Visa Approved!

[KGSodie 0]

My subject is meant to be sarcastic. At the interview, the consul said "Visa approved". The Monday after the interview we called the support desk, and the next day received an answer from the consul: "Visa approved, you'll have it in 1 week". Yesterday we called for another status update, and today were told "Administrative review. If your visa is approved, it will take 1 or 2 weeks before it is printed, but quite often it can take much longer. If you don't receive your passport back in a month, call us again".

So, they've been lying to us for the past 2 weeks. Now Natasha and Vika will return to Volgodonsk and I'll return to Omaha, the future uncertain once more. I haven't decided yet whether I should change their tickets to a month or two from now, and try to be hopeful, or if I should just cancel them. There's no way to tell IF the visas will be approved now, since they have apparently changed their minds. I've spent all the money I had to bring Natasha and Vika back to the USA, so even if the visas get approved eventually, I don't know what to do.

Assuming I hear anything, ever, from the consulate, I'll let everyone know.

[Chris & Olya 0]

Kevin, I am truly saddened by this. Hang in there ! Get your Congressman involved ! While you are now truly living a nightmare now, I truly believe everything will work out for both of you. Chris

[eekee 182]

I'm sorry. I hope it gets resolved soon.

Is there a precedent for this kind of thing happening at the Moscow consulate?

[Blues Fairy 0]

KGSodie, I'm sorry about your troubles.

The good news is that unlike NVC which can hold people on AP forever, the consulates usually don't delay overmuch. If they said a month, you have good chances of waiting just that long. Be hopeful. At any rate, if visa is approved at the interview, there is extremely little chance it will be denied as a result of AR.

[mox 298]

Kevin, I'm saddened beyond words at this news. I do hope you're able to get this resolved quickly. Be strong, hang tough. The day is coming that you will all be together in Omaha.

[Satellite 1]

Yesterday we called for another status update, and today were told "Administrative review. If your visa is approved, it will take 1 or 2 weeks before it is printed, but quite often it can take much longer. If you don't receive your passport back in a month, call us again".

So, they've been lying to us for the past 2 weeks. Now Natasha and Vika will return to Volgodonsk and I'll return to Omaha, the future uncertain once more. I haven't decided yet whether I should change their tickets to a month or two from now, and try to be hopeful, or if I should just cancel them. There's no way to tell IF the visas will be approved now, since they have apparently changed their minds. I've spent all the money I had to bring Natasha and Vika back to the USA, so even if the visas get approved eventually, I don't know what to do.

What can I say, I guessed the Administrative Review not that long ago in your other thread. See:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry1652998

If I was in your shoes I'd cancel their tickets and return home ASAP to stop any more ticket change losses. This whole Administrative Review thing from what I've read about from other consulates around the world here on VJ can take many months, even years for some of the MENA folks. My guess again is that since the consulate does the finger printing the day of the interview, the prints are reviewed a few days later, and if there is a match or a close match they'll put up the Administrative Review roadblock or it could just be a random quality control check. Either way both are unpredictable in terms of time with no logical time line.

[AMV 0]

Kevin,

Would you please share with us what questions officer asked her during interview?

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Terrible news! I'm sure you followed all to the letter. Is there any reason you can think of for this decision? I know you and Natal'ya are already racking your brains trying to ascertain this. I feel a pit in my stomach for the both or you.

Edited March 12, 2008 by Kazan' Tiger

[KGSodie 0]

Kazan - no reason we can think of, or they will tell us. Frustrating as hell to be told for two weeks "visas approved, you'll have it soon" only to have the rug yanked out from under you.

WWW - we'll eventually get to a full review of the interview, but we were hoping to do that in Omaha. We're not much in the mood now. I will say it was a very short interview, perhaps 5 minutes, and they asked no questions about me at all. Natasha had a previous K-1 visa 2 years ago, and only stayed a few days because the guy proved to be a real jerk, and most of the questions were about this visa and why it didn't work out. The consul also asked Natasha's 11 year old daughter if she wanted to live in the USA.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Kevin, my opinion at the moment is it has to do with the previous K-1. If they drilled her only about this past event and had nothing to ask about you and your future together, it seems it has to be. I hope you can both pass this obstacle soon. Keep holding on to each other. At minimum, you are physically together again. Take comfort in that.

Kazan - no reason we can think of, or they will tell us. Frustrating as hell to be told for two weeks "visas approved, you'll have it soon" only to have the rug yanked out from under you.

WWW - we'll eventually get to a full review of the interview, but we were hoping to do that in Omaha. We're not much in the mood now. I will say it was a very short interview, perhaps 5 minutes, and they asked no questions about me at all. Natasha had a previous K-1 visa 2 years ago, and only stayed a few days because the guy proved to be a real jerk, and most of the questions were about this visa and why it didn't work out. The consul also asked Natasha's 11 year old daughter if she wanted to live in the USA.

[mox 298]

The first thing that jumped to my mind was her previous K-1 also. But remember that the consulates are not allowed to "re-adjudicate" petitions. You *ARE* approved...the consulate cannot un-approve you. So even if there was some concern over her previous K-1, USCIS would have caught it, and it would have been an issue long before now.

As hard as parting will be, you might be in a better position to get more information and/or push it through this so-called "administrative review" from the States. Chances are it's just a bureaucrat flexing his/her muscles and you just got caught up in it. Hang in there my friend. (easy enough for me to say I know... )

Edited March 12, 2008 by mox

[slim 1,514]

As said above, keep your head up and hang in there.

And definitely, make some phone calls. Someone out there can find out something. Congressmen and Senators work for you so make them.

Good luck, and hopefully this gets resolved quickly.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

As said above, keep your head up and hang in there.

And definitely, make some phone calls. Someone out there can find out something. Congressmen and Senators work for you so make them.

Good luck, and hopefully this gets resolved quickly.

Sasha and I want to include our sorrow over this, Kevin. We agree that you will be together soon. Be strong and patient. And like it was suggested before, get your local state officials involved. Just a brief letter from them may be enough to "unstick" the approved visas. Hang in there, buddy. We're all rooting for you.

[Bobalouie 0]

The first thing that jumped to my mind was her previous K-1 also. But remember that the consulates are not allowed to "re-adjudicate" petitions. You *ARE* approved...the consulate cannot un-approve you. So even if there was some concern over her previous K-1, USCIS would have caught it, and it would have been an issue long before now.

As hard as parting will be, you might be in a better position to get more information and/or push it through this so-called "administrative review" from the States. Chances are it's just a bureaucrat flexing his/her muscles and you just got caught up in it. Hang in there my friend. (easy enough for me to say I know... )

I dont think thats accurate mox. The consulate CAN deny your petition at their discretion. Just because you are approved by USCIS and NVC does not guarantee the visa. The consulate has the final say.

I agree that the AR is probably due to the previous K1, and since the relationship is legit, it is only a matter of time. It sucks for sure, but they will get the visa, it is just going to take a little longer.

[mox 298]

I dont think thats accurate mox. The consulate CAN deny your petition at their discretion. Just because you are approved by USCIS and NVC does not guarantee the visa. The consulate has the final say.

I agree that the AR is probably due to the previous K1, and since the relationship is legit, it is only a matter of time. It sucks for sure, but they will get the visa, it is just going to take a little longer.

That's not what I'm saying.

The consulate absolutely can deny the visa. HOWEVER, they can't "re-adjudicate" the petition. For example, they can't deny the visa because they're not satisfied the couple met within the last 2 years. USCIS have already determined that the couple have met within the last 2 years. (note that they can deny the visa if they don't think there's a real relationship, but that's something completely different.)

The consulate has broad discretion, but they are under guidance by the Secretary of State not to re-adjudicate petitions. This is why I believe if there was a problem with Natasha's previous K-1, it would have popped up at the USCIS level, and not the consulate level. Since we're speculating, I'm really thinking it was probably due to something that came up post-interview. Maybe, as someone else suggested, fingerprints that matched too closely or an I that wasn't dotted or a T that wasn't crossed. I have a hard time believing it would be anything that USCIS would have caught in the first place.

Note: When I say the consulate "can't" deny based on something that USCIS have approved, they can certainly kick the petition back to USCIS if they feel there is overwhelming evidence to do so. When this happens, USCIS have the option of either kicking it back to the consulate, saying "no, we were right the first time," or they can send a "Notice of intent to deny" to the petitioner. But note that in both of these cases the consulate is not denying the petition. Only USCIS can deny the petition.