221(G) Tracker

F1 Visa application, TAL 221G PhD in Mechanical Engineering Visa was approved verbally during the interview and the passport was retained. No 221G was mentioned, neither any documents were requested. Online case status changed to Refused within a few hours of the interview. Got an email to collect passport today on 17 Nov 2020. There was a 221G slip in it, asking for documents (invitation, resume, publications, travel, research, etc) to be submitted via email. Submitted documents by email on 19 Nov 2020 Recd email to submit passport on Dec 7 Recd passport back with the visa on Dec 11

Brace up, the wait is psychologically demanding. I interviewed on 23 Sep, VO checked DS160 and passport. He asked the usual questions - on self and spouse, date spouse landed in US and why i did not apply with spouse. Interview went smooth, ended about 3 mins. He did not ask for any of the document i took along! NONE (apart from i797B form). Then the dreaded word -- your visa will need some admin processing, we will contact you. He gave white 221G with nothing checked. On 15 Oct, i got a mail with DS5535 (word document). Sent the filled form on 17th Oct (they sent mail acknowledging receiving the form). THEN THE DARK DAYS BEGUN! No mail from them again. 25th Nov, status updated for 1st time and i got mail to submit passport. Submitted passport on 27th Nov. The quietness resumed again till 10 Dec - status updated for 2nd time from refused to AP. Then 13th Dec, status updated for 3rd time to Issued. I got mail to retrieve passport. The wait can be frustrating, you need to stay positive.

As of today 13/12/2020 23:13 37,584,000 seconds 626,400 minutes 10,440 hours 435 days 62 weeks and 1 day 119.18% of a common year (365 days) No update

Got Interviewed on Dec 3rd 2019 at Hyderbad consulate for both H1(first stamping ) and H4 visa. After asking questions related to job, client, salary and h4 questions, took client, vendor letters and LCA and returned both passports. No update after that, it has been 6 weeks as of today(Jan 14 2020). For some people I see they requested documents, client verification, 2nd visa interview but I got no update at all. Anybody in same situation? please reply, this process is annoying. //Updates Jan 28 2020 - Client verification email received (status - Admin processing) Feb 11 2020 4PM - Passports requested (status - Admin processing) Feb 12 2020 - Passports submitted (status - Admin processing) Feb 18 2020 - Status changed to "Application Received" Feb 20 2020 - Passport pickup email received for ONLY H4(Still waiting on H1B passport pickup email, this doesn't make any sense to me) Feb 24 2020 - Status changed back to "Admin Processing" for H1B Feb 26 2020 - Picked up the passport

Interview Date: 5th Oct. Remarks: Was issued a pink slip with 221g and asked to submit my resume, invitation letter, research abstract, travel, etc. I am going for a Ph.D. in a different field from my undergrad. I am assuming this may have seemed strange to the consular officer. CEAC status: 'Refused' with the updated date as 5th Oct. Document submitted on 6th Oct. First CEAC status update: 'Administrative processing' with the updated date as 18th Nov. Second CEAC status update: 'Issued' with the updated date as 20th Nov.

H1B interview on March 4th 2020. Got 221G requesting client letter. Employer sent cient letter via email on May 1st 2020. Still waiting for response .

Status stayed 'Refused' since the interview date Feb 25th, 2020. Came under visa travel ban. Consulate and US travel docs would give same response for any enquiry via email (including medical emergency for US citizen child, travel ban exceptions), that visa is under administrative processing and nothing can be done at this point. Received email on Oct 28, 2020, that administrative processing has been completed and to submit passports at VAC, from [email protected] We have requested and gotten our passports back in August. Online visa status is still 'refused' and has not been updated since Feb 25, 2020. We have submitted passports as per their request mentioned above. On Nov 10th 2020 case status online changed from the traditional 221G message, 'Refused' to 'Administrative Processing'. On Nov 12th 2020, online status changed to 'Issued', and that the visa should arrive within 10 days.