221g white paper

[mask728]

Folks,
My passport has been with the US consulate all this time (9+months). I am staying at a difference residence than what I mentioned in my DS160 etc where they mail the passports. To avoid any issues especially with all the incorrect updates we get from them, I wanted to request for my passport back. I DO NOT want to "withdraw" my application. Just need my passports back and I can resubmit them once they ask me to after the processing is complete.

1. Is it safe to do this?
2. What procedure do I need to follow for the requesting same??

Thanks

[Wife_H4_221g]

Folks,
My passport has been with the US consulate all this time (9+months). I am staying at a difference residence than what I mentioned in my DS160 etc where they mail the passports. To avoid any issues especially with all the incorrect updates we get from them, I wanted to request for my passport back. I DO NOT want to "withdraw" my application. Just need my passports back and I can resubmit them once they ask me to after the processing is complete.

1. Is it safe to do this?
2. What procedure do I need to follow for the requesting same??

Thanks

I think it is ok to withdraw ppt and that doesnt mean withdrawing your application. My wife had to withdraw her ppt for urgent travel needs and so far based on the CEAC updates, I hope she should get her visa by end of this week.
She had to withdraw her ppt with in 5 days of the interview.
My heart goes out to all the couples who are stranded worlds apart because of this not so humanly admin processing. I really hope your case gets cleared very soon

[mask728]

Crazy high school drop outs sitting in the visa support office......look at this response when I asked instructions on how to request for my passports for other urgent travel...

"With regards to your query, we need to inform you that you would need to submit a written request at any of the VAC / VFS centers stating that you want to withdraw your application, supporting the reason behind it. Your request will then be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate.

Also, please be informed that it is at the discretion of the Embassy/Consulate to process the same."

The least they can do if they cant expedite 221g's or give even an approx eta, is to UNDERSTAND the query that is being made. Instead they copy paste standard responses for ALL types of questions and then JUST CLOSE your case....Insane!!! (enough frustration for now)

[imirza]

update contact details

Crazy high school drop outs sitting in the visa support office......look at this response when I asked instructions on how to request for my passports for other urgent travel...

"With regards to your query, we need to inform you that you would need to submit a written request at any of the VAC / VFS centers stating that you want to withdraw your application, supporting the reason behind it. Your request will then be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate.

Also, please be informed that it is at the discretion of the Embassy/Consulate to process the same."

The least they can do if they cant expedite 221g's or give even an approx eta, is to UNDERSTAND the query that is being made. Instead they copy paste standard responses for ALL types of questions and then JUST CLOSE your case....Insane!!! (enough frustration for now)

take it easy mask728.... it could be that a very tired visa support office employee made a mistake.

if you have changed your address make sure you go to ustraveldocs dot com and update your new address/contact details. The login should be the same from when you had to book the visa appointment.

-Mirza

[221gproblem]

success

Finally I got the visa. my wife picked the passport today itself.
here is summary of my case.

- H1 extension after 6 years (with I-140 approved)
- previously "clearance received" after 221g last time so could not go for dropbox
- went for finger print on May 21 and interview on May 22. basic questions asked as i mentioned in previous posts.
- again got 221g white.
- was eagerly waiting for clearance.. in last 221g it took me 6 weeks. luckily unlike last time, this time the consulate
asked documents (questionnaire, company letter, and resume (CV)).. so there was hope that this time it will be
cleared faster than last time. I believed when no documents is asked it is a name check situation and that would take
more time than the documents asked.
- case was updated multiple times.. May 24, 28, 29, 31 and finally ISSUED on June 3.
- passport was ready to pick up today and got it!

that was about the case but the dilemma i went through for last two years is very painful.
actually i wanted to come to india last year itself for vacation but due to fear of 221g i delayed it.
Also i thought i would get green card soon because priority cut off dates were moving fast.. but then suddenly the
retrogression happened and it went back to 2004 window.. i was disappointed.. more disappointed to see that the dates
got stuck in 2004 for over and year (for EB2)
I was scared to come to india because i dont want to lose the career if i get stuck here.. but then time has come. i had
no choice due to emergency situation.. i decided to come and i came on May14th. But I did a mistake. I had leased the home early
this year so could not break it.. Ideally i would suggest people to pack off and keep the stuff in storage so that you would save rent
if you are stuck here.. but knowingly i did the mistake. i was hoping that i wont get stuck again.. but still i did some good things.. i packed
everything in the boxes and also signed my car title and gave it to my friend.. i told him that if things go worse i would request him to
move everything to storage and sell off my car.
I was tensed when i was coming back... my friend came to drop me to the airport.. he was playing a radio and in the radio there was
a 'fortune teller show' going on where in somebody would ask a question and a fortune teller (usha JI) would reply.. so there was question..
somebody called and the fortune teller asked his year of birth/age... both were matching to me.. and the question asked was also about
the 221g.. the fortune teller said 'dont take risk', for your year of birth there is a big risk of getting stuck... that was a coincidence or a warning
i dont know but it happened.. i was more scared after that though i dont believe those fortune teller who just predicts something based on year of birth.
once i reached here there were more issues waiting.. i was hoping that if visa is cleared everything will be resolved, all problems will be resolved..
on the fateful day of interview, when i received 221g i was totally shattered.. worse of my fear happened . i was uncertain and desperate.. i was
disappointed more because i have to pay rent for my US home while working from bangalore and my company wont pay for my accommodation and
expenses if i have to work from bangalore.. either i have to take PTO (unpaid) or i have to work on my own expenses.. so i would lose one pay check
in US expenses and one pay check in bangalore expenses and that way i will have to work for FREE... and worse thing is i dont know for how long..
so then my research and analysis started.. i kept looking at the cases, similar cases looking for some hope and keep convincing myself that i would
get it soon. each and every day and each and every minute was tough as I use to just keep looking for status change or some kind of hope..
finally i got relaxed to see my visa.. now i can go back and solve all my issues.

For those people who are stuck and not coming to india because of fear of 221g i would suggest something..
- one main reason people come to india is to visit their parents.. so if possible bring your parents to US for short time so that you can avoid your visit. it almost costs same
and it is more fun.
- otherwise if you have to come and especially for parents then definitely plan to come.. dont avoid meeting parents due to fear of 221g... yes i know we are earning and living
in US so that entire family could have better standard of life but still 221g should not be a factor to stop you from meeting your parents.. nobody can replace the joy your
parents gets in meeting you even if you dont care them. and we never know time is short. there are people who lost their parents without meeting them and then what is the
point of earning if you could not keep your parents happy or at least meet them one time in a year? most people take care of spouses but ignore parents.
- okay now when you decided to come, then first plan to make sure that you come without leaving any house on lease... put all your luggage in boxes and put it in storage.. most of
storage are very cheap just like 100$ per month and first month free.. it is much cheaper than paying like 1700$ rent especially in california.. if you have own house then also
put stuff in storage so that you can rent it out if required through some consultant.
- if you car(s) then sign the title and give it to your friend.. they can sell it off if required, all they need is a signed title.
- talk to your manager and HR and make sure he allows you to work remotely or from home if visa is stuck in 221g administrative processing.
- 221g cases eventually clear.. it is matter of time.. if you dont have any US rent to pay or worry about anything in US and if you can work from india then you can peacefully and
coolly work from india while staying close with parents and enjoying the time while earning in US salary.
- keep your US cell phones in a 'low charge mode'.. AT & T provides one such option where you will just have to pay 10$ per month if you are away from US.
- disconnect un-necessary utilities which you will not be using when you are away.. like comcast internet, news paper etc.
- make sure you bring all original and important documents while you keep rest of the things in storage. otherwise you can keep important stuff in bank lockers there itself.
- finally when you go for interview, go with confidence. if you go with a fear of getting 221g you will definitely get it. i was so scared in interview and i am sure i was looking
zero confidence guy while answering the questions.
- if you get visa straight away it is good. you can enjoy your vacation peacefully.. you can also work for sometime in india before going back to US.
- unfortunately if you get 221g you are still in good shape if you planned as mentioned above.. your only US expense will be the storage and 10$ per month on cell phone bill.
rest of money you can use to live like a king and enjoy time with your family while working from india.
- finally when you get visa you will get it for at least 2 years so you can come back for vacation couple of more times without the worry of 221g and stamping..
if you are lucky if the criteria matches, then next time you may not even have to go to interview, you can just use dropbox facility for next stamping.. and may be
in couple of stampings you will get a green card or the advanced parole too. if we thing positive and plan positive and do right things then life will become more easy.. all
it needs a calculative risk and proper planning. rest will be taken care.
- though i did not plan as i mentioned above, i am happy that i took a risk and it worked out in my favor.. otherwise i would have stuck for at least 3 more years in US without meeting
my parents and waiting for green card before coming to india.. now i am happy and also planning to take my mom to US when i go back by end of this month.
- one last thing.. if your visa stamp is expired in less than one year from today it is better for you to come for stamping.. because if it is less than one year since expired it will go
smooth as a renewal category.. if you come back more than a year after it expired then it will be delayed more especially if it gets stuck in 221g.
- Hope this helps though it may not be a relevant information to many people.

[tahersub4t]

221 g White Form

Finally I got the visa. my wife picked the passport today itself.

Congrats !!!

[chem_engg]

Administrative Processing – H1B – Hyderabad Consulate

OFC: May 5 2013
Interview: May 6 2013
Background: MS Chemical Engineering. I work fulltime for a large chemical company in the US. H1B was valid from October 2011 – this is first time H1B stamping. I was on F1 status before the H1B COS.
The CO asked me simple questions
1) What kind of company is YYYY ?
2) Where is this plant?
3) Where do you live?
4) What is your degree in?

The CO asked me my I-797, DS160 confirmation page and my passport, and told me my visa looked good and that they would process it after I answer an email questionnaire and retained the same. I thanked the officer and left. I got an email questionnaire a couple hours later and was also asked to submit my CV and invitation/employment letter. Replied with documents same day but after business hours.
I saw that my case was updated on these dates while still showing “administrative processing”.

17th May 2013 - Administrative Processing
29th May 2013 - Administrative Processing
3rd June 2013 - Administrative Processing
4th June 2013 - Administrative Processing
5th June 2013 – ISSUED

My company’s immigration firm contacted DOS on June 4th 2013 and was told that my visa application was still pending but in the final stages of review. Frequent updates are a good thing although some of these updates seemed like mass updates. Also, the immigration firm was able to tell me that the delay was to get “security clearance” so this was a TAL/Mantis check.

So the “Administrative Processing” or 221g took 30 days to be resolved. I used this forum to follow others’ cases so I thought I’d add my data point as well. Thanks to everyone who post here and good luck to you all.

[Wife_H4_221g]

Date changed today too

Congratulations 221g and chem_engg.
My wife's status update changed today too with Same message. Now it is jun 5.
No mail from embassy yet to submit ppt. It changed only in the last 1 hour - 3:30 - 4:30pm IST.
May be I will get an email 2moro.

[DOCMD]

Date changed to 5th june.

[221g052013]

Contrats!!

Finally I got the visa. my wife picked the passport today itself.
here is summary of my case.

- H1 extension after 6 years (with I-140 approved)
- previously "clearance received" after 221g last time so could not go for dropbox
- went for finger print on May 21 and interview on May 22. basic questions asked as i mentioned in previous posts.
- again got 221g white.
- was eagerly waiting for clearance.. in last 221g it took me 6 weeks. luckily unlike last time, this time the consulate
asked documents (questionnaire, company letter, and resume (CV)).. so there was hope that this time it will be
cleared faster than last time. I believed when no documents is asked it is a name check situation and that would take
more time than the documents asked.
- case was updated multiple times.. May 24, 28, 29, 31 and finally ISSUED on June 3.
- passport was ready to pick up today and got it!

that was about the case but the dilemma i went through for last two years is very painful.
actually i wanted to come to india last year itself for vacation but due to fear of 221g i delayed it.
Also i thought i would get green card soon because priority cut off dates were moving fast.. but then suddenly the
retrogression happened and it went back to 2004 window.. i was disappointed.. more disappointed to see that the dates
got stuck in 2004 for over and year (for EB2)
I was scared to come to india because i dont want to lose the career if i get stuck here.. but then time has come. i had
no choice due to emergency situation.. i decided to come and i came on May14th. But I did a mistake. I had leased the home early
this year so could not break it.. Ideally i would suggest people to pack off and keep the stuff in storage so that you would save rent
if you are stuck here.. but knowingly i did the mistake. i was hoping that i wont get stuck again.. but still i did some good things.. i packed
everything in the boxes and also signed my car title and gave it to my friend.. i told him that if things go worse i would request him to
move everything to storage and sell off my car.
I was tensed when i was coming back... my friend came to drop me to the airport.. he was playing a radio and in the radio there was
a 'fortune teller show' going on where in somebody would ask a question and a fortune teller (usha JI) would reply.. so there was question..
somebody called and the fortune teller asked his year of birth/age... both were matching to me.. and the question asked was also about
the 221g.. the fortune teller said 'dont take risk', for your year of birth there is a big risk of getting stuck... that was a coincidence or a warning
i dont know but it happened.. i was more scared after that though i dont believe those fortune teller who just predicts something based on year of birth.
once i reached here there were more issues waiting.. i was hoping that if visa is cleared everything will be resolved, all problems will be resolved..
on the fateful day of interview, when i received 221g i was totally shattered.. worse of my fear happened . i was uncertain and desperate.. i was
disappointed more because i have to pay rent for my US home while working from bangalore and my company wont pay for my accommodation and
expenses if i have to work from bangalore.. either i have to take PTO (unpaid) or i have to work on my own expenses.. so i would lose one pay check
in US expenses and one pay check in bangalore expenses and that way i will have to work for FREE... and worse thing is i dont know for how long..
so then my research and analysis started.. i kept looking at the cases, similar cases looking for some hope and keep convincing myself that i would
get it soon. each and every day and each and every minute was tough as I use to just keep looking for status change or some kind of hope..
finally i got relaxed to see my visa.. now i can go back and solve all my issues.

For those people who are stuck and not coming to india because of fear of 221g i would suggest something..
- one main reason people come to india is to visit their parents.. so if possible bring your parents to US for short time so that you can avoid your visit. it almost costs same
and it is more fun.
- otherwise if you have to come and especially for parents then definitely plan to come.. dont avoid meeting parents due to fear of 221g... yes i know we are earning and living
in US so that entire family could have better standard of life but still 221g should not be a factor to stop you from meeting your parents.. nobody can replace the joy your
parents gets in meeting you even if you dont care them. and we never know time is short. there are people who lost their parents without meeting them and then what is the
point of earning if you could not keep your parents happy or at least meet them one time in a year? most people take care of spouses but ignore parents.
- okay now when you decided to come, then first plan to make sure that you come without leaving any house on lease... put all your luggage in boxes and put it in storage.. most of
storage are very cheap just like 100$ per month and first month free.. it is much cheaper than paying like 1700$ rent especially in california.. if you have own house then also
put stuff in storage so that you can rent it out if required through some consultant.
- if you car(s) then sign the title and give it to your friend.. they can sell it off if required, all they need is a signed title.
- talk to your manager and HR and make sure he allows you to work remotely or from home if visa is stuck in 221g administrative processing.
- 221g cases eventually clear.. it is matter of time.. if you dont have any US rent to pay or worry about anything in US and if you can work from india then you can peacefully and
coolly work from india while staying close with parents and enjoying the time while earning in US salary.
- keep your US cell phones in a 'low charge mode'.. AT & T provides one such option where you will just have to pay 10$ per month if you are away from US.
- disconnect un-necessary utilities which you will not be using when you are away.. like comcast internet, news paper etc.
- make sure you bring all original and important documents while you keep rest of the things in storage. otherwise you can keep important stuff in bank lockers there itself.
- finally when you go for interview, go with confidence. if you go with a fear of getting 221g you will definitely get it. i was so scared in interview and i am sure i was looking
zero confidence guy while answering the questions.
- if you get visa straight away it is good. you can enjoy your vacation peacefully.. you can also work for sometime in india before going back to US.
- unfortunately if you get 221g you are still in good shape if you planned as mentioned above.. your only US expense will be the storage and 10$ per month on cell phone bill.
rest of money you can use to live like a king and enjoy time with your family while working from india.
- finally when you get visa you will get it for at least 2 years so you can come back for vacation couple of more times without the worry of 221g and stamping..
if you are lucky if the criteria matches, then next time you may not even have to go to interview, you can just use dropbox facility for next stamping.. and may be
in couple of stampings you will get a green card or the advanced parole too. if we thing positive and plan positive and do right things then life will become more easy.. all
it needs a calculative risk and proper planning. rest will be taken care.
- though i did not plan as i mentioned above, i am happy that i took a risk and it worked out in my favor.. otherwise i would have stuck for at least 3 more years in US without meeting
my parents and waiting for green card before coming to india.. now i am happy and also planning to take my mom to US when i go back by end of this month.
- one last thing.. if your visa stamp is expired in less than one year from today it is better for you to come for stamping.. because if it is less than one year since expired it will go
smooth as a renewal category.. if you come back more than a year after it expired then it will be delayed more especially if it gets stuck in 221g.
- Hope this helps though it may not be a relevant information to many people.

Enjoy rest of your vacation here....

Mine is 4th week still waiting to hear any update, will keep everyone posted on the progress.

[tahersub4t]

221 (g) White Form Hyderabad - Update

Status Update Date changed to 3-JUN-2013. But message still same "Admin Processing"

Any had any luck this week ?

My Status Updated Date changed to 06-JUN-2013, with same message?

Any updates from anyone ?

[Wife_H4_221g]

got an email from embassy to submit ppt

My Status Updated Date changed to 06-JUN-2013, with same message?

Any updates from anyone ?

Got an email from embassy to submit PPT. What all documents should I be submitting along with the PPT ?
Any Idea how long it normally takes to get PPT back after stamping?
@DOCMD:- I guess you would get your visa in couple of days if not today

[[email protected]]

yeah, my case status updated to 06-JUN-2013 with same message.

My Status Updated Date changed to 06-JUN-2013, with same message?

Any updates from anyone ?

[221gproblem]

almost there

yeah, my case status updated to 06-JUN-2013 with same message.

I think your waiting time has come to an end.. you should be getting it soon.

- - - Updated - - -

Got an email from embassy to submit PPT. What all documents should I be submitting along with the PPT ?
Any Idea how long it normally takes to get PPT back after stamping?
@DOCMD:- I guess you would get your visa in couple of days if not today

After the status on CEAC changed to "ISSUED" it took 2 days to get an email to collect the stamped passport.
basically once you see the status as "ISSUED" you start looking at the passport status. Initially the passoport status
would say "send to post" and after one or two days it should become "Ready to pick-up"... after you pick up it will be become "picked up".
Again dont send the email after it is issued.. those stupid guys are replying with a standard reply saying that it is still in administrative processing
even after the case is issued. for them the case is in administrative processing till it is picked up by you.

[221g052013]

Case Update date changed!!

Guys, my case updated date also got changed to June-06.