H1B, H4 Visa

Thanks for all your inputs and it helps a lot. Good Luck to all

Time lines for Drop off Kochi, Pick up at Trivandrum Blue Dart
Dec 24 Drop off at Kochi
Dec 31 - Only the passport tracking showed passport still with consulate.
Jan 1- Using the DS160 barcode it showed as Case Created on 12/31 and showed as Admin Processing.
Jan 7 - In the evening DS160 barcode tracking showed as Issued
Jan 7 - Passport tracking changed to "Passport has been received from Consular...."
Jan 8 - Passport status same as above... nervous and no email for pick up.
Jan 9 - Return Travel plan on Jan 11 night, fingers crossed and went to Blue Dart in the afternoon and told them to research saying above status and 15/20 minutes ..they have searched and could see the passport and Excited.
Opened all of the passports and cross checked and all look good.

Good Luck all, advice from my Drop of Exp and lesson learned, don't relay on the status and just keep calling the Blue Dart # or go in person and check. Don't plan for Drop Box during holidays, or book it if you have more than 4 weeks of vacation. This even with 4 weeks of vacation driving me crazy.

Hello,

I attended to my H1B visa at Cheanni consult on Dec 17th. The VO asked me basic questions and gave me the 221g blue slip and returned my passport back. My client got a verification call early this week and I received an email from the Chennai consulate today to drop the passport at the consulate.

What will be the process to drop the passport, do I need to schedule an appointment and also do I need to carry any documents?

Thank you

Hello:

See timeline below:

Dec 23- drop box documents submitted
Dec 26- case created
Jan 3rd- admin processing
Jan 6th - passport ready for pickup with 221(g) asking to come for interview
Jan 7th- went for interview at Hyderabad consulate between 10 to 11am
Jan 7th- case still remains admin processing but date updated to Jan 7th

No update after Jan 7th

Anyone else with similar timelines at Hyderabad consulate?

Thanks!

Here is my timelines:

Dec 24: Dropped documents
Dec 27: case created
Jan 2: Administrative Processing
Jan 3 - 4PM: Application Received (why this status changed back to received?)
Jan 3 - 4:30PM: Administrative Processing
No further update after.

I was told that these days, some cases are randomly selected for additional background check and/or technology clearance by department of state, which can take ~2wks and for some cases it can take more than 2 weeks. Mine is already 2 weeks passed, still haven’t received any status update.

Few questions:
1. Are there cases with being in Dropbox for more than 2 weeks in AP?
2. How do I know if I have missed any email update or phone call to submit any additional documents without interview?
3. How do I know if they call for interview: only through email that passport ready for pickup and ceac website status still shows Administrative Processing.

Thanks a lot for any insight on these items from your experiences.

I have return flight tonight from Hyderabad. Not sure even if visa is issued today, whether I can pick passport and leave tonight.

This page has helped me immensly and i thought it was my turn to repay. My Experience - Dec 2019

Dec 3rd : documents submitted for drop box
Dec 13th : Passport returned with blue slip asking to attend interview any day between 10:00am to 110:am
Dec 16th:Visa officer basic questions and told visa is approved it will take a week to process as they need to do some processing on their end.

Approved on Jan 6th and collected the passport on same day.

CEAC dates got updated on Dec 5th(A.P) , and the date of interview Dec 16th(A.P) and then Dec 26th(A.P) and Jan 3rd(A.P) and finally to approved on Jan 6th.

The cgi federal was showing document delivery information blank after Dec 26th and ceac passport tracker was showing no status for the passport number.

Important Observations I made(I am not a lawyer but i thought i should share as many of us are worried about tracking of our cases because the responses from the consulate are very vague).

1) Case Last updated on Ceac website :- this changing shows that your case is being worked on , if it has not changed since visa interview no progress has been made on your case. This will change 2-3 times before you status changes to issued. 2 times in general cases and 3 times if they need some more processing.

2) "Document delivery information black on cgi federal": This just means that consulate just started working on your case and you cannot change the place where you have chosen your documents to go to.

3) "There is no status update available for the passport number submitted" on ceac and the ustraveldocs email: This I am not sure but think that after a week you cannot track the passport status.

Good luck everyone , stay tight :)

Hi all, I had my H4 interview on 20th Dec. Since then my case has been in Admin Processing after my visa officer told me that my visa is approved. No slips. No additional documents asked.

Is it recommended to email them at their Support-india email ID and stay in.touch with them or should one abstain from emailing them??

I would really appreciate your advice on whether to keep shut or keep reaching out via email ?

Anyone with non IT background in education care to share experience?

DropBox: 13th Dec (H1+H4)
Passport Picked up: 20th Dec (H1 approved, H4 got 221g- green Slip)
Interview @Mumbai: 23rd Dec (10:30am)

AP...... AP...... AP..... Case created: 16th Dec / Case Status: 23rd Dec AP...... AP...... AP.....

First Case status Update: 1/7/2020
Second Case Status Update: 1/8/2020
Issued: 1/9/2020 | Passport Status: Currently being processed for delivery | no tracking number from Blue dart Yet.

Waiting for passport delivery now.

I had kept patience throughout (with some little anxiety of course). But 1/6 was my worst day. Cost me 2 flight tickets and job security at stake.

What was most helpful to me on that day was:
https://221glight.blogspot.com/2020/01/221g-light-at-end-of-tunnel.html

 Good Luck Fellas! Accept the fact that 221g falls under things "that are not in our control". While writing this I am still worried regarding what my passport will unfold? will it be stamped appropriately? will it carry any other color chit? But keeping high hopes and fingers crossed.

hi All,

I need this forums help and suggestion with my case.

12/26: Dropbox of documents and Passport in Chennai OFC
12/29: Status changed to Application Processing
12/31: Status changed to Admin Processing
12/02: Got my Passport through premium delivery to my home with Blue 221g Slip and asked to come on any Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 Am till 11 Am
Asked for Client Letter, MSA, Project details, salary slips and W2
My employer provided very neat cover letter with all the details above and i carried my Salary slips(full 2019 year) as I did not get my current W2 yet and W2's of 2018 and 2017.
12/09: I went to chennai from my hometown (Unfortunately festive season, had to spend around 11000 rs for flight expenses for me and my baby) . Was there by 9:40 and they called around 9:55 for 10:00 AM slot.
Staff was very friendly helped with all the necessary prioritized q with the baby for biometrics, PP verification, security check
Consulate officer called for interview and below were asked:

VO: Hello Good Morning, with cheering smile to baby
Me: Hello Sir Good Morning, and handed over my PP and 221g Query all documents and mentioned about the query and supporting Docs, he kept them aside.
VO: How long you have been with the current employer?
Me: told him the answer
VO: Asked for Client?
Me: Told him the answer
VO: What is your salary?
Me: $$ told him
VO: Current location?
Me: Told him the answer
VO: asked about current petition which is valid til July 2020?
Me: I said yes.
VO: ok? Is your husband on H1 B too?
Me: Yes
VO: Since how long you were on H1B?
Me: I answered
VO: he started looking into the Computer and was typing continuously, and started asking about my previous Employer Details.
Me: I told him the employer name and also told him the client i worked for.
VO: how did you come to know about this company?
Me: I told him i applied through linked in
VO: what was the petition it was for?
Me: told the client name for which the petition was applied
VO: So your company filed petition for another client, but you worked for another client?
Me: I worked for 3 clients with my old company, it was short term projects ( I worked for 3 clients during this tenure and unfortunately due to short time, the company did not file my amendments)
VO: He turned of mike, went and called his colleague and started showing my case. after some long discussion, his colleague left and VO turned on Mike. and apologized for long wait.
He gave me Yellow small slip and asked me to wait until i am called further
Me: I waited for sometime, fed my baby and made her sleep in the meanwhile. then I was called to another counter
Some officer: He started asking my timeline since i started my carrer on H1b.
Me: i explained and told him all the details(changed 3 companies in 5.6 years of career, Had 1 extension denied with first company but before that moved to second company. also told him i came to India, had stamped my visa and then went back.
Some officer: He asked me all the clients i worked on and also why LCA amendment wasnt done.
Me: I told him the same reason i told to VO,
Some officer: gave a voluntary form, asked me to fill in all the details including locations I worked, client details.
Some officer: he verified the form, then asked me all my I797's and my W2s from current and old employer.
Me: I answered and gave him all the documents
Some officer: He asked me to further wait until I will be called by VO
Me: Again sat and waited for some more time, then I was called and VO directly called me to come to the counter.
VO: I am sorry Mam for the wait, We still need to work on your case, for now, I cannot give my decision. You have two options, either can take your passport back if you have any international plans or we can keep it.
Me: I said I dont have any plans, you can keep it.
VO: gave back all my documents except passport and told that he will try to expedite my case and if needed they will send email for further documents. ( he dint give me any further slips)
Me: I said ok and then asked him whether I should come back again to consulate
VO: he smiled and said I am doubtful but asked me where do you stay?
Me: I said in my home town which is like far away from consulate
VO: Dont trouble, we will not call you again. if needed we will communicate through email.
Me: I said thank you. and told hime that i have leave till 31st of Jan?

this is what happened in my case? I know only patience and gods grace is needed for my case at this moment, but did anyone had this situation where the actual 221g query docs were not verified but started asking questions in previous employer?

Thanks
J

Interview date - January 9th, 2020 (Hyderabad) fresh H1b

ME: good morning mam.
VO: no wish from her side.
VO: Took my passport and asked xxxxx is your client?
ME: answered (EC model)
VO: can I see LCA?
ME : showed
VO: How much do you make ?
Me: answered
VO: how do you know about this company?
ME : answered
VO: when company started?
ME: answered
VO : show me project documents and offer letter?
ME: showed
VO: what is your highest education?
ME: answered
VO: which university?
ME: answered
VO: where do you work and office address
ME: answered
VO: Have you worked for this company ?
ME: answered
VO: what is your role?
ME: Answered

VO: she said “I will hold your passport and checking/typing in system for 40 seconds and said Admin processing required then gave passport back but keep LCA , project documents, offer letter with her. (Passed on white slip with 221g refusal notice with second check box selected)

Please input your thoughts on this case. Anybody faced the similar situation, please advise.

Thanks,
Praveen