Any news from Athens for anyone?

[Wendy]

For those of you that have waivers in Athens, have you heard anything yet? I e-mailed the office 10 days ago and still haven't received an answer :(

Next week will be 8 months for our waiver, and still no answer.

I had e-mailed the American Embassy in Ankara (for something different) and heard back from them in 1 day !! Too bad Athens isn't like that.

Just curious if anyone had any news.

Anxiously awaiting,

Wendy

[patiencemkp]

I sent a message to the consulate on Friday, April 4 to confirm receipt of the waiver my husband just sent in (he sent it March 4th). I still have not received any response either.

Patti

[ictomi]

oh man 8 months.... I have been only waiting 3 months so I don't have any reason to contact them yet, I am planning on contacting them at 6 months if we haven't received anything.

Its got to be so hard to be paishent after 8 months of waiting, hang in there, I hope you get an answer soon.

[Wendy]

oh man 8 months.... I have been only waiting 3 months so I don't have any reason to contact them yet, I am planning on contacting them at 6 months if we haven't received anything.

Its got to be so hard to be paishent after 8 months of waiting, hang in there, I hope you get an answer soon.

Thanks. Yes, I hope we hear something soon. I sent another e-mail (they never answered the first). I hope to hear something, at least that they have the waiver and it is being processed. I feel they owe us that much information. I mean, we prepared the papers, paid our money, so we should at least be informed that they have it and are working on it, right?

I hope good news for all of us :)

[Hopeful...]

Hi, Wendy. I went back and looked at all my saved email correspondences regarding my husband's waiver. When I contacted Athens via email, it took them 9 days to write back to me. Keep in mind, that was about a year ago, so who knows at this point?

Hope you hear something positive very soon!

:D

For those of you that have waivers in Athens, have you heard anything yet? I e-mailed the office 10 days ago and still haven't received an answer :(

Next week will be 8 months for our waiver, and still no answer.

I had e-mailed the American Embassy in Ankara (for something different) and heard back from them in 1 day !! Too bad Athens isn't like that.

Just curious if anyone had any news.

Anxiously awaiting,

Wendy

[patiencemkp]

I received a letter from Athens today indicating they received my husbands i601 waiver. The letter indicated that it will take approximately 180 days to adjucate. I sent the e-mail on April 4th and it appears the letter was mailed to me on April 7th. Good luck and I hope you hear some good new very soon!

Patti

[patiencemkp]

Okay - I just also received correspondence via email from Athens (replying to the email I sent April 4th) indicating they have NOT received my waiver, which is contradictory to the letter that I posted about above. Hmmm. The email also indicated that they would be unable to give any information to a lawyer without a form being filed. Hmmm.

I sent a reply thanking them for the correspondence and asking for further clarification since I received the letter today (which states they DID receive the i601) and also indicated that I was the sponsor - not the attorney.

Any thoughts?

Patti

[sam1010]

the best thing to do is call Athens. They answer all their phone calls and are very helpful. I don't remember the phone number, but I remember that there is a sticky in the 601 all other countries forum with the info. good luck. My waiver went through Athens and was transferred 8 months later to Rome. It was approved in Rome three months later. Good luck to you.

[Wendy]

Hi, Wendy. I went back and looked at all my saved email correspondences regarding my husband's waiver. When I contacted Athens via email, it took them 9 days to write back to me. Keep in mind, that was about a year ago, so who knows at this point?

Hope you hear something positive very soon!

:D


Thank you for looking through your records. I finally got a reply from them yesterday. They said they received our waiver in September (not August like I thought). So it has been 7 months since they have had it. They gave me our case number and said they are backlogged and it is taking between 8 months and a year.

At least I know they have it. I will probably call next time.

[Wendy]

Okay - I just also received correspondence via email from Athens (replying to the email I sent April 4th) indicating they have NOT received my waiver, which is contradictory to the letter that I posted about above. Hmmm. The email also indicated that they would be unable to give any information to a lawyer without a form being filed. Hmmm.

I sent a reply thanking them for the correspondence and asking for further clarification since I received the letter today (which states they DID receive the i601) and also indicated that I was the sponsor - not the attorney.

Any thoughts?

Patti

So sorry you are getting conflicting reports. That is very frustrating. My finace never received a letter stating that they had received his waiver. I was shocked to hear that you had (but maybe they are just not consistent in their procedures)

Here is the phone number if you wish to call instead:

011 30 210 720 2404

I have never called them, yet. Maybe for the next inquiry.

Good Luck!!

[Wendy]

the best thing to do is call Athens. They answer all their phone calls and are very helpful. I don't remember the phone number, but I remember that there is a sticky in the 601 all other countries forum with the info. good luck. My waiver went through Athens and was transferred 8 months later to Rome. It was approved in Rome three months later. Good luck to you.

I think that is what I am going to do next time. I hope our waiver doesn't get transferred. I would really like to get this over with and get started on our life together (as I am sure we all would)

Thank you so much for replying!! Have a great day:)

ATHENS Phone #:

011 30 210 720 2404

[patiencemkp]

I actually received a reply right away via e-mail and they indicated the last email was in error and they did receive the waiver.

However you indicated that when you spoke to the office over the phone Athens stated eight months to a year though. Sigh.... I hope that it really does not take that long. I will cross my fingers that they are working through the procedures so the process is getting quicker:) However, I still feel that we are in the home stretch. It has been over seven years (very long story) so I feel the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course I hope it is a green light when all is said and done!

Patti

[sam1010]

Patience, my hubby and I have been waiting for 5 years and 7 months, so I know how you feel. I hope you hear something soon. He was just approved in Feb, and we are now waiting on the embassy here . I wish you the best.

[Wendy]

*Bump*

[albayrak]

well i have been removed from states on aug.9th 2004 with 10 years bar and since that time just waiting here in turkey...i 've got my waiver denial from Athens on may 12th 2008 (was mailed on 2nd).i got a lawyer since begining to this journey...he filled an appeal because he thinks this is the best way...
all i can say is...
i agree with sam1010... just need to have more patience...

[Lana07]

hello,
I filed a waiver which was sent to Athens. They recieved it in early June and I recieved an email saying that the processing time is 180 days!
Has anyone ever tried having their waiver expedited? (is it possible?)

[Wendy]

hello,
I filed a waiver which was sent to Athens. They recieved it in early June and I recieved an email saying that the processing time is 180 days!
Has anyone ever tried having their waiver expedited? (is it possible?)

Our waiver was sent last August (Athens received it in September 2007). We are still waiting.

I never tried to expedite it. I didn't think I had any strong reasons to give them to do so. I am sorry I can't be of more help.

Best wishes to you and your SO.

[Lana07]

just found out today, NO HOPES IN EXPEDITING!!! I got in touch with the senator and the congressman and they both told me the same thing. Even if they were to go down personally, Athens will not do anything!!! and I heard they are very short staffed and always behind and they have the toughest people working there....
lets just hope when they're looking at our petitions they're in a good mood!!!!

[Wendy]

just found out today, NO HOPES IN EXPEDITING!!! I got in touch with the senator and the congressman and they both told me the same thing. Even if they were to go down personally, Athens will not do anything!!! and I heard they are very short staffed and always behind and they have the toughest people working there....
lets just hope when they're looking at our petitions they're in a good mood!!!!


Oh my. I know, I have been praying everyday!! I feel so helpless!

It has been a year for us since we submitted our waiver. I am very stressed, I think because I am expecting an answer soon and I am worried about the outcome.

Good thoughts and best wishes for us both. For all of us going through this!!

Hugs,

Wendy