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F1 Visa, 221g Administrative Process (merged)

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Filed: F-1 Visa Country: Pakistan
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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).

 
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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. 

 

 

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Filed: F-1 Visa Country: Pakistan
Timeline
Posted (edited)

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

03/04/2016 AOS (EB2-NIW concurrent with I-485) mailed to Lewisville TX Lockbox
03/07/2016 AOS delivered to USCIS and signed
03/12/2016 Case received by Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
03/14/2016 Text notification received for I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131.
04/08/2016 Biometrics notice received for 04/21
04/13/2016 Biometrics early walk-in completed.
04/15/2016 EAD/AP combo card received in mail.

 

Long wait begins...

 

11/04/2016 I-140/485 cases transferred from Nebraska to TCS
12/01/2016 Prepared package for EAD/AP renewal (expires 04/09/2017)
12/23/2016 USCIS suddenly changes several forms, invalidating my EAD/AP renewal package (not yet sent)
12/27/2016 USCIS suddenly reforms the entire NIW criteria system, replacing a 20 years old one. Uncharted waters. 
01/07/2017 (Saturday!) EAD/AP renewal package with new forms received in Phoenix "reception desk"
01/17/2017 EAD/AP renewal case accepted; text/email with receipt numbers was received
01/30/2017 Law firm finally confirms that USCIS has suspended processing all EB2-NIW cases due to new criteria. 
02/23/2017 USCIS slowly starts adjudicating NIW cases again.
04/21/2017 Extended EAD/AP received in mail. Valid for 2 years. 
05/06/2017 Received a massive RFE on I-140 NIW case.
07/20/2017 RFE response received by USCIS (a very long response with 30 pages of docs)
09/14/2017 I-140 NIW approved!!! 
11/28/2017 RFE for new medical issued (plus another request re Supp J for employment which is clearly issued in error)
12/04/2017 RFE received in mail
12/07/2017 repeated medical exam for I-485
12/08/2017 Attorney receives documents for responding to I-485 RFE
12/21/2017 Response to RFE received by USCIS 
02/09/2018 I-485 approval (text, email) :)
02/08/2018 I-485 approval notice issued (the "welcome letter") - I'm LPR now
02/16/2018 Green card received
 
11/14/2022 Filed N-400 online; receipt and biometrics reuse form received online
03/07/2023 N-400 Interview scheduled 
04/xx/2023 N-400 approved, same-day Oath ceremony completed. I'm a US citizen.
05/xx/2023 US passport in hand

 

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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. 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline
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. 

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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Filed: F-1 Visa Country: Pakistan
Timeline

@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?

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline
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. 

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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Filed: F-1 Visa Country: Pakistan
Timeline

@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.

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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. 

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