Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0

[Lonely heart 0]

Thanks PakMani, i will keep calling till i get a hold of live operator, but i work early morning thats y cant stay up late to get hold of person but ill keep trying

[zidane 0]

what was missing the first packet you got? dont fill out the one for I130 unless you're proceeding with the steps at NVC.

yeah this process is very annoying, i sent my packet 3.5 back 2 weeks ago, no reply yet.

So, upon a request to the embassy to please send us the complete package 3.5, they mailed us the package for I-130.

This process is so annoying at every stage.

But Allah has a plan.

[dhobee 1]

Zidane,

We're just following the list you sent and hope to deliver our completed package at AMEX tomorrow morning inshAllah.

I hope you hear from them very soon. You'll hear from them the coming week if not in the morning inshAllah (Isn't that feeling amazing when the postman/TCS guy comes with that plain white envelope!)

[dhobee 1]

what was missing the first packet you got?

There WAS no checklist. That's what was missing!

[zidane 0]

Oh ok. Yeah just waiting for the postman, get all nerves when the bell rings. It rang right now and I got all expectant only to find out it was the person selling fish!!

Zidane,

We're just following the list you sent and hope to deliver our completed package at AMEX tomorrow morning inshAllah.

I hope you hear from them very soon. You'll hear from them the coming week if not in the morning inshAllah (Isn't that feeling amazing when the postman/TCS guy comes with that plain white envelope!)

[zidane 0]

Just emailed at Pakivinfo@state.gov asking about the status, got an automatic reply with some FAQs that might be helpful:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. I understand that my case number should begin with "ISL" and be followed by a 10-digit number. How do I find my case number?

The Applicant or Petitioner may contact the National Visa Center in order to obtain the case number. They may also send an email to PAKIVQUERY@STATE.GOV with the full name and date of birth for the applicant, and it may be possible for us to assist.

2. I need to update my address and/or phone number. How do I do this?

The Applicant or Petitioner is required to send a signed written request via fax at +92-51-2822632.

3. My case has been approved by the National Visa Center. My file has been transferred to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. What do I do next?

Please wait patiently. The Applicant or Petitioner should receive an "instruction packet" labeled 3.5 once the file has been reviewed by the embassy. This process can take 2-3 weeks. The instruction packet 3.5 will be sent to the applicant at his/her mailing address. If you do not receive your packet 3.5 after one month, please write to PAKIVQUERY@STATE.GOV with your case number, and the name of the applicant.

4. What is my priority date?

Your priority date is the date on which your petition was filed with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). The table below indicates which priority dates are "current," meaning that there are visas available. If your priority date is earlier than the date listed below for your visa classification, then your case is considered "current." The most up-to-date Priority Date Table can be found at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin...letin_1360.html

IMMIGRANT VISA NUMBERS FOR OCTOBER 2008

SYMBOL PRIORITY DATE CATEGORY

Pakistan & Others India Family Categories

F1 15-APR-2002 15-APR-2002 Unmarried Son & Daughter of U.S. Citizen

F2A 01-JAN-2004 01-JAN-2004 Spouse & Children of Permanent Resident

F2B 15-DEC-1999 15-DEC-1999 Unmarried Son & Daughter of Permanent Resident

F3 22-JUN-2000 22-JUN-2000 Married Son & Daughter of U.S. Citizen

F4 22-OCT-1997 22-MAY-1997 Brother & Sister of U.S. Citizen

FX 01-MAY-2001 01-MAY-2001 Spouse & children of Legalized Beneficiary

Pakistan & Others India Employment Categories

E1 C C Priority Workers

E2 C 01-APR-2003 Professionals with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability

E3 01-JAN-2005 01-JUL-2001 Skilled Workers with Baccalaureate Degree

E4 C C Certain Special Immigrants

EW 01-JAN-2003 01-JAN-2003 Other Workers

SR U U Professional Religious Workers

C5 C C Employment Creation

T5 C C Employment Creation in Targeted Area

5. My priority date is current. What do I do now?

The Applicant or Petitioner may contact the U.S. Embassy at PAKIVQUERY@STATE.GOV with the applicant's current mailing address and telephone number in Pakistan. Once we have received this, we will send the instruction packet 3.5 to the applicant.

6. I am preparing for my interview. What documents do I need to submit to the U.S. Embassy?

In order to process the case and schedule applicants for their interviews, we require the following documents. All documents should be submitted in their original form along with an English translation and photocopies. The instruction packet 3.5 cover letter must accompany all documents. Interviews will not be scheduled until all documents have been received by the U.S. Embassy and have been fully completed by the applicants and petitioners. Incomplete documents and forms will delay the scheduling of your interview.

Please submit these documents via our approved courier service (American Express) (List enclosed in packet 3.5):

* DS 230 Part I for all applicants (all questions must be answered)

* DS 230 Part II for all applicants (all questions must be answered)

* Visa Photos for all applicants (Front view, 2x2 inches, white or off-white background, unaltered)

* Police Certificate(s) for every applicant over 16 from all the places where the applicant has lived in Pakistan for more than 6 months after reaching the age of 16 years. Police certificates are required from all places outside Pakistan where the applicant lived for one year or more after reaching age 16.

* Birth Certificates from the Union Council for all applicants along with English translations. If the birth was not registered, a sworn Affidavit of birth on a proper stamp paper from applicant's close relative(s) or family friend(s). This is required for every applicant. The original birth certificate of the petitioner is also required when the immigrant petition is based on a parent /child or sibling relationship.

* Marriage Certificates from the Union Council along with English translations (for the principal applicant) .

* Divorce or Death Certificates for the principal applicant from the Arbitration Council (as applicable).

* Copies of passports for all applicant(s). Please provide copies of the pages showing the issuance date of the passport and the photo of the applicant.

* I-864 Affidavit of Support, signed by the petitioner. The I-864 does not need to be resubmitted if already submitted by your Petitioner to NVC. However, if your petitioner did not submit the I-864 to NVC, you will need to submit this as well. (K visa and employment visa applicants do not need to bring the I-864, but must otherwise demonstrate that they will not require financial assistance from the U.S. government.)

After you have received your interview letter, please complete your medical report from one of our panel physicians 2 weeks prior to the interview date and bring it on the interview day.

7. I have already submitted my documents. How long will it take before I have my interview scheduled?

Once we have received your documents, we will review them. Generally, it takes approximately 2-3 weeks to review these documents. If your documents are incomplete, we will send a deficiency sheet to you with instructions on what is needed from you in order to complete your file and to schedule an interview. If you have completed all the requirements, we will send an interview letter to you.

8. When I filed a petition I was a Green Card holder. Now I am a U.S Citizen. How do I update my case?

A clear copy of petitioner's naturalization certificate or passport is required in order to upgrade the petition. The copy must be mailed (not faxed or e-mailed) to our mailing address mentioned above.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

1. I appeared at the U.S Embassy for my interview. I was told that administrative processing is required for my case. What does this mean?

Administrative Processing is a standard procedure required by law for visa applications. It is a normal process and it does not mean anything is wrong with your case. The processing is not completed here at the U.S. Embassy and we have no control over the processing time, nor any influence on the processing. Some cases take longer to process than others; this does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with your case. Once the administrative processing has been completed, we will continue with your visa application. We will contact you to let you know when your case is complete, and will ask you to return your passport if we have not retained it. Once we have printed your visa, we will return your passport along with the visa packet via our approved courier. If it has been more than 10 months since your interview, please e-mail Pakivquery@state.gov with the date of your interview and case number. However, please note that routine administrative processing questions for cases less than 10 months will not be answered.

2. I appeared at the U.S. Embassy for my interview. I was told that I needed to provide additional documentation. What do I need to do now?

At the time of your interview, you received a blue refusal sheet with instructions telling you what to do. In most cases, applicants should obtain the requested documents or photographs and send them to the U.S. Embassy through our approved courier service. A list of the approved courier services was provided at the time of the interview.

3. I appeared at the U.S. Embassy for my interview. It was suggested that I take a DNA test. What do I do now?

In order to take a DNA test, the first step is for petitioner to submit his/her DNA samples at one of the labs listed found at:

www.aabb.org/About_the_AABB/Stds_and_Accred/aboutptlabs.htm

The lab will then send a DNA kit to the Embassy. Upon receiving the DNA kit from the lab, we will contact you to schedule your appointment for the DNA test. The test will be conducted at the U.S. Embassy. This process takes several months to complete.

4. I appeared at the U.S. Embassy for my interview. I was told that my case has been suspended and the Embassy has sent a request for revocation. What does that mean?

Your petition has been returned to the National Visa Center with a recommendation for revocation. This means that the consular officer who interviewed your case had concerns about the relationship that was the basis for the petition. The final determination on your case will be made by U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States. Questions about a case that has been returned with a request for revocation should be referred to the U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services (USCIS) office where the petition was filed originally. No appeal or reinstatement request will be processed at the U.S. Embassy.

[zaidkhan 1]

islamabd embassy

call from monday to friday 12:30 Pm to 3:30 Pm

Phone: (+92-51) 208-2700

press 1

press 2

press 1 again and press 1 u will get to talk with operator in 5 min

Zaidkhan

[Revived 0]

islamabd embassy

call from monday to friday 12:30 Pm to 3:30 Pm

Phone: (+92-51) 208-2700

press 1

press 2

press 1 again and press 1 u will get to talk with operator in 5 min

Zaidkhan

and then u will wake up.. it appears..that now connecting to an operator has become a dream! the # is constantly busy:@

[zaidkhan 1]

hi liberal any update?

thanks in advance if any up date then please share abt american express

Zaid Khan

[liberal 0]

hi liberal any update?

thanks in advance if any up date then please share abt american express

Zaid Khan

Nope no update, its been 9 days today still waiting for thier call, I wonder how long it usually takes. ???

[Lonely heart 0]

islamabd embassy

call from monday to friday 12:30 Pm to 3:30 Pm

Phone: (+92-51) 208-2700

press 1

press 2

press 1 again and press 1 u will get to talk with operator in 5 min

Zaidkhan

and then u will wake up.. it appears..that now connecting to an operator has become a dream! the # is constantly busy:@

Agreed with Revived , i tried calling us embassy in islamabad last night i stayed up all night but never got trhough kept saying conneting with operator , n operators never answerd either put line busy again or they picked up n hung up i used so many fone cards then i started calling directly still no luck i was so mad , nothing is going right.Need sum emailing adress which really work i mean i need sum answers either through live operator or email with emails to they never reply i tired calling they never answer (((((((((((((((((((((((

[zaidkhan 1]

hi liberal any update?

thanks in advance if any up date then please share abt american express

Zaid Khan

Nope no update, its been 9 days today still waiting for thier call, I wonder how long it usually takes. ???

inshallah u will get the call very soon but i advise u to call the embassy and ask abt the update

u kno my brother got cleared and talk with embassy on last monday they say they gona call in few days but still they did not make any call but my brother sent his passport to the embassy and tell the embassy i sent the passport they said its ok waiting for the passport so please update us when u get ur passport or any other update thanks in advance

[dhobee 1]

Finally dropped our 3.5 at the American Express yesterday. They charged us 1000... I was expecting to pay more!

Mrs. Saif, we've never been able to get through phone lines when it comes to the embassy. However, they've responded to us within 3-4 days when we sent emails at "pakivquery@state.gov". Just make sure you write your case number down in the subject. Good luck, you should hear from them soon, inshAllah.

[zidane 0]

Why 1000? they charged me 600 !

Finally dropped our 3.5 at the American Express yesterday. They charged us 1000... I was expecting to pay more!

Mrs. Saif, we've never been able to get through phone lines when it comes to the embassy. However, they've responded to us within 3-4 days when we sent emails at "pakivquery@state.gov". Just make sure you write your case number down in the subject. Good luck, you should hear from them soon, inshAllah.

[Sibtain 1]

Salam to all!

I m very happy to see this forum i did not know abt it its relevent forum and will help us all.

Coz here we can share our experiences.

Guys i wanna tell u briefly abt my case,and then would like to get ur valuable suggestions.

My wife is very sick shes US citizen she sent the expedition request to NVC to get ealry interview date in islamabad embassy.

She sent this request to NVC before send the DS 230 & I 864 to them.(My case is CRI and now it is IR1).My wife did it coz she wants me there as soon as possible coz shes sick and she did(expidition request) this on the behalf of NVC.

So NVC has sent our case to USEM.US embassy has also sent me the Packet 3.5.I sent back the required documents to USEM 7 October,2008.I did not get any call from AMEX.

Packet 3.5 cover letter they said 2 to 3 weeks so guys will i get the call surely after 3 weeks or not?

I did not send them my cover lette is that ok?

My question is that embassy take 2 to 3 weeks is that right or take more days?

I m on expidition so could i get AP while we have an emergency.Will they put me on AP?

Best of luck for everyone!

Edited October 24, 2008 by SIBTAIN