Form DS-5535 'SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS FOR VISA APPLICANTS'

[tiyyo 68]

1 hour ago, S.S said:

So we emailed the embassy and after 2 days we got a reply saying that your case has been refused under 221g, it is difficult to predict the amount of time and the visa application will be reconsidered when administrative processing is complete. So again we dont know what to do except for waiting. How to contact the congressman?

First of all you have to find out the reason for the denial on the 221g. Your husband is a US citizen would contact his representative.

I just emailed mine so it says to wait at least 2 days for a response then I will give them permission to inquiry on our behalf.

[S.S 6]

1 hour ago, tiyyo said:

First of all you have to find out the reason for the denial on the 221g. Your husband is a US citizen would contact his representative.

I just emailed mine so it says to wait at least 2 days for a response then I will give them permission to inquiry on our behalf.

They dint tell us the reason of refusal. Infact i was approved at the time of the interview and they kept my passport but then 1 day later we got an email stating additional information questionnaire which was DS-5535 form. Do you have any idea of your case denial?

[SabrinaJerome 52]

 

2 hours ago, S.S said:

So we emailed the embassy and after 2 days we got a reply saying that your case has been refused under 221g, it is difficult to predict the amount of time and the visa application will be reconsidered when administrative processing is complete. So again we dont know what to do except for waiting. How to contact the congressman?

Just making sure that we are clear about the 221g and the words "refused" and "denial". 

It is my understanding that when one is put in administrative processing (which is marked by a 221g form) they have been sort of "temporarily denied" until whatever it was that was missing or needed further investigation or processing was completed.

I haven't read about that in a long time but that is my recollection. Can anyone confirm that?

Additionally, I believe that the officer tells applicants about the reason for a 221g and I'm assuming you would have a copy of it. Yes?

[SabrinaJerome 52]

1 hour ago, S.S said:

They dint tell us the reason of refusal. Infact i was approved at the time of the interview and they kept my passport but then 1 day later we got an email stating additional information questionnaire which was DS-5535 form. Do you have any idea of your case denial?

I just saw this post.

So the reason you have been put into administrative processing is so that your case can be further vetted for security reasons. As is stated on the NAFSA website, it has "been determined to warrant additional scrutiny in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities."

The DS5535 form itself expired in Nov 2017 but the supplementary questions (travel, work history, social media info, etc.) are still being asked, sometimes on the actual form. 

[S.S 6]

10 minutes ago, SabrinaJerome said:

I just saw this post.

So the reason you have been put into administrative processing is so that your case can be further vetted for security reasons. As is stated on the NAFSA website, it has "been determined to warrant additional scrutiny in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities."

The DS5535 form itself expired in Nov 2017 but the supplementary questions (travel, work history, social media info, etc.) are still being asked, sometimes on the actual form. 

Yup thats what it is. It is all about extra scrutiny. But how long its going to take, no one can tell this, Thats scary.

[tiyyo 68]

2 hours ago, S.S said:

They dint tell us the reason of refusal. Infact i was approved at the time of the interview and they kept my passport but then 1 day later we got an email stating additional information questionnaire which was DS-5535 form. Do you have any idea of your case denial?

We haven't been denied. Never got a 221g form

[tiyyo 68]

1 hour ago, SabrinaJerome said:

 

Just making sure that we are clear about the 221g and the words "refused" and "denial". 

It is my understanding that when one is put in administrative processing (which is marked by a 221g form) they have been sort of "temporarily denied" until whatever it was that was missing or needed further investigation or processing was completed.

I haven't read about that in a long time but that is my recollection. Can anyone confirm that?

Additionally, I believe that the officer tells applicants about the reason for a 221g and I'm assuming you would have a copy of it. Yes?

We didn't get a 221g form at all. Just the photocopied paper asking us to send in the information via email

[S.S 6]

9 minutes ago, tiyyo said:

We didn't get a 221g form at all. Just the photocopied paper asking us to send in the information via email

Actually I dint get a 221g form, they said in email that it is refused under 221 g and we have to provide additional information. They sent me a copy of additional information questionnaire. When i searched it, i came to know it is DS5535 form and now the case is under administrative process.

[tiyyo 68]

4 minutes ago, S.S said:

Actually I dint get a 221g form, they said in email that it is refused under 221 g and we have to provide additional information. They sent me a copy of additional information questionnaire. When i searched it, i came to know it is DS5535 form and now the case is under administrative process.

They gave my  husband a badly photocopy of the questions and said to email the information back to the embassy. Then checking on CEAC it said administrative processing.

[S.S 6]

2 minutes ago, tiyyo said:

They gave my  husband a badly photocopy of the questions and said to email the information back to the embassy. Then checking on CEAC it said administrative processing.

So they gave that copy at the time of the interview? I got this form via email the next day. This additional information is a brand new thing and so we are stuck in this.

[Lebanese23 303]

i dunno what website you guys check status on, is it this one?

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=WwjqOlbeRYzCYubaSQI+RA==

 

[Lebanese23 303]

http://visarefusal.com/221g/ this website helped me understand what it means to get 221g. so technically you are not denied, the visa is just being held for further security check.

[SabrinaJerome 52]

3 hours ago, JoulieS said:

i dunno what website you guys check status on, is it this one?

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=WwjqOlbeRYzCYubaSQI+RA==

 

yes, just make sure you choose the right options.

https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/

You have other options here.

[SabrinaJerome 52]

8 hours ago, tiyyo said:

We haven't been denied. Never got a 221g form

 

8 hours ago, tiyyo said:

We didn't get a 221g form at all. Just the photocopied paper asking us to send in the information via email

 

7 hours ago, S.S said:

Actually I dint get a 221g form, they said in email that it is refused under 221 g and we have to provide additional information. They sent me a copy of additional information questionnaire. When i searched it, i came to know it is DS5535 form and now the case is under administrative process.

I shouldn't have said 221g "form"... so here's what it actually is - - 

http://visarefusal.com/221g/ (I don't know anything about these lawyers, just like how they explained it. Worth a read, some interesting information there.)

Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act

It is often the case when an applicant for a visa is told that a final decision cannot be made on his visa application immediately. In doing so, the consular officer invokes Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and informs the applicant that the case will be put on hold until the applicant’s eligibility for the visa can be determined. 

So basically, we are in administrative processing under Section 221g of the INA.

Edited April 25, 2018 by SabrinaJerome
hit send too soon

[MO&RA 22]

Emailed the embassy inquiring about our case and here is what they replied:

 

Dear Sir,

Your case is still undergoing administrative processing.  Unfortunately, because of the different circumstances that are involved in each case, we cannot estimate how long this processing stage will take.  However, we will work towards completing our processing of your case as soon as possible, in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations.

We will contact you as soon as we have finished this stage.  Until then, we appreciate your patience.