AP Hell

[sarah and hicham 3]

When Hicham was going through AP through Morocco I called DOS about 5 times a day in my attemt at finding a consistent answer to what was going on. Luckily it only lasted a few days.

I can't imagine going through it in Egypt. It's like you're done with everything and they just leave you hanging there.

[Becky&Sam 0]

3. Do not make plans that are date sensitive so you do not have depression or lose hope. **We made plans for my birthday and it passed with us still in the dark abyss and I was depressed and so was he over missing our planned outing.

We haven't even gotten in AP yet and while we would hope he would be here before his birthday (two days after Thanksgiving)...or Christmas...chances are he won't even be here before my birthday (day before Valentines!)

The thought of having to go through our birthdays & holidays without him.....

Yeah I had this stupid idea that he'd be here for my birthday in late September only because Dee's case went so swiftly but I have since buried that thought and am thinking now that it will be more like Christmas or New Years. . . or later.

We have passed the six month mark now in AP. IT SUCKS!!! There is no other way to put it. Our case has never gone to DOS that I can tell from the many calls I have made to them. All AP is being done in Cairo for our case.

Definitely do not look towards any dates for "when we will be together for this celebration" type thinking. You are setting youself up for depression and disappointment. I was so sure that Sam would be here for this July 4th celebration and when he wasn't it was one of the hardest days to have fun with my kids and be upbeat, cause I just really wanted to roll around in some serious self-pity over being without him for another holiday. But, you get over those things and just move on because you have to. We just keep hoping that the call will come soon for him to send his passport in for the visa. I really just have to focus on one day at a time to keep going and think about the good times we have had together and not too much about what we will do when he arrives as that brings up the thought of WHEN will he arrive.

We both try to have the attitude that we have done all we can and it is out of our hands now and we just have to wait for them to finish the case. One thing that really gets me is that Sam got a paper after the interview, but not a 221g and it did not tell him that they were not issuing the visa, just that administrative processing had to be done before they could issue the visa. So if no 221g why is it TAKING SO FRIGGING LONG???? We just don't know and no one here in the US or in Cairo will share their secret answer to this question.

Anyway my best advice is to focus on only tomorrow or maybe the week you are in and get through that. Then you can move on the to the next week. That has been my strategy for not going absolutely crazy with the waiting and not knowing.

[doodlebug 3]

Our paper did not say 221g either but I still think that is what it is. I think they just use a different form.

I'm curious........did everyone who's case never made it to DOS get a home visit? No one has been to his flat, though it looks like it took months for them to do that with you. Guess we're in for a long ride here. At least that gives us more time to save money. I'll try to look at it that way.

[~~~water~~~ 0]

We never even got a paper just a verbal 1 to 2 months its all so confusing

[doodlebug 3]

Ok so here is what I think. I think that the immigrant division of Cairo is run by maybe two people...the one that interviewed my husband and the other guy with the glasses.

They show up to work maybe three days a week on a good week. They come in, have some tea, smoke a few butts, laugh with the other guys there, talk about who won the soccer game the night before, have some more tea, then they go home. Every once in a while their eye gets caught on one of the dusty files on the desk in the room. They're like in a trance because their brain is trying to tell them, "you need to open that file up and look in it to see what needs to be done". Sometimes the brainwaves get through to the rest of the body and they shake their head like they were dreaming and they actually open up the file and say, "oh sh!t, we didn't send this to DOS yet!". They put it in the mail room to be sent to DOS.

There is one person who works part time one day a week in the mail room. He comes in, drinks some tea, smokes some butts, laughs with the other guys and goes home. Every once in a while his eyes get fixated on the dusty files sitting on his desk and his brain tries to send a message to his body to pick up the files and mail them to DOS. His head shakes like he's waking up from a dream and he says, "oh sh!t, I was supposed to mail these a month or two ago!!" and he mails them.

There's like three people who work at the Cairo post office and they come in maybe two , three days a week tops.............................................................

and so on............

[sarah and hicham 3]

Ok so here is what I think. I think that the immigrant division of Cairo is run by maybe two people...the one that interviewed my husband and the other guy with the glasses.

They show up to work maybe three days a week on a good week. They come in, have some tea, smoke a few butts, laugh with the other guys there, talk about who won the soccer game the night before, have some more tea, then they go home. Every once in a while their eye gets caught on one of the dusty files on the desk in the room. They're like in a trance because their brain is trying to tell them, "you need to open that file up and look in it to see what needs to be done". Sometimes the brainwaves get through to the rest of the body and they shake their head like they were dreaming and they actually open up the file and say, "oh sh!t, we didn't send this to DOS yet!". They put it in the mail room to be sent to DOS.

There is one person who works part time one day a week in the mail room. He comes in, drinks some tea, smokes some butts, laughs with the other guys and goes home. Every once in a while his eyes get fixated on the dusty files sitting on his desk and his brain tries to send a message to his body to pick up the files and mail them to DOS. His head shakes like he's waking up from a dream and he says, "oh sh!t, I was supposed to mail these a month or two ago!!" and he mails them.

There's like three people who work at the Cairo post office and they come in maybe two , three days a week tops.............................................................

and so on............

You've got it all wrong. They spend their entire day on VJ, so you better kiss some butt!

[♥JP♥ 5]

All I know is Cairo is just plain ridiculous. I don't see any reason at all why they can't run their office a bit more efficiantly. There is no excuse for it. However I don't think there are many complaints about it, maybe you should ladies should form a group and lobby some senators to address this issue.

[allousa 1]

I wrote our state senator about the delays of trying to immigrate the legal way and how it gives absolutely no incentive to follow the legal way because of the costs and delays. Sue Myrick is her name. She has been really pushing legislation on immigration. I haven't heard anything. I'm not holding my breath though.

[doodlebug 3]

I think that Monnik was preparing some sort of letter but I'm not sure if she ever did or not. I'd certainly sign it though I think others have more of a right too since they've been waiting for months just to get their case sent to DOS.

[♥JP♥ 5]

I think that Monnik was preparing some sort of letter but I'm not sure if she ever did or not. I'd certainly sign it though I think others have more of a right too since they've been waiting for months just to get their case sent to DOS.

Power comes in numbers...you gals should start a petition to have the Cairo Embassy investigated.

[doodlebug 3]

On second thought, although I"d love to see it happen I think I'd be scared to sign anything until he actually gets the visa in hand. Maybe some alumni would be willing to though.....

I worked as a waitress one summer while I was in college and one time this customer came in that the cook knew and HATED. The cook actually scraped the scum off of the bottom of his shoe and included it in the food he cooked for the guy. Let's just say I don't want Cairo to put their bottom of the shoe scum in my file.

Edited August 15, 2007 by doodlebug

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Called the state department today. Spoke with a lady about the status of our case. Well, this is the first time i've heard that now our case is going back and forth from DC and Cairo!! Exactly what does that mean Haven't heard of this before so now I am so totally confused. The times I have called the DOS every answer is always the same.."your case is handled in Cairo...not in DC" I am going freaking crazy over all of this AP stuff or now i'm not quite sure if i'm an AP or a PA or a PQ or a PM or an AF

[mybackpages 0]

Our paper did not say 221g either but I still think that is what it is. I think they just use a different form.

I'm curious........did everyone who's case never made it to DOS get a home visit? No one has been to his flat, though it looks like it took months for them to do that with you. Guess we're in for a long ride here. At least that gives us more time to save money. I'll try to look at it that way.

have you thought about the possibility of another trip while you wait or are you hoping to have him here before enough time passes that another trip is required?

[mybackpages 0]

You've got it all wrong. They spend their entire day on VJ, so you better kiss some butt!

you bet if i ever get a job at the consulate, I'd be checking out VJ of course i am here all the time anyway

[~~~water~~~ 0]

why would another trip be required?

Edited August 15, 2007 by water is wide