Passport Kept and Given 221(g) Form after Interview

[jpadz]

I attended an interview at the consulate office last March 12 to renew my H4 Visa and the consular officer told me that they cannot process my visa yet because the receipt number is not yet available at Washington DC but handed me a yellow paper stating that my visa has been approved. However, she kept my passport and handed me a 221(g) form. She further told me that I can send a new notice to them just in case, we'll receive a new one. <My wife's H1B visa extension has been filed but is still pending. She's now in the US and I am abroad.>

Question:

1. Does the consular officer mean that my wife's extension must be approved first before she can issue my visa?
2. What will I do? Other than just waiting for its approval?
3. Isn't it that my wife is availing the 240-day rule while the extension is pending? If so, am I not allowed to enjoy the same benefit having a derivative status?

Please help. I really want to be with my wife as soon as possible.
Thanks!

[Subramanya]

H4 and H1 issues

I attended an interview at the consulate office last March 12 to renew my H4 Visa and the consular officer told me that they cannot process my visa yet because the receipt number is not yet available at Washington DC but handed me a yellow paper stating that my visa has been approved. However, she kept my passport and handed me a 221(g) form. She further told me that I can send a new notice to them just in case, we'll receive a new one. <My wife's H1B visa extension has been filed but is still pending. She's now in the US and I am abroad.>

Question:

1. Does the consular officer mean that my wife's extension must be approved first before she can issue my visa?

---- Yes

2. What will I do? Other than just waiting for its approval?

---- Wait and wait

3. Isn't it that my wife is availing the 240-day rule while the extension is pending? If so, am I not allowed to enjoy the same benefit having a derivative status?

---- The rule is for H1 and not for H4

Subramanya