applied in person for fiance visa

Everyone has been very helpful with the fiance visa process. My fiance (British) and I went to the NY office to apply for the fiance visa in person on Tuesday. We were told since I had a denied entry (but was granted a temporary 5 week stay), they would need to verify the refusal paper work I received from Glasgow airport with Glasgow airport. We were also told the visa should be ready the next day, and someone would call us. No one had phoned. My fiance phoned the Visa Enquiry Service to check on this. I received a phone call today from NY with them stating that it's at the next level - Senior Officer. Is this a normal process or should we be worried and expect a denial and an appeal process?

It's normal. I went through this myself. I applied in Chicago and I was told it could take up to a week to get the information from the airport in England. The bigger/busier the airport, the longer it takes. Fortunately, even though I was denied entry at Heathrow, I was later allowed entry in Newcastle so Newcastle is where they needed to get the info from and since they were a small airport they were quite fast and I got my visa the next day.

Don't panic. I was told mine needed to be handled by a senior officer too. I left the consulate and cried/worried all night thinking I wasn't going to get my visa or I wasn't going to get it in time for my flight. But, this is normal and you shouldn't get denied unless you were denied entry for something really serious, which it obviously wasn't since they gave you temporary stay. I think they just need to get the info from immigration to verify your reason for being denied. I'm assuming it was for something like coming to see your boyfriend and they thought you might overstay? I don't think this should cause problems with your application. It just takes longer.

Thanks for the reply among_the_stars, you really have been so very helpful with many of my questions 

We really weren't told much at NY. The guy we spoke to was very nice, just asked for my fiance's passport, letter of employment, bank statement, mortage and proof of wedding date. That was it and we had a 2 inch binder full of documentations. He just said, they can't issue it the same day, because they have to verify the information I had (refusal papers) with Glasgow airport, but it should be ready by tomorrow and they will phone us.

We hadn't heard anything untill today. My fiance had phoned the Enquire service wanting to know what was going on, as we were told it would probably be ready the next day, and so far no word, and I was suppose to leave with him today.   (Had to cancel my ticket). Enquiry Service said the system said it's waiting for information. I assumed this is probably Glasgow airport since they hadn't phoned us looking for more documents.

I got a call from the NY office, just stating it's still in process at the next level with a Senior Officer. I didn't think this sounded too good.  :\\\'( Thought I'd post before I got myself in a complete work up.

When I got denied entry at the airport, it had to go through a Senior Officer (assuming the EO boss, as she said 'her boss') who allowed the temporary 5 week stay (my actual return ticket). With it going to Senior Officer, I immidiately thought refusal  :\\\'(

Going to keep my fingers crossed and try to stay positive 

Thanks!

  Got the email today saying my visa has been approved and issued!

Congratulations!!! Glad the torture is over for you! 

When are you flying over?

Excellent news!

Congrats!

Well done! I'm sure that's a huge relief!

Thanks! And oh yeah, it is a huuuge relief! Just need to make sure I keep all the stuff for the marriage visa in about 6 months, lol.

I'm hoping to fly over by middle of next week 
Going to wait for my passport first though.
Since we applied in person, we didn't pay the $12 FedEx return, so I had to mail off a money order yesterday overnight for them to ship my passport back to me. Hoping it arrives in the next couple of days to rebook my flight!

Can't thank everyone enough for all the helpful information! And I'm sure when it comes to the other steps, I'll be asking for more advice, lol. Although, after going through this one, can't imagine the next step being any harder or worse. It's just changing status by proving you're now married?

I can't thank everyone enough!

Congratulations

Congrats!  Time to breathe easily.