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Originally posted by tahersub4t
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Hello (As Salaamu Alaikum Wr Wb) All,
I received 221(g) white form with nothing written on it on May-03-2013 (Friday) at Hyderabad and my visa was issued this Friday - 08/23/2013. Clearance Date is AUG-19-2013. It took almost 3 months 15 days for processing after I submitted my documents, more details below.
Brief overview of my case for your reference,
Interview Date: MAY-03-2013
Interview Location: Hyderabad
Visa Class: H1B, I-140 approved.
Employee Type: Full Time Employee
I went to Visa Interview with my wife.
I was asked very basic questions, interview lasted less than a minute,
Me:
1. Who's your employer
2. What's your salary
3. Are you renewing your H1 with the same employer as previous.
My wife:
1. How long are you married
Visa Officer took my Passport, I-797 and my wife's passport. I was issued only 1 case number for me and my wife processing.
I was Issued 221 g white, got email same day with basic questions and was asked to submit resume in text format and (optional) supporting documents (professional reference).
Replied email with below supporting documents,
1. Resume in text format
2. Client Letter
3. Experience Letters.
4. Masters Degree and Transcripts.
5. Certifications.
6. Most recent Pay Stubs.
7. I-129 Petition.
8. Previous I-797 Approvals.
9. All Previous W2's.
10. I-140 Approval.
And the waiting started, below are all updated dates for my case
May 2 - Case Create Date
2 weeks no updates, and then updates started happening to my case,
May 17
May 29
June 3
June 6
June 11 (I thought I made it, but less I knew I had to wait couple of months more)
And then no updates for two months, was literally frustated, called DOS, VFS, sent emails. Nothing helped. After completing 90 days, spoke to attorney, he initiated enquiry on my case, but no response, finally,
August 20
August 21
August 22 - Status changed to Issued
August 23 - got an email from consulate that document were handed over to VFS- Hyderabad. My wife picked her passport and my passport on my behalf.
Total time, if we do maths, is 3 months and 15 days, thats almost 105 days.
These 3-4 months were not easy for me and I am sure its not easy for many of us, paying bills in US, you need to have proper savings and then your company should support you while you are working from India.
Below are lessons learnt for me, next time when I come to India for stamping,
1. First and foremost take care of house rent in US, I paid $1600/month. Next time when I plan to travel India for stamping, I will put my stuff in a storage house so that I don't have to worry about house rent. Will plan trip at the end of the lease.
2. I read in few blogs, that you can have your FBI background check in US while you are in US at your cost. You can then present that report to Visa officer at the time of interview. Not sure if that would help but thats an option. Now the part I am missing here is duration for background check, and cost for background check.
3. Give your house keys/car keys to trusted neighbours or friends, I paid $750 because my car was towed and they added $30/day as space charge, for a total of 20-25 days and made a bill of $750, If I sell it I wont get $1000 for that car, but I paid $750 for that car and I know I will have to spend more to fix car (especially after it is towed).
Facts about 221g,
1. If you get 221g once, 80 % chances are you will get it everytime, so be prepared next time you plan to travel India for stamping, you atleast plan for a 3-4 months trip (Bad part of my trip was, I brought clothes only for 15 days vacation , I was very over confident).
2. No point in doing analysis and taking stress thinking about the situation, you just have to educate yourself there are few things that are outside our scope and ability and we cannot do anything but to wait. And 221g is one of them. You can only wait and let the process continue. The more you think about it the more you will spoil your health.
3. Keep checking your status not just on CEAC website, but also by calling DOS to get latest updates on your case once a week. Speak with your company attorney if it takes more than 90 days.
4. I observed a trend for issuing visa. There are basically two types of cases one that is simple and is issued with in a month time and there are cases that take more than a month time. First type of case are issued through out the month for all consulates but for the second type of cases they process in batch and one consulate at a time, like first Delhi, then Chennai, then Hyderabad and the list goes on... I could be wrong, but this is just my observation, so if you have crossed say two months then keep watching other consulate cases if the date is same as yours then the lot could move to your consulate soon.
5. There is no fixed time for processing. Get this straight, being positive and hoping for good is good but expecting results next day is not realistic and would soon stress you out. So educate yourself that 221g process atleast takes 3 months of time, if you get early you are lucky. Consider this as, it takes atleast 18 hours to travel from US to India.
I have gone through this pain and I realize how painful it is to go through this phase, but there's a light at the end of the tunell. I pray to Almighty that this period soon ends for everyone with positive results. Especially for those who are working and have their families seperated.
May Allah make it easy on all of us and help us get through this period.
Would be happy to answer any questions you may have related to my case.
** Please don't consider this as a legal advice, these are purely my observations only and I could be wrong.
I received 221(g) white form with nothing written on it on May-03-2013 (Friday) at Hyderabad and my visa was issued this Friday - 08/23/2013. Clearance Date is AUG-19-2013. It took almost 3 months 15 days for processing after I submitted my documents, more details below.
Brief overview of my case for your reference,
Interview Date: MAY-03-2013
Interview Location: Hyderabad
Visa Class: H1B, I-140 approved.
Employee Type: Full Time Employee
I went to Visa Interview with my wife.
I was asked very basic questions, interview lasted less than a minute,
Me:
1. Who's your employer
2. What's your salary
3. Are you renewing your H1 with the same employer as previous.
My wife:
1. How long are you married
Visa Officer took my Passport, I-797 and my wife's passport. I was issued only 1 case number for me and my wife processing.
I was Issued 221 g white, got email same day with basic questions and was asked to submit resume in text format and (optional) supporting documents (professional reference).
Replied email with below supporting documents,
1. Resume in text format
2. Client Letter
3. Experience Letters.
4. Masters Degree and Transcripts.
5. Certifications.
6. Most recent Pay Stubs.
7. I-129 Petition.
8. Previous I-797 Approvals.
9. All Previous W2's.
10. I-140 Approval.
And the waiting started, below are all updated dates for my case
May 2 - Case Create Date
2 weeks no updates, and then updates started happening to my case,
May 17
May 29
June 3
June 6
June 11 (I thought I made it, but less I knew I had to wait couple of months more)
And then no updates for two months, was literally frustated, called DOS, VFS, sent emails. Nothing helped. After completing 90 days, spoke to attorney, he initiated enquiry on my case, but no response, finally,
August 20
August 21
August 22 - Status changed to Issued
August 23 - got an email from consulate that document were handed over to VFS- Hyderabad. My wife picked her passport and my passport on my behalf.
Total time, if we do maths, is 3 months and 15 days, thats almost 105 days.
These 3-4 months were not easy for me and I am sure its not easy for many of us, paying bills in US, you need to have proper savings and then your company should support you while you are working from India.
Below are lessons learnt for me, next time when I come to India for stamping,
1. First and foremost take care of house rent in US, I paid $1600/month. Next time when I plan to travel India for stamping, I will put my stuff in a storage house so that I don't have to worry about house rent. Will plan trip at the end of the lease.
2. I read in few blogs, that you can have your FBI background check in US while you are in US at your cost. You can then present that report to Visa officer at the time of interview. Not sure if that would help but thats an option. Now the part I am missing here is duration for background check, and cost for background check.
3. Give your house keys/car keys to trusted neighbours or friends, I paid $750 because my car was towed and they added $30/day as space charge, for a total of 20-25 days and made a bill of $750, If I sell it I wont get $1000 for that car, but I paid $750 for that car and I know I will have to spend more to fix car (especially after it is towed).
Facts about 221g,
1. If you get 221g once, 80 % chances are you will get it everytime, so be prepared next time you plan to travel India for stamping, you atleast plan for a 3-4 months trip (Bad part of my trip was, I brought clothes only for 15 days vacation , I was very over confident).
2. No point in doing analysis and taking stress thinking about the situation, you just have to educate yourself there are few things that are outside our scope and ability and we cannot do anything but to wait. And 221g is one of them. You can only wait and let the process continue. The more you think about it the more you will spoil your health.
3. Keep checking your status not just on CEAC website, but also by calling DOS to get latest updates on your case once a week. Speak with your company attorney if it takes more than 90 days.
4. I observed a trend for issuing visa. There are basically two types of cases one that is simple and is issued with in a month time and there are cases that take more than a month time. First type of case are issued through out the month for all consulates but for the second type of cases they process in batch and one consulate at a time, like first Delhi, then Chennai, then Hyderabad and the list goes on... I could be wrong, but this is just my observation, so if you have crossed say two months then keep watching other consulate cases if the date is same as yours then the lot could move to your consulate soon.
5. There is no fixed time for processing. Get this straight, being positive and hoping for good is good but expecting results next day is not realistic and would soon stress you out. So educate yourself that 221g process atleast takes 3 months of time, if you get early you are lucky. Consider this as, it takes atleast 18 hours to travel from US to India.
I have gone through this pain and I realize how painful it is to go through this phase, but there's a light at the end of the tunell. I pray to Almighty that this period soon ends for everyone with positive results. Especially for those who are working and have their families seperated.
May Allah make it easy on all of us and help us get through this period.
Would be happy to answer any questions you may have related to my case.
** Please don't consider this as a legal advice, these are purely my observations only and I could be wrong.
Congrats Tahir.....Even though its not me I still completely felt happy for you. I am just glad that most of the brothers here are seeing progress and success here. Yesterday I completed my 365th day of waiting and I hope no one has to go through this. And cuz I know how it feels it makes me very happy that you didnt have to wait any longer. Have a safe journey back and remember all of us in your prayers.
FYI...my case got updated on August 12th, August 16th ( thought i'll get it next week but didnt happen) & August23rd...
hopefully this week will be the last for me.....
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