Hi Guys,
I am back with the full account of my interview.
I was scheduled march 7 to the embassy. We are a family of 4 and my wife was pregnant; she was due in March too. So before we got the 2nd NL we prayed for her to deliver after the interview. Fortunately, when we met the doctor, he said that the best time to do the caesarean will be March 21, that’s exactly 2 weeks after the interview. We were pretty happy with that.
Two weeks before the interview we did the medicals and everything was fine with us and the kids.
The day of the interview we were at the embassy 20 minutes before our appointment time. We underwent all the security screenings. We took the lift to the visa interview waiting room. I took a number and before I found a seat for myself after installing the kids and my wife, my number was called to submit all the papers. They were received in the following order: the principal applicant (me), my wife and the kids.
My kids’ documents and mine were Ok. For my wife there was a small mistake. Her name on the passport was different from the one in the E-DV system and on the DS-230 form.
When the lady was verifying our documents, I noticed that she realized the mistake. Instead of letting her ask why, I handed her a replacement DS-230 with the correct information. She took the paper and made sure that the other information are correct and asked me to go and pay the DV fees and bring the receipt to her, which I did.
I was instructed to wait to be called by the officer for the interview. After just 10 minutes, my number was called to face the IO. It was a black young and smiling lady. I must admit that this really helped to calm me down.
I will go with you first and then I will call your wife, she said. She asked me to swear and I did. She asked me some questions (why do you want to live in USA, how many kids do you have, when was your last time to visit USA, who is the person you are headed to in USA). The IO then called my wife asked her to swear and we both signed DS-230. I signed for the kids who were still in the waiting room.
After all that, to my surprise, the lady told me that she can not approve the case, that I was ineligible to enter the DV because my country is not listed as DV lottery beneficiary, which I denied. She went to see a supervisor, came back and apologized for her mistake. She then continues screening the documents and handed me the originals.
After about 2 minutes typing, she said congratulations, your visa case is approved. She handed a welcome paper with instructions on how to collect our passports. I gave a big kiss to my wife in front of the IO. She concluded you have a lovely family, your daughters are really beautiful. I wish you good luck in USA. The whole process took about an hour and half.
The white paper said that the passports with the visa will be available in 5 working days. In march 14, a week after the interview nothing in the mail and no information from the embassy. I gave them a call and they said that no visa information is given over the phone; I should send them an e-mail.
The same day, I discovered that one can track the status of his visa application on this website (ceac.state.gov/ceac). I went there, entered my number and surprise, surprise, surprise all of our case was not approved.
My case status was “ISSUED” with the description related to administrative processing. My wife and kids cases were “READY” as if they did not attend any interview.
My wife and I decided not to send an e-mail but just give them the time necessary to complete their procedure. From this time on, I visited the site several times in a day to see any update.
A week after (March 20), my kids’ case became “ISSUED” with the same description for administrative processing cases. My wife was still “READY”.
Effectively, my wife was ready to deliver the baby as she was scheduled in March 21. We went to the hospital early in the morning. At 1.52 pm, she gave birth to another beautiful baby girl.
The following Monday, my wife case status changed to “ISSUED” with the same description as mine. Again we decided not to contact the embassy until Thursday.
In the morning of March 28, exactly 3 weeks after our interview and a week after the birth of our baby, I sent a message to the embassy requiring additional information on our visa application.
Miracle, Miracle, Miracle after an hour, our status started changing one by one online.
All of us case status remained “ISSUED” but the description changed to “Your visa has been printed…”
I collected our passports in April 2. The visa issuance date is March 28 and it is valid for 5 months. My wife’s visa has her maiden name; the y did not write it the way it appears in the passport.
So, here is my story. Now I am wondering how I will bring my baby with me in USA. I read somewhere that when a baby is born after the interview and visa issuance all we need to do is travel with it and it case will be handled at the POE.
In my case the baby was born after the interview date but before visa issuance date. What do you guys thing I should do? The baby’s birth certificate and passport are not available yet and may take several weeks to be issued.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I can’t thank enough God and you guys Gabam, Ladylady and aboalSold (I have you in my prayers for the end of your AP), the Kenyan members thread, Jimma Boy, varxx, Sm1Smom, aos13 and Kazore for your prayers and answers to my inquiries. God bless you all.
Sorry for this long story. I really felt the need to give more details to inspire those who may be in the same boat as I also benefited from others experience.
I am back with the full account of my interview.
I was scheduled march 7 to the embassy. We are a family of 4 and my wife was pregnant; she was due in March too. So before we got the 2nd NL we prayed for her to deliver after the interview. Fortunately, when we met the doctor, he said that the best time to do the caesarean will be March 21, that’s exactly 2 weeks after the interview. We were pretty happy with that.
Two weeks before the interview we did the medicals and everything was fine with us and the kids.
The day of the interview we were at the embassy 20 minutes before our appointment time. We underwent all the security screenings. We took the lift to the visa interview waiting room. I took a number and before I found a seat for myself after installing the kids and my wife, my number was called to submit all the papers. They were received in the following order: the principal applicant (me), my wife and the kids.
My kids’ documents and mine were Ok. For my wife there was a small mistake. Her name on the passport was different from the one in the E-DV system and on the DS-230 form.
When the lady was verifying our documents, I noticed that she realized the mistake. Instead of letting her ask why, I handed her a replacement DS-230 with the correct information. She took the paper and made sure that the other information are correct and asked me to go and pay the DV fees and bring the receipt to her, which I did.
I was instructed to wait to be called by the officer for the interview. After just 10 minutes, my number was called to face the IO. It was a black young and smiling lady. I must admit that this really helped to calm me down.
I will go with you first and then I will call your wife, she said. She asked me to swear and I did. She asked me some questions (why do you want to live in USA, how many kids do you have, when was your last time to visit USA, who is the person you are headed to in USA). The IO then called my wife asked her to swear and we both signed DS-230. I signed for the kids who were still in the waiting room.
After all that, to my surprise, the lady told me that she can not approve the case, that I was ineligible to enter the DV because my country is not listed as DV lottery beneficiary, which I denied. She went to see a supervisor, came back and apologized for her mistake. She then continues screening the documents and handed me the originals.
After about 2 minutes typing, she said congratulations, your visa case is approved. She handed a welcome paper with instructions on how to collect our passports. I gave a big kiss to my wife in front of the IO. She concluded you have a lovely family, your daughters are really beautiful. I wish you good luck in USA. The whole process took about an hour and half.
The white paper said that the passports with the visa will be available in 5 working days. In march 14, a week after the interview nothing in the mail and no information from the embassy. I gave them a call and they said that no visa information is given over the phone; I should send them an e-mail.
The same day, I discovered that one can track the status of his visa application on this website (ceac.state.gov/ceac). I went there, entered my number and surprise, surprise, surprise all of our case was not approved.
My case status was “ISSUED” with the description related to administrative processing. My wife and kids cases were “READY” as if they did not attend any interview.
My wife and I decided not to send an e-mail but just give them the time necessary to complete their procedure. From this time on, I visited the site several times in a day to see any update.
A week after (March 20), my kids’ case became “ISSUED” with the same description for administrative processing cases. My wife was still “READY”.
Effectively, my wife was ready to deliver the baby as she was scheduled in March 21. We went to the hospital early in the morning. At 1.52 pm, she gave birth to another beautiful baby girl.
The following Monday, my wife case status changed to “ISSUED” with the same description as mine. Again we decided not to contact the embassy until Thursday.
In the morning of March 28, exactly 3 weeks after our interview and a week after the birth of our baby, I sent a message to the embassy requiring additional information on our visa application.
Miracle, Miracle, Miracle after an hour, our status started changing one by one online.
All of us case status remained “ISSUED” but the description changed to “Your visa has been printed…”
I collected our passports in April 2. The visa issuance date is March 28 and it is valid for 5 months. My wife’s visa has her maiden name; the y did not write it the way it appears in the passport.
So, here is my story. Now I am wondering how I will bring my baby with me in USA. I read somewhere that when a baby is born after the interview and visa issuance all we need to do is travel with it and it case will be handled at the POE.
In my case the baby was born after the interview date but before visa issuance date. What do you guys thing I should do? The baby’s birth certificate and passport are not available yet and may take several weeks to be issued.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I can’t thank enough God and you guys Gabam, Ladylady and aboalSold (I have you in my prayers for the end of your AP), the Kenyan members thread, Jimma Boy, varxx, Sm1Smom, aos13 and Kazore for your prayers and answers to my inquiries. God bless you all.
Sorry for this long story. I really felt the need to give more details to inspire those who may be in the same boat as I also benefited from others experience.