Stuck in "Application Received" just sharing our situation to help pass the time.

[Patience_101 3]

Hello everyone,  my fiancee and I are currently "living" in India, waiting for her passport to be returned with a K1 visa.  We've read every thread on this forum about  "being stuck in Application Received", so we're not looking for answers, lol.  We're just trying to cope with the waiting, and I figured since we've been reading everyone else's situations, we should post ours.

 

I traveled to India July 25 to accompany my fiancee at her interview on July 30th in Mumbai.  Her interview went very smoothly.  The officer was nice, didn't seem to worry about any of the information in our case and rather quickly approved the visa.  She received the white approval paper, and we left the consulate with nothing but joy......then the weeks started piling up.

 

July 30th - Day of the interview, case changed to Application Received (non-immigrant).

Aug 12th - case was "touched", but no status change.

Sept 7th - today, still no change. (1 month +1 week total time)

 

We've both gone through all the cycles of depression and hope (jokingly).  We've had going away parties with her family, done some sightseeing......and now we are just waiting.  This past labor day weekend was supposed to be the first weekend in the US.  My family was planning to visit as a welcome home gathering, so I guess it's just hitting us extra hard right now that we are one of the special few experiencing the longer wait times.

 

Thankfully we've made no non-fundable plans, and I can work remotely.  Worse case I have to leave her behind because my visa expires. (trying to extend my visa, but yet another government process that isn't working out smoothly, lol)

 

Anyhow, thanks for listening, I hope everyone has a great week!

[joe.b 33]

So the K1 visa was approved on July 30 at the Mumbai consulate, but the consulate still hasn't returned the passport with the visa in it? That seems strange. My then-fiance (now husband) was approved for his K1 visa in Mumbai on July 9, and he received his passport with the visa in it 4 days later. Have you called the consulate to ask what's going on?

[Patience_101 3]

5 hours ago, joe.b said:

So the K1 visa was approved on July 30 at the Mumbai consulate, but the consulate still hasn't returned the passport with the visa in it? That seems strange. My then-fiance (now husband) was approved for his K1 visa in Mumbai on July 9, and he received his passport with the visa in it 4 days later. Have you called the consulate to ask what's going on?

Correct, they still have her passport.  We've called multiple times and emailed multiple times over the weeks.  They continue to give the same response:

 

"Thank you for your email. In response to your query, please note that your case is currently under review by a Consular officer. You will receive a notification via email/ SMS when the passport is ready for pick up or if further information is required."
 

They first told us that message August 9th, and they've continued to tell us to refer to that original message each and every time we've called after.  Literally, "We've sent you a previous message your case in under review."

 

We have speculated so much over the weeks.  Maybe we did something wrong, maybe they lost our case, maybe we've called too many times and they refuse to help, etc.   It's been a mental rollercoaster.  We've just surrendered, stopped asking questions and try to remain grateful for what we do have.

[joe.b 33]

Well, I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I hope you get the visa soon. 

[Patience_101 3]

Update:

 

My fiancée called the consulate insisting they provide an update as it's been almost 2 months in which they've held her passport.  They stated they would escalate the issue.  That call was mid-afternoon Sept 21 (today), and our status changed to "Administrative Processing" this evening!

 

We are happy to see the update......but we are not fully celebrating yet until we actually see the paperwork in our hands!

[Patience_101 3]

Sept 22 - status has updated to "Issued"!  This is becoming surreal.  Feels like we've waited forever!

 

Now just waiting on the call/text for pickup :-)

[Seraph2042 37]

On 9/22/2021 at 5:03 PM, Patience_101 said:

Sept 22 - status has updated to "Issued"!  This is becoming surreal.  Feels like we've waited forever!

 

Now just waiting on the call/text for pickup :-)

Congratulations and good luck on your new adventure!!

[Patience_101 3]

Final update to give everyone the full time line from interview to passport pickup:

 

July 30th - Day of the interview, case changed to Application Received (non-immigrant).

Aug 12th - case was "touched", but no status change.

Sept 21th - Mid-day, we called the embassy to complain that our passport has been held for almost 2 months with no movement.  They agreed our case would be escalated.  That evening we saw our case move to Administrative Processing.

Sept 22nd - Status changed to Issued.

Sept 23rd - Passport tracking showed it was picked up from Mumbai consulate.

Sept 24th - Email notification and text message received that passport is ready for pickup (it was Friday afternoon and deadline was 4:00 to pickup)

Sept 27th - We picked up the passport in Delhi.

 

Good luck to everyone else going through this process!

[mitzab 285]

congrats