221g Pink Slip at New Delhi US embassy H1B renewal

[JSRTVU]

Hello friends,
I have received 221g green slip on March 1st @New Delhi.
I have submitted all required documents on March 2nd.

While submitting paperwork, VFS lady said that I will get 'some' reply in a week. So what kind of email I will get from them in a week? Can anyone please share your experience. Thanks

[cs2012]

Just got my visa.....my petition was valid till Aug2014, but has been stamped till Feb2014. I guess they stamp it till the month we interview to the year the petition is valid till.

Hopefully everyone gets theirs soon. I pray that everyone gets theirs without any hassles and can lead comfortable lives. It is quite an unnerving experience.

@CS2012: thanks a lot for keeping in touch. Hopefully this does not happen again for any of us and wish for a smoother ride. Thanks for your wishes and I wish you the very same luck too!

Thanks,

bala

Congratulations! Thanks for your wishes and do pray for us.
Have a safe journey back to the US.

[balamuk2001]

Just got my visa.....my petition was valid till Aug2014, but has been stamped till Feb2014. I guess they stamp it till the month we interview to the year the petition is valid till.

Hopefully everyone gets theirs soon. I pray that everyone gets theirs without any hassles and can lead comfortable lives. It is quite an unnerving experience.

@CS2012: thanks a lot for keeping in touch. Hopefully this does not happen again for any of us and wish for a smoother ride. Thanks for your wishes and I wish you the very same luck too!

Thanks,

bala

[cs2012]

@CS2012

My case status at the embassy website changed to "Case Processed". Has anyone else received the same before? No updates yet on the VFS website.

Thanks.

To me, that would indicate that your visa has been processed/approved and you should be asked to pick up your passport in a few days.
Keep checking both the websites regularly today and see what happens...
I am inclined to congratulate you but would wait for you to confirm - Good Luck.

My status still shows as "under processing" - so keeping fingers crossed and praying.

[balamuk2001]

@CS2012

My case status at the embassy website changed to "Case Processed". Has anyone else received the same before? No updates yet on the VFS website.

Thanks.

[balamuk2001]

I would assume that it is just another way of getting our documents verified by another agency ( more like cross verification) once they hit some "alert" word such as research, bio, chemical etc. I am pretty confident that we will get it in the end, even though the wait is a bit unnerving considering the fact that this whole process seems to be a black-box with a lot of uncertainty involved. They must be doing this because of a large number of applicants and insufficient time to actually verify the documents completely because they hardly asked a couple of questions from me during the interview. This opinion of mine keeps me going in this situation and hopefully gets resolved asap for all of us.

Will keep everyone posted on any updates.

bala

[cs2012]

@CS2012

Very same case as yours, PhD Environmental Engineering, asked for the same documents on Feb 15th, 2012. Went from F1 to H1B straight. Still waiting on it. Let me know how it goes with you.

Thanks.

I think in case of scientists like us, it is becoming more a norm to send everyone for 3-4 weeks of administrative processing. That's what "theconfused" and "rahul" have stated earlier on this thread.

I hope that this gets resolved asap for me, you and all the rest of scientists stuck in this ordeal.

As soon as I get any updates on my application, I will post it here and I will appreciate if you do the same.

Thanks and May god bless us all with good luck!
CS

[balamuk2001]

@CS2012

Very same case as yours, PhD Environmental Engineering, asked for the same documents on Feb 15th, 2012. Went from F1 to H1B straight. Still waiting on it. Let me know how it goes with you.

Thanks.

[cs2012]

@cs2012: I went through same process last month.

It took exactly three weeks for me. They asked for my research details and so on.

I did dig into forums on the internet and it looks like for research related 221g from new Delhi consulate, it typically takes around three-four weeks.

Thanks for your message Rahul.. that's a bit comforting to know..
I will let my company know know that it might take somewhere between 3-4 weeks.

I hope and pray that I get my visa stamped ideally within 3 weeks.

Thanks for your reply, your support and your wishes
CS

[rahul_omega]

@cs2012: I went through same process last month.

It took exactly three weeks for me. They asked for my research details and so on.

I did dig into forums on the internet and it looks like for research related 221g from new Delhi consulate, it typically takes around three-four weeks.

Hi All,

I am a senior scientist for a biotech firm and have been with the company after finishing my PhD.

I did not go back to India since starting my job (i.e. change from F1 to H1B) and recently also got my H1B extension approved.

I went to India 2 weeks ago and attended a visa interview for H1B on February 13th, 2012.

The IO was very nice, talked to me about my work, my school etc and explained that they have to do additional processing due to my research field in biotech.

They I was given a pink form and asked to supply CV, description of research as well as importance to the research of the company etc. I put all these documents together and sent it to them the same night i.e. the night of 13th.

My case number shows up on both the US consulate as well as VFS website and shows up as "under processing".

It is now close to 2 weeks and am getting a bit nervous and wondering if there is any guidelines wrt the 221G processing times for PhD level scientists.

Thanks everyone for your help and patience in advance
CS

[cs2012]

PhD scientist in biotech firm: pink 221G

Hi All,

I am a senior scientist for a biotech firm and have been with the company after finishing my PhD.

I did not go back to India since starting my job (i.e. change from F1 to H1B) and recently also got my H1B extension approved.

I went to India 2 weeks ago and attended a visa interview for H1B on February 13th, 2012.

The IO was very nice, talked to me about my work, my school etc and explained that they have to do additional processing due to my research field in biotech.

Then I was given a pink form and asked to supply CV, description of research as well as importance to the research of the company etc. I put all these documents together and sent it to them the same night i.e. the night of 13th.

My case number shows up on both the US consulate as well as VFS website and shows up as "under processing".

It is now close to 2 weeks and am getting a bit nervous and wondering if there is any guidelines wrt the 221G processing times for PhD level scientists.

Thanks everyone for your help and patience in advance
CS

[eager_007]

H1B first time

Hey everybody,
I had my VI on 18th Jan 2012 and still waiting under 221g pink slip.

VO had told me to wait for 3-4 weeks and now its 6-7th week running, dont know what to do. is there any one who had his/her VI around this date and didn't heard anything yet from the embassy.

please give me some suggestion what to do and how can I know the status of my case, as on embassy website they show rsponse date not applicable and the case is under processing. can anybody do let know what to expect and how long it will take

[rosewoods007]

221(g) Pink Handout - 4th week running - no documents asked

Below are the details of my H1B case :

VISA Type : First time H1B (Myself) & H4 (Spouse and Daughter) all on same day
Intervew Date : 02/02/2012
Place of Interview : New Delhi

VO asked me just some couple of questions regarding the complany I work for and the person going to supervise me. She kept my passport and after a pause of 1 minute told us to go at counter 30. VO at counter 30 issued me 221(g) Pink Handout and kept our passports and approved I797 and BEP and told me that they want to do additional processing. They didnt ask me for any other documents also.

My wife and Daughter is not having any VISA in their passports.

This is fourt week and I didnt here anything from them and the case status @ websites shows pending processing.

I was issued a 221g green in 2008 as well from new delhi embassy for my B1 Visa – but it got typically cleared in a week or 10 days and got my B1 Visa in two weeks.

What do you suggest as VO at counter 30 told me it will take 4 weeks ? Wait and watch –

Is there anyone else who is in the same boat?

[theconfused]

There are 99.99% chances that US embassy will not ask for these documents (which they ask me on Feb 10th) to 221g-given applicants.

Therefore, do not worry.

Good luck to all !!!

@theconfused: Thanks for sharing your latest info.

Can you let us know if possible, what additional documents they asked you to provide on Feb 10th? Am curious because this info would help me better prepare for my next visa stamping.

[rahul_omega]

additional documents

@theconfused: Thanks for sharing your latest info.

Can you let us know if possible, what additional documents they asked you to provide on Feb 10th? Am curious because this info would help me better prepare for my next visa stamping.

Received the passport from Blue Dart service today.

Passport expiration date - December 2012
Petition (I-797A) expiration date - October 2013
Visa expiration date - October 2013

Thanks to everyone for sharing their information.

Gist is -

1) US embassy (New Delhi) website does not get updated regularly. However, it might show one of the two following messages - 1) Under processing; 2) Case number is not recognized.
2) Track your passport service from vfs website gets updated regularly.
3) Blue dart updates its website with your passport number regularly. Type your passport number in their reference number section of the blue dart webpage to track your passport.
4) Clearance on 221 g (pink and if they ask for CV, resume etc) is received on an average from 21 to 28 days.
5) Clearance is valid for 1 year.
6) You are likely to get 221 g in future if you received one in past. This was my third 221 g and 4th visa from US embassy-New Delhi.

Good luck to all.