221(g) yellow form during H1B Visa stamping

[missivory]

@ras305

Yes your read it right ,but its in that case when you dont submit you docs within a period of one year from the date of issue of 221g. I know many people whose visa got cleared after one year.

Anyways my story is little different

My first interview wan in December 2011 ,got 221g and petition sent back to USCIS, got reaffirmed in march and final docs submitted in April.

So I am counting it like two ways

1) From Dec 2011 ( first Interview, Almost 11 months)

2) from April When petition got reaffirmed and final docs submitted ( 6 months )

Starting Sept'12, Stanley is handling US visa processing; and I read on their website that: After one year, an application refused under Section 221(g) is terminated per Section 203(e).

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-221ginfo.asp

and moreover, is the visa validity in anyway related to the petition validity? I am curious because, my friend's visa was approved after 9 month wait period but the visa validity ended the day his petition expired (which was just about a month after the visa was issued).
When was you petition Approved? How many years is your petition Valid for?
Ideally, if you had attended the interview in Nov'11, your petition would have been approved at least a couple of months before your interview. So, if your petition had a validity of one year, it would have expired by now.....

can you share the details if you don't mind?

[ras305]

Yes your read it right ,but its in that case when you dont submit you docs within a period of one year from the date of issue of 221g. I know many people whose visa got cleared after one year.

Anyways my story is little different

My first interview wan in December 2011 ,got 221g and petition sent back to USCIS, got reaffirmed in march and final docs submitted in April.

So I am counting it like two ways

1) From Dec 2011 ( first Interview, Almost 11 months)

2) from April When petition got reaffirmed and final docs submitted ( 6 months )

Great..thnx for clarifying...I understand now that the Visa expiry date doesn't have anything to do with the petition validity.
thnx again for sharing the info.

[vijay2308]

Great..thnx for clarifying...I understand now that the Visa expiry date doesn't have anything to do with the petition validity.
thnx again for sharing the info.

Hi ras305,
Great discussion. Does that mean, after the admin processing the Visa which we are going to get will have the Expiry date later than the Petition Expiry date?

[ras305]

Hi ras305,
Great discussion. Does that mean, after the admin processing the Visa which we are going to get will have the Expiry date later than the Petition Expiry date?

I think so.
Ivory mentioned that she has come across a few ppl whose visa was approved after an year (I suppose from the date of interview) which would mean that their petition, if it had one year validity, would have expired by the time they got their visa's.

[ras305]

I want to share my visa experience with you guys and any suggestions would be welcome.
I completed MS in CS in 2009. Hired as an IT Intern in 2010. FullTime from Nov 2010 till today.
Visa Interview Date : 21st August, 2012
Consulate: Delhi
No Slip Given/PP along with all documents was returned to me. NO Documents were asked.
Case number hand written on Interview apptment letter. It is not recognized on the "Check Case Status" webpage. Passport Tracker page says "Your passport is under process at US Consulate".
Its the 8th week and I have not got any updates. DOS says its under processing.
Can someone tell me, what option to choose to talk to a representative, if we call the new stanley visa helpline?
Thanks!
J

hey J,

Did you try using your CEAC bar code for tracking your case. I mean, the Case Status Report published by Mumbai Consulate has our CEAC bar codes.
I've never called up the Stanley help desk so I am not sure what option to chose to inquire about case status.
However, if you call up the DOS (I'd assume you have the no already:202-663-1225), there's an option to talk to their representative.
Lets hope the wait ends soon

[missivory]

@ras305 & Vijay2308

HI Guys,

I think we are going wrong here, Visa expiry date can not be later then the petition expiry date.

I think so.
Ivory mentioned that she has come across a few ppl whose visa was approved after an year (I suppose from the date of interview) which would mean that their petition, if it had one year validity, would have expired by the time they got their visa's.

[visit2011]

Hi

hey J,

Did you try using your CEAC bar code for tracking your case. I mean, the Case Status Report published by Mumbai Consulate has our CEAC bar codes.
I've never called up the Stanley help desk so I am not sure what option to chose to inquire about case status.
However, if you call up the DOS (I'd assume you have the no already:202-663-1225), there's an option to talk to their representative.
Lets hope the wait ends soon

@RAS305.
I gave my interview in Delhi. We can check our case status by using the case number. But that system does not recognize the case number that was given to me. I think Mumbai consulate's way of publishing the whole list is a better idea. I was not given any colored slip, so I dont know whether to consider my case as a Green/Pink/Yellow slip case. Its so confusing. They did not ask for any documents. My company hasn't been contacted. I'm sure the case is not with USCIS because my CEAC code shows the same update of when it was originally approved. I think the case is with DOS. But Im not sure why is it taking them so long. My interveiw date was 21st aug, 2012. I am an FTE and dont have any vendors etc involved. Utterly Confused and frustrated.
J

[ras305]

HI Guys,

I think we are going wrong here, Visa expiry date can not be later then the petition expiry date.

R**** that!
So, if a petition is valid for 1 year and it takes them about 10/11 months to complete the Admin processing, I don't really know what sense it makes in issuing a visa that'll expire in a month.
Moreover, from my friends experience, I understand that we have to be in the US at least a month before the H1 expires to be able to seek an extension. My friend was denied visa extension because when he reached the US to file for extension, he had only 3 weeks validity on his visa.

BTW, Ivory, is your petition valid for 3 years?

[ras305]

@RAS305.
I gave my interview in Delhi. We can check our case status by using the case number. But that system does not recognize the case number that was given to me. I think Mumbai consulate's way of publishing the whole list is a better idea. I was not given any colored slip, so I dont know whether to consider my case as a Green/Pink/Yellow slip case. Its so confusing. They did not ask for any documents. My company hasn't been contacted. I'm sure the case is not with USCIS because my CEAC code shows the same update of when it was originally approved. I think the case is with DOS. But Im not sure why is it taking them so long. My interveiw date was 21st aug, 2012. I am an FTE and dont have any vendors etc involved. Utterly Confused and frustrated.
J

I happened to ask this question to the DOS - "Which dept has my case currently" and I was told that the case stays with the Consulate throughout the whole processing. I am not sure if this makes any sense to you...perhaps, you can do the following:-

1. Approach the Delhi consulate help desk (if at all they have one, like Mumbai - which I've never been to but I remember a few members referring it) and request for a correct case number.
2.When you talk to the DOS team, you don't need the case number, you need the Passport number. Did you try to get your case number from them? Did you ask them if they are awaiting any documents from you/ which category your case is being handled in (Admin/additional documents etc).

I know they don't share much info, but no harm giving it a shot.

[missivory]

[email protected]

@Ras305

Yes my petition is valid for three years.

Well,i went on ustraveldocs site to check my passport status ,and i got the reply as below
-''The current status of your passport is Origination Scan.'' any Idea what does it mean, I checked with DOS they said it still under admin process.

Please try to check your status on the site and request you to share the response you get from that.

R**** that!
So, if a petition is valid for 1 year and it takes them about 10/11 months to complete the Admin processing, I don't really know what sense it makes in issuing a visa that'll expire in a month.
Moreover, from my friends experience, I understand that we have to be in the US at least a month before the H1 expires to be able to seek an extension. My friend was denied visa extension because when he reached the US to file for extension, he had only 3 weeks validity on his visa.

BTW, Ivory, is your petition valid for 3 years?

[ras305]

@Ras305

Yes my petition is valid for three years.

Well,i went on ustraveldocs site to check my passport status ,and i got the reply as below
-''The current status of your passport is Origination Scan.'' any Idea what does it mean, I checked with DOS they said it still under admin process.

Please try to check your status on the site and request you to share the response you get from that.

Great...I thought so.
I am not sure what that status means...I'll check and share more updates if I figure out something.
Can you share the link to check the status?
Everytime I login to the ustraveldocs site, it errors out with "Error occurred while loading a Visualforce page. "
I am not sure if I am using the correct link..

[missivory]

Write your passport number on the subject and send on this email Id, , [email protected] , do not write any other word , and check what response you get.

you can also visit www.ustraveldocs.com/in , but i dont understand this website

Great...I thought so.
I am not sure what that status means...I'll check and share more updates if I figure out something.
Can you share the link to check the status?
Everytime I login to the ustraveldocs site, it errors out with "Error occurred while loading a Visualforce page. "
I am not sure if I am using the correct link..

[ras305]

Write your passport number on the subject and send on this email Id, , [email protected] , do not write any other word , and check what response you get.

you can also visit www.ustraveldocs.com/in , but i dont understand this website

my PP's current Status is "PICKED UP"
I don't knw wht this means either.....I did a quick google, and found a cpl of users inquiring abt this status ...but no one had a clear picture....

And about your status, I found the following post in the forum relevant:-
(check for the message posted by Arun on Oct 11) - I am not able to copy the text from there.

http://www.immihelp.com/business-visa-b1-experiences/

[missivory]

Thanks for the info , I think you are going to get your stamped passport soon.

JamesVez( mumbai blue slip) has tried to explain the meaning of passport status , please refer below ,i dont know how correct it is........

The current status of your passport is In Transit To Post."= VFS/USTraveldocs is yet to deliver your passport to the Consulate. It is inbetween the USTraveldocs location and Consulate
"The current status of your passport is Delivered To Post." = VFS/USTraveldocs has delivered your passport to the Consulate.
"The current status of your passport is Origination Scan." = US Consulate has filled in your Courier slip but is awaiting Courier Company to pick it / Courier Company is in the process of issuing an AWB/Reference code.
"The current status of your passport is In Transit From Post." = The passport with or without the visa is now being transported by courier to the pick up location that you specified at the time of creating the appointment. Please check the location of pickup on your US Consulate appointment invitation letter
"The current status of your passport is Ready For Pickup." = It has arrived at the Pickup location. For some it may be the Facilitation Center.
"The current status of your passport is Picked Up." = Lets hope that it was you that picked it up.

my PP's current Status is "PICKED UP"
I don't knw wht this means either.....I did a quick google, and found a cpl of users inquiring abt this status ...but no one had a clear picture....

And about your status, I found the following post in the forum relevant:-
(check for the message posted by Arun on Oct 11) - I am not able to copy the text from there.

http://www.immihelp.com/business-visa-b1-experiences/

[ras305]

Thanks for the info , I think you are going to get your stamped passport soon.

JamesVez( mumbai blue slip) has tried to explain the meaning of passport status , please refer below ,i dont know how correct it is........

The current status of your passport is In Transit To Post."= VFS/USTraveldocs is yet to deliver your passport to the Consulate. It is inbetween the USTraveldocs location and Consulate
"The current status of your passport is Delivered To Post." = VFS/USTraveldocs has delivered your passport to the Consulate.
"The current status of your passport is Origination Scan." = US Consulate has filled in your Courier slip but is awaiting Courier Company to pick it / Courier Company is in the process of issuing an AWB/Reference code.
"The current status of your passport is In Transit From Post." = The passport with or without the visa is now being transported by courier to the pick up location that you specified at the time of creating the appointment. Please check the location of pickup on your US Consulate appointment invitation letter
"The current status of your passport is Ready For Pickup." = It has arrived at the Pickup location. For some it may be the Facilitation Center.
"The current status of your passport is Picked Up." = Lets hope that it was you that picked it up.

I so badly wish that your words come true...
Also, did the Consulate keep your Passport?
They returned mine and its with me right now.....So, I thought perhaps PICKED UP is referring to the initial status wherein I already have picked up the PP the same day..CONFUSING

Lets see whats coming my way...