221 G. Cause for concern??

[Armmartz 8]

Hello everyone,

I just had my K1 visa interview this morning in US Embassy in Manila. Everything was going smoothly untill I was asked of my old passport. Apparently, applicants who have been granted US visa before must present their old visa stamps and mine were all on my old passport just so they can assure the non validity of the past visas. Unfortunately it slipped my mind (I'm crazy for having so) and I was issued a 221(g) form. I am told to send my old passport via to go before they further process my application. They kept my recent passport with them.

Though a disappointment, this was not a worry for me until I read several blogs and forums about the seriousness of 221(g) or administrative process and how it can even mean visa refusal. With this I have several questions to those who already have been through this difficulty or to anyone who knows this process clearly:

- I have read on some blogs that the duration of this process varies for every cases. Given my situation, would you guys think that it will take a hell lot of months before it pushes through? I was hoping i can spend the Holidays with my fiance.

- Given my situation again, what are the odds that it can lead to visa refusal?

- Do you guys have any SUCCESSFUL "221 (g) on K1 visas" you can share? Please do so! A little motivation will help a lot

[Unlockable 7,314]

The only way to guarantee that the 221g will lead to a denial is if you don't provide what was requested which leads to the question ... DID you send your old passport yet?

Other than that it is tough to say how long you will be in AP.

[Armmartz 8]

The only way to guarantee that the 221g will lead to a denial is if you don't provide what was requested which leads to the question ... DID you send your old passport yet?

Other than that it is tough to say how long you will be in AP.

Hi, yes I already have. I'm hoping it won't take them too long to receive and process it though.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

I wouldn't worry too much if that is the only thing they asked for/ the CO seemed positive.

I got a 221g because the police cert I supplied had my wrong birth year (they made me a year younger and I didn't even realise till the CO pointed it out!). Once I gave them the corrected police cert, I got my visa right away.

[Armmartz 8]

I wouldn't worry too much if that is the only thing they asked for/ the CO seemed positive.

I got a 221g because the police cert I supplied had my wrong birth year (they made me a year younger and I didn't even realise till the CO pointed it out!). Once I gave them the corrected police cert, I got my visa right away.

Thank you for your positive response! I hope CO's on our countries are as diligent as each other so I can hopefully get my visa just in time to book a flight for the holidays!

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Welcome to the forum.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Welcome to the forum.

[Ash.1101 1,756]

Welcome to the forums, and don't worry. Much like the term AP, 221g can mean a couple of different things.

There's the flat 221g refusal, that's where they don't ask anything of you and you're just denied.

And then there's 221g with request for more evidence. That's almost a 90% chance of approval once you send in the information they're asking for. At the end of the day, it's just the forum they use to request more info from you so they can finish up giving you your visa. The fact they took your new passport is a wonderful sign. You should be fine.

[apalachidoremi 10]

Been through the exact process as you a month ago. Approved Sept. 8. AP Sept. 13. then I was issued a 221G via email the following day. I knew they needed to take my previous passport but the joy at that time prevented me from remembering what I needed to do.

I sent the old passport the same day, but looking back I realized they only "view" your file once a week (at least from my case) because the update in CEAC that my case was again being reviewed was 1 week after I submitted the passport..

Thing was, I needed my CURRENT passport back on Sept. 22 because I had a planned vacation. Before my interview I thought if approved getting my passport back before the said date would not be an issue because there were a lil more than 2 weeks spread in between.

So I requested for pull out of my current one at the time my case was being processed again. Sent it back the day after I arrived and yet again the AP process started a week after I returned my passport.

Finally received everything Oct. 7, a month after my interview.

Bottomline-no guarantees if you send what they asked ASAP that they'll work on it the soonest.

tip to others especially with US VISAS in OLD PASSPORTS, make sure to REMEMBER giving it to the consul after the interview (if approved of course)

best of luck to you-

[apalachidoremi 10]

Hello everyone,

I just had my K1 visa interview this morning in US Embassy in Manila. Everything was going smoothly untill I was asked of my old passport. Apparently, applicants who have been granted US visa before must present their old visa stamps and mine were all on my old passport just so they can assure the non validity of the past visas. Unfortunately it slipped my mind (I'm crazy for having so) and I was issued a 221(g) form. I am told to send my old passport via to go before they further process my application. They kept my recent passport with them.

Though a disappointment, this was not a worry for me until I read several blogs and forums about the seriousness of 221(g) or administrative process and how it can even mean visa refusal. With this I have several questions to those who already have been through this difficulty or to anyone who knows this process clearly:

- I have read on some blogs that the duration of this process varies for every cases. Given my situation, would you guys think that it will take a hell lot of months before it pushes through? I was hoping i can spend the Holidays with my fiance.

- Given my situation again, what are the odds that it can lead to visa refusal?

- Do you guys have any SUCCESSFUL "221 (g) on K1 visas" you can share? Please do so! A little motivation will help a lot

And oh, regarding ODDS for refusal, since the document asked of you is not dependent on your approval then I'd say next to none. If it were CENOMAR and NBI et al then it's a different story.

BUT, remember being put on AP means more time for them to review your case, so if you have "red flags" that went OK before then it might be reviewed now and be given attention. If yours is a straightforward case then just sit tight, the wait will be tiring but you'll get past it.