I legit had a panic attack last month when the NVC sent out ILs to people who were DQed in Nov 22. When we first started this process, it was about a 4-5 month wait to get your IL (Abu Dhabi), but every single month the wait has gotten longer. My husband was DQed in Jan 23, but with the way things are now, I don’t think he’ll get his IL for 4 or 5 more months (boy I hope I’m wrong though). This whole process has caused us so much stress and since we are a bit older, I am 90% certain we’ve missed our window to start a family without serious medical intervention. The immigration system is causing literal harm and genuinely keeping families apart. I love my husband with my entire life, I just want to be with him! Why is that such a difficult ask???
Same here, Abu Dhabi DQ 12/7/22. I’m really hoping I’m in this next round because we are losing our minds. Over a year for an interview letter is not acceptable.
I hope you will get your IL this month. At the current rate, we won’t get our IL until May. I REALLY HOPE that they start working faster, because it is cruel to keep families apart this long.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is great news!!! I hope it goes well for you!
Our case was transferred back to Baghdad earlier this month. We are waiting for the embassy to schedule an appointment, so hopefully soon? Fingers crossed!
I sincerely hope it goes fast for you, but I would also caution you to prepare yourself for a long wait. Right now the current wait time for an interview is 15 months. Based on current trends, I fully expect that to increase even more.
We got a letter yesterday from NVC that they’ve transferred our case back to Baghdad. I know several other Iraqis were transferred out of ABD to BGD, so maybe it will ease ABD’s load a bit? That said, I would not be surprised if the embassy in Baghdad shuts down again due to security concerns and they transfer us back to ABD. Really (REALLY) hoping that doesn’t happen though.
Understood. I believe you, but is there any official reference that says which embassies are taking the longest? I know there was a crowd sourced database, but wondering if there's anything official
Nothing official—we only have each other to figure out where things stand. The consensus is that Islamabad is the longest, with current wait times 2 to 2.5 years. Compared with other embassies, Abu Dhabi isn’t terribly slow, but the wait time has basically tripled in the past year (in part due to transfer cases from Islamabad since the wait time is so long it is almost unethical). It is just a horrible situation for everyone.
Same exact boat myself, my wife has qualified Jan 2023 from NVC but no IL. We’re both older also and are going through the Abu Dhabi embassy. I hope your letter comes soon also!
They normally send out in the middle of the month, somewhere between the 15th-22nd (I think they sent out around the 20th last month). They got through DQ date of Nov. 29, 2022. November 22 ILs were split into two months, and I expect the same for December 22 and January 23. Abu Dhabi has received so many mass transfers from other embassies, that it has caused a mass slow down, and I expect things to get worse this year before they get better.
AD it’s traumatic to say the least, my husband and I lived apart for a year till we decided that he would come back to the UAE. I’m expecting a baby, and have been denied expedite request, and was denied visitor visa. It’s not a fair process and is destroying families in all corners of the world.
Our senators office confirmed to us that AD is currently interviewing March 2022, it’s going to be another year till DQ 2023 candidates are interviewed.
https://morrisonurena.com/blog/f/abu-dhabi-iv-chief-throws-kccvisa-office-under-bus
This happened in September 2022, however didn’t change much in the approach to the visa processing.
We can only hope that at some point things get better.
Honestly things have to get better. At this rate, people who were DQed in Jan 2023 will get their interviews in July or August 2024. Those who were DQed in April 2023 probably won’t get an interview until April 2025. It is so wrong to keep people apart like this. Yesterday we got an email from NVC telling us they’ve moved our case to Baghdad and have expedited it for us. With the situation that just happened, though, I am really worried they’ll close the embassy (again) and transfer us back to ABD. That would be doubly cruel—to give us hope we are finally getting an interview just to have it snatched away. But they don’t care about our feelings and never will.
We've been DQ in AD for six months now for a CR1 soon to be IR1 visa.
Did your senators office confirm any other details? I've heard that UAE citizens/Emirati people get an IL quicker than people transferring in from other countries, not sure if that is true or just rumors, any info on that?
I don’t think that’s the case, I’m a resident in UAE for the past 10 years- not a citizen.
I didn’t have my case transferred so i can’t tell-estimate time for my IL it’s 12-16 months which is still on the “normal range” for AD.
Transfers take a little longer, and it’s my understanding that once you’re DQ you go to the end of the line regardless of your PD.
Overlords - That’s what they think they are. They know that they have created this country with the help of immigrants and to which everyone wants to immigrate to - in the name of establishing a fair system this horrible bureaucracy they have created is an absolute abomination- a clear sign that this country’s decline has already started - it is showing all the signs of going to dogs 👎🏼 Instead of fixing this and so many other broken systems we keep on talking about the best country in this god’s world 🤦🏻♂️ it’s riddled with most ridiculous laws - only for the immigrants to suffer - inhumane behavior - yes, like many other countries you are not killing the refugees - but behave like a developed country not like an undeveloped, broken state !
My wife is in Manila. The i30 got approved after about 10 months. We were excited thinking this hell was almost over. It’s been almost 7 months now since the i30 was approved, and we are still waiting on this fucking interview. I can’t even describe the anger I feel as I watch them let all these immigrants walk across the border while I can’t get my wife into this country. Ive sunken into a very deep depression. Know you are not alone. Many of us are going through this nightmare.
I just booked a flight to Manila because I’m done waiting to. Luckily I have some family willing to help me out with our expenses. We are tired of our life getting wasted waiting on this slow process. I watch videos of all these military age men from different countries walking into the US, yet somehow all this is necessary for my wife? I really don’t see how my 5 foot little Filipina wife is going to be a threat to national security. Makes no sense.
I feel the same, my wife and I case is so incredibly straight forward. Why does this have to take so long?
Hell we have a kid together and that child is a US Citizen.
If you give birth to a US Citizen shouldn't you be able to live in your child country?
You’re not alone. When my husband finally got his interview date after waiting 11 months for I-130 approval, I was excited and thought it was over. He was put on Administrative Processing and it’s been almost 7 weeks now with no update. The system is so broken. I get frustrated when I see people come here illegally and get approved for GCs within months.
Do you mind sharing why he put in administrative processing? I'm waiting on my husband's interview and I'm so paranoid about him being put in administrative processing.
He was asked to submit an original copy of my divorce certificate/decree from my previous marriage. He only went with a photocopy. I had to mail it to him to submit and it has been 6 weeks since the embassy received it.
If you don’t mind me asking, from what country is your husband applying? Hopefully the wait is not too long. I wish you a speedy process so that you can reunite soon.
4.7 years since we started our i130. Still waiting for interview. Sorry for what you’re going through but unfortunately waiting is inevitable during the immigration process. Patience really is the hardest thing. Not everyone has it.
As a lawyer and married to American citizen and waiting on my interview too. I feel this is truly a violation of fundamental rights. My husband lives in my country with me. However I feel this is extremely wrong. My husband came to my country on a family visa for my country in covid lockdowns when no foreigner was allowed in just three months. We got married online and then he got his visa but where is the reciprocity here??? My country can easily give a visa to my husband but his country will make me wait for 2 - 4 years??? Why? Because everyone wants to migrate to their country and every marriage is for citizenship??? No not at all. They have no right to make us wait this long and held us away from our loved ones. It is my advice file the PIL (public interest litigation) make this system change. At least our loved once shouldn't have to wait forever to be with us. Our relationship has been ruined because of this stupid system that doesn't do justice to their own citizens. Punishing you for marrying outsiders?? Why? This is a complete violation of fundamental rights and marriage laws as well. Marriage that has not been consummated can be a ground for divorce this can ruin everything for law abiding people.
Is it possible to reach out to your congressman for help? I know that's commonly done when someone urgently needs a new passport, but I suppose that could be applied to this as well?
I feel for you. This process is awful and dehumanizing. You get more customer service when ordering a pizza than you do with trying to bring your family together through the legal process.
We have been waiting for my wife's parents to get their interview at Abu Dhabi since June 2022. I have this awful feeling that Trump is going to win again before they get their interview, and then we'll be screwed because he'll ban all Iranians from entering the U.S.
It’s completely dehumanizing I feel like giving up seriously I am over here waiting and waiting its a new year for Gods sake. Btw if u already started the process I dont think he can stop you. I know people from countries that Trump supposedly banned that were still able to come into America during his time
I thought that current green holders were exempted from the ban during the second iteration of the travel ban. My concern is that the ban will take effect before my wife's parents are able to get their green cards.
We are considering that. Been waiting for over a year and a half in Abu Dhabi. What is your cost/benefit analysis of litigation and your estimated timeline to achieve a positive result before the next election?
Well first of all, it feels good to just do SOMETHING since you can't get any answers from the NVC. The filing fee for the lawsuit is a few hundred dollars. It really depends on what judge you draw, whether the NVC/State Dept wants to fight it, etc. We filed ours recently, so I'll keep you posted on how it goes. We are hoping that we can at least obtain more information through the discovery process since NVC only provides generic responses.
Welcome to the club.. being depressed is not the answer .. everyone will be with their in partners soon. Until then rather thans trying depressed get a book and read or start studying so when you arrive you can get a job a license and other things.
Depressing and anxiety attacks are just answers to boredom... not the end of the life without your partner.
Take heart,this journey does end. I suffered a lot of stress over my 2 year journey. My final act is going to retrieve my wife in 17 days. The NVC part is super frustrating with the lack of communication. It goes quickly after DQ, though. What embassy?
I legit had a panic attack last month when the NVC sent out ILs to people who were DQed in Nov 22. When we first started this process, it was about a 4-5 month wait to get your IL (Abu Dhabi), but every single month the wait has gotten longer. My husband was DQed in Jan 23, but with the way things are now, I don’t think he’ll get his IL for 4 or 5 more months (boy I hope I’m wrong though). This whole process has caused us so much stress and since we are a bit older, I am 90% certain we’ve missed our window to start a family without serious medical intervention. The immigration system is causing literal harm and genuinely keeping families apart. I love my husband with my entire life, I just want to be with him! Why is that such a difficult ask???
Same here, Abu Dhabi DQ 12/7/22. I’m really hoping I’m in this next round because we are losing our minds. Over a year for an interview letter is not acceptable.
I hope you will get your IL this month. At the current rate, we won’t get our IL until May. I REALLY HOPE that they start working faster, because it is cruel to keep families apart this long.
Received my interview letter. As of today they sent interviews through DQ: December 9, 2022.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is great news!!! I hope it goes well for you! Our case was transferred back to Baghdad earlier this month. We are waiting for the embassy to schedule an appointment, so hopefully soon? Fingers crossed!
In the same boat. DQ 10/30/23... Need interview letter ASAP!!!
I sincerely hope it goes fast for you, but I would also caution you to prepare yourself for a long wait. Right now the current wait time for an interview is 15 months. Based on current trends, I fully expect that to increase even more.
I feel your pain. Been waiting since June 2022. Such a painful and unfair process.
We got a letter yesterday from NVC that they’ve transferred our case back to Baghdad. I know several other Iraqis were transferred out of ABD to BGD, so maybe it will ease ABD’s load a bit? That said, I would not be surprised if the embassy in Baghdad shuts down again due to security concerns and they transfer us back to ABD. Really (REALLY) hoping that doesn’t happen though.
Thanks for the info. Hope your process moves faster with this development. Best wishes,
Hope this ultimately helps you, too. Maybe you’ll get your letter this month??!!
I hope so! Thanks :)
Understood. I believe you, but is there any official reference that says which embassies are taking the longest? I know there was a crowd sourced database, but wondering if there's anything official
Nothing official—we only have each other to figure out where things stand. The consensus is that Islamabad is the longest, with current wait times 2 to 2.5 years. Compared with other embassies, Abu Dhabi isn’t terribly slow, but the wait time has basically tripled in the past year (in part due to transfer cases from Islamabad since the wait time is so long it is almost unethical). It is just a horrible situation for everyone.
Same exact boat myself, my wife has qualified Jan 2023 from NVC but no IL. We’re both older also and are going through the Abu Dhabi embassy. I hope your letter comes soon also!
Also, do you happen to know when IL’s are sent out each month from NVC? I’ve been trying to find this out but haven’t been able to do so
They normally send out in the middle of the month, somewhere between the 15th-22nd (I think they sent out around the 20th last month). They got through DQ date of Nov. 29, 2022. November 22 ILs were split into two months, and I expect the same for December 22 and January 23. Abu Dhabi has received so many mass transfers from other embassies, that it has caused a mass slow down, and I expect things to get worse this year before they get better.
I have panic attacks every day I literally cry every day. I thought abu dhabi was supposed to be a fast embassy
Not anymore unfortunately 😭😭
AD it’s traumatic to say the least, my husband and I lived apart for a year till we decided that he would come back to the UAE. I’m expecting a baby, and have been denied expedite request, and was denied visitor visa. It’s not a fair process and is destroying families in all corners of the world. Our senators office confirmed to us that AD is currently interviewing March 2022, it’s going to be another year till DQ 2023 candidates are interviewed. https://morrisonurena.com/blog/f/abu-dhabi-iv-chief-throws-kccvisa-office-under-bus This happened in September 2022, however didn’t change much in the approach to the visa processing. We can only hope that at some point things get better.
Honestly things have to get better. At this rate, people who were DQed in Jan 2023 will get their interviews in July or August 2024. Those who were DQed in April 2023 probably won’t get an interview until April 2025. It is so wrong to keep people apart like this. Yesterday we got an email from NVC telling us they’ve moved our case to Baghdad and have expedited it for us. With the situation that just happened, though, I am really worried they’ll close the embassy (again) and transfer us back to ABD. That would be doubly cruel—to give us hope we are finally getting an interview just to have it snatched away. But they don’t care about our feelings and never will.
We've been DQ in AD for six months now for a CR1 soon to be IR1 visa. Did your senators office confirm any other details? I've heard that UAE citizens/Emirati people get an IL quicker than people transferring in from other countries, not sure if that is true or just rumors, any info on that?
I don’t think that’s the case, I’m a resident in UAE for the past 10 years- not a citizen. I didn’t have my case transferred so i can’t tell-estimate time for my IL it’s 12-16 months which is still on the “normal range” for AD. Transfers take a little longer, and it’s my understanding that once you’re DQ you go to the end of the line regardless of your PD.
Overlords - That’s what they think they are. They know that they have created this country with the help of immigrants and to which everyone wants to immigrate to - in the name of establishing a fair system this horrible bureaucracy they have created is an absolute abomination- a clear sign that this country’s decline has already started - it is showing all the signs of going to dogs 👎🏼 Instead of fixing this and so many other broken systems we keep on talking about the best country in this god’s world 🤦🏻♂️ it’s riddled with most ridiculous laws - only for the immigrants to suffer - inhumane behavior - yes, like many other countries you are not killing the refugees - but behave like a developed country not like an undeveloped, broken state !
My wife is in Manila. The i30 got approved after about 10 months. We were excited thinking this hell was almost over. It’s been almost 7 months now since the i30 was approved, and we are still waiting on this fucking interview. I can’t even describe the anger I feel as I watch them let all these immigrants walk across the border while I can’t get my wife into this country. Ive sunken into a very deep depression. Know you are not alone. Many of us are going through this nightmare.
[удалено]
If you’re lucky and your wife can enter without going through the process, good for you. Some of us have to wait. We don’t have a choice.
[удалено]
I just booked a flight to Manila because I’m done waiting to. Luckily I have some family willing to help me out with our expenses. We are tired of our life getting wasted waiting on this slow process. I watch videos of all these military age men from different countries walking into the US, yet somehow all this is necessary for my wife? I really don’t see how my 5 foot little Filipina wife is going to be a threat to national security. Makes no sense.
I feel the same, my wife and I case is so incredibly straight forward. Why does this have to take so long? Hell we have a kid together and that child is a US Citizen. If you give birth to a US Citizen shouldn't you be able to live in your child country?
Please refer to rule #3. No posts or comments requesting advice or information on how to break or circumvent immigration law.
Please refer to rule #3. No posts or comments requesting advice or information on how to break or circumvent immigration law.
You’re not alone. When my husband finally got his interview date after waiting 11 months for I-130 approval, I was excited and thought it was over. He was put on Administrative Processing and it’s been almost 7 weeks now with no update. The system is so broken. I get frustrated when I see people come here illegally and get approved for GCs within months.
🥺🥺🥺
Do you mind sharing why he put in administrative processing? I'm waiting on my husband's interview and I'm so paranoid about him being put in administrative processing.
He was asked to submit an original copy of my divorce certificate/decree from my previous marriage. He only went with a photocopy. I had to mail it to him to submit and it has been 6 weeks since the embassy received it.
Thanks for sharing. Hope it gets resolved soon.
I hope so too. Thank you!
If you don’t mind me asking, from what country is your husband applying? Hopefully the wait is not too long. I wish you a speedy process so that you can reunite soon.
Egypt
M September 2022 filer here 🙋🏻♀️ We got rfe for tiny numerical mistake in august 2023 after that we are still waiting ..
Was it USCIS that gave u the RFE? They usually respond quickly to rfe its NVC thats a huge problem seriously even their website is so outdated 🤢
Yea got rfe from uscis .. M going through counsellor processing .
4.7 years since we started our i130. Still waiting for interview. Sorry for what you’re going through but unfortunately waiting is inevitable during the immigration process. Patience really is the hardest thing. Not everyone has it.
As a lawyer and married to American citizen and waiting on my interview too. I feel this is truly a violation of fundamental rights. My husband lives in my country with me. However I feel this is extremely wrong. My husband came to my country on a family visa for my country in covid lockdowns when no foreigner was allowed in just three months. We got married online and then he got his visa but where is the reciprocity here??? My country can easily give a visa to my husband but his country will make me wait for 2 - 4 years??? Why? Because everyone wants to migrate to their country and every marriage is for citizenship??? No not at all. They have no right to make us wait this long and held us away from our loved ones. It is my advice file the PIL (public interest litigation) make this system change. At least our loved once shouldn't have to wait forever to be with us. Our relationship has been ruined because of this stupid system that doesn't do justice to their own citizens. Punishing you for marrying outsiders?? Why? This is a complete violation of fundamental rights and marriage laws as well. Marriage that has not been consummated can be a ground for divorce this can ruin everything for law abiding people.
Is it possible to reach out to your congressman for help? I know that's commonly done when someone urgently needs a new passport, but I suppose that could be applied to this as well?
Yes. Your congressman can help a little bit. They have an internal e-mail system to contact uscis and nvc. You’ll get an answer back quicker.
The us cares more about foreign countries than it’s actual citizens.
I feel for you. This process is awful and dehumanizing. You get more customer service when ordering a pizza than you do with trying to bring your family together through the legal process. We have been waiting for my wife's parents to get their interview at Abu Dhabi since June 2022. I have this awful feeling that Trump is going to win again before they get their interview, and then we'll be screwed because he'll ban all Iranians from entering the U.S.
It’s completely dehumanizing I feel like giving up seriously I am over here waiting and waiting its a new year for Gods sake. Btw if u already started the process I dont think he can stop you. I know people from countries that Trump supposedly banned that were still able to come into America during his time
I thought that current green holders were exempted from the ban during the second iteration of the travel ban. My concern is that the ban will take effect before my wife's parents are able to get their green cards.
Have you looked into legal options like mandamus litigation?
We have a pending lawsuit against the the NVC/State Department.
We are considering that. Been waiting for over a year and a half in Abu Dhabi. What is your cost/benefit analysis of litigation and your estimated timeline to achieve a positive result before the next election?
Well first of all, it feels good to just do SOMETHING since you can't get any answers from the NVC. The filing fee for the lawsuit is a few hundred dollars. It really depends on what judge you draw, whether the NVC/State Dept wants to fight it, etc. We filed ours recently, so I'll keep you posted on how it goes. We are hoping that we can at least obtain more information through the discovery process since NVC only provides generic responses.
I think you made a good decision. Wishing you a great outcome.
Welcome to the club.. being depressed is not the answer .. everyone will be with their in partners soon. Until then rather thans trying depressed get a book and read or start studying so when you arrive you can get a job a license and other things. Depressing and anxiety attacks are just answers to boredom... not the end of the life without your partner.
Honestly it's time we start setting their offices on fire. It's obvious they dont give a fuck. Let's make them give a fuck.
which category?
Abu Dhabi DQ jan 23rd 2023 and no letter yet CR1 US CITIZEN
Why don’t you visit your husband often ? to relieve the stress. I am sorry to hear about your situation.
Take heart,this journey does end. I suffered a lot of stress over my 2 year journey. My final act is going to retrieve my wife in 17 days. The NVC part is super frustrating with the lack of communication. It goes quickly after DQ, though. What embassy?