221g Disappointment, 1+ Year on

[rikko 93]

Things I've done since 221g:

1. Emailed the US Embassy of Jerusalem roughly every month since the interview. Every time they reply with "we're sorry, we can't tell you how long it'll take, check the CEAC website for updates" then add a random number of months I should wait. 2, 9, etc...
2. Checked the CEAC website every day. It changed once after we sent in what was asked of us to bring in August 2023.
3. Contacted a congressional representative for an inquiry, asked for US Department of State, they asked the embassy and got the same reply I've been getting for months.
4. Contacted a different congressional representative for an inquiry, asked for Department of State, they asked the WRONG embassy, then after correction asked the right embassy, and got the same reply I've been getting for months. They are now ignoring my emails.
5. Contacted the US Department of State, they told me to contact the NVC or embassy.
6. Contacted the NVC and am now waiting for the very likely "your case is not with us right now, contact the embassy"

Cheers to the 534 days of AP, and being unable to marry my fiancé to get residency in the country he lives in because it would void his application!
Cheers to the 4 years of visa runs (for me) and putting our lives and his career on hold!

I was really hoping a congressional inquiry would get the wheels turning so we could avoid a writ of mandamus, given the horror stories we've heard on VisaJourney. If nothing happens by early/mid-2025 we're probably going to do a writ of mandamus or even abandon the petition and marry. This has been so disappointing, and eaten up so much of our 20's. We are not even asking for an approval, a denial would allow us to move on with our lives and settle elsewhere. It should not be taking this long. I should not be 3 years, 9 months into a K1 visa process. 

 

[Boiler 45,730]

I would suggest writing of mandamus but very risky with a K1, one of its many disadvantages.

 

AP and getting a Congressperson involved, well they will be told you are in AP but you know that.

[P3ACHY 2]

Thanks for posting an update and so much information on these forums. I've been saving your posts, hoping we don't end up in the same situation when we get our interview. 😥

I know so little about this process, it's like your application is just abandoned because of some details they can't verify. I think in your position I would have withdrawn the petition and gotten married, but who knows if you end up in the same position again if you applied for the i-130. But at least it would make getting a long-term visa to live with him more feasible.

Really hope you get good news soon. 🙏

[rikko 93]

Well I'm still kind of hopeful because it seems like they're working through May 2023 APs right now, and I interviewed in June...

@P3ACHY I'm glad my posts can be of help, I mostly just post here to not lose my mind while waiting lol. Many people have said that he would undergo the same investigation for a CR1 visa so that is why we haven't just abandoned, married, and re-applied yet. We've provided all of the information they asked of us, they did ask for more down the line, I think it's just slow because of the cases per officer - I don't remember the Carson Wu declaration verbatim but it's like 40 officers for 60,000+ cases, and because it's not enough officers the backlog only grows bigger. Those officers are probably assigned to certain regions of the world as well, so likely only a fraction of those are even qualified to investigate the Russian applicants. 

From what I understand about Russian applicants - background checks are long but most people are approved, unlike Americans with Iranian, Pakistani, etc partners who get hit with DS-5535's a lot. What's worrisome is the Ukrainian applicant in this forum who got hit with the DS-5535 questions... not a good sign, it worries me. If you are looking for more forums to browse there is Telegram and Forum Vinskogo. Feel free to message me if you want to talk.

[rikko 93]

While the screenshots I posted are of a document for O1/EB-1/EB-2/L1/B1/J1/F1/H1B APs, given that most Russian applicants are hit with education/work related TAL 221gs I imagine the wait time will be in the ballpark. 

[P3ACHY 2]

@rikko 40 Officers for 60,000+ backlog is wild. Is everyone in that document Russian? It looks like you guys are still within the range of some of the others on there, so that can be some solace, but it's still so tough to be waiting so long. I feel for you. I'm going to send you a PM.

[rikko 93]

1 hour ago, P3ACHY said:

@rikko 40 Officers for 60,000+ backlog is wild. Is everyone in that document Russian? It looks like you guys are still within the range of some of the others on there, so that can be some solace, but it's still so tough to be waiting so long. I feel for you. I'm going to send you a PM.

Yes just Russians in AP