AP & AR - Is there a difference?

[Malarie 0]

Hi - please dont kill me or bash me -- i am just curious is there a difference between AP & AR and if so what is it? Is one a longer process than the other?

And - does anyone know if some of the cases that are in one or the other (AR or AP) stay at the embassy and some go to Washington?

Am I totally lost or is there a method to all of this?

My husbands paper that he was given from the interview has the other box checked and it says that the consulate will call him after Washington has completed an adminstrative procedure (not the 221g box).... which when I called the DOS the said it is just the security name clearance.

Just curious --- any information would be great!!

Malarie

[mybackpages 0]

For Casa, this means the visa is approved pending your fiance name clearing the security checks. For some people, it takes only a few days to clear, others have waited months for the name check to be complete. A long time does not mean there is a problem with your case, only that there are many false hits and the checks need longer to get through than others.

I know its hard to wait at this point, but your visa will come. You have made it through all the hurdles. Now the hard part is to wait.

[deemabrouk 0]

as far as I know.. Administrative Processing / administrative Review is the same thing....

AND as far as I know.. 221g is just a "fancy" term for AP

Once your SO "passes" the interview.. your SO's name gets sent to Washington DC for security/ name checks.. once your SO "passes" that.. the embassy then proceeds with finishing the paper work.. then hopefully issues the Visa aka stamps the passport...

[Malarie 0]

For Casa, this means the visa is approved pending your fiance name clearing the security checks. For some people, it takes only a few days to clear, others have waited months for the name check to be complete. A long time does not mean there is a problem with your case, only that there are many false hits and the checks need longer to get through than others.

I know its hard to wait at this point, but your visa will come. You have made it through all the hurdles. Now the hard part is to wait.

Thanks for the response -- so basically you are saying the AR or AP are the same no matter if it is being done at the embassy or in Washington?

Yup you are correct -- this part of waiting is TERRIBLE.

We are so close and now ....................... screeching halt..

Thanks Again!

Malarie

[mybackpages 0]

For Casa, this means the visa is approved pending your fiance name clearing the security checks. For some people, it takes only a few days to clear, others have waited months for the name check to be complete. A long time does not mean there is a problem with your case, only that there are many false hits and the checks need longer to get through than others.

I know its hard to wait at this point, but your visa will come. You have made it through all the hurdles. Now the hard part is to wait.

Thanks for the response -- so basically you are saying the AR or AP are the same no matter if it is being done at the embassy or in Washington?

Yup you are correct -- this part of waiting is TERRIBLE.

We are so close and now ....................... screeching halt..

Thanks Again!

Malarie

Every consulate handles AP/AR differently and may use the terms differently from each other. For Casa AP is just security name checks in the DOS database. There can be three levels of checks and there are so many names in that database. They do not just match names exactly, but also run similar names (eg Mohammed, Muhammed, Mohammad would all get hits)

I'll keep you in my thoughts that it is a quick turn around an dyou have a reunion very soon.

[Malarie 0]

For Casa, this means the visa is approved pending your fiance name clearing the security checks. For some people, it takes only a few days to clear, others have waited months for the name check to be complete. A long time does not mean there is a problem with your case, only that there are many false hits and the checks need longer to get through than others.

I know its hard to wait at this point, but your visa will come. You have made it through all the hurdles. Now the hard part is to wait.

Thanks for the response -- so basically you are saying the AR or AP are the same no matter if it is being done at the embassy or in Washington?

Yup you are correct -- this part of waiting is TERRIBLE.

We are so close and now ....................... screeching halt..

Thanks Again!

Malarie

Every consulate handles AP/AR differently and may use the terms differently from each other. For Casa AP is just security name checks in the DOS database. There can be three levels of checks and there are so many names in that database. They do not just match names exactly, but also run similar names (eg Mohammed, Muhammed, Mohammad would all get hits)

I'll keep you in my thoughts that it is a quick turn around an dyou have a reunion very soon.

Well -- my husbands name is Mohamed ....ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[sereia 0]

we're in the same boat, malarie! but have no fear... look BT's fiance just got his visa today and had his interview around ours. i'm sure we'll be soon too!

[Malarie 0]

we're in the same boat, malarie! but have no fear... look BT's fiance just got his visa today and had his interview around ours. i'm sure we'll be soon too!

INCHA ALLAH

[mybackpages 0]

For Casa, this means the visa is approved pending your fiance name clearing the security checks. For some people, it takes only a few days to clear, others have waited months for the name check to be complete. A long time does not mean there is a problem with your case, only that there are many false hits and the checks need longer to get through than others.

I know its hard to wait at this point, but your visa will come. You have made it through all the hurdles. Now the hard part is to wait.

Thanks for the response -- so basically you are saying the AR or AP are the same no matter if it is being done at the embassy or in Washington?

Yup you are correct -- this part of waiting is TERRIBLE.

We are so close and now ....................... screeching halt..

Thanks Again!

Malarie

Every consulate handles AP/AR differently and may use the terms differently from each other. For Casa AP is just security name checks in the DOS database. There can be three levels of checks and there are so many names in that database. They do not just match names exactly, but also run similar names (eg Mohammed, Muhammed, Mohammad would all get hits)

I'll keep you in my thoughts that it is a quick turn around an dyou have a reunion very soon.

Well -- my husbands name is Mohamed ....ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

oops! Well...it's not just the first name, but the whole name that matters. Give it time.

[sereia 0]

its awfully bitter sweet seeing people who interviewed after you get visas first! now i am only beginning to see what dip sticks is going through.!

[Malarie 0]

we're in the same boat, malarie! but have no fear... look BT's fiance just got his visa today and had his interview around ours. i'm sure we'll be soon too!

I am keeping positive -- really I am ... I think I will start to call next Monday (if I can wait that long LOLLLLLLL)

I hope everyone gets out of AP/AR quickly!!!

Have a Great Day!

Malarie

[sereia 0]

i called just now. nothing i didn't know already. they told me the interview went well and that things were moving along as they should. whatever that means! lol

[Yodrak 7]

deemabrouk,

Not necessarily. Actually, "221g" is a reference to Section 221(g) of the INA. Under INA 221(g) a visa may be refused if it appears to the consular officer, from statements in the visa application, or in the papers submitted with the application, that the applicant is not eligible to receive a visa, or the application fails to comply with the provisions of the INA or the regulations implementing the INA. 221(g) covers a many, many things. If an applicant has been refused under 221(g), the person is often able to overcome the refusal by presenting additional documentation.

In many cases a 221(g) refusal is not a refusal at all, it is what we would call an RFE on the USCIS side of the house - a request for missing documentation required to make the visa application complete, and thus approvable. My wife got a 221(g) refusal because the panel physician had failed to answer 2 questions on one of the medical report forms, and because she didn't have a certified copy of her divorce certificate. She went back the the physician to have him complete the medical form and had a photocopy of her divorce certificate certified by the local registrars office, and after re-submitting those two documents her visa application was approved.

Yodrak

..... as far as I know.. 221g is just a "fancy" term for AP

.....

[Malarie 0]

deemabrouk,

Not necessarily. Actually, "221g" is a reference to Section 221(g) of the INA. Under INA 221(g) a visa may be refused if it appears to the consular officer, from statements in the visa application, or in the papers submitted with the application, that the applicant is not eligible to receive a visa, or the application fails to comply with the provisions of the INA or the regulations implementing the INA. 221(g) covers a many, many things. If an applicant has been refused under 221(g), the person is often able to overcome the refusal by presenting additional documentation.

In many cases a 221(g) refusal is not a refusal at all, it is what we would call an RFE on the USCIS side of the house - a request for missing documentation required to make the visa application complete, and thus approvable. My wife got a 221(g) refusal because the panel physician had failed to answer 2 questions on one of the medical report forms, and because she didn't have a certified copy of her divorce certificate. She went back the the physician to have him complete the medical form and had a photocopy of her divorce certificate certified by the local registrars office, and after re-submitting those two documents her visa application was approved.

Yodrak

..... as far as I know.. 221g is just a "fancy" term for AP

.....

So....what is your thought as to why the 221G was NOT marked on my husbands form and the OTHER box was marked.... he had all of his required paperwork and it all checked out good... and he did "pass" his interview. This whole thing is aggravating!!

malarie

[MaryandMian 1]

So....what is your thought as to why the 221G was NOT marked on my husbands form and the OTHER box was marked.... he had all of his required paperwork and it all checked out good... and he did "pass" his interview. This whole thing is aggravating!!

malarie

Malarie it looks like your husband is in a name check and his file will be cabled to Washington. Once they are completed they will cable the information back to Morocco. Some officers mark the 221(g), some do not and when the visa is late in being returned the person finds out that they are in AP. Just try and relax and hopefully his checks will come back soon and there is no rhyme or reason as to how long it will take since they run more than one check and all clearances must come back completely cleared before they can ajudicate the visa.