221 G NBI written explanation for NO CRIMINAL RECORD

[madz 0]

Hello! I am petitioning my mother and my mother got interviewed last Oct 3 for her IV application. She received a white letter about unable to complete the processing of her visa due to section 221(g), and under clearance section was highlight the need for the written explanation from the NBI for her No Criminal Record remarked on her NBI clearance. And she was advised to wait for USEM to call her on the status up to 3 weeks since they will be the one to verify the case to the NBI.

I was wondering if someone could give us a timeline of how long the visa proccessing be completed with this case, and if there's any that we can do aside from waiting for the USEM's response after 3 weeks? Her NBI clearance will be expiring by January next year, and i am concerned if she needs to get one as early as of now or wait a few months more to see any updates.

Also she emailed me the copy of her appoinment letter with stamped BIO/FS DONE Immigrant Visa Unit and interview date. What does it mean? Does it mean she passed the interview and everything, and her case was put on hold because of the NBI additional requirement only?

My Mother and I wanted to be in relief on this, so hopefully someone will share me their experiences or suggestions on the matter.

Highly appreciate it. Thanks!

[jennyDgreat 1]

Your mom should go to the NBI to get the letter needed by USEM. Mail back the letter needed to the Embassy ( specify the section) attach with all documents ( 221g; orig passport and the checklist from 2go). mailing fee is postpaid by USEM. If all done, wait two weeks and email the emabassy to follow up the receipts of docs. Estimated time to receive visa if no record after verification, is 3 weeks ( mine was less than two weeks)

Try to inquire also the NBI if what is the fastest way: To get a new NBI clearance or the letter stating "no record on file".

Hope this will help..

[jennyDgreat 1]

ooppsss..estimated 3 weeks arrival of visa is for K1. Try to inquire the USEM for IR/ CR status..

[madz 0]

Your mom should go to the NBI to get the letter needed by USEM. Mail back the letter needed to the Embassy ( specify the section) attach with all documents ( 221g; orig passport and the checklist from 2go). mailing fee is postpaid by USEM. If all done, wait two weeks and email the emabassy to follow up the receipts of docs. Estimated time to receive visa if no record after verification, is 3 weeks ( mine was less than two weeks)

Try to inquire also the NBI if what is the fastest way: To get a new NBI clearance or the letter stating "no record on file".

Hope this will help..

Hello! I emailed the USEM on the update of the visa. USEM told in email that they did not receive any required information from the NBI yet and will call the applicant if there's any development. So my mother went to NBI together with this email response, 221(g) requirement, supporting docs, but the NBI told her that she should wait for the USEM call regarding the explanation letter & she might come back again for the NBI interview.

Also, her passport was already with USEM. Do you know any contact number i should use to call USEM? THe 301-2000 is always busy and no way I can talk to someone, always on hold or noone will entertain my call for a moment.

Thanks!

[newbie101 1]

Hi madz. what's the status update of your mom's visa? How long did her visa took before it arrived? Thanks.

Hi everyone. Here's my experience that I would like to share so I hope you can have an idea how the process works.. This is how I understand it by the way...

I am currently in the process of my immigrant visa applications. I had my interview Aug 17. The US embassy told me I was approved of the visa. The last officer there that spoke to me was hesitant despite the consular officer's approval as I have an NBI clearance with a "NO CRIMINAL RECORD". Although I have given a certificate of dismissal to the consular officer, they said they have their own process of verification. Still, I was told my visa was approved.

So I waited. >1 week has gone by. My friend who was also interviewed the same day just messaged me at fb that she is already in Guam; and I have not even received my visa. So I called the embassy (301-2000). They said my visa was approved but still under review, as there was a need for a LETTER OF EXPLANATION from NBI (Aug 30). And that I need to wait. I called up a few times. No updates made. As far as they are concerned, they just told me the process. Every fridays, the US embassy will send the requests to the NBI and at the same time they will also pick up the letter of explanations from them. So as I was trying to account that picture, 1 friday for the request to be receieved by the NBI, another friday to be picked up by the Embassy. That would take more than 2 weeks before it would reflect on the data systems of the embassy.

Again, I called up the embassy (Sept 10). The personnel told me that a final decision was made just that day that a letter of explanation is needed. Whattttt? I thought all the while that my papers are already in NBI and that it is already in the process... I guess, every time I call. They seem to give me different responses. Anyway, if that's the case it would again take more than 2 weeks. So I called up a few times again. No updates. They don't even know exactly where my papers are, whether it was already sent to the nbi or it is still with them. I tried to make a ff-up with the nbi (Quality Control section-1st flr nbi clearance bldg). They don't know where it is. The personnel actually just tried to tell me the process that the embassy will bring it to them and that they send it back to the embassy. She said it will take several months. She actually never tried to ask the details of my situation. Just tried to say things so I can leave. That's how I perceive what she did to me. So I have to wait. Because I assumed it's not with them yet.

After waiting for another week and making ff-ups with the embassy. I'm still lost where my papers are. We seem to know someone in the nbi, so I asked for help to determine my status (I should have asked for help before, but I'm just shy enough to avoid the inconvenience for them and that somehow I believe in their system). (Sept 24)I went there. The person in charge who actually receives the documents from nbi is located in the 4th flr of the same building IRD office. But I guess if we could ladder up the process, you should start inquiring first with the quality control at the first floor. Maybe you could be received by a more approachable and knowledgeable personnel than the on I've had before proceeding to the 4th flr.

Anyway, so I inquired if they already received the request letter from the embassy for my case. They did receive it dated Sept 5. That's about 3 weeks ago. And so I was told that the process was: I will also be receiving a letter from the embassy by regular mail. Then I will bring that letter to them along with the necessary documents for my previous case that was filed. So Its another waiting game as I haven't received any letter yet. I called up the embassy again just awhile ago to ff-up on the letter I was to receive, to know when it was sent. Lo and behold, there was none sent. They are actually waiting for a recommendation from the nbi if i have to be invited for an interview for the letter of explanation...so, this is a waiting game!!! with me waiting in vain...waiting for something that will not arrive...and losing time in the process.

I may be confusing you so let me clarify. A LETTER OF EXPLANATION is needed by the US Embassy which will account for the NO CRIMINAL RECORD in your NBI CLEARANCE. It will be accomplished by the NBI only after you have received the letter from the embassy that you need to go to NBI. You will be interviewed and will be required to present the necessary documents. In my case, the US embassy sent a letter to the NBI, asking for a LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION with regards to my case if i should be required a letter of explanation. I think it was not read clearly by the NBI personnel that a letter of recommendation is needed by the embassy first before sending me the letter that I would be presenting to the nbi.

Resolution: They will make the letter (I don't know the name of the form/document)and they will call me to pick it up at the embassy so I can already bring it to NBI.

That's as far as i can share right now. But just so you know, you may me in limbo as well, and that's the reason why I wrote here so you can also be persistent with the embassy and nbi and not wait in vain. i'll update my story again...very soon I hope.

[TBoneTX 45,550]

Hi madz. what's the status update of your mom's visa? How long did her visa took before it arrived?

The OP hasn't logged on to VJ in 11 months.

[snappy 2]

@newbie101

pls keep on sharing the development of your case as i might be encountering the same in the near future...im very interested to know it so i will make myself prepared for everything expected. I also got HIT and have a "NO CRIMINAL RECORD"...hope and pray you will have your VISA soon...

Edited September 25, 2012 by snappy

[newbie101 1]

@snappy

Hi again everyone. So here's the update.

I got a call 8am today from USEM to come by their office before 10am to pick up the letter I was to bring to NBI. Today's a friday. There aren't so much operations probably on this day. So I went there. I was asked for an ID and my purpose and I was allowed to enter. I got there before barely before 10am. Luckily there's no traffic. There were really no lines inside. Got a number and was immediately brought in front of the counter. Then I waited for more than an hour. I was a handed a 1-page request letter and also my photocopied NBI clearance.

excerpts of the letter:

"To enable us to determine whether your case will have an effect on your eligibility to receive an immigrant visa, we require a written letter of explanation from the NBI indicating the resolution of the case....In this connection you will need to undergo an interview with NBI personnel. You may report to the Quality Control Section of the Identification and Records Division (NBI-IRD), 4th floor, NBI Clearance Center..open 8am-2pm.."

So I went there the same day. It's a 10 minute walk i guess going there. This is the same office where I inquired for my status, and the same person whom I have talked to the last time I went there. I told them how I found out that there was no letter to be expected from the embassy when I made a ff-up call on the following day from the time I was there at their office. I also told them that USEM told me that they are awaiting their reply from their letter that's why I wasn't mail any letters yet. The personnel told me that it was not their fault. He showed me again a list of names highlighted with green and yellow. He indicated that the embassy was notified based on that legend. Yellow - no interview needed. Green - for interview. I did not further ask. USEM does have a copy since its coming from them. The highlighted areas? I'm not sure if the NBI did furnish a list with highlighted names to the USEM. But judging from the NBI personnel whom I was speaking to, I guess it is fair to assume they do. He seems to be very knowledgeable about the operations. I do believe him. Well, its only because of his inputs that I have learned how to go about what to do with my case. Many thanks to him!

If you may have the same problems I'm experiencing right now and don't know anyone from NBI. I guess it's safe to just go directly to this office and ask for help; and just say you go the info from this forum. It's not really a busy area. I think.

He gave me a folded letter and was asked to bring it to the Quality Control Section at the first floor. There is no formal/actual interview that really transpired. I brought the court certificate of dismissal of my case along with the court resolution of my case. I gave them a copy. The personnel just verified the names in each of the certificates I handed if they are addressed to the same person (Me). Then viewed the resolution for a while. Actually the actual personnel in charge for those matters was absent. I'm not so sure if it were any different if she was present. Nonetheless, my court case is already dismissed, so I have no real worries. I was told that the letter of explanation will be made and finished before Friday next week, just in time for the embassy to pick it up the following week.

Assumingly, the embassy will pick it up next friday. I don't know how the long the review process will take but I pray it would be just in time before my medical exams expire on November first. This is still not the end of my story. I will update again probably in 2 weeks to allow their process to take place. Everyone, be persistent in making follow-ups with the embassy. Good luck again to all.

[snappy 2]

@snappy

Hi again everyone. So here's the update.

I got a call 8am today from USEM to come by their office before 10am to pick up the letter I was to bring to NBI. Today's a friday. There aren't so much operations probably on this day. So I went there. I was asked for an ID and my purpose and I was allowed to enter. I got there before barely before 10am. Luckily there's no traffic. There were really no lines inside. Got a number and was immediately brought in front of the counter. Then I waited for more than an hour. I was a handed a 1-page request letter and also my photocopied NBI clearance.

excerpts of the letter:

"To enable us to determine whether your case will have an effect on your eligibility to receive an immigrant visa, we require a written letter of explanation from the NBI indicating the resolution of the case....In this connection you will need to undergo an interview with NBI personnel. You may report to the Quality Control Section of the Identification and Records Division (NBI-IRD), 4th floor, NBI Clearance Center..open 8am-2pm.."

So I went there the same day. It's a 10 minute walk i guess going there. This is the same office where I inquired for my status, and the same person whom I have talked to the last time I went there. I told them how I found out that there was no letter to be expected from the embassy when I made a ff-up call on the following day from the time I was there at their office. I also told them that USEM told me that they are awaiting their reply from their letter that's why I wasn't mail any letters yet. The personnel told me that it was not their fault. He showed me again a list of names highlighted with green and yellow. He indicated that the embassy was notified based on that legend. Yellow - no interview needed. Green - for interview. I did not further ask. USEM does have a copy since its coming from them. The highlighted areas? I'm not sure if the NBI did furnish a list with highlighted names to the USEM. But judging from the NBI personnel whom I was speaking to, I guess it is fair to assume they do. He seems to be very knowledgeable about the operations. I do believe him. Well, its only because of his inputs that I have learned how to go about what to do with my case. Many thanks to him!

If you may have the same problems I'm experiencing right now and don't know anyone from NBI. I guess it's safe to just go directly to this office and ask for help; and just say you go the info from this forum. It's not really a busy area. I think.

He gave me a folded letter and was asked to bring it to the Quality Control Section at the first floor. There is no formal/actual interview that really transpired. I brought the court certificate of dismissal of my case along with the court resolution of my case. I gave them a copy. The personnel just verified the names in each of the certificates I handed if they are addressed to the same person (Me). Then viewed the resolution for a while. Actually the actual personnel in charge for those matters was absent. I'm not so sure if it were any different if she was present. Nonetheless, my court case is already dismissed, so I have no real worries. I was told that the letter of explanation will be made and finished before Friday next week, just in time for the embassy to pick it up the following week.

Assumingly, the embassy will pick it up next friday. I don't know how the long the review process will take but I pray it would be just in time before my medical exams expire on November first. This is still not the end of my story. I will update again probably in 2 weeks to allow their process to take place. Everyone, be persistent in making follow-ups with the embassy. Good luck again to all.

Thanks newbie for all the inputs...

[snappy 2]

If I may ask? When you applied for NBI clearance, did they ask you also to submit those documents ? I mean you got HIT right? they are going to interview you also and ask you for supporting papers to clear you out and will give you the clearance, am i right? so, you have to produce those papers again?

[jmangalili 0]

I have the same case with newbie101, until now I am still waiting for the USEM's letter regarding my NBI written explanation.

[jmangalili 0]

I emailed the embassy regarding the NBI verification and they said that they already requested the NBI for that document. Based on newbie's experience, we should go and inquire to the NBI first and then to the USEM. When I applied for my NBI clearance, I got a "HIT" and the NBI agent here in our province, Nueva Ecija required me to report to their office for interview and bring the copies of the dismissal of my cases. I signed a form, affidavit of admission and attached there the supporting documents. After a week they released my NBI clearance with "No Criminal Record" remarks. Meaning the NBI will not give you your clearance without proving that your pending cases was already dismissed. So, I thought that when the USEM made verification from them, the NBI will explain that your cases was already dismissed that's why they issued my clearance. And the process of verification will be between the USEM and NBI only.

During our interview last June 20, 2012 the guy who gave us the form 221g told us that my NBI needs further verification, I asked him what I am going to do but he said nothing. The USEM will contact directly the NBI and he did mentioned that I am going to receive a letter from them regarding this verification.

Anybody, please advise me of what I am going to do now.

[jmangalili 0]

I mean the guy who gave us the form 221g did not mentioned that I am going to receive a letter request from them to be brought to the NBI.

If indeed the NBI furnished the USEM with the list of names highlighted with color coding, there is a possibility that we may or may not go to the NBI. Since the two colors used by NBI denotes different requirements.

[snappy 2]

I mean the guy who gave us the form 221g did not mentioned that I am going to receive a letter request from them to be brought to the NBI.

If indeed the NBI furnished the USEM with the list of names highlighted with color coding, there is a possibility that we may or may not go to the NBI. Since the two colors used by NBI denotes different requirements.

Gosh..you have been waiting for this letter from USEM for like 3 months now? you should call USEM, if you are in the province call NBI Ermita also...

maybe somebody else here in VJ can tell you on what to do...

[jmangalili 0]

Yes, I thought that after our interview they will process that NBI verification. But I also reasoned out that maybe my wife who is the principal applicant needs to submit a valid Visa Screen Certificate and she complied and submitted this document only last September 20, 2012. Maybe that is the time that they also process my NBI verification.

I called the NBI about this verification and they also advised me to get a letter request from the USEM, on the other hand the USEM told me that they already requested the NBI for the verification of the NCR remarks on my clearance, and also told me that they will contact me once the NBI written explanation was submitted to them.

I am really confused now, my medical will be expiring this November, and yet I do not know what is going on. The problem here is how I am going to verify to the NBI if the USEM already submitted the request for them. How should I do that?

As far I understand it, the USEM will wait for the recommendation of NBI regarding my case, if there is a need for an interview, the USEM will give me a letter that I should go to the NBI for an interview. Am I right? How long is this process? Anybody knows?