Information on AP

[belinda63 3,041]

Sorry but I am pretty angry right now. My fiance's clearance was completed the last week of September, he travelled to Ankara to get his visa, gave them his passport on October 1 ( a week after the clearance was complete) and waited. He emailed, I emailed, finally he got through by phone and was told it was being sent back for another clearance. This was not even three weeks after his clearance was complete. And no one bothered to contact him or return his passport until he called. He could have been stuck in Turkey for weeks not knowing what was happening with no passport.

I just called DOS who stated it is not uncommon for a clearance that is complete to be redone several times because of hits that may occur between the completion time and the visa issuance time. In other words it was complete but when he went to get his visa less than a week later some hits had come up. Now he must go throught the entire clearance process again. And when that is complete and he goes to get his visa if there are hits that have happened in the interim he will be rejected and have to have another clearance done yet again. And this can go on forever.

Maybe this explains why some ppl have such long AP, just as the clearance is complete a new hit comes up and they must start all over again.

At this point I am writing my congressman. I know everyone says it does no good but he wasted a lot of time and money going to Ankara and waiting for nothing.

[~~~water~~~ 0]

I am so sorry this happend to youu guys..... That is so frustraiting

[MaryandMian 1]

Maybe this explains why some ppl have such long AP, just as the clearance is complete a new hit comes up and they must start all over again.

Yes it does and that is why I caution persons calling DOS and saying they are cleared and purchasing plane tickets to only be let down. I am sorry that your still going to be in AP longer. AP is a matter of National Security and congressman, senator, attorney's cannot expedite the processing and I know how you feel been there done that got the T-shirt. If it makes you feel better do contact them but do not be surprised if you get the same canned responses you got from the embassy. "This applicant is under AP and we do not know how long this will take and once it is completed we will contact the applicant for further processing."

Good luck Belinda,

Mary

[a1angied 0]

I am sorry that you are going through this. I wa sso happy when I called DOS to find out that the 1st security clearence was completed and then very saddend when I foudn out that they where doing a 2nd round and they called my husband to ask his bothers and sisters and there spouses names and birthdates, childrens ages and birthdates.

They asked him to send in his passport and then sent it back with nothing in it except written in pencil "back". I was so angry and then I got the packet that said that he had another interview this time for the CR1. Well I am very thankful that God was great and I had to remember that nothing in this world happens by mistake. We never really understand but as long as we keep our faith strong God's will is going to happen no matter what we want and when we think it should happen. I know this is easier said then living.

I am happy to say that everything worked out for the best. He came on the CR1 and I was able to spend a couple of months with him as I was unemployed at the time. God is so awesome. His timing was as it should of been.

Please remeber to be very strong in your faith and prayers as that is all we have control over.

[Nutty 2]

Sorry but I am pretty angry right now. My fiance's clearance was completed the last week of September, he travelled to Ankara to get his visa, gave them his passport on October 1 ( a week after the clearance was complete) and waited. He emailed, I emailed, finally he got through by phone and was told it was being sent back for another clearance. This was not even three weeks after his clearance was complete. And no one bothered to contact him or return his passport until he called. He could have been stuck in Turkey for weeks not knowing what was happening with no passport.

I just called DOS who stated it is not uncommon for a clearance that is complete to be redone several times because of hits that may occur between the completion time and the visa issuance time. In other words it was complete but when he went to get his visa less than a week later some hits had come up. Now he must go throught the entire clearance process again. And when that is complete and he goes to get his visa if there are hits that have happened in the interim he will be rejected and have to have another clearance done yet again. And this can go on forever.

Maybe this explains why some ppl have such long AP, just as the clearance is complete a new hit comes up and they must start all over again.

At this point I am writing my congressman. I know everyone says it does no good but he wasted a lot of time and money going to Ankara and waiting for nothing.

Hello,

I am sorry that your husband was kept in limbo (without a passport) in Ankara. How stupid and bureaucratic to not notify him about the delay, give back his passport and let him go back home and wait.

My husband is also from Iran. We were notified by the NVC he will be processed through Abu Dhabi Consulate instead of Ankara. Our DS-230 is at the NVC now and being processed.

I hope my husbands incredibly long and unique name will incur no "hits" when it comes to checks. Not many people have such a name as his.

And whatever checking they do I want them to do it NOW. Get it out of the way so that nothing like your situation happens.

Have you been to Iran? Met his family....?

[belinda63 3,041]

i have not been to iran, yet, but it is looking like if this takes much longer I may be going after christmas. I am just so angry at the money he wasted. They didn't even attempt to contact either of us, by phone or email, to let us know he was being sent back to DOS. If he had not managed to get through by phone he would still be sitting in Ankara wondering what was going on.

I pray this will be resoved soon, don't give up hope, but don't buy the plane tickets either no matter what the embassy says, until visa is in hand.

[Nutty 2]

i have not been to iran, yet, but it is looking like if this takes much longer I may be going after christmas. I am just so angry at the money he wasted. They didn't even attempt to contact either of us, by phone or email, to let us know he was being sent back to DOS. If he had not managed to get through by phone he would still be sitting in Ankara wondering what was going on.

I pray this will be resoved soon, don't give up hope, but don't buy the plane tickets either no matter what the embassy says, until visa is in hand.

Have you met your fiance in person yet???

I've been to Iran. The people are friendly, very friendly and genuinely like Americans. But I could not get used to wearing a scarf and jacket all the time.

[belinda63 3,041]

Yes we have met last year in Sweden at his sister's house. He really does not want me to come to Iran until we are married because of the issues it would cause and the limitations on us. I do plan to go after we marry for certain to mmet the rest of his family and see all the wonderful olc places.

I guess, now that I have cooled down a little, what really upsets me is that the embassy knew like the next day he would be sent back to DOS for more checks and never bothered to tell us. His email, sent after almost a week was responded to with "due to heavy caseload we are still processing your case". We made jokes about how long can it take to put a visa in a passport.

If he had not managed to get through, the phones are only answered for 1 1/2 hours each day and this week they were only open Tuesday and Wednesday, he would still be sitting in Turkey wondering where his visa was. I mean how long were they going to let him stay there and keep his passport without updating him?

That was $1500 down the drain as far as I am concerned for his flight, hotel, missed work, etc. and no one seems to care.

But I will try to be positive and hope this "serious hit" is resolved quickly.

Thanks for letting me vent and all the support. Maybe one day I will be able to fill in the visa received part of my timeline

[anitacastillo 0]

I just called DOS who stated it is not uncommon for a clearance that is complete to be redone several times because of hits that may occur between the completion time and the visa issuance time. In other words it was complete but when he went to get his visa less than a week later some hits had come up. Now he must go throught the entire clearance process again. And when that is complete and he goes to get his visa if there are hits that have happened in the interim he will be rejected and have to have another clearance done yet again. And this can go on forever.

Maybe this explains why some ppl have such long AP, just as the clearance is complete a new hit comes up and they must start all over again.

Belinda -- so sorry to hear of this setback and wasted money.

I am curious about how they can complete the name checks and then have to redo them. When they are "clearing names", aren't they checking the visa applicant is not the criminal with the same/similar name? Once this is clarified, why would they run another check? The criminal name is still in the "database" so of course there will be another hit.

This seems like a vicious circle that will never be cleared. Can someone clarify the logic? (or is logic beyond the DOS?)

[belinda63 3,041]

My understanding is that when he went to the embassy to pick up his visa they ran one last check on him. I guess in the week since the clearance was done some "new" information indicated a "serious hit" on his name. According to DOS because they are constantly updating their "lists" this could happen to anyone.

[morocco4ever 63]

Unfortunately the consulates are untouchable, and because of that they feel justified to do whatever they want.

Good luck with the AP, I hope it is over soon. This just makes it when he finally comes worth while. My husband has been here for 10 months now and I am still in 7th heaven.

[Nutty 2]

Yes we have met last year in Sweden at his sister's house. He really does not want me to come to Iran until we are married because of the issues it would cause and the limitations on us. I do plan to go after we marry for certain to mmet the rest of his family and see all the wonderful olc places.

I guess, now that I have cooled down a little, what really upsets me is that the embassy knew like the next day he would be sent back to DOS for more checks and never bothered to tell us. His email, sent after almost a week was responded to with "due to heavy caseload we are still processing your case". We made jokes about how long can it take to put a visa in a passport.

If he had not managed to get through, the phones are only answered for 1 1/2 hours each day and this week they were only open Tuesday and Wednesday, he would still be sitting in Turkey wondering where his visa was. I mean how long were they going to let him stay there and keep his passport without updating him?

That was $1500 down the drain as far as I am concerned for his flight, hotel, missed work, etc. and no one seems to care.

But I will try to be positive and hope this "serious hit" is resolved quickly.

Thanks for letting me vent and all the support. Maybe one day I will be able to fill in the visa received part of my timeline

Dear Belinda,

Yes, your fiance is right about the hassles you would have in Iran not being married at the time. First it would be difficult period for you to visit Iran as an independent traveller without a government approved tour guide or part of a tour group. I remember how confused the Iranian police were when I showed up in Customs. They didn't believe me when I said my husband was waiting for me in the arrivals lounge.

Secondly, staying with your fiance in hotels is not possible without a marriage certificate.

I doubt your husband had a "serious hit" in the security clearance. Just a hit or possible hit.

However, you are right about the Embassy being unprofessional in not advising your fiance about the nature of the delay. Maybe I will have better luck with the Abu Dhabi Consulate.

Best of luck to you.