Thank you everyone for the warm wishes! I hope this waiting time gets over for all of you soon inshallah!
With respect to the question, it was an arranged marriage. I cannot comment if they look at the two scenarios differently as i do not have that information. One thing i can say is that every case is different. No two people will ever share the same timeline. You can only use the timelines for the cases listed on this forum as a rough guide at best.
A few things that i learned from my personal experience i will list here. Please keep in mind that these may not apply to you as i've mentioned previously that every case is different:
- Provide sufficient proof. Put yourself in the shoes of the immigration officer and decide what things you would look for to convince yourself whether the relationship is genuine or not.
- Make sure rukhsati is done. They look for this specifically now. Nikah only cases are no longer acceptable to them. This step could make the difference between your file being processed sooner than later.
- Only provide information that is being asked. Sometimes providing too much information can raise questions. It is best to keep things simple and to the point.
- MPs, lawyers, consultants are a waste of time and money. If you can read and follow instructions you can prepare and present your own case. You are the best person to know your own case and no third party can ever represent you the way you want to be represented.
- The initial review which takes place around the 9th or 10th month mark after you receive your AOR is critical. If this review goes well, then the rest of the process should be smooth. But if there are questions raised at this step, then the file gets put on hold and you will experience delays.
- Ordering CAIPS notes is a good idea around the 9th month mark to see where your case stands and to get an idea of what the officer thinks about your case.
- Follow up with the immigration section via email once or twice a month. If you send them too many emails they will stop responding to you.
- Lastly and most importantly, pray and be patient. Try to better yourself through this beautiful religion of Islam. If you can practice it the way it is supposed to be practiced and keep away from sins, you will always be at ease and find that inner peace that will help you get through these difficul times.
I hope this helps the readers on this forum.
