Visa Refusal under section 221(g) - Birth Certificate

[F1990X 6]

Hi Guys,

 

I had my interview yesterday at the London US embassy. Everything went fine, majority of the documents all good and the interview, until when it came to my birth certificate. Previously I had ordered 2 original birth certificates (1 using a standard service which took really long, so I ordered another 1 but with a priority service). I uploaded one on the CEAC portal. The one I took to the embassy, was not the one I had uploaded...it was the other one! My heart literally sank because I knew what the problem was. The application reference number on my birth certificate did not match regardless of it coming from a certified source. Because the application reference number did not match...they refused the visa and they just told me that all I need to do is upload this on CEAC (The one I had presented to them at the interview). Has anyone been in this silly situation before and how long will it take? FYI, they still have my passport.

 

Regards,

 

F

[Dashinka 24,502]

The "refused" status is fairly common, it used to be the catch all "Administrative Processing".  Based on some stories I have seen, when documents are requested, there is no set time for the consulate to get back to your application.  Hopefully, they will get to it soon, and the visa will be issued.

 

Good Luck!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

3 hours ago, F1990X said:

Has anyone been in this silly situation before and how long will it take? FYI, they still have my passport.

Lately In London they have been getting back to cases like yours in a matter of days once you upload the correct version of your birth certificate. Follow the status on https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV

Your status may say Administrative Processing, or go back to saying Ready, but once it says Issued, then it’s a done deal and you should have your visa in a day or two. Some recent ones got their visa in hand the day after it turned to Issued. 

[F1990X 6]

My Visa status just currently says 'refused'. They did say after the interview that I will receive an email in 1-2 days on the next steps. But I have taken a proactive approach based on what the immigrant office said and already uploaded the new birth certificate in the 'Optional documents' section in CEAC. Im slapping myself thinking why I didnt just take both birth certificates at the interview!

[JPC_LNW 8]

We also had an issue with my husband's birth certificate. His interview was on the 9th of February and everything was fine but the birth certificate they had scanned in their system was deemed to be too "blurry". He had the original at the interview which was reviewed and approved so we were just told to upload a clearer version to the document portal which we did about an hour after his interview. He finally got his visa issued on the 2nd of March. His visa was listed as Refused until the 22nd of February when it changed to "Administrative Processing". I hope it's faster for you! 

Edited March 7, 2021 by JPC_LNW

[purplenoon 1]

Hi F1990X - you're not alone! I had this same issue with my interview yesterday. It wasn't a birth certificate but a tax return. I was told the same as you, to upload and wait. They also have my passport and my status is also 'refused'. 

 

Frustrated with myself for not taking the correct document but hopefully the process will run by quickly. Be sure to keep us updated. 

 

[F1990X 6]

On 3/10/2021 at 1:10 PM, purplenoon said:

Hi F1990X - you're not alone! I had this same issue with my interview yesterday. It wasn't a birth certificate but a tax return. I was told the same as you, to upload and wait. They also have my passport and my status is also 'refused'. 

 

Frustrated with myself for not taking the correct document but hopefully the process will run by quickly. Be sure to keep us updated. 

 

Sorry to hear mate, I uploaded my birth certificate CEAC. But they also told me shortly after to send the documents as well using the DX couriers service. My visa status has gone from 'refused' to 'administrative processing'. I am hoping this does not take long. 

[F1990X 6]

Hi All,

 

Just an FYI I have received my immigrant visa  . So glad it is done! The refusal under section 221(g) took an estimated 20 days (from interview to receiving passport back in hand).

 

Thank you all for your help and information!

[purplenoon 1]

Hi all, 

I also wanted to give an update. The refusal under section 221 (g) took me 37 days from interview to receiving my passport back. The refusal was due to a missing tax return. 

Thanks for the info. Message me if you have any questions! 👍