H1B, H4 Visa

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

Interview date - 01/09/2019 (Hyderabad)

VO was talking to other lady when I arrived at her counter. So I just stood for few seconds.
VO: Took my passport and asked who is the client you are working for with your employer YYYY (I work in EC model)
ME: told
VO: How much do you make ?
Me: 90K
what is your highest education?
ME: I did my masters in computer science (VO interrupted me)
VO: which university?
ME: told
VO: for how long you worked on OPT ?
ME: I worked for an year on OPT and did my MBA.
VO: Have you completed your MBA ?
ME: yes ma’am. ( I’m currently doing PhD, but did not say the VO,she interpreting me again)
VO: so you worked on OPT, CPT and now on H1b ?
ME: Yes ma’am
VO: I’m going to put your case on hold. (Passed on white slips with 221g refusal notice and USCIS review, No documents asked)
ME: I have my flight in 15 days, can I know how long this process may take ?
VO: I cannot advise on your return flight right now. It might take little longer than that.
ME: thank you

I suspect the Day-1 CPT was the flag in my case. In my petiton’s RFE, the main concern was on speciality occupation but CPT/multiple masters wasn’t questioned and the case was Approved. Please input your thoughts on this case. Anybody faced the similar situation, please advise.

My passport tracker shows "Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery". I opted to pick up from Bluedart courier location. Will there be any further updates or email or text about the passport status? How many days does Blue dart take?

Hi guys,

I would like to share my F1 to H1B Stamping experience in New Delhi.

OFC: 18th December 2019 - New Delhi
Visa Interview: 19th December 2019 - New Delhi

Visa interview was simple. Asked basic questions about University, nature of work etc. Only asked for I797 approval notice. Interview took some time as VO had an issue with the computer. Visa was approved with no slips issued.

CEAC Status:
18th Dec: Case Created
19th Dec: Case Updated - Admin Processing
3rd Jan: Case updated - Admin Processing
8th Jan noon: Update on SEVP portal (last date of STEM OPT changed to 1-Oct-2019)
8th Jan around 4pm: CEAC case status updated - Admin Processing
9th Jan noon: Issued.

All the best guys!

Hello guys,

My wife h4 visa and her i94 got expired on september 2019 and she is currently in US and out of status for almost 128 days. My employer had filed my h1 extension in 2017 which has validity until aug 2020 and did not file i539 (h4 extension) for my wife since she had validity until sep 2019. And due to unawareness we thought her h4 ead is valid till aug 2020 and so her visa will also be valid. Recently when i got a fultime position i submited all my docs along with my wife docs for extension and they figured out that my wife visa has already expired back in sept 2019 and cannot extend her visa as she became out of status and has to leave the country and go for stamping in india asap...so she is currently departing to india in 4 days for stamping.

And my h1 transfer is initiated in premium processing with new client and waiting for approval.
And my current h1 visa is valid until aug 2020.

questions:
1. Due to her 128 days over stay which is less than 180 days (3 yr ban)....any possibilty of getting approval for her h4 visa stamping?
2. if approved... at port of entry will they deport her back ?
3. Is it better to wait and send my wife for stamping with new approval h1 i797 copy or with the existing i797 copy which is valid until aug 2020 (because i dont know how long it will take to receive new i797 form from new client).

Please suggest.

Thanks,
Rakesh

Hi I am contemplating withdrawal of my passport which has been in Admin Processing s in nice last 3 weeks for H4. I have some important work for which I need to travel.

Do you have any idea or experiences on timelines with respect to retrieving back ones passport?? I need to travel within certain timelines.