Zentastic

Just checked the CEAC site again. Now getting an Application Error message. So apparently my application has been removed/cancelled.

Will just have to wait for the NVC letter for details. Thanks for the help.

Well called the Department of State Visa line today. Apparently Manila kicked it to the DoS, and the DoS kicked it back to the NVC. No idea why. Said I would be notified via mail.

They told her that at the end of the interview in Manila. If you do a search for my previous posts there is one that explains all of that.

I am thinking that possibly when they sent the case to DC, they 'forgot' to mark it as such on the CEAC site. And now DC is sending it back, and marked it as being transfered. At least that is what I am hoping. Says to check again in a few days. Hopefully will know more then.

Washington D.C.

End of Oct did interview. Was told we were in AP because of a legal name change. Case went to DC so I was told.

Every morning since I check the CEAC site and this morning instead of 'Ready' it said 'Transfer in Progress'.

Please tell me that this doesn't mean that now 2 months after the interview it is going to DC?

You were right it has been issued

Congratulations!

Just got off the phone with them here. Was told by DOS that it is in Administrative Processing in Manila. At which point I had to slowly count to ten. Because it is actually in Administrative Processing with DOS, but they are playing the blame game like some silly 8 year olds. I thanked her and hung up.

Guess you can add Ceac/DOS to *that* list. You know, the list of people you really do not want to annoy or make angry: People cooking your food, surgeon about to operate on you, etc.

Not really because ours was on ready and went to A. P DEC 1, AND VISA WAS ISSUE DEC,2 call dos this eve because on Dec 2 in the morning the ceac Web was showing A P, so i call dos and the lady told me her system show it was issued, but it wasn't issued out yet because it was waiting to be printed and stamped, and later on that day ceac Web change to issue, good luck

With us she did her medical then her interview on Nov 26th. It has been on "Ready" ever since. I called DOS and they told me that it was in AP. I check the CEAC site 3-4 times/day. Every now and then (Tues and Fridays) the date gets updated with the *next* day's date. Which tells me that it is the Embassy opening up the file and checking to see if the DOS is done and issued the "Approved". But the CEAC site only has said "Ready", not "Administrative Processing" or anything like that.

Just have to wait and see. But yes, the waiting is crazy. Would be a lot better if it did say AP, and they had stages or something. At least then you would SEE progress of some kind.

Ok ours was updated on 11/26 then 11/27 then again today but still says Ready so I'm getting nervous. I can stall

till Monday latest. Praying that it changes by tomorrow.

From what I am able to tell, the 'updating' you are seeing is the Embassy checking to see if DOS has made a decision yet. Every time they open your file to see that, it changes the date. It is not an actual reflection on progress. Just the Embassy doing exactly what you are doing; checking to see. Thus if it changes to "Approved" the Embassy then knows to kick out the visa.

I could be wrong mind you. But that seems to be what is happening.

They are not required. Embassies have clear instructions to NOT accept the DS260 for K1 visas.

Who submitted the online DS160, you or her?

Thanks for the reply. I filled it out, she submitted it.

Prior to my fiance going to her medical/interview, we filed the DS-160 online because we were near the cusp and wanted to make sure everything was covered. The visa went into Administrative Processing. Do we also have to complete the DS-260 and/or 261? I went to the CEAC site and clicked on the link for the DS-260, but it seems to want the Invoice Number from the NVC, and no idea where to find that as it was not on the letter I received from them telling me the case had been forwarded to the embassy.

So bottom line are the 260 and 261 required for a K1 or not? If so, where do I find my Invoice number?

Thanks!

Oh, just thought of one other thing that might be a possibility. We filed the DS-160, for the K1, that was the correct one to file yes? Not the DS-260?

Many of the telephone persons have no idea what is going on. Most just answer based on written scripts.

Figured that out as well. Since I talked to both someone at the embassy as well as someone at the DOS Visa help line, and specifically told both exactly what I was going. i.e. Going to the NIV CEAC page, putting in the location, as well as the AA#, and getting "No Status". And neither told me I should go to the IV page, and put in the MNL# (Manila Number) since it 'switched' over to the Immigration Visa at this point (or being processed as both).

That information I found out in this thread, and I must say this site, as well as the people on it have been far more helpful. Without both, would be clueless. Kuddos and thanks.

after the interview, if she's not approved yet, and say they have to review, embassy will probably take her passport, and after the review if she has missing something or are denied her passport will give back, after my interview before, i was told that my visa was approved which is written to my appointment letter after. but one of the girl there wasn't approved yet, and she was told that her documents are going to be reviewed first. so embassy people take her passport and wait for call to be approved. and after a 2days, the girl that i meet during interview been received a call and say, she was approved... its normal processing, just wait a little bit, i know how hard to wait... good luck guys!

Thank you for the information. Will just wait a few days and see. Since it wasn't even posted until Nov 19th. I figure that is when they actually received the file from the NVC and had a chance to review it. We jumped ahead a bit and scheduled her interview and medical last month. So am certain that may also be part of the problem, waiting for the file to catch up.

I think you pretty much hit it. They will be conducting additional background checks.

Evil parking tickets! I knew it!

Okay, thanks for the help. Guess I will just sit quietly in Limbo and conduct additional mediating whilst they conduct their additionals.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it doesn't sound good, especially the "sent to Washington" part. Usually they tell you that you are approved or tell you what additional thing they need from you such as a missing document or proof of sufficient income. So yes, it does sound like a prolonged case of administrative processing. Is there any clue fromt the questions asked her by the consular officer during the interview that you or she can think of that indicated what worried them? Like if they asked the same thing over and over again, or if they focused on one particular area, etc? The good news is that they kept your passport though.

I had a legal name change. And she said that seemed to bother them. It was part of a repudiation process. (divorcing of family). They (personnel at the embassy) said I did not have to change my name due to the process. Though my lawyer strongly recommended doing so at the time to show how seriously committed I was.

Anyhow. I think that may have been what made them decide to kick it up the chain so-to-speak. Just was curious to how long I likely have to look forward to being in limbo. When I called the guy at the DOS, which was the same day of the interview, he pretty much said he had no information, and to call back in 90 days or so. Felt a bit poleaxed at that point. But he did mention that nothing additional was needed from me or they would have said so.

There are a few other things as well. We weren't intermingled on our social networking. Something she did not want to do until we were actually married. Which could explain the looking at the screen, then back at her part. They might have checked and thought that two people that were getting married should be more firmly networked. Don't know.

Could be previous military service as well. Have been denied entry into Canada and a few other countries and even threatened with imprisonment if I attempted returning. That was mainly due to the SpecOps unit I was with. However, I do not think that would impact my own government making a decision of this nature. Think it would be the opposite honestly. My passport came in 16 days after I applied for it and I did not accelerate it. So I do not think there is an issue there.

Well. I do have one paid parking ticket from around 20 years ago. Maybe that is it.

Am just hoping it is the name change issue, and the guy at the embassy figured the final decision was above his pay grade due to it.

Was she told that she was approved by the U.S. consular officer?

No. The Officer told her nothing really, just to wait. Then she was called to a window 2-3 times, each time nothing was said to her. She was looked at, then they looked at the screen. Then she was told to go sit again and would be called. After a long wait, she was called once more and told that he visa was "In Review". And had to be sent to Washington. Pretty much it.

Needless to say, she called me crying. Thus prompting my call to both the Embassy and DOS. Which they really did not know what was going on. Except that the DOS guy said they should have never told her the "In Review" and left her hanging. Which made me laugh because he didn't clarify exactly what was going on either.

Hello @Zentastic! From what we read, the next CEAC status after Ready will be Issued

Under IV, what is the case creation date? Our case creation date prior to interview was November 1st. After interview, it changed to November 20th with a status of Administrative Processing.

So check your case creation date and who knows, it might change to Issued later or in the next few days...

The case creation date was October 16th, and the status was updated apparently on November 19th to Ready. Thanks for the information and help.

Ah. I thought they were processed under the NIV. I did as you suggested and inserted the MNL#. At which point a page pops up stating: Ready. Stating that they are ready for the medical/interview. But she has already had her interview/medical. Shouldn't it read "Administrative Processing", or do they not change update it until you are either approved or denied?

On Oct 29, my fiance completed her interview at the embassy in Manila. At which point she was told that her visa was 'In Review'. I have a few questions and concerns:

Is this "Administrative Processing"?

They kept her passport, is that normal?

I checked the CEAC site, and entered the AA#, at which point a page pops up saying "No Status". Is that normal as well? I would assume it would say "Administrative Processing" if that were the case.

I have called both the Embassy help line as well as DOS and could not really get any answers from either. Any help would be appreciated as to what exactly may or may not be going on, because a bit in the dark here.

Thanks!

Ari

Ah okay. Thanks bunches for the information.

After she completes the medical/interview, I was wondering a few things about actually getting the visa itself....

If approved who and how do they notify?

What options are available to pick it up? Am worried about this because quite frankly she does not really have a specific physical address since she pretty much lives in a remote area. Furthermore, want to avoid an additional day layover in Manila just to go to the Mall of Asia. Furthermore, even if it can be delivered as 'General Delivery' to her post office, it takes 4-6 *** WEEKS *** for mail to get from Manila to there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I was going to suggest reviewing any medication he might be on to see if any could result in a false positive... However, if he admitted already to use during the interview that is a moot point.

So... Then what happens? I mean you get in line for Citizen with your K1 Fiancé...and then? Is there an interview? Or do they just ask the purpose of his/her entry and send you on your merry way? Guess I am asking what exactly happens at the POE.

Do I have to wait for that in order to pay for the Visa? I know that is needed for the interview/medical.

Thanks for the info.

Your next wait will be NVC, that can take a few weeks, or more likely close to a month before you receive the MNL # - which is the key to doing everything in the Philippines for completing the visa process.

Click the link in my signature for info that will hopefully be of help.

First congratulations on your approval!!

Here's a link to Hank's "NOA 2 now what" website. He does a great job explaining the process after your petition is approved. Kind of like the now what bible!

http://visaconnection-philippines.com/

Also, more websites courtesy of Rob and Ann:

http://philippinefiancevisa.weebly.com/

http://ourk1visajourney.weebly.com/

Good luck!!

Thanks. And thanks for the links and the help!

I was looking for a checklist for the actual I-129F process earlier, and found an outdated one. So took awhile to figure all that out, and truth be told was a bit surprised it was approved. Let alone so fast. Hopefully the rest will go as smoothly.

I have a bit of a timeline as far as the interview process goes. But once that is done, how long usually does it take until you know everything is good to go? i.e. Until she can come here?