H1B, H4 Visa

I had my biometrics on Dec 27th . My interview on Dec 28th. VO asked few questions.

To give background, I went to USA on H4 in 2013 and converted to F1 in 2014. I converted back to H4 in 2017.

He asked me few basic questions. He asked me if I studied in US, If so which university. I told him university name. He asked me if I utilized OPT. I said Yes. He asked me if my OPT is expiring. I said yes. He asked if I have plans to work on H4 EAD. I said I may work, but my main priority is to take care of my kid since his school starts next year. He asked me if my kid is US Citizen. I said Yes. He asked me where he was born. I answered him with the location. He asked me to give my husbands 797 Approval notice. He reviewed it and asked if my husband works for a client. I said yes. He asked my husbands job duties. I answered him with that.

He took a yellow sticky notes and I guess he wrote H4(He did not write anything long) and sticked it to my passport and mentioned that he is placing my case under "ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING". He neither mentioned that my visa is approved or gave me 221g. He said he has to do some document verification. I asked him how long. He said 1 to 2 weeks.

I am really tensed. He did not give me any 221g. Will I get my passport soon?? Has anyone experienced similar situation?

My wife did her H1B renewal via dropbox in Argentina, embassy of Buenos Aires on November 10th.

Since November 27th, she's stuck in Administrative Processing status, no 221-g was sent.

We got a couple of emails back from the embassy:
- the first one stated her visa was delayed for technical issues which affected all embassies globally.
I searched a lot online but found only a couple of mention about those technical problems in a post, and on one of the African US embassy website.

- the second email on Dec 21st stated her case should move forward on that day or the next but it hasn't.

Still waiting with no update since.

If anyone has heard about those 'technical issues' which delays visa emission, please post.
We'd like to confirm it affects several embassies and people.

Thanks

Hi,

I have submitted my H1B and H4(My son's) documents through drop box on 12th Dec 2017, Hyderabad. Since then my status is "Administrative Processing". Once it changed to "Application Received" and then again switched to "Administrative Processing".

All these days my Passport tracker says "You passport is with still US Embassy" but from yesterday my passport status says "There is no status update available for the passport number submitted". Iam not sure what happened there. I'am Full time employee with Fortune 5 company. All documents are good. Even my role is competitive in market. But still not sure why AP.

Another pain part is, I have received my Son's passport with incorrect expiration date and PED Date on 21st Dec 2017, so I have resubmitted with required documents on 22-Dec-2017. Today(27th Dec 2017) I have received his passport and shocked to see that still his Expiration date is incorrect and PED is updated. I' am surprised with this situation.

Does any one have passport status as "There is no status update available for the passport number submitted" after Dec 27th 2017?

12-Dec-2017: Submitted docs to Drop Box
13-Dec-2017: Case created
14-Dec-2017: Administrative Processing
21-Dec-2017: Application Received
27-Dec-2017: Administrative Processing

Nothing after that....

I'am stuck here with my kids and my husband is in USA :(

I'am worried about my son's school missing his academics and not knowing timeline.

My Self(h1 Extention) and my wife h4(New) attended interview at Hyd Embassy..

6 Dec - Finger Prints
7 Dec- Interview (11 Am)

VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning

VO: passports please
Me: submitted

VO: Who is your employer
Me: YYYY X

VO: How long you are working with employer?
Me: X

VO: You work at client location or Home project
Me: Client Side

VO: who is the client
Me : Answered
---------------------------------
VO: when did you get married
Wife: Answered

VO: whtat's your father in law does?
Wife: Answered

VO: how many siblings your husband has and their names?
Wife: Replied

So interview was straight forward and VO have not asked any dcuments, after these questions we waited around 7 minutes since he was updating or checking something on system, and finally he said your Visa Approved. My wife got passport on 12th with stamping, but mine in "AP" status till 26th dec. on 26th updated to "Issued" and got my passport on 28th Dec. so it took around 20 days to get my passport with visa stamping.

I sent couple of emails([email protected], [email protected]) to these email id's when my process in "AP" but i used to get standard reply as everyone gets.

So if VO said approved then we get visa for sure but it might take time.

Thanks,
Venkat

Me and my husband dropped off our passport on 6th Dec, at Mumbai, for renewal. I797 approved.

12th dec, Visa issued for my husband, my status -AP. We received back both our passports by 16th Dec, my husband's PP was stamped while mine had a green slip (221g), no visa stamp, check box "Please appear for interview with an officer any time between 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the consulate" option was checked.

Appeared for interview on 19th Dec, at BKC. Regular process of fingerprinting and then interview.

A bit of background on my status, I went to States for the first time on F1 visa and then later changed to h4 in 2016. I got my first stamping done in Dec 2016, which was extremely smooth with very general questions asked and I received my PP within 3 days of interview.
This time, I dropped of my PP for renewed visa stamp, my i797 is already approved.

Interview :

Greeted the officer and passed my passport and my husband's i797

VO : Did you go to school in US
Me : Yes
VO : <Started making some entries in the system>
VO : When are you travelling?
Me : 24th Dec
VO : Ooh (made Oops ! kind of expression), I need to verify something in the system regarding your tenure as a student which will take around 1-1.5 week. I am adding a note to your PP to expedite but don't guarantee if it will be ready by this weekend. < VO writes something on a yellow sticky note, pastes it to my PP and keeps it in the stack. Return back my husband's 1797 (which he hardly looked at).>
Me : Sure, Thank you very much.

First email to traveldocs support on 22nd Dec, their reply- In response to your question, the applicant's visa application is under processing at the Embassy/Consulate. Also, when additional administrative processing is required, the length of processing time will vary based on the circumstances of each case hence it cannot be expedited. Please be assured that, once the processing is completed or if the Embassy needs further information, you will be contacted for the same.

My husband left for US on 24th as per the plan and I had to change my tickets to a later date.

Second email to travel docs on 26th Dec, their reply - In response to your question, applicant visa application is under processing at the Embassy/Consulate. If you have not received any intimation in more than 10 calendar days, then you may contact our help desk

Today, as of 29th Dec. 10 Calendar days are already complete, my case status is still AP and hence we contacted the help desk again, no response from them till now.

CEAC case created : 6th Dec.
Case last updated : 19th Dec, Status - AP ( day of my interview)
Case last updated : 29th Dec, Status - Still AP

I am very worried, since the officer himself mentioned about expediting but still it has been more than 10 calendar days but we don't have any updates. Secondly, officer never mentioned anything like "Your visa is approved". He only said he cant guarantee if my pp will be ready to be picked up soon. I don't know if i should assume that he meant that my visa is approved, only some verification is taking time.

I am currently working on h4 EAD and need to return back to states asap as I have an active job with no work from home option.

Anyone else on the same boat ?

Please share your experiences/advices.

Many thanks.

Quick background - the attorney had missed including copies of invite letter and resume as part of the package that I had to submit at the consulate. That led to a long admin processing delay. :(

Location: Chennai
Interview On: 30 Nov 2017

Me and family attended the interview.

Questions: After initial greetings,
VO: Which company are you working for?
Me: YYYY X Company. It is the same company that has sponsored my current L1B.
VO: How long have you worked there.
Me: XX in total, XX yrs in USA. Previously worked for their Indian subsidiary.
VO: What is your current salary?
Me: $ZZZ per annum
VO: Can I have your invite letter
Me: [After checking my package] I don't seem to have it. I got this package from the attorneys @ company.
VO: Can I see your resume?
Me: I didn't bring it. But I do have digital copy of the one submitted during H1B application.
VO: I'll need these two documents for the visa to be approved. Let me have your passports. [Pulls out a blue 221g form]. At this time, I cannot approve your visa. You'll get a email asking for additional documents.
Me: How long will it take?
VO: I cannot give you a timeline. You'll find all information in the email.
Me: Am I expected to come back for another interview?
VO: Hopefully not.
Me: Thank you.
VO: Thanks. Its administrative processing. So should take some additional time.

In 221g form, he had marked the 2nd box - Application has been refused for administrative processing. It will be reconsidered when admin processing is complete.

I got a email from them within 2 hrs of the interview asking me to respond with for digital copies of the documents. I sent them the next day.

After that it was a long & stressful wait. I had to reschedule my return tickets due to this.

Finally on the noon of 27th December, the status changed to 'issued'. I am currently waiting for the passports to arrive.

Hi,

My wife attended h4 visa stamping renewal at Hyderabad.

The VO asked basic questions like
Where is your husband work location?
What do you like in current living location?
What color Saree that your mother wore on your wedding day?
Arranged marriage or love marriage?
Did your husband worked on OPT?
Did your husband converted from OPT to h1b?
Does your husband like current living location?

She looked at my I797 and gave it back. She said your application requires further processing.
It shouldn’t take much long. You will receive an email with full details. Handed an white slip with case number on it.
Kept my wife’s passport with her.

Guys can you please let me know, if I need to inform my employer about this?
And admin processing for h4? Please let me know what will they check if you guy have any ideas?
How long does it take for admin processing at hyd?

Date:Dec 28th 2017(9:00am)
Experience:
VO: Good morning
Me:Good morning officer,How are you?
VO: Fine,Did you do Master's in US?
Me: Yes
VO: Checked his computer for 2-3 min then Where do you work?
Me:Full time employee with best MNC company
VO:How long have you been working there?
Me:Told the answer
VO:What is your designation
Me:Told the answer
VO:What is your salary?
Me:Told the answer
VO:Your highest qualification?
Me:Master's(US)
VO:Which university?
Me:I told but he asked me again so I repeated clearly
VO:He told everything is ok but there is a small MS degree processing it is very common but it is not a big deal.
Me:I asked "How many days will it take?"
VO:It will take 2-3 business days

Did not give any slip,kept passport in his basket.Greeted him Thank you and I left after that.

My Questions:
1)I heard everyone who did their MS in US is getting the same issue?How many days will it take?I did my MS in US.Recently got my H1b approved in 2017 OCT(F1--->H1b)
2)Where to check the status of processing?Will it take more than 2-3 business days?I have my flight on Jan 13th.

Please let me know where to give fingerprints in Delhi after 221 G for H1B dropbox. Is it Embassy Consulate or at dropbox location. If it is mentioned only fingerprints , will they take interview also.

Thank you for everyone who posted. Helped me a lot during this tense period.

First time H1B stamping.

F1>H1

Full time with a Fortune 500.

Mumbai Consulate

OFC Appointment: Dec 12
Interview: Dec 14

Questions:

How long have you been working at ZZZ?

What do you do there?

Have you finished studying at YYYY University?
(Yes)

Which degree?

Were you in OPT after that?
(Yes)

Did you get STEM Ext. after that?
(Yes)

H1 after STEM Ext.?
(No, filed during OPT ext. period. Extension started in Feb., file for H1 in April)

Were you out of status anytime during that?
(No)

How much are they paying you?

Is the work location same as company location?
(Yes, I'm a full time employee)

VO: OK, this visa is approved but it will take some time. Give it 1-2 weeks. No slip.

Timeline:
Case Created: 13-Dec, Admin Proc.
First update:22-dec, Admin Proc.
Second update:27-dec, Admin Proc.

Changed to issued on 28-dec in the morning. Passport status changed to ready for pick up in the afternoon.

Collected the passport on 28-dec with stamp.

Again, thanks a lot to all who posted and all the best to everyone who is waiting.