221G+VFSDropBox+AAP+VisaIssued+Rejected+Timetaken

[rajgot]

Pink 221g + Pending Process

Hi all,

Interview date - Nov16, 2007, pink 221(g)
Sent answers to questioner by email - Nov21, 2007
Case status - Pending Process, as of Dec11, 2007

I had interview on 16th Nov, and i had all the documents and the interview was going well. Finally the VO gave me a pink 221g form and returned all the documents except the DS-156,157 forms. She told to email answers to questioner in the 221g, and they will contact me. When i asked her why she gave me 221g, she told they just want to collect some information .
The 221g has a case number, and we can check the case status online. My case is still shown as "pending process". When i asked chennaiNIV how long it will take they say they are unable to give a time frame.
I was working in a startup in USA and had come to India for a vacation. I think the chennai consulate has some problem with small companies. A colleague from my company had got H1 without problem at a different consulate.
Please anyone who had a similar experience or who knows how long these type of cases take, post you comments. Also does anyone know what they are trying to verify before processing the visa?

Thanks.

[rajesh_candamourty]

Hello All,
I did have this situation 2 years ago. 221G and almost had my wife and daughter visit the consulate for nearly 6-7 times and ended up hearing the same response.
I would advise you ALL to write a letter to the Chief Consulate General and explain him/her what happened with the intervals ypu called with their responses. You will receive an interview pretty soon and it happend to me.

-Raj.

[raganu]

221g-help required

I too got 221g with the officer telling me to drop the required documents.
Q1.Now what r teh possiblities after I drop all the documents?
Q2.My present company (suppose X)want to process my B1 Visa while my H1B is already under process as menitoned above (by company Y).Is it possible to get/apply for B1 Visa in such a case?
Thanks in advance for help!

[aruna123]

URGENT : Please advise on 221(g)

Hi,
I attended interview in Chennai consulate on 21st September ' 2006.
Then, the VO gave me 221(g) blue form and ticked all the 9 documents related to petitioner.
It was also written on the form "NO Passport". This means, I should not drop my passport.
On the first page there are 2 options to submit the above documents

1. You may appear for an interview with a consular officer on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Please bring this letter with you and DO NOT make a new appointment.

2. You may submit the the documents via drop box using VFS services.
And various drop box addressres were given.

In my case, the VO specifically tick the 2nd option. That is submit the papers via drop box.
He didnt ticked the 1st option.

Now my doubt is "" though it is ticked for 2nd option, can I personally attend for interview in Channai consulate "".

Your kind advise is much helpful to me.

Thanks & Regards,
Aruna.

[vinods]

Hi Aruna,

When I attended my Second interview(after 221g), there was a person with 221g in my queue (with the option to drop the docs in VFS). He was asked to drop the docs through vfs and he was not allowed inside for the interview in the initial stage itself. If you are in Chennai you can still try ur luck by attending in person and if rejected you can always go to the VFS office which is kind of close to the consulate. If you are outside chennai its better you just drop the docs in ur nearest vfs office.

If the passport option is not marked, then I dont think you will have to drop the passport. I have read (atleast this year) lot of 221g issued without asking for the passport. Many of them have finally got the stamping if the docs are genuine.

Good Luck,
Vinod

[sumanth26]

Got visa stamped after getting blue 221(g) for AAP on NOV 19th,2007

Got visa stamped after getting blue 221(g) for AAP on NOV 19th,2007


Hi all,

I m also a victim of 221(g). So the following is what happened to me since I booked my date for visa interview till the visa got stamped.

1. Received my papers from my employer on NOV 17th

2. Booked for an interview date on NOV 19th CHENNAI CONSULATE (morning 10.45 AM appointment)

3. I was issued a 221(G) blue form for AAP (additional admin processing).they collected my original DS156, DS157, I-797, I-129, and LCA, US employer details such as: client letter, w2 report(wage report ). Employee’s details, it returns, photographs,
They didn’t collected my passport

Returned back to Bangalore with disappointment!!!!

4. I received a courier from US consulate on Nov 29th which contained another blue color 221(g) with checklist marked for submitting my passport along with I-797, I-129, LCA, New DS156,DS157. Also they returned back I-797, I-129, LCA & my US employer details such as: client letter, Employee’s details, it returns.

5) Dec 3rd morning I took the print out of DS-156, DS-157 which l already had. I went to VFS office, Bangalore around 10am to submit above mentioned things. But there was surprise waiting for me. They told I need to fill new DS-156 (but not the old one which we submit for the first time) and she gave the website where I can fill new DS-156 https://evisaforms.state.gov/. Later I filled new DS-156 and came back to VFS office again around 2.25pm in afternoon and submitted my passport along with I-797, I-129, LCA, Newly filled DS156, and DS157 and paid 155rs fees

6) Dec 7th .today afternoon I received my passport with VISA stamped till Jan 2007 to October 2010

So never loose hopes if Ur true & Ur Us employer to be of genuine. Things will fall in your way

Regards,
Sumanth

[NEELAMIT]

221(g), Pink Slip

Dear All,

I got Pink slip on 30th Nov at Chennai.
Any idea how much time it will take.

Please reply.

Thanks
Amit

[aruna123]

[QUOTE=vinods]Hi Aruna,

Thank you very much Vinod. I will drop the papers in the drop box...n will wait for the best...

[vishal_chd]

Got green form

Hi
I have attended a Visa Interview on 12th of December. Interview went fine and at the end the lady told me that you are through. We will send your passport with in 72 hours. She kept all my documents.

After 2 days i recevied my passport and I797 in an envelope with a Green form in which they have asked for some additional documents from my employer.

I am very disappointed because i have resigned from my present job just after hearing from lady that i am through. I thought that it was the final step.

Now can any body tell me how long it will take after submitting the documents?

[vinods]

Hi Visahal,

Dont loose hope( I am no expert of any sort). I went through a lot of trauma because of 221(g), which im still going through. More reason why I started to to check the forum again after a long time. I would say don't bother much and if the company u had applied was genuine, the new docs asked will be given by your new employer.

Be Happy,
Vinods

[klakshmi2004]

Re-affirmed case


Here is my experience on H1B visa stamping.
1. First interview on 07th Aug 2006 got 221(g) asking for petitioner's documents.
2. Attended second interview with all the documents on Dec 20 2006. Got a white sheet saying that VISA refused under 221(g) and the case will be sent to USCIS with a memorundam of fact explaining about the VISA interview. VISA was refused under 221(g).

3. On May 25th 2007, Got a E-Mail from CRIS, saying that, this case has been sent to Vermont center for processing.

4. On May 30 2007, Got E-mail from CRIS saying that, this case is under review and will sent an update once we make decision.

5. On June 05 2007, got E-Mail from CRIS, saying that, this Approved or reaffirmed case has been sent to Dept of state for VISA processing.

No updates till date on my case.

My petitioner is saying that, this is wrong update and Chennai consulate has confirmed that, this status in USCIS site happened erreneously. I personally sent an E-mail to Chennai NIV, and got a reply saying that, get the re-approved case and attend the interview on any day between Tue and Thu from 10:00AM to 12:00PM.

So what I feel is that, we should not have any hope on the cases that is sent to USCIS and I am surprized that Chennai consulate has confirmed, the status update in the USCIS site is erreneous!

[ravithesuny2k]

Finally I got it...H1 stamped after 221(g)

My case just is the same as Sumanth's in this forum, I got my H1B stamped on 19 dec after 221(g) and now i am all set to fly in the first week of march'08.
Informed my petitioner and he is going to send tickets.
Thank you everyone!!!!


Don't loose hope but still have an alternative which would compensate.

As I informed you, I submitted the documents without passport last thursday at VFS bangalore and I received a package from VFS yesterday (tuesday) asking to drop my passport along with original Approval notice and I-129 form.
I have th eoriginal approval notice and not the original I-129 form, my petitioner is sending it across to me.

I am all confused......I am waiting for form I-129 and will update you once I am done.

Thanks

[vinods]

Good News

Congrats on getting the Visa.

I was a initial few who read this thread and felt a need for such thread( atleast this year,as I feel more 221g are issued).

Please keep posting on this thread all your experince more if it is positive.

[pallavi_04]

Thakns all

I did gain a lot of info abt 221g. Special Tx to VS. For the rest, dont loose hope.

[Paul1962]

Hi..Can u let me know how to make an online inquiry for the case sent to USCIS for AAP plz?

Hi Raj,

Thanks for posting details.

My case sent to USCIS for AAP. When i do online inquiry , i see

"Current Status: This case has been received from the State Department with a request we review it.

On June ZZZ,2007, a USCIS office received this case from the State Department with a request that we review it."


Does it means state dept already reviewed case and send back to USCIS ?
Can you please let me know which step iam in , according to your posted document for 221 (g) ?