ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)AP: 1 year today
QUOTE (sandrila @ Oct 13 2008, 06:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oh Tammy
I feel you totally!

I cant imagine one year.
We are in AP 5 months now and it is extremely taxing.

Not knowing the duration or outcome of this has left us also in despair.
I KNOW as I have heard all of you say, GOD WILL COME THROUGH FOR US!
I believe it, I only hope my husband continue to withstand the harshness for which his life has been dealt.

Good luck


I think our men are probably a lot tougher than we give them credit for. We worry so much because we love them and it's natural, but the sad reality is that this harsh life is normal for them. My fiance laughs at me when I get all wigged out about Malaria. For him it's just a common cold.

Your husband will withstand. Have faith in him, too.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-13 20:22:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)AP: 1 year today
QUOTE (estadia @ Sep 25 2008, 11:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (WonTanNara @ Sep 25 2008, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (estadia @ Sep 25 2008, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i dont know at what point it is appropriate but im as we speak gathering anything and everything we have tried and plan on filing one myself our wait has been way to long for simple k 1 visa we have not even gotten noa2 yet so i feel we are out of time or at the very least i want an answer as to what they are doing for so long................................................
just that fact that i saw a guy had done it himself and gotten it done gives me the courage to file one..................


It looks like you've been waiting over a year for NOA2 and I am so very sorry for that! That does seem utterly ridiculous for a K1. If you find an attorney that says a writ will help your overseas beneficiary, please let us know.




well u could ask gogo his case was not getting the noa2 either and he found an attorney to file it but if u hire an attorney for it its about five thousand at least i believe that is what he said he had to pay most time they do not let it get into court they adjudicate before it gets that far today i have heard of one man that did it himself..........in our case i just want them to adjudicate it one way or the other.......if its denied i want the reason for it if its approved ok we will be able to go forward........... gogo just look him up as a member and u will see all of his post


Thank you, and good luck to you!
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-09-25 22:56:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)AP: 1 year today
QUOTE (estadia @ Sep 25 2008, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i dont know at what point it is appropriate but im as we speak gathering anything and everything we have tried and plan on filing one myself our wait has been way to long for simple k 1 visa we have not even gotten noa2 yet so i feel we are out of time or at the very least i want an answer as to what they are doing for so long................................................
just that fact that i saw a guy had done it himself and gotten it done gives me the courage to file one..................


It looks like you've been waiting over a year for NOA2 and I am so very sorry for that! That does seem utterly ridiculous for a K1. If you find an attorney that says a writ will help your overseas beneficiary, please let us know.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-09-25 22:03:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)AP: 1 year today
QUOTE (JULIAFERNO @ Sep 25 2008, 09:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Shakil @ Sep 25 2008, 02:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Tammy AOA,

I have read quite a bit of posts that you do. Very enlightening. I am kind of surprised to the fact that the embassy is not giving you a proper reply. US Embassies and Consulates around the world work under the Dept of State. You can get in contact with them over here in the US. If that is not working out for you, file a writ of mandamus. If you have not done anything illegal and wrong why should you be scared. I myself did a writ of Mandamus and got AOS cleared in 15 days. Writ of Mandamus is not fighting with the govt, its just asking for help from the court to order dept of state or in my case USCIS to adjudicate my case. Did you ever look into that?


At what point is it appropriate to file a writ of mandamus? My fiance has been in AP for 2 months - is there anything I can do at this point that would be proactive, or can I just wait?


After five months of AP waiting for security clearance, I recently consulted two different immigration attorneys about a writ of mandamus. Both told me the same thing, that regardless of the amount of time you've been waiting, it wouldn't do any good if the person you are filing for is outside the borders of the US.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-09-25 21:54:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)AP liklihood
Very true that there are no statistics or rhyme or reason to AP. Good advice to prepare for the worst and pray for the best. Be thankful that you will not be surprised if it does happen to you. My fiance and I NEVER saw it coming. I had no idea that there could be such a long delay after the interview. We've been waiting six months since the interview, and there are others that have been waiting a lot longer. mad.gif Waiting waiting waiting...

Hopefully you'll have better luck.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-26 21:14:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Want to hear a joke?
QUOTE (CassandraHaydar @ Oct 29 2008, 08:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Website

"Some visa applications require additional administrative processing, which requires some additional time. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of application."


Hahahaha!

Forgive my cynicism.



Any other company in the US we could sue for misrepresentation and false advertising. But no....... not the DOS. Hmph. Makes me want to say very bad words. mad.gif
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-30 15:07:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Want to hear a joke?
BBBBBBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHA rofl.gif

That is funny!

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE DAYS and still waiting waiting waiting.... mad.gif
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-29 09:30:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Please help! Do we need a waiver???
QUOTE (spookyturtle @ Oct 31 2008, 02:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think your authorized period of stay is the date on your I-94, not your EAD. And one thing I have learned in dealing with immigration issues is even if USCIS makes a mistake, it's still your problem. When you entered the US, you were admitted by Customs and Border Patrol. You were interviewed by USCIS, who said the CBP made a mistake telling you to apply for a green card. Bottom line is you suffer the consequences of their mistakes. I hope that all goes well at your interview, but I will be very surprised if a waiver is not required. A consult with one of the above lawyers should remove all doubt.


You're so right Spooky. Wouldn't it be nice if they could be held accountable?

This has made me very curious about the EAD and I'd love to know for sure... let us know how it goes Jen. When is your interview?
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-31 07:46:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Please help! Do we need a waiver???
QUOTE (Jen&James @ Oct 30 2008, 10:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's right. My ex WAS NOT a US Citizen. I'm pretty sure that he is not US Citizen even now. I'll tell you what happened. At the begining he applied to get a refugee status because of religion persecution. At the US Embassy in Moscow Russia the officer didn't give him status of refugee. My ex got status I wrote before. And because at that time I was his wife we came to US by the same status. I just want to know if my EAD will be a prove that I was in the country legaly? On the EAD card says that the person indentified is authorizes to work in the US for the validity of this card. I left the US two days before it was expired. How do you think will I have problems at the interview?


Regarding your parole status, I am inclined to think that you were admitted on parole status without an expiration date, rather than it "automatically extending by itself" as you said the officers told you. Nothing in our gov't extends automatically by itself. Also my understanding is that your EAD is your authorization to work in the US, and therefore be here in the US legally. You left before it expired. Based on the information I have, I still believe you were not out of status.

A consultation with an attorney would be your absolute safest bet, but if you can't afford it then you can't afford it. Try to relax and go to the interview with a positive outlook. You're not trying to hide anything and that is in your best interest. Everything will unfold as it should. Best of luck!
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-30 23:48:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Please help! Do we need a waiver???
QUOTE (Jen&James @ Oct 30 2008, 08:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (WonTanNara @ Oct 30 2008, 04:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
From what you've written it sounds like you entered the USA legally and then left before you were "out of status," so I believe you therefore you should not have any problems obtaining your K3. A waiver is for somebody who has applied for and been denied a visa. Based on what you've written here, as long as you can prove a bonefide marriage I think you'll be fine. Good luck.

WonTanNara, thank you for you good answer! I still have hope for good. smile.gif



I hope so too. Based on what you wrote, I was assuming (correctly) that your ex-husband was NOT in fact a US citizen.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-30 20:37:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Please help! Do we need a waiver???
From what you've written it sounds like you entered the USA legally and then left before you were "out of status," so I believe you therefore you should not have any problems obtaining your K3. A waiver is for somebody who has applied for and been denied a visa. Based on what you've written here, as long as you can prove a bonefide marriage I think you'll be fine. Good luck.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-30 15:02:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS
QUOTE (hyd617 @ Oct 31 2008, 01:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i just called DOS,

his name was james very helpful...

told me its stil under AP.. then i asked him about the last update, he said what do you mean last update? then i said i heard about a followup being done within last 30 days, and he said oh ok hold on and thencame back a min later. and this is what he said!!

basically if you have been in AP for 120 days or longer then either DOS or EMBASSY will put in a follow up. as mine was done in september he said.. i said who did that yall or embassy he said it could be either embassy in chennai or us. and since it was done in septemebr ( did not give me date) he said another follow up would be done in january then. but embassy can request at any time since mine was requested before the 120 day mark....

so keeping fingers crossed.. julia we both are in the same timeline for AP..

i asked him so basically we can hear something anytime now, he said ya.... BUT i am starting to put things together now.. after all my talks and answers, AND CHRIS TOLD ME THAT IF A FOLLOWUP WAS DONE WITHIN 30 DAYS (SOMETHING LIKE THAT) THEN AP CAN BE DONE WITHIN ANOTHER 30 DAYS... FOLLOW? PPS? I KNOW IT CAN BE CONFUSIN BUT I THINK IF SOMEONE REQUESTS A FOLLOWUP ON OUR CASES IT CAN BE A GOOD THING.. ACCORDING TO CHRIS HE SAID "IT CAN BE DONE" MEANINIG I THINK ap CAN BE OVER!!

INSHALLAH LETS SEE HOPE BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS INSHALLAH THIS WILL BE THE BEST GIFT TO US EVER....


I know the Dakar embassy is doing regular checks on the status of our case. That is a good thing, it means it's not forgotten sitting in pile somewhere. The reality is that our AP could be finished tomorrow or it could take another month or it could take another 4 months. Nobody knows but God.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-31 14:13:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS
QUOTE (JULIAFERNO @ Oct 31 2008, 10:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I just called DOS again. Spoke with Chris.

Him: "It just shows that the case is still undergoing administrative processing."
Me: "Can you tell me what stage of processing it is currently in?"
Him: "All I can see is that the case is still in administrative processing."
Me: "I am kind of confused...the embassy wrote my senator and told him that they cannot issue the visa until they receive word from DOS. Why is that?"
Him: "I can't tell you how long it is going to take. All I can see is that it is in administrative processing."
Me: "Okay, but my question is why did the embassy official inform my senator that they are waiting for word from DOS in order to proceed with processing the visa?"
Him: "I don't know."
Me: "The last time I called I was told that the case was last updated on August 27th. Have there been any updates since then?"
Him: "Yes, that was done in the last 30 days."
Me: "Okay, well that's all. Thank you."
Him: "Okay. Good luck."

Why can't they give you an ounce of information? Ridiculous!


It's a matter of "national security" don't ya know. Hmph. I've been told by the people at the 202 number, the consulate in Dakar, and also my senator's office that they can't see any updates or progress of the security checks. The embassy said they can see either complete or incomplete and that these "updates" are our inquiries, etc.

Hang in there Julia, it'll come. Did you ask your Senator to do an inquiry with the DOS? You should do that, it won't hurt.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-31 09:40:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS
Yeah, I've heard the same thing too. I don't think it's a total waste of time however...

My thoughts on calling DOS
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-29 09:40:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Remaining story after passport Requested
QUOTE (chaingang @ Nov 5 2008, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thank you emt103c , i am hoping , praying and counting on days i hope i will get visa next week if Allah is willing , i will let u know guys soon once visa is in my hands



Good luck Amin. You have been waiting a really long time and I hope you are reunited with your wife and babies very soon. Insh-Allah...
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-05 11:49:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Medical exam only good for 3-6 months?
QUOTE (miamiwife @ Nov 6 2008, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
No I am serious! He told me he had every single shot they required--chest x-ray, blood tests, the whole nine yards. Even with his military service where I am sure he received most of these shots already. He had no records at all--such a pain. I told him--you better get a copy of that report so you have records from now on. Tanya from the Turkish group also told me her husband's exam cost $700.


The difference is probably because they do not require all the vaccinations for a fiance visa (K1). Julia, you and I will have more expenses after we're married and we apply for AOS/greencard. Once my fiance and I are married I'll have insurance for him. Hopefully you will too and it will pay for the additional required vaccinations.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-10 21:56:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Medical exam only good for 3-6 months?
QUOTE (tammy2688 @ Oct 31 2008, 09:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You guys I know this sucks and paying again and going through it again but you know we have to do what is necessary to get the visas. I know the TB is valid in the US for one year too, I did not know about it only being valid for 3 months. It may depend on the country because it is valid for 1 year on Bangladesh - or it could depend on the consulate.

Whatever the fact is, this process is a long and hard one for many but no matter what we say or do, we have to adhere to the individual consulates' rules and that is the only way to successfully get the visas.

I hope all of you don't have to wait so long have to redo the medical but for those of you who do, I hope it goes well, and that your SOs are healthy and sound. On the upside, take it as a much cheaper check up, one that may have taken a lot more money to do here. It is always a good idea to get your SOs fully checked before coming here too, just to know they are healthy and to save money compared to here.

Hang in there guys, the process will end soon in sucess and like all of the other genuine cases, your visas will be issued.


God bless,
Tam


You always see the silver lining. star_smile.gif
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-31 08:38:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Medical exam only good for 3-6 months?
QUOTE (JULIAFERNO @ Oct 31 2008, 08:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The embassy in Ankara, Turkey just posted this notice on their administrative processing clearance site:

IMPORTANT REMINDER REGARDING MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS

Medical examinations classified as "Class B (TB)" are valid for 3 months from the date the doctor signed the report. All other medical examinations classified as "No apparent decease or defect" are valid for 6 months after the doctor’s signature date. If your case is subject to further administrative processing, your medical report may expire during the process. In that case, you are required to renew your examination and submit an updated medical report to our office when you come here to receive your immigrant visa.



Ugh, that stinks.

I asked the Dakar embassy the same question and they told me that my fiance's medical exam was valid for one year. I hope he doesn't have to do it again, it's not cheap!
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-31 08:06:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Backround check
QUOTE (JULIAFERNO @ Nov 14 2008, 09:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (miamiwife @ Nov 14 2008, 06:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It depends. Tell us a little about you situation. Some of us here in the AP group have been waiting several months for security checks and some only have to wait a few weeks. Seems to depend on the embassy, the country, name of the person, and the wind these days.


Yes...especially the wind.



Uh huh, most definately the wind. Seven months and waiting waiting waiting...

It will come though... have patience.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-14 11:11:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)interesting AP material
QUOTE (FSUmome @ Nov 16 2008, 08:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I came across this and it talks about the different checks that are performed I found it interesting
http://www2.gtlaw.co.../017/item07.htm


Quote from that article:

"DOS reports indicate that approximately 80% of CONDOR clearances are completed within 30 days. If a CONDOR check has been pending for over 90 days, inquiries to the DOS are recommended."

BWWAAAAHHAHAHAHAH! rofl.gif

And....

DOS reports indicate that approximately 80% of MANTIS clearances are completed within 30 days. If a MANTIS clearance has been pending for over 90 days, inquiries to the DOS are recommended.

AAAAAAAHAHAHAH! rofl.gif

Ok, and then there's this... how many of us actually know what clearances our SOs are undergoing? I have not been able to get any information about any of it.

Forgive my rant, I've gone from being really depressed today to being really pi$$ed off.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-16 20:30:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Any Updates?
QUOTE (JULIAFERNO @ Nov 14 2008, 09:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (WonTanNara @ Nov 10 2008, 09:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Waiting waiting waiting.... sad.gif

But, if we don't hear anything by the end of this week I'm buying a ticket to leave for Africa on Dec 17th. So, a little over five weeks and I'll see my love. heart.gif


Me too WonTanNara...I'm planning on buying my ticket to Turkey next week from Dec. 20 - Jan. 4 (my entire winter break). So there is that to look forward to!


Yup I got my ticket and am going back Dec 16th. We are both praying we will be able to come home together, it will be 9 months of AP by that time. AH Insh-Allah we will come home together...
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-14 11:14:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Any Updates?
Waiting waiting waiting.... sad.gif

But, if we don't hear anything by the end of this week I'm buying a ticket to leave for Africa on Dec 17th. So, a little over five weeks and I'll see my love. heart.gif
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-10 21:58:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)How to avoid AP/Denial
QUOTE (khengool @ Nov 18 2008, 11:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (miamiwife @ Nov 17 2008, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
khengool--what is happening with the visa? Anything?


Call the CDC and ask questions.

Trust me.

You will be surprised.


CDC? As in the Center for Disease Control? Huh? Looks like you and my fiance have been waiting about the same amount of time khengool. Hopefully soon...
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-19 14:28:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)How to avoid AP/Denial
QUOTE (TBoneTX @ Nov 18 2008, 06:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (milo75 @ Nov 17 2008, 06:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yes you can be put into AP for relationship proof like my SO and I were - but having the proof with you won't necessarily avoid it. We had a vast majority of what was requested to be handed in by the CO at the interview but the CO stated he would not look at it at that time ... in our case the CO refused to look at what we did have - just having it with you is no guarantee you'll avoid a 221(g) for relationship proof.
It's good -- sad, actually -- to hear of a second consulate besides "mine" where this garbage happens. It's months later and I'm now married, and I remain 100% livid at the consular treatment.



My fiance has his interview the same day as yours, 4/29/08 and we're still waiting for his visa. crying.gif This process is ridiculously inefficient and VERY broken.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-18 18:47:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)How to avoid AP/Denial
I will add this... be happy that you are aware of it. Some of us thought we had done all of our homework and were completely blindsided by being put into AP.

Tammy is right, pay attention to every little last detail when preparing your paperwork, and also go overboard with proof of your relationship. Some people get put into AP for relationship verification. If you can prove it at the interview, you can avoid a delay.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-17 10:32:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)2006 AP
If I were you I'd be finding a lawyer and filing a lawsuit against the DOS. It's called a Writ of Mandamus. Some lawyers have told me that it will help, some have told me it will not. My fiance has only been on AP for 7 months so I'm not quite ready to file yet. The amount of time you've had to wait is absolutely RIDICULOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE.

Writ of Mandamus on Wikipedia

There is a lot of stuff out there on Google. I've seen cases that were pending AOS for years that were completed after filing of a writ but I have yet to find a case where this will help for security clearance. If I were you, I'd be searching for an attorney who has experience with this. I'll begin the search if we don't have my fiance's visa after 12 months of AP.

Good luck.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-20 22:16:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)AP types?
QUOTE (tammy2688 @ Nov 20 2008, 02:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
WanTanNara, Chaingang, I am so very deeply wishing for good news from you guys.

God bless,
Tam



Thanks Tam. heart.gif
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-20 22:21:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)AP types?
QUOTE (chaingang @ Nov 18 2008, 01:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (miamiwife @ Nov 17 2008, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey chaingang--what is going on? Tammy finished--how are you doing with your visa? Anything?




hey wontara , miamiwife i hope you guys are fine , well i am still waiting for them

This time i called embassy and they told me that we are reviewing your police and medical report and once we are done with that we will let u know , i told him its 3 weeks now , he told me that we have only one guy to review medical and police report and we have thousands and thousands of applicants ,

so one guy is reviewing all those police and medical report thats why he said it can be time consuming ,,,,,,,,,

he told me we received your documents on 4th of november and i sent them on 27th of october , i wonder why would they say we received on 4th of november ,


it means i wont count on days in october and 3 days of november means that one week is gone

then 2 saturdays and sundays and on last tuesday they were closed too , so those 5 days are also gone


7 days earlier plus 5 days = 12 days

so i think those 12 days are wasted from total of 22 days

so lets hope and pray for the best but i will wait coz Allah says in Surah hajj (The pilgrimage) chapter no 22 verse no 15


"Whoever thinks that Allah will not help him (Muhammad SAW) in this world and in the Hereafter, let him stretch out a rope to the ceiling and let him strangle himself. Then let him see whether his plan will remove that whereat he rages! "


hope , patience , believe in Allah , strong faith in Allah will make our lives easy

May Allah give us peace of mind and soul and help us in our hard days of our lives
Amin
ya Raball AAlmin


Hopefully it will be soon, I want you to see your wife and babies.

Me, I am up and down but I cannot complain. God brought me and my fiance together across the ocean and I will see him 4 weeks from today! kicking.gif

You are so right, patience is very important. When the time is right for us all, it will come. I can't wait to see your dancing men!
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-18 10:07:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)AP types?
QUOTE (chaingang @ Nov 17 2008, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
brother i was in ap only for 20 months , so i cant talk on your behalf , but pray , remember Allah , and believe in Allah will give u peace of mind and soul ,

do submit what they told you , also send your passport that will save your time ,

my prayers r with you


Chaingang where ya been? Any progress on your visa? I hope so!
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-17 12:41:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (JULIAFERNO @ Nov 21 2008, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Wontonara - you are right, and I do feel that I have been pretty strong and patient, but when my fiance starts saying that he is going to cancel the visa application if he is still in AP 2 months from now, I break down. I understand that this could take a year, but he is not willing to wait that long. He wants me to come there and he wants to end this waiting game. I understand that at some point we have to make a decision if this continues to drag on, but I am not at the point where I feel like I am ready to stop waiting for AP to be done...he is. I don't know what to do. I can't keep him from calling the embassy and canceling his visa application and I can't force him to do this. I feel so helpless.


Yeah honey I saw your other post about that after I wrote this one. Take a look, oK? I'm so sorry. You're right, you can't control what he says or does. You can only control what you do. Marriage is not easy (been divorced once already myself). It takes a lot of work and above all, patience. After everything you've been through, if he's going to give up this soon, then you can't do anything about it. You know what? If it really comes to that, I think you deserve better. I said this before, you are so young and a year is NOTHING compared to how much time you will have to spend together.

I've come to realize that this AP ####### is a big test. I think God wants to see just how serious we are about each other, because he is about to leave homeland for me, and I am about to take on a huge responsibility both financially and personally. I'm so happy my fiance has handled this wait with grace. Sure he's had his meltdowns and so have I but I'm so proud of him. He's stuck outside of his home country, waiting, waiting, waiting, with no work, no ballet to keep him occupied... it's been so hard on him and yet he always says "Take courage Jen, when God is ready I will have my visa." I want you (and everybody on AP) to experience that kind of support from your SO. I am blessed.

Please Julia, take care of yourself. heart.gif My heart goes out to you.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-21 17:51:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (JULIAFERNO @ Nov 21 2008, 01:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I hate my life right now sad.gif


Julia, here is a loving smack upside the head. Smack. I know it's hard, I really do. I'm going through the same thing and am nearly into my 8th month of AP. You need to stay positive! This is all unfolding the way it's supposed to. Trust in God, or the Universe, or whatever your higher power may be. The visa will come when the time is right. Focus on all that is good in your life right now, we all have a lot to be thankful for! Just think... you found your love across an ocean and there are many people that never find it. You are young! Four months in the grand scheme of your life is nothing!

Regarding the name checks, it's all being done stateside (verified by my Senator). The police reports from various countries cover the different places your fiance lived. Somebody with the same or a similar name did something here to get his name in some random US gov't agency database. This time is hell for us, but 4-8 months or more of AP for security clearance is perfectly normal these days. There is nothing wrong, they just have a ga-zillion applications to process and, though the process is ridiculously broken, they are trying to protect our borders.

Courage. rose.gif
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-11-21 15:35:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (hyd617 @ Oct 28 2008, 08:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
thanks wontantara

i hope we all have a AP to Complete news soon. inshAllah...


Insh-Allah...
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-28 20:19:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (TBoneTX @ Oct 28 2008, 05:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (FSUmome @ Oct 28 2008, 01:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
at DOS she told me if you want first hand information call the Embassy itself and I think she is right
See my earlier post in this thread. She is right. Phoning DOS for information is a nearly complete waste of time, except that most of the agents are a bit more congenial and sympathetic than anyone at USCIS. You must call your embassy -- and, if you are a U.S. citizen, insist on speaking with an American.


Most embassies these days won't even take calls regarding pending cases. I know Dakar does not, they insist that you send an email. And, if your case is pending security clearance from Washington, then the embassy can't tell you diddly squat. Or they won't. Whatever the difference. I've asked them several times if they can see any progress on our security checks and they tell me "we're sorry, it's out of our hands and we're only privy to see a status of complete or not complete."

AP is just a big freakin' secretive black hole especially if it's for security checks. In my opinion the best thing you can do is have your senator do inquiries on your behalf. As I said earlier, their DOS liason is privy to a little bit more information, in other words they can tell you if the checks are complete. The AP status on our cases will eventually change. When that happens, you can start riding the embassy if they sit on it too long.

Example: Nita called one day and voila, the status on her husband's case had changed from AP to passport requested. Luckily the embassy did not sit on her case and that very day her husband got the call and now has his visa. In Tammy's case, the first round of security checks were sent to the embassy, but they sat on her case until the checks expired and they had to do it again. At that point in time she wasn't aware she could call Washington to check on the status of her case and therefore never knew the first round had been completed.

I don't think calling the DOS is a complete waste of time, just don't expect to get any more information from the DOS until that AP status changes.
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-28 17:59:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (hyd617 @ Oct 28 2008, 02:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
WONTANTARA inshAllah dont worry.. keep ur faith....

i know you will get it.. God is with us and cannot give us anything we cannot handle

u mention this
AP can be for several different things. It could be for document verification, it could be to investigate the relationship and do home visits, or it could, as in my fiance's case, be for security clearance. Maybe if the AP is not security clearance they could tell you things like "it's in the last 30 days" but I believe nobody can give you any information if it is security clearance

WHAT DO U MEAN, THEY CAN SAY THINGS LIKE :ITS IN THE LAST 30 DAYS?

DID THE OPERATOR TELL U SOMETHIN ON THAT PHRASE? PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS I AWAS TOLD THAT BY dos OPERATOR 2 WWEKS AGO...

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT U MEAN about that please maybe its a hint to my case that its not in sec check wacko.gif


Hi there,

I was in fact referring to the comment you received from DOS a few weeks ago. I was very surprised when I read that because from my experience I just don't see how they could tell you that. I don't say that to make you feel bad or take away hope... not at all, I just don't see how it's possible, unless the processes are different for different types of AP. None of it makes any sense, eh?

You are right about keeping the faith. Insh-Allah we'll all be reunited soon.

At the very least I'm going back to Africa to see him in December...
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-28 13:35:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
I just called the DOS. Our interview was six months ago today. crying.gif Of course I played dumb and the woman was actually very pleasant to me. She told me everything she could see in our file, which of course had nothing to do with anything going on with our AP. She said "ok it looks like you had your interview in April, they have your contact numbers, I see Senator inquiries, then she got all excited and said OH it looks like he's good to go!" I said WHAT? WHAT WHAT WHAT? She said "After his AP is finished he's good to go, that's great news!" Oh, well, yeah I knew that already but I suppose it's nice to have that confirmation. I said is there any way to see what's been going on with the AP? She said "Unfortunately, no. We used to have a lot more leeway but they came in and changed our system so now the only thing we can see is that the case is in AP." I have been given that same response by several DOS employees.

AP can be for several different things. It could be for document verification, it could be to investigate the relationship and do home visits, or it could, as in my fiance's case, be for security clearance. Maybe if the AP is not security clearance they could tell you things like "it's in the last 30 days" but I believe nobody can give you any information if it is security clearance. My advice to those on AP would be to get with your Senator and find out the exact reason for the AP. Each Senator has a DOS liason that can give a little more information than the DOS employees at the 202 number.

I also asked her if such a long delay is common. She said "I don't want to scare you and I hope your case will not go this long, but I've seen them go as long as a year. Six months is really not uncommon." mad.gif Well, we already knew that too, right? Tammy, chaingang, and others have been waiting longer than a year.

I'm so crabby with our gov't right now...
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-28 12:49:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (Nita&Assaad @ Oct 24 2008, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It seems weird to say but I do believe this long waiting process has made our marriage stronger, that's for sure I got to know my husbands moods much better biggrin.gif


That is not weird at all Nita, I say this every day. The morning of our interview was the first time I saw my fiance act like a total JERK. His passport photos that he got in Guinea were too small and he took it out on ME! Like it was my fault! He was practically running down the streets of Dakar trying to find a photo shop leaving me in the dust. As I was trying to keep up in my fancy interview sandals I was thinking in my head "OMG I don't know if I can handle this!" I was fuming the entire time we were waiting for our interview. FUMING! However, after the whole experience of the interview and being put on AP for the last six months, this wait has enabled us to get to know each other under stressful situations too. I now know exactly how to handle him when he gets mad and I can diffuse it so we're laughing 5 minutes later. He now knows how to handle me when I get all emotional and sensitive and can get me laughing within 5 minutes too. I now have absolutely no doubts about this endeavor and I think this wait was necessary for us both to get to this point. Our relationship is DEFINATELY stronger not only in spite of the wait, but because of it.

OT, but I had custom rings made for us and I got them today! I want to post a picture into my signature but I can't seem to figure it out. blush.gif It seems as if the only way is to have a link to the photo to insert, but the photo is on my PC. If anybody wants to PM me w/ that info I sure would be grateful!
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-24 11:46:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (browneyedgirl @ Oct 23 2008, 08:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Today the lady at the DOS told me "We arent the ones who work your file, we just work the phones." What happened to the USCIS announcement back in April that 95-98% of security clearances will last for only 30 days and the other 2% will end in 60 days.The DOS website states most are done in 60days. I think our files just sit until they run the clearance which probably "is" only 60days.Meanwhile, our lives are on hold till some government worker decides to start working on our cases. Like our lives havent been on hold long enough. I think with the kind of money we pay for this process we should get better service. mad.gif And there should be a max timeframe. We should also have the option to pay more for expedited service. Just like we do to get our passports. I think they tell us AP and nothing else cuz they definitely dont want to say nobody has worked your file yet although we have had it for the last 3-4 months and dont know if we will get to it in the next 3 months either. mad.gif mad.gif


Our cases DO sit for months without being touched... in a big long queue. But, I don't think it's until somebody just decides on a whim to work it, I think it's because there are over a million visa applications processed every year and they are completely swamped. I asked my Senator why somebody who had an interview in July and is on AP for security clearance would get their visa before my fiance, who had his interview in April. She said it depends on how many different security checks need to be done. The more checks that need to be done, the more time you will spend "waiting in line."

Has anyone ever had to answer phones for a living? I have, and it's not an easy job. You basically listen to people's problems all day and some of them are not very nice to you. Some of them are downright rude and nasty. After a while you DO become robotic. It's unfortunate, and very frustrating for those of us who really would like to hear a compassionate voice that can give us all the answers we need (myself included). Though there is MUCH to be improved upon, I do not believe that there is malicious intent in this process.

I feel the same way all of you do ladies, we've been waiting for six months (which is nothing when I think about poor Tam and Chaingang waiting over a year) and this sucks. I have days where I can barely get out of bed and sit at my desk on the verge of tears unable to focus. But, we have to stay positive. In the grand scheme of life and how many years you have left to live with your spouse, this is just a little bleep on the timeline. Use this time to reaffirm your love for one another. Talk about the important things so there are no surprises when you are finally together. After what you've been through, talk about never taking each other for granted! Let's help each other focus on the good stuff.

Insh-Allah, our time is coming...
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-24 09:26:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (Nita&Assaad @ Oct 23 2008, 02:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
crying.gif headbonk.gif sad.gif

I hope you ALL get your AP over soon!! This is not fair!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to be a Wizard and fix this problem huh.gif

Come on AP be OVER, come on AP be OVER... Use the law of attraction guys!!!

Nita luv.gif


The two of us are workin' on it Nita, every day when we talk we say it out loud, "It won't be long now." Even the cowrie shells have told him that it's not long now. wink.gif The power of positive thinking...
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-23 13:09:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (chaingang @ Oct 23 2008, 01:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (hyd617 @ Oct 23 2008, 12:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
so they did not say anything about requesting parents names??

then how did they tell you that when you called before.. do they even know what they are saying? or is this all made up?? mad.gif



most of time they are confused by themselves too lol trust me on that


When I ask if there are updates they always tell me about the updates I already know about such as Senator inquiries, phone number changes, things like that. If I ask if there are any updates on the progress of our security clearance, they always tell me there's no way for them to see that. Sometimes I think they make up this ####### just to get us off the phone. I've also asked the embassy if they can see any updates on the progress of our security checks and they told me "we are not privy to that information, we can only see if the checks are incomplete or complete." And so we wait...

Happy happy joy joy happy happy joy joy happy happy joy joy joy... mad.gif
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-23 12:19:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)DOS answers
QUOTE (FSUmome @ Oct 23 2008, 10:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I called DOS again today.......Well Just for the record the more I thought about them asking for my husbands parents names the more it didn't make sense. So today I called and asked for them to verify that the name request had been received she put me on hold for a long time she come back and said what is your question again I told her she was confused she said I dont see anything like that I asked her when the last update was and she said when the senator inquired in september so I am back to square one she did add it shouldnt be much longer and I asked her why and she replied because you have been her AP since July LOL we know that means nothing sorry that I have nothing more favorable to add LOL now I sound like the Embassy


Yeah we've been on AP since April. Are we there yet? Almost. Are we there yet? Almost. Are we there yet? Just a little longer. Are we there yet? Shouldn't be too much longer...
WonTanNaraFemaleGuinea2008-10-23 11:50:00