Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0

[chicago 0]

PIA has a stopver in Machester, UK when coming to USA. I was pretty sure that the passenger doesn't need the Transit visa, but the travel agent, PIA reservation center, FedEx (lahore) all said that a visa is needed, so I emailed the British HC and here is what they wrote me back. Most of you might know but sharing this with you all. (in short, no visa is needed).

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thanks for your mail.

DIRECT AIRSIDE TRANSIT VISA APPLICATIONS (DATV)

Evidence of confirmed bookings both in and out of the UK must accompany applications. Required by all Pakistani Nationals.

There are certain exemptions to this requirement. The following categories of traveller are not required to hold a DATV and may still benefit from the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) concession. Holders of:

• a valid visa for entry to Canada or the United States of America and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of their journey from another country or territory to the country in respect of which the visa is held. Holders of first time immigrant papers to the US or Canada also qualify under this category as they are regarded as having a US or Canadian visa;

• a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from Canada or the United States of America to another country or territory, provided that the transit passenger does not seek to transit the UK on a date more than 6 months from the date on which he last entered Canada or the US with a valid visa;

• a valid US 1 - 551 permanent resident cards issued after 21 April 1998;

• expired cards may be accepted if the passenger holds a letter (I - 797) issued by the Bureau of Citizenship authorising an extension;

• a valid US Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration - Form 551;

• a valid Canadian permanent resident cards issued on or after 28 June 2002;

• a category "D" (all categories except visitors) visas issued by any European Union or EEA State with more than 3 months validity;

• a valid common format European Union or EEA residence permits;

• a diplomatic or service passport issued by the Peoples Republic of China;

• a diplomatic or official passport issued by India;

• a diplomatic or official passport issued by Vietnam;

Those travelling to Ireland via the United Kingdom require a full visit visa, not a DATV.

Yours Sincerely,

BHC Islamabad.

[KHURRAM SERAJ 0]

PIA has a stopver in Machester, UK when coming to USA. I was pretty sure that the passenger doesn't need the Transit visa, but the travel agent, PIA reservation center, FedEx (lahore) all said that a visa is needed, so I emailed the British HC and here is what they wrote me back. Most of you might know but sharing this with you all. (in short, no visa is needed).

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thanks for your mail.

DIRECT AIRSIDE TRANSIT VISA APPLICATIONS (DATV)

Evidence of confirmed bookings both in and out of the UK must accompany applications. Required by all Pakistani Nationals.

There are certain exemptions to this requirement. The following categories of traveller are not required to hold a DATV and may still benefit from the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) concession. Holders of:

• a valid visa for entry to Canada or the United States of America and a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of their journey from another country or territory to the country in respect of which the visa is held. Holders of first time immigrant papers to the US or Canada also qualify under this category as they are regarded as having a US or Canadian visa;

• a valid airline ticket for travel via the United Kingdom as part of a journey from Canada or the United States of America to another country or territory, provided that the transit passenger does not seek to transit the UK on a date more than 6 months from the date on which he last entered Canada or the US with a valid visa;

• a valid US 1 - 551 permanent resident cards issued after 21 April 1998;

• expired cards may be accepted if the passenger holds a letter (I - 797) issued by the Bureau of Citizenship authorising an extension;

• a valid US Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration - Form 551;

• a valid Canadian permanent resident cards issued on or after 28 June 2002;

• a category "D" (all categories except visitors) visas issued by any European Union or EEA State with more than 3 months validity;

• a valid common format European Union or EEA residence permits;

• a diplomatic or service passport issued by the Peoples Republic of China;

• a diplomatic or official passport issued by India;

• a diplomatic or official passport issued by Vietnam;

Those travelling to Ireland via the United Kingdom require a full visit visa, not a DATV.

Yours Sincerely,

BHC Islamabad.

Chicago I posted this same information from their website a couple of days ago

Hello Everybody,

I have a question. My wife is going to ISB embassy on Monday to submit I-134 and tax return. The tax returns she has are for 05 and prior. Now, I have a return for 2006 too, you think they would ask for that or whatever she has is enough. Her interview was on Feb 06, 2007 and that time I had not filed my 2006 tax return. Also, her case number has 2006, so I am assuming that would ask for previous year return.

Thanks,

ALI

I would Play it safe and send her your 2006 Tax return (W2 and 1040), You have waited so long for this and you wouldn't want them to ask for something and your wife doesn't have it.

I would scan the 1040 and w2 to a PDF (so it has your sig) and email it to her and have her print it out so it looks just like a photocopy

Khurram

You are right. I was going to send her but she is leaving for ISB tonight and even I would have send her by Fedex or UPS, there was no way she would have recieve it. I dont have a scanner and i m not very good in computer, let me find out that any stationary shop provide that kind of facilities.

Thanks very much K.

Ali

Ali,

Can you pm me your zip code?

Khurram

[ali1978 0]

Khurram just confirm me you got me msg.

ALI

[KHURRAM SERAJ 0]

Khurram just confirm me you got me msg.

ALI

I just sent you a reply

[chicago 0]

Yes, Khurram you did. I emailed them the same day I posted that question here, and they replied yesterday so I just posted their reply.

Thanks

[Oasriz 0]

No, we didn't request anything at all. The form my wife received was dated May 11th and says "June 05, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. for your K3 visa interview.

She went for her medical examination yesterday and has to go back on Monday to get her medical documents.

It appears there are at least 3 people on this forum who's wives will have an interview in the next 2 months for a K3 visa.

Please let me know if she gets vaccinations. Me, you and Zeyad have their wife's interviews coming up (K3)

Good Luck!!!

No, she didn't get any vaccinations. They told her they are not necessary for the K3 visa. My wife is going to talk to her own doctor this weekend and try to get them anyway, so we don't have to go through this process in America.

[babybunny 2]

The embassy issue 6 months visa for IR/1 and the green card you receive after you land is valid for 10 years. ( THERE IS NO SUCH VISA FOR 10 YEARS TO FLY TO U.S)

well make up your mind is there no such thing or is it one year.

til you know what you are talking about SHUT UP!

[KHURRAM SERAJ 0]

No, she didn't get any vaccinations. They told her they are not necessary for the K3 visa. My wife is going to talk to her own doctor this weekend and try to get them anyway, so we don't have to go through this process in America.

Yeah I found that out as the embassy told me in an email as well, anyway I am going to have her get her vaccinations after the interview so that she has them for AOS

[zeyad 0]

Khurram/Oasriz,

I admit, I am getting too anxious here, but all three of our timelines are about the same except for the interview date gap pattern. I guess the NOA-1 is irrelevent, however the NOA2 and packet received dates and interview dates are puzzling. Oh well, I guess it is what it is. But I wish her interview was earlier. Good luck to the both of you. And keep us posted on the outcome.

Khurram:

NOA1 - 2/7

NOA 2 - 4/6

pckt Rec - 4/25

Interview - End of May

Zeyad:

NOA 1 - 1/11

NOA 2 - 4/10

Pckt Rec - 5/7

Interview - Mid July

Oasriz -

NOA1 - 2/02

NOA 2 - 4/17

Pckt Rec - 5/15

Interview - Beginning of June

[jaxguy 0]

I filed I-130 for my wife 3 years ago as a Green Card holder. Now her case is with NVC. We have two kids now living abroad with my wife. I was informed by NVC to file separate I-130 for each kid individually. Their petitions are with CSC (March 2007 priority date).

I will be becoming USC end of May 2007. I will send letters to NVC to upgrade my wife's petition and to CSC for the same action for my kids I-130.

1. Does anyone know if I really had to file separate I-130 for my 3 and 1 year old kids?

2. How long NVC takes to upgrade the petition and send the case to local post?

3. How long CSC will take to process I-130 and send them to NVC?

4. Will NVC wait for my kids petitions to get approved before they send my wife's case to local post? or all 3 will go at the same time?

5. Anyone has recent experience with Islamabad US embassy? How long are they taking to grant visa once they receive the file?

Thanks,

[scarlethawk 0]

...

1. Does anyone know if I really had to file separate I-130 for my 3 and 1 year old kids?

2. How long NVC takes to upgrade the petition and send the case to local post?

3. How long CSC will take to process I-130 and send them to NVC?

4. Will NVC wait for my kids petitions to get approved before they send my wife's case to local post? or all 3 will go at the same time?

5. Anyone has recent experience with Islamabad US embassy? How long are they taking to grant visa once they receive the file?

...

I am going through a similar scenario, let me see if I can help answering your questions:

1. On GC one I-130 is good for wife and kids. If you are a USC you have to file individual I-130 petitions for wife as well as each child.

2. Depends, but it appears NVC takes 4-6 months to process cases

3. Varies, but likely 3-6 months (on the lesser side if you are upgrading a petition)

4. All petitions will likely be processes individually.

5. No idea, I am looking for this information as well. Hopefully somebody else will share.

[KHURRAM SERAJ 0]

Khurram/Oasriz,

I admit, I am getting too anxious here, but all three of our timelines are about the same except for the interview date gap pattern. I guess the NOA-1 is irrelevent, however the NOA2 and packet received dates and interview dates are puzzling. Oh well, I guess it is what it is. But I wish her interview was earlier. Good luck to the both of you. And keep us posted on the outcome.

Khurram:

NOA1 - 2/7

NOA 2 - 4/6

pckt Rec - 4/25

Interview - End of May

Zeyad:

NOA 1 - 1/11

NOA 2 - 4/10

Pckt Rec - 5/7

Interview - Mid July

Oasriz -

NOA1 - 2/02

NOA 2 - 4/17

Pckt Rec - 5/15

Interview - Beginning of June

I wish I could give you a reason for these, I wish you all the luck, Are all you Documents prepared?

I email the embassy expensively to make sure all docs were 100% so if you run into something feel free to ask, I might have asked that from them already

-Khurram

[zeyad 0]

yes, Everything seems to be in place. The only thing I am unsure of is the affidavit of support, supporting docs for evidence of assets. Per an attorney's advice, He said that with my three years of tax returns, employment letter, and paystubs. I really don't have to send the asset info. And said that it is only necessary if you cannot achieve above poverty level, or if you are not employed. Although, I can send it just to be ultimately safe if it's necessary. It's on the list of items, but then again it says to "bring the following items if applicable:"

[jaxguy 0]

I am going through a similar scenario, let me see if I can help answering your questions:

1. On GC one I-130 is good for wife and kids. If you are a USC you have to file individual I-130 petitions for wife as well as each child.

2. Depends, but it appears NVC takes 4-6 months to process cases

3. Varies, but likely 3-6 months (on the lesser side if you are upgrading a petition)

4. All petitions will likely be processes individually.

5. No idea, I am looking for this information as well. Hopefully somebody else will share.

Thanks Scarlethawk,

Do you know how long NVC takes to Upgrade the petition?

[saqfin 0]

I forgot to upgrade my petition in NVC, when my case transfers to Islamabad i sent the proof of citizenship of my wife to embassy to upgrade my petition and it takes only 1 week.

Thanks

Zaki