Administrative Processing (221g) on F-1 renewal while on OPT

[mizuha 0]

Hello all,

 

I am in my first year of OPT. I visited my home country and applied to renew my F-1 visa as it was close to being expired. On April 1, 2024, I applied via document drop-off because I qualified for an interview waiver. 

 

On April 4, I received an email saying my application had been refused under 221(g). And I was asked for the following documents:

- CV/Resume, including list of publications and references

- Detailed study/research plan and its practical application

- Advisor/mentor’s CV/resume

- University admission letter/employment offer letter

- Source of funding for research or degree

 

I submitted these documents online on April 5. My passport was not returned to me. However, since I had a valid F-1 visa, my DSO advised me to see if I could get my passport back and try to travel on my old visa. I submitted the request for temporary passport withdrawal. However, I didn't receive my passport on time and my F-1 expired.

 

Eventually, though, my temporary passport withdrawal request was processed and I did get back my passport, and in it, my old visa had been "cancelled without prejudice" and I had a pink 221(g) slip. 

 

Anyway, now I am kind of stuck in my home country until 221(g) is cleared. For five weeks, I haven't received any information from the embassy. My OPT expires in 2 months and I have to be in the US to extend it. 

 

The following things may have contributed to me being out in AP:

1. I work in TAL field.

2. I am engaged to a US citizen and added him as an emergency contact on my application.

 

I have a job offer from a different country. How long should I wait before accepting the other offer and leaving the US for the time being? It's very stressful because I didn't expect this outcome so I wasn't well prepared. And there isn't much data on 221(g) for F-1 applicants on OPT.