Urgent Help | Parents VISA decision

[bittu218]

My parents went for the VISA interview yesterday at Delhi embassy. Both of them went to the same window at the same time and Dad was the one who answered all the questions. The outcome is that my mom got the VISA but, for my dad they told that they need to do some additional administrative processing and returned his passport & Draft.

I need guidance in trying to understand the situation and to understand the prospects of my dad's VISA app. Will appreciate it as we do not know what exactly this means and what type of situation is this. We are kind of stuck wherein one has VISA and another does not and they cannot travel separate. Either both will travel or noone will travel.

Kindly repond to the following questions:-
1. What does the "Additional Administrative Processing" mean and what type of processing/enquiry is done?
2. How long does it take for this process to complete?
3. What is the process followed? I mean, how do I know when the process is complete? Do I need to get in touch with the embassy or someone else to get clarity on the status of this processing?

All responses/previous expeirences will be appreciated.

thanks & regards
Bittu

[Murali]

Did he get any letter from consulate ?

Adminstrative procesing means , consulate need to verify some details about applicants records/documents.
If case is genuine and provided all authentic documents, you dont have to worry, just wait for some time and he should get the visa.
It may take few days to few weeks. In mean time you shoudl followup with consulate.
this article may also be helpful.
http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/adminprocess.html

[saisai]

It might take couple of weeks to months to make decision. It is a good sign that they did not reject his visa. Wait to hear from them.
Good Luck!

[bittu218]

Thanks for the reponses guys. My dad got a yellow colour letter which says "Your application requires additional administrative processing before a final decision can be made. This office will contact you once this administrative processing has been completed".

In the past I have heard about the PINK & BLUE letters. Even on the consulate they talk about the letters of these colour. However, yellow colour letter seems to be something different.

Any ideas? Any type of guidance will be highly appreciated.

[saisai]

If your dad's occupation in Technology Alert List (TAL), or a muslim name(not all), job related to weapons, defence, chemical eng. etc...

Sometimes it is just bad luck. This happens mostly with H1B visa but with your dad they could have simply refused visa. Since it is not refused he will get his visa soon but will take sometime.

Have patience.

[bittu218]

Hey SaiSai, thanks for the response. You have hit it right may be. My dad was an Airforce Officer and his name sound like a Muslim name too. So, what type of checks these are. Do they not give VISAS to Defence people? Do they not give VISAS to muslims now or to the people whose name sound like Muslim name?

In they checks they make, what are they trying to figure out actually? Most important ... how long will these checks take? Knowing these will give us some vibility.

[saisai]

honestly, nobody knows what they check. whatever it is the process is anywhere between 2 weeks to couple of months. and most of the time the results are positive if the candidate is geniune. You have no choice than to wait. You can also call visa office to have an update if they don;t get back to you in 2 weeks.
Good Luck!

[bittu218]

SaiSai, thanks for the guidance and the knowledge you shared.

[NewYorker]

Hi Bittu,

I'm in the same boat with you. Though both my parents went for the interview and my dad answered all the q's, they gave my mom the visa and not to my dad. Ditto situation with my parents, they'll either travel together or not at all.

After repititve calls, they gave me a case no.

Did htey give you a case no ? Can you tell me what date did they attend the interview ?

They didnt even give my father any kind of pink / blue / yellow handout slip. Nothing.... it's extremely frustrating. All the enthu my folks had is not the same, and they are more willing to travel to Australia and Europe than come to this country.

Have you heard anything from them, would youplease lkeep me posted what's happening since we both are int he same situation.

Look forward to hear from you.

Thank you,
NY

[NewYorker]

Hi Bittu,

Have you heard from the consulate, yet ?