221g white paper

[munna221g]

Dont worry Bro!

As/k Munna & Others,

Please help me understand my case. My application was updated on 26th, 27th & 29th Aug 2013. I was very happy that the wait is over but this killing wait does not want to go. After, 29th of Aug they did not touch my application. The last updated date is still showing up 29-Aug-2013. VI retain my passport at the time of interview (Feb 2013) & this is my fresh H1b. I never visited any country before. I am feeling like they are playing with me. I will complete 7 month on 6 Sep.

What is your opinion on this guys? Generally, after 2-3 updates people got their visa. They again put my application for AP??

Please help, I am very disappointed now!!!

AH.

Please dont be disappointed.. Inshallah all will be well in the end.. Its just matter of time. You have so many updates in the last week.. When Delhi starts issuing the visa during this week, your number will be there for sure.. Inshallah.

[rmkhan]

No updates after 3 consicutive updates

As/k Munna & Others,

Please help me understand my case. My application was updated on 26th, 27th & 29th Aug 2013. I was very happy that the wait is over but this killing wait does not want to go. After, 29th of Aug they did not touch my application. The last updated date is still showing up 29-Aug-2013. VI retain my passport at the time of interview (Feb 2013) & this is my fresh H1b. I never visited any country before. I am feeling like they are playing with me. I will complete 7 month on 6 Sep.

What is your opinion on this guys? Generally, after 2-3 updates people got their visa. They again put my application for AP??

Please help, I am very disappointed now!!!

AH.

My friend Ajay.. As I mentioned earlier, its an intermediate change. It changes from AP to Ready to AP to ISSUED. lot of folks went through this.. Please check some of the pages in this forum.. Dont worry.. you will post a message update with a smiley tomorrow. THanks.

Munna

[mask728]

I hope it ends soon!!!

My case status also still shows Administrative Processing. The Case update date did change today too....FYI, here are the last few dates that the case was updated on

August 12th
August 16th
August 23rd
August 29th
Sept 3rd

I hope this is the last week I have to wait.....total wait time 1 year 12 days!!!

[munna221g]

Its Temporary change..

Really not sure buddy. The status changed to Administrative Processing again this afternoon. Don't know if this is a temporary thing going on.

My friend Ajay.. As I mentioned earlier, its an intermediate change. It changes from AP to Ready to AP to ISSUED. lot of folks went through this.. Please check some of the pages in this forum.. Dont worry.. you will post a message update with a smiley tomorrow. THanks.

Munna

[ajay4pals]

Really not sure buddy. The status changed to Administrative Processing again this afternoon. Don't know if this is a temporary thing going on.

Dude

Ready is an intermediate status.. It will change to issues either end of day today r by tomorrow for sure.. MAsk And myself both got status updates date changed to today.. This is the third update since
aug 23 rd... Hopefully it ends soon..

[yshu123]

I'm also facing same problem..got 221g last month in chennai consulate..have u got any update?

Hello HeMan, you got any reply from consulate?

[munna221g]

It will be issued today!

I submitted my passport at the Hyderabad Consulate on 26th August as per their request. The status date updated a couple of times last week with the same Administrative Processing message. But the message was updated today to "Ready". The message went like this - "Your case is open and ready for your interview, fingerprints, and required documents. If you have already had your interview, please check your status after two business days. If no interview was required, please check back in two business days for the status of your application."

Very weird and ambiguous message but I have a good feeling that it will be issued. Called DOS last Friday thrice and got a different reply each time. The first person said that the processing is in the final stage. The second person told me that the case is still in processing stage and that he cannot confirm that it's in the final stage. The last person, however, a sweet woman, told me that that it looked like my case has been approved and that it's now upto the Embassy to issue the visa.

Any similar experiences?

Thanks,
Aj

Dude

Ready is an intermediate status.. It will change to issues either end of day today r by tomorrow for sure.. MAsk And myself both got status updates date changed to today.. This is the third update since
aug 23 rd... Hopefully it ends soon..

[ajay4pals]

Ready!

I submitted my passport at the Hyderabad Consulate on 26th August as per their request. The status date updated a couple of times last week with the same Administrative Processing message. But the message was updated today to "Ready". The message went like this - "Your case is open and ready for your interview, fingerprints, and required documents. If you have already had your interview, please check your status after two business days. If no interview was required, please check back in two business days for the status of your application."

Very weird and ambiguous message but I have a good feeling that it will be issued. Called DOS last Friday thrice and got a different reply each time. The first person said that the processing is in the final stage. The second person told me that the case is still in processing stage and that he cannot confirm that it's in the final stage. The last person, however, a sweet woman, told me that that it looked like my case has been approved and that it's now upto the Embassy to issue the visa.

Any similar experiences?

Thanks,
Aj

I called Department of State today regarding the status of my case and I was told that my application is still in the administrative processing stage but that the Hyderabad consulate is requesting my passport. I was also informed that the passport was requested on 08/22/2013. I told the DOS visa specialist that I didn't receive any message or email from the consulate regarding this, to which his response was that it's odd that I wasn't intimated and that I should contact the consulate regarding this. He reiterated that the case is still in the administrative processing stage.

Any idea how to contact the consulate? They have a couple of phone numbers but they furnish automated messages, that's it.

Thanks,
Aj

[yshu123]

I had my visa interview today at Hyd and it's obvious I got a 221(g) because I am posting here .

Background:
First time US visa - Petition got approved end of Feb 2013.
Currently work with a huge software product development company in India.
H1B Petitioner - In-House project of a very small product company (<20 people).

Interview:
I was cool, polite and unshaken. Long conversations. The officer grilled on the small company's product and presence.

At the end of the interview, the VO took copies of my 797, I129, LCA and a lot of information about the company (pamphlets et al that I had carried along with me to the interview).
She returned me my passport and said she has to put it on further processing and that I'll be receiving a mail if there are any updates.
She gave a white 221(g) slip and checked the "Your application needs additional admin processing" thingy and also checked the bottom most box "Other" and wrote "Additional Research" against it.

Per what I've seen on this thread, the passports of most of you were taken by the officer at the end of the interview right? And I presume most of you got an email about the status the very day of the interview right?
For me, my passport was returned right after the interview. And there was no email either about the case. Does that indicate a higher chance of denial or something?

This being the very first time I've ever attended a US visa interview, I am a completely novice to these. It would be of great help if someone can help me know if it's a common practice (returning the passport at the end of the interview still not asking for any extra documentation).

Also, how long do u suggest I should wait for a mail from them before I try to contact the consulate?


Regards,
HeMan

I'm also facing same problem..got 221g last month in chennai consulate..have u got any update?

[azadtous]

H4 Issued after 8 months of AP

Thanks for the information.. I am kicking myself for taking the passports back.. Hopefully Its not name check again.. May be its just the finger print check or something.. DOS said that it may not take much longer this time.. Lets pray for the best...

Munna

Munna..hope you will get ur visa soon..
It was raining of approvals in Chennai consulate this week. A lot of those cases pending since Dec 2012 have been issued on 29 & 30th Aug.
My spouses H4 was pending since Dec 28 2012 without a single status update and I also know couple of my friends whose h1b was pending from Dec.
All our cases got the status updated first on Aug 27 and since Aug 28 was a holiday , i was expecting stamping on 29th. I was checking it all day and my case status updated on 29th but still AP. At a point of time it went to Ready status , then after 15 mns again changed to AP. But couple of y frenz got Issued on 29th itself.
Then I waited for 30th and no updates till 2pm IST. After that the Status changed to Issued. There were a lot of cases Issued from Chennai on 29th and 30th.

Background:
We have appeared for PA on 28th dec 2012 and was put in AP. Passport was retained, no docs asked. I got my first status update on Jan10, Visa was Issued on Jan 18th. after 20 days. My Kids H4 was issued on Jan 22nd and Wifes H4 was in AP for 8 months.
I have sent numerous emails to Chennai consulate and got the same template response. I came to US in May and I have contacted all the depts here, DOS, NVC , etc.. etc... but no good.
Then 2 weeks before I called DOS and asked them to put in an inquiry and to my luck that officer agreed and assured that he will give me a call back in a week which did not happen. Also I called Traveldocs in India and raised an inquiry and they also gave me a case number. but the update from them after a week was it is still in AP and only the consulate can do something on that, I was disappointed.
And now with the Grace of Allah Visa is Issued. I am not sure which of my efforts worked out or Its only because of the Blessing of Almighty.

I wish all of us still waiting to get their visas soon as I understand the agony stress and frustration we all go through as I was stuck for 8 months.

[munna221g]

Hopefully its not name check again

Munawar, I am really sorry this is happening to you. I am not trying to scare you but I had gone through similar experience in 2008, after processing was done in 8 weeks, I was asked to submit passports for stamping and it went for name check which took another 5 months. In your case, since name check appeared to have been already done, try to find out from DOS through your attorney if this is again "Federal name check" or the review of the case again (like employment status etc..).

Probably you have already looked into it, get your kids Visa extended at the earliest. Hope we all pass through this at the earliest.

Thanks for the information.. I am kicking myself for taking the passports back.. Hopefully Its not name check again.. May be its just the finger print check or something.. DOS said that it may not take much longer this time.. Lets pray for the best...

Munna

[wt4visa]

Munawar, I am really sorry this is happening to you. I am not trying to scare you but I had gone through similar experience in 2008, after processing was done in 8 weeks, I was asked to submit passports for stamping and it went for name check which took another 5 months. In your case, since name check appeared to have been already done, try to find out from DOS through your attorney if this is again "Federal name check" or the review of the case again (like employment status etc..).

Probably you have already looked into it, get your kids Visa extended at the earliest. Hope we all pass through this at the earliest.

Assalam alai kum

VI interview date is Feb 19th
Passport was retained. I had to request them back to process for canada visa due to employer request to travel to onsite in July
On Aug 22nd got email to resubmit my passports.
On Aug 23rd there was a status update change
On Aug 29th there was another status change.

I called DOS today and they said that there is a possibility that Hyd consulate might have placed my case back in 221g Admin Processing. Its because I picked up the passports. DOS assured me that it may not take longer.. (i dont trust them much) I am very much worried as I have to take my US citizen kids back before Sep 16th due to India visa problems.. There are many more issues like these...

From your experience, can you please share what is the latest time anyone faced after passport submission.. DOS state says that this could be over a week or a month.. Please suggest.

Munawar

[munna221g]

Back to Admin Processing after passport submission

Assalam alai kum

VI interview date is Feb 19th
Passport was retained. I had to request them back to process for canada visa due to employer request to travel to onsite in July
On Aug 22nd got email to resubmit my passports.
On Aug 23rd there was a status update change
On Aug 29th there was another status change.

I called DOS today and they said that there is a possibility that Hyd consulate might have placed my case back in 221g Admin Processing. Its because I picked up the passports. DOS assured me that it may not take longer.. (i dont trust them much) I am very much worried as I have to take my US citizen kids back before Sep 16th due to India visa problems.. There are many more issues like these...

From your experience, can you please share what is the latest time anyone faced after passport submission.. DOS state says that this could be over a week or a month.. Please suggest.

Munawar

[wt4visa]

Another Update

My case got updated today, but status is still "Admin Processing".

Dates:

August 22nd was the first update date after 5 months, looking at other cases I was hoping visa to be issued on August 23rd as VO said my case was approved after interview and retained our passports and 797. But, on August 23rd, I have received a mail to provide a proof letter from employer saying i have a job waiting for me in U.S. On August 27th, I have provided employment verification letter, status date got updated to August 27th in like 15 min of sending the mail, again status date got updated today, but still in processing.

Frustration... 5 months wait was not that bad as I was prepared for that, planned accordingly and this thread have been extremely helpful in what to expect regarding timeline. But the last week have been very frustrating as it is not about name check anymore and again came back to employment though VO went in detail and I have answered all the questions during interview and now it is again back to the judgement of a officer who is looking at this.

Praying this ends soon and all others waiting get their visas issued soon!!

[rmkhan]

Any Update from New Delhi Consulate

Hello Everyone,

Is there anybody who got any update from Delhi consulate today ??? Thanks!