Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0

[Revived 0]

Hi guys. How is everybody doing? I am sorry I wasn't able to post this sooner. I know couple of people were waiting for me to post my wife's interview experience at ISL. Here it is:

My wife had her CR1 interview on 7/10. She was in line at the convention center at about 6:45, made it to the embassy between 7:30-7:45.

They took her interview letter at the door. Not sure when exactly she was called to the first window but they just asked her simple questions about why she is there, didn't ask for any document.

She was called for the second time and they took her fingerprints.

She was called for the third time to a Counselor Office window. She said her interview with the CO was very smooth, he asked very general questions such as her name, my name, our wedding date, thats about it. He asked for only one document, copy of marriage certificate, didnt ask for pictures, police certificate, nothing. My wife said the CO wasn't even white, it was a Pakistani guy, he interviewed her in Urdu but his Urdu wasn't very goody. So maybe he was an expat.

Well, after the interview he congratulated my wife and told her everything is all set and she can pick up her passport after about a week or so from courier's office and gave her a token.

She wasn't given any blue or pink slip and wasn't told anything about AP. But, here is the sad part, today is 7/25/08, her passport still hasn't been returned.

I called the ISL embassy on 7/22, they said they had some system issues and were not able to issue visas to people for about a week or so and we can expect it within few days or next week, I am not sure if I really buy that but whatever. Still no mention of AP.

I called again today 7/25, different person answered the phone, didn't say anything about system issues but said MAYBE 7-10 but no exact date, still no AP.

I am really stressed and nervous, I don't know what the hold up is, not sure if its AP or something else. What I have seen with other cases if they keep your passport, its not AP. If you are put on AP, your passport is returned and you are asked to submit it when AP clears and I think they won't say 7-10 on the phone if the person is in AP because nobody can predit the timing. I believe people on AP are not given the token to pick up the passport from courier's office either.

The operator on 7/25 wasn't very helpful, he kept saying wait 7-10 days and then call back if you don't get the passport, not sure what to make of that.

So I guess this is a good news and bad. Please comment if you have seen a similar situation. I am very nervours and don't want her to fall inot the black hole of AP/AR.

Thanks!

It doesn't appear to be an AP. But yes, at times they do keep your passport even if on A/P and they do give a pink token to an AP indv. too.

I don't think it's an AP .. you know it's July and peak time for us to have 'vacation' .. mayb they are short on staff or somethin'..

Also why don'tu call DOS? ask whats happening.. they are on same database as embassy.

good lucks n duas

[pakmani 0]

Thanks Revived. I just called DOS, the operator said 'its good to go' and I repeatedly asked her if they have received requests for background or extensive security check she said there are no such requests.

I am really hoping its the reason you quoted, maybe the operator who told me about the system issue was correct and they are just overwhelmed with all the requests.

[Amy B. 0]

Thanks Revived. I just called DOS, the operator said 'its good to go' and I repeatedly asked her if they have received requests for background or extensive security check she said there are no such requests.

I am really hoping its the reason you quoted, maybe the operator who told me about the system issue was correct and they are just overwhelmed with all the requests.

Hi pakmani,

At least the DOS operator said everything was good to go that is always good news, now if ISL embassy can get their end of job done and passport w/visa out to your wife.

I hope your wife gets her visa soon and she will be on her way home to you .

Aisha

[zorro 0]

Hi pakiman congratulations,I hope your wife would get the visa soon, By the Grace of God. But please let us know, Did your wife pay fees for the finger print or for the immigrant visa? Did they receive extra charges in the embassy against immigrant visa?

Zorro khan.

[pakmani 0]

She did not have to pay any fees.

Hi pakiman congratulations,I hope your wife would get the visa soon, By the Grace of God. But please let us know, Did your wife pay fees for the finger print or for the immigrant visa? Did they receive extra charges in the embassy against immigrant visa?

Zorro khan.

[b20sedan 0]

Hi everyone,

I have a really important question, my wife has her Visa interview scheduled for the 1st of August (I-130, wife visa), she never received her interview letter or any packet from the NVC or embassy, I sent her the original copy of the interview letter I received from the NVC, she already has her medical done too. Is the original papers I sent sufficient or will there be problems? She's leaving for Karachi on the 29th of July.

Thanks,

Fahad

[Amy B. 0]

Hi everyone,

I have a really important question, my wife has her Visa interview scheduled for the 1st of August (I-130, wife visa), she never received her interview letter or any packet from the NVC or embassy, I sent her the original copy of the interview letter I received from the NVC, she already has her medical done too. Is the original papers I sent sufficient or will there be problems? She's leaving for Karachi on the 29th of July.

Thanks,

Fahad

Hi Fahad,

Yes, that will be fine, because that is exactly what they would be sending her. It took my husband a month to get his interview letter and he had it in time for his medical to be done.

Well that is good that she has her medical done and has everything ready for the interview. Wishing her the best of luck on Friday!!!!!

My husband has his one the July 31st, so we are making sure we have everything for that as well.

Again......Best of Luck

Aisha

Edited July 27, 2008 by ♥ QaSiM--aIsHa

[b20sedan 0]

Hi Fahad,

Yes, that will be fine, because that is exactly what they would be sending her. It took my husband a month to get his interview letter and he had it in time for his medical to be done.

Well that is good that she has her medical done and has everything ready for the interview. Wishing her the best of luck on Friday!!!!!

My husband has his one the July 31st, so we are making sure we have everything for that as well.

Again......Best of Luck

Aisha

Hi Aisha,

Thanks for the response, that's a bit of a relief. Inshallah, the interviews will go well for all of us.

Best of luck to you as well.

[2ond journey 0]

Good luck to any people with upcoming interviews this week. Remember to keep in touch and let us know how it turns out. Good luck to everyone.

[Amy B. 0]

Good luck to any people with upcoming interviews this week. Remember to keep in touch and let us know how it turns out. Good luck to everyone.

Thanks 2ond journey.......

I think there are several of our SO's that have interviews this week. Just keep us all in your prayers and that insha allaah ...they will all do fine in the interview and get the visa's!!!! insha allaah

I think there is Kris -Waheed ( his is July 28th) Male

Liberal ( Aug 1st) Male

aisha-qasim ( July 31st) Male

Best of Luck to all!!!!!!!

anybody else who is this week??

I will post as soon as I hear something from my husband. I know I won't be doing nothing but ........pray pray pray that he will do fine and insha allaah he will get his visa!!!!!!! insha allaah insha allaah

Aisha

[Revived 0]

Good luck to any people with upcoming interviews this week. Remember to keep in touch and let us know how it turns out. Good luck to everyone.

Thanks 2ond journey.......

I think there are several of our SO's that have interviews this week. Just keep us all in your prayers and that insha allaah ...they will all do fine in the interview and get the visa's!!!! insha allaah

I think there is Kris -Waheed ( his is July 28th) Male

Liberal ( Aug 1st) Male

aisha-qasim ( July 31st) Male

Best of Luck to all!!!!!!!

anybody else who is this week??

I will post as soon as I hear something from my husband. I know I won't be doing nothing but ........pray pray pray that he will do fine and insha allaah he will get his visa!!!!!!! insha allaah insha allaah

Aisha

Wishing good lucks to all those goin' for interview this week!

lucks n duas

[pakmani 0]

I spoke with DOS today regarding my wife's CR1 visa. She had her interview on 7/10 and was told her passport would be returned in about a week or so but still hasn't been returned. She wasn't given a blue or pink slip and no mention of AP.

DOS today said that a Counselor Officer has to review her case and since this is a very very busy summer season for them they will get to it when they get it to it and processing time for visa is 6 months. Where are they getting 6 months from? I am not sure how much longer I should wait, I just want to go to PAK and wait there with her but if its gonna be 6 months, I can't stay there for that long.

Please comment.

Thanks!

[Amy B. 0]

I spoke with DOS today regarding my wife's CR1 visa. She had her interview on 7/10 and was told her passport would be returned in about a week or so but still hasn't been returned. She wasn't given a blue or pink slip and no mention of AP.

DOS today said that a Counselor Officer has to review her case and since this is a very very busy summer season for them they will get to it when they get it to it and processing time for visa is 6 months. Where are they getting 6 months from? I am not sure how much longer I should wait, I just want to go to PAK and wait there with her but if its gonna be 6 months, I can't stay there for that long.

Please comment.

Thanks!

Pakmani, I am so sorry to hear about what you and your wife are going through right now. It just makes me so mad!!!!!!!!!

Why the Heck does it have to be reviewed again for?? So what if its the summer season . that is their JOB to process our petitions/cases in a damn timely manner I don't believe that answer would be good enough for me. I would email the embassy or something and just ask " why does her case have to be reviewed, when she was already told congratulations on passing the interview and her passport was taken??"" Also no damn slip was given to her for any type of AP or reviews. Does she remember the name of the CO that took her interview? I would get it and also put that in the email to embassy.

Oh right how dumb of me.......I forgot ......IT's not THEM that is away from their families and their whole lives are put on hold

Honestly,,,,,,I would contact the embassy......I would keep calling DOS and I would probaly try to involve other govt officials. I don't know what they could do but it is worth a shot. At least you tried your best ya know.

Hang in there Mani and I pray that this wait will be over soon for you. insha allaah

sorry for the rant

Aisha

[pakmani 0]

Thank you so much Aisha, you are always so understanding.

I did email the embassy last week on Tuesday, no response. I sent them another email today, not sure if I would get a response to this either. I am still hoping that it doesn't take months and they are just holding her passport becasue they are so busy.

They should know its summer and expect huge number of applications but whatever, if they knew that I wouldn't be saying this. I will call the embassy again and see what they say. What makes me mad is that they delay immigrant visa applications and put visit visas and H1 and business visas ahead of the line.

Thanks again!

[Revived 0]

I spoke with DOS today regarding my wife's CR1 visa. She had her interview on 7/10 and was told her passport would be returned in about a week or so but still hasn't been returned. She wasn't given a blue or pink slip and no mention of AP.

DOS today said that a Counselor Officer has to review her case and since this is a very very busy summer season for them they will get to it when they get it to it and processing time for visa is 6 months. Where are they getting 6 months from? I am not sure how much longer I should wait, I just want to go to PAK and wait there with her but if its gonna be 6 months, I can't stay there for that long.

Please comment.

Thanks!

At times some of the DOS reps have no idea what they r talkin' about, they try to be creative and come up w/an ans for us LOL

I recall callin' DOS for A/P for my fiance, and once the lady said ur process time is over the '6mons' avg (god knows where they r come up w/that!) she said she will put in an inquiry but no gurantees anythin' will happen! n guess what? nothin' happened LOL..

Additionally, i think during summer they might focus on tourist visa ? tryin' to come up w/our w/my own logics LOL

Be patient, she will soon recv a call=) inshAllah

duas