B2 visa denied, 221(g)

[Appy 38]

My parents both went for their B1/B2 visas together. My mum was asked a couple of easy questions and was approved. My dad was not asked any questions and was denied and given form 221(g). It was surprising because my mum does not work but my dad does have a good, high-ranking job. Money and his need to return to his job (as well as other factors - literally his whole family are in his home country, he has extensive international travel history, etc.). Of course the reason could be anything but I wonder if it may have been that he has a very generic, very Islamic name and they had to make sure it was not a name they have that is on a ban list of some sort. Anyway, he did fill out the questions asked of him on From 221(g). If it might shed any light, the questions were: travel history for the last 15 years and source of funding for travel, information on his siblings, addresses for the past 15 years, all previous passport numbers and country of issuance (he could only find his passports from 2003 onwards) , jobs and employees for the last 15 years, phone numbers for the last 5 years, e-mail address and SM handles for the last 5 years (this he said he had but that it's handled by his employees).  

 

It's been a month since he submitted his responses. I know AP could take months and months but at what point can we e-mail to ask about it?

 

TIA. 

[Mike E 11,739]

You can ask whenever you want and likely it won’t have any benefit. 
 

Is he a citizen of the UK?
 

To what countries  aside from UK, EU, Canada, Japan, Australia, NZ, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea has he traveled?

[Appy 38]

7 minutes ago, Mike E said:

You can ask whenever you want and likely it won’t have any benefit. 
 

Is he a citizen of the UK?
 

To what countries  aside from UK, EU, Canada, Japan, Australia, NZ, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea has he traveled?

So it's just a wait and see situation? He is not a citizen of the UK - native country does not allow dual citizenship. He hasn't travelled to any banned countries. Mostly Europe, SEA, Australia. 

[Mike E 11,739]

3 minutes ago, Appy said:

 SEA,

As in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei?

[Appy 38]

2 minutes ago, Mike E said:

As in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei?

Yes

[Mike E 11,739]

2 minutes ago, Appy said:

Yes

It’s going to be a while then.  

[Appy 38]

Just now, Mike E said:

It’s going to be a while then.  

Why? Any sources? He lives in one of those countries and the embassy is not a difficult one. I was approved as a single, unemployed woman a few years ago and have a similar travel history as my father. Same with my mum. On the same day as his interview he had other friends also interviewing, with similar travel history, and they were approved. 

[Boiler 45,449]

You can ask about it whenever you want to but you know what is happening, you are just waiting.

[Mike E 11,739]

19 minutes ago, Appy said:

Why? Any sources? 

 

48 minutes ago, Appy said:

  I wonder if it may have been that he has a very generic, very Islamic name and they had to make sure it was not a name they have that is on a ban list of some sort.  

If it is a case of mistaken identity and the name on the watch list is associated with terrorism in one of those 3 countries then AP will run its course to rule him out. 
 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_National_Police_headquarters_shooting
 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Lahad_Datu_standoff
 

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-04/07/c_136191014.htm
 

[Appy 38]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

You can ask about it whenever you want to but you know what is happening, you are just waiting.

Of course, I was wondering if there was an end date when they will say if you don't hear by x, assume denied. I'm just trying to do my best to make travel plans for my parents to meet my child and then be able to spend time him as grandparents. 

[Boiler 45,449]

1 minute ago, Appy said:

Of course, I was wondering if there was an end date when they will say if you don't hear by x, assume denied. I'm just trying to do my best to make travel plans for my parents to meet my child and then be able to spend time him as grandparents. 

I remember seeing one case that had been actively processing for 6 years.

[Appy 38]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

I remember seeing one case that had been actively processing for 6 years.

Lovely. 

[Appy 38]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

 

If it is a case of mistaken identity and the name on the watch list is associated with terrorism in one of those 3 countries then AP will run its course to rule him out. 
 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_National_Police_headquarters_shooting
 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Lahad_Datu_standoff
 

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-04/07/c_136191014.htm
 

Ahh, ok, I understand what you meant.  We are Malaysian and none of those were committed by Malaysians so hopefully it will be okay. It will be upsetting if he doesn't get approved because he won't be able to spend as much time with me/my husband/his grandson but it won't be the end of the world. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. It just would be nice for my parents to be able to stay with me for a few weeks a year but that might be asking for too much. 

[Redro 4,611]

8 hours ago, Appy said:

My parents both went for their B1/B2 visas together. My mum was asked a couple of easy questions and was approved. My dad was not asked any questions and was denied and given form 221(g). It was surprising because my mum does not work but my dad does have a good, high-ranking job. Money and his need to return to his job (as well as other factors - literally his whole family are in his home country, he has extensive international travel history, etc.). Of course the reason could be anything but I wonder if it may have been that he has a very generic, very Islamic name and they had to make sure it was not a name they have that is on a ban list of some sort. Anyway, he did fill out the questions asked of him on From 221(g). If it might shed any light, the questions were: travel history for the last 15 years and source of funding for travel, information on his siblings, addresses for the past 15 years, all previous passport numbers and country of issuance (he could only find his passports from 2003 onwards) , jobs and employees for the last 15 years, phone numbers for the last 5 years, e-mail address and SM handles for the last 5 years (this he said he had but that it's handled by his employees).  

 

It's been a month since he submitted his responses. I know AP could take months and months but at what point can we e-mail to ask about it?

 

TIA. 

It sounds like your father was asked to complete a DS5535. 

He might receive his visa after another month or he might have to wait 6 months to a year/the visa might never be issued. 

If you read the DS5535 thread in the Canada forum, you'll see most applicants receive a generic response stating "AP does not have a timeline and they cannot tell you when you'll receive an answer". E-mailing won't speed up the process or impact it in anyway.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do until they decide your father's case. 

You might have to accept the fact he won't ever be able to visit you in the US. This is a reality quite a few people have to deal with and the only way they can travel to the US is via an immigrant visa. 

[Appy 38]

Just wanted to update in case it would be helpful, my father emailed the embassy 6 months later to ask them about any updates and they issued his visa the following week.