F1 Visa, 221g Administrative Process (merged)

[Phoenix.pk 0]

Hi Guys, I received a fully funded PhD offer from the US but unfortunately, the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, put my case on 221g Administrative Process a month ago. I received a yellow slip stating to submit my supervisor's CV to them. I submitted the CV after 2 days however since then I am only waiting. How much time could it take and what to do? I am originally from Pakistan and relocated to Turkey for my master's degree under a fully funded Turkish government scholarship. during my last semester, I received PhD offer from the US. My research is AI related which is a subject included in the Technology Alet List (TAL).

 

[powerpuff 6,697]

There is no standard timeframe. Some spend days or weeks in AP, others months. Applicants from Pakistan are often put in extended APs due to poor record keeping in Pakistan and the need to do an extensive background check as a result. 

[Phoenix.pk 0]

one of my friends also got PhD funding and applied for a visa in Ankara and got the same 221g yellow slip.... he luckily got his visa in 66 days. Do you think it is likely in my case too? and what does this yellow color means? secondly, I visited many countries in EU so will this positively impact my case?

Edited June 25 by Fahim.Pak

[randomstairs 303]

Typically APs can take 2-3 months. Several federal agencies have to process the case. 

[Phoenix.pk 0]

Do they do the Administrative Process for non-immigrant visas such as F1 at Embassies/consulates, or do they send our files to USCIS? 

[appleblossom 2,483]

2 hours ago, Fahim.Pak said:

Do they do the Administrative Process for non-immigrant visas such as F1 at Embassies/consulates, or do they send our files to USCIS? 

Neither, it’s done by the DOS. 

[Phoenix.pk 0]

@appleblossom do you mean the Department of State?

[appleblossom 2,483]

Just now, Fahim.Pak said:

@appleblossom do you mean the Department of State?

Yes. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/administrative-processing-information.html

[Phoenix.pk 0]

Can we contact DOS or request them to speed up our AP process?

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

1 minute ago, Fahim.Pak said:

Can we contact DOS or request them to speed up our AP process?

Administrative Processing can be neither waived nor expedited. The only thing you can do is to file Writ of Mandamus.  That can be expensive, and it does not guarantee a favorable outcome.  However, I think you are way too early for that. 

[Phoenix.pk 0]

@Crazy Cat 

one of my friends also got PhD funding and got the same 221g yellow slip from the same Ankara Embassy.... he luckily got his visa in 66 days. Do you think it is likely in my case too? and what does this yellow color mean? secondly, I visited many countries in the EU so will this positively impact my case?

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

2 minutes ago, Fahim.Pak said:

@Crazy Cat 

one of my friends also got PhD funding and got the same 221g yellow slip from the same Ankara Embassy.... he luckily got his visa in 66 days. Do you think it is likely in my case too? and what does this yellow color mean? secondly, I visited many countries in the EU so will this positively impact my case?

Yellow form means consulate needs more time to make a decision.  Every case is different. 

[Phoenix.pk 0]

@Crazy Cat So it is the consulate that will work on the AP or they send it to DOS.... What I am thinking is that if the consulate is working on my AP then it might take a short time but if they send it to DOS (Washington) then it might take long.

[appleblossom 2,483]

Just now, Fahim.Pak said:

@Crazy Cat So it is the consulate that will work on the AP or they send it to DOS.... What I am thinking is that if the consulate is working on my AP then it might take a short time but if they send it to DOS (Washington) then it might take long.

 

As above, it's done by DOS at the request of the consulate. You have two things that could have triggered it - being from Pakistan, and having an occupation on the TAL list. Possibly even a third reason we don't know about.

 

It can only take a few days, or can take a year or two, or anywhere inbetween. There's no way of knowing how long yours will take, and no way of speeding it up - except as said above, by suing for a decision, but that's usually something done after a long time waiting, and runs the risk of the forced decision being a refusal. 

 

Using other people's cases as a guide for processing time isn't helpful, as each person's background checks are being done for a different reason. All you can do is wait it out I'm afraid. 

 

Good luck. 

[Phoenix.pk 0]

@appleblossom thank you. Can I leave the country for a month and come back again? I read somewhere that leaving the country restarts our AP from zero... is that true?