he was given the DS5535 form.  He submitted it next day.  

 

We were really anxious about getting this form because in some cases people can be stuck in AP for a really long time...fortunately we cleared the checks and visa was issued on March 26, three and a half weeks later.  

 

While getting delayed yet again was annoying (started our process in 2019), I'm thankful the AP wasn't as bad as it could have been.