Received 221(g) letter from US Embassy Manila

[faith818]

hi everyone -- i stumbled upon this thread while researching "average processing time" for issuance of an h1b visa.

i had my visa interview 2 weeks ago where the CO said my visa is "approved". but it has been 2 weeks and i still do not have my visa. i already missed my original return flight back.

i applied for a new h1b after changing status in the US from f1. my petition was approved months ago (last year pa) so our lawyer is confident its not because of a USCIS / PIMS delay.

i also did not receive a 221g letter, and the CO did not say anything else other than my visa was approved. nothing on email, or mail, or phone call.

would like to get your thoughts on my situation please, and hoping someone who went through a similar situation can shed light.

its a very trying process, and i feel for everyone still going through this situation. i am hopeful that by god's will, we will all sail through starting today. appreciate all the help. thanks!

[orange_princess]

hi everyone -- i stumbled upon this thread while researching "average processing time" for issuance of an h1b visa.

i had my visa interview 2 weeks ago where the CO said my visa is "approved". but it has been 2 weeks and i still do not have my visa. i already missed my original return flight back.

i applied for a new h1b after changing status in the US from f1. my petition was approved months ago (last year pa) so our lawyer is confident its not because of a USCIS / PIMS delay.

i also did not receive a 221g letter, and the CO did not say anything else other than my visa was approved. nothing on email, or mail, or phone call.

would like to get your thoughts on my situation please, and hoping someone who went through a similar situation can shed light.

its a very trying process, and i feel for everyone still going through this situation. i am hopeful that by god's will, we will all sail through starting today. appreciate all the help. thanks!

did you try calling the US Embassy for any updates? i'm also waiting for 2 weeks now and i've been calling them everyday..the first time i applied for H1B it just took a week for me to receive my visa, then i got renewed last year and I had to go home here unexpectedly, so I needed to have my visa/passport stamped..as i mentioned with my previous post, the consulate told me i was approved but just needs PIMS to be updated, and when i called their hotline, they said it's on administrative process..

[faith818]

did you try calling the US Embassy for any updates? i'm also waiting for 2 weeks now and i've been calling them everyday..the first time i applied for H1B it just took a week for me to receive my visa, then i got renewed last year and I had to go home here unexpectedly, so I needed to have my visa/passport stamped..as i mentioned with my previous post, the consulate told me i was approved but just needs PIMS to be updated, and when i called their hotline, they said it's on administrative process..

Thanks for the reply! I have just been calling the passport tracking hotline. I sent an email to the NIV providing details of my situation, still no reply. It's just so weird, I wasn't advised of anything, not even PIMS.

Our company lawyer advised me that a PIMS delay may not apply to me considering that my I797 approval came 4 months ago. It should already be reflected in the databases. And if there is administrative process just "by chance" they should have informed us in writing (form with a case number).

It seems we are in the same situation and our interviews happened at about the same time. I'm hoping and praying that it's some form of administrative delay, nothing else.

I will try to call the hotline as you've suggested. I think they're closed today, and again tom (bad luck talaga!). Thank you again and let's keep each other updated!

[orange_princess]

Thanks for the reply! I have just been calling the passport tracking hotline. I sent an email to the NIV providing details of my situation, still no reply. It's just so weird, I wasn't advised of anything, not even PIMS.

Our company lawyer advised me that a PIMS delay may not apply to me considering that my I797 approval came 4 months ago. It should already be reflected in the databases. And if there is administrative process just "by chance" they should have informed us in writing (form with a case number).

It seems we are in the same situation and our interviews happened at about the same time. I'm hoping and praying that it's some form of administrative delay, nothing else.

I will try to call the hotline as you've suggested. I think they're closed today, and again tom (bad luck talaga!). Thank you again and let's keep each other updated!

i got my I797 approval august of last year but still it's not in their system, i asked my lawyer to call USCIS to update their system, and they were told that it already has been updated..still, i receive thesame reply from the embassy: still in process...try calling this number 023012104 between 0800-1000 & 1pm-3pm...goodluck!

[cricketboy]

fyi

antay antayin lang po natin yung tawag mismo ng US embassy.
They will contact you as soon as the " admin process " is complete.
Sana lang lahat ng contact numbers na nilagay nyo sa DS160 e tama at natatawagan. Kung asa Pinas kayo dapat yung contact nyo sa PInas ang nilagay ninyo.

basta sinabi sa inyo ng CO na visa is approved during the interview yun na po ang sign na approved at matatakan ang passport nyo.

Keep yourself busy para di po kayo mainip sa pag antay. Cheers

[faith818]

Thanks orange_princess and cricketboy!

I was able to reach the number and received the standard reply that my visa is "in process". Seems all we can do is wait.

Hoping and praying for the best outcome for everyone.

[orange_princess]

cricketboy, which email address did the US Embassy used to email/inform you that your passport is on its way? Was it the passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com? did you also receive a text from the courier? thanks!

[orange_princess]

[QUOTE=orange_princess;62629983]cricketboy, which email address did the US Embassy used to email/inform you that your passport is on its way? Was it the passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com? did you also receive a text from the courier? thanks![/QUOT

exactly 1 month after our interview, i finally received an email that our passports are released to the courier..i'm still ambivalent though, are there any cases that they received similar email but received their passports without stamp?

[faith818]

[QUOTE=orange_princess;62704818]

cricketboy, which email address did the US Embassy used to email/inform you that your passport is on its way? Was it the passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com? did you also receive a text from the courier? thanks![/QUOT

exactly 1 month after our interview, i finally received an email that our passports are released to the courier..i'm still ambivalent though, are there any cases that they received similar email but received their passports without stamp?

I think it's good news... From the posts I read in this thread, I believe they would have returned your passport sooner (within a few days) if they intended to return it without the visa stamp.

Hoping you can let me know when you received your passport and visa? Sana sumunod na din yung sa akin This has caused so much grief already, I am sure you've been through the same. Hopefully, nakuha nyo na ang visas nyo.

Thanks!!

[mondski]

Experienced the same thing. I went to the US embassy on May 2 for an interview and was told that they cannot approve my visa at this time due to a certain "situation" that they are not in control of and that they do not know yet when it will be resolved. I was handed over a 221(g) green paper. It's for an L1B extension. There were other employees in our company who have been put on administrative processing without asking for additional documents to be submitted. Since last year up to now and they have not received any approval yet. I was about to lose hope when I noticed that my passport plus additional documents were being requested on the form. I noticed this only on the 2nd day and immediately went to the nearest 2GO courier office to send the documents. I was a bit devastated that I did not get the visa right away (unlike before) since my 1 1/2 yo daughter and her mom had migrated already to the US some two weeks before my interview and that was my chance to be with them the soonest. I'm still waiting and hoping it will only take a few days more or some weeks until I get a positive result. The long wait is killing me especially when I see my daughter in Skype calling me out.."Daddy!!!" =(

[faith818]

[QUOTE=orange_princess;62704818]

cricketboy, which email address did the US Embassy used to email/inform you that your passport is on its way? Was it the passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com? did you also receive a text from the courier? thanks![/QUOT

exactly 1 month after our interview, i finally received an email that our passports are released to the courier..i'm still ambivalent though, are there any cases that they received similar email but received their passports without stamp?

Hi -- would just like to ask if you received your travel documents already? Hoping for a positive update!! Thanks!!

[faith818]

Experienced the same thing. I went to the US embassy on May 2 for an interview and was told that they cannot approve my visa at this time due to a certain "situation" that they are not in control of and that they do not know yet when it will be resolved. I was handed over a 221(g) green paper. It's for an L1B extension. There were other employees in our company who have been put on administrative processing without asking for additional documents to be submitted. Since last year up to now and they have not received any approval yet. I was about to lose hope when I noticed that my passport plus additional documents were being requested on the form. I noticed this only on the 2nd day and immediately went to the nearest 2GO courier office to send the documents. I was a bit devastated that I did not get the visa right away (unlike before) since my 1 1/2 yo daughter and her mom had migrated already to the US some two weeks before my interview and that was my chance to be with them the soonest. I'm still waiting and hoping it will only take a few days more or some weeks until I get a positive result. The long wait is killing me especially when I see my daughter in Skype calling me out.."Daddy!!!" =(

Hi mondski,
I feel you have reason to be optimistic considering they asked for your passport back and just requested additional documents. So it could just be a matter of time. I know this is easier said than done... I've been waiting for a month already for my passport and visa to be released... Let's just try to keep our heads up and hope everything gets resolved sooner than later

[orange_princess]

[QUOTE=faith818;62755311]

Hi -- would just like to ask if you received your travel documents already? Hoping for a positive update!! Thanks!!

yes, i finally got my visa last saturday..thank God!

4/11 interview
5/10 visa issued
5/11 received email that passport is released to courier
5/12 visa received

i'm pretty sure you will get yours soon...just be more patient & of course pray, pray, pray! goodluck!

[orange_princess]

[QUOTE=faith818;62755311]

Hi -- would just like to ask if you received your travel documents already? Hoping for a positive update!! Thanks!!

BTW, try sending your queries to consNIVManila@state.gov, I sent them an email regarding my case last May 7..I didn't receive any reply but who knows, they may have reviewed it that's why they issued my visa on May 10..it's worth a try..

[faith818]

[QUOTE=orange_princess;62760575]

BTW, try sending your queries to consNIVManila@state.gov, I sent them an email regarding my case last May 7..I didn't receive any reply but who knows, they may have reviewed it that's why they issued my visa on May 10..it's worth a try..

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I sent an email May 8th, and I have been calling the NIV almost everyday... I may have received a hint of good news today, since the representative told me my petition details have been received and so processing is technically over. She said the next step is for a consular officer do a final review before issuing the visa. I really hope this is it and for all the anxiety and torture to end soonest! It's been a such a tough month!!

[resortworld]

What company's are sponsoring employment visa to the US?

[cricketboy]

cricketboy, which email address did the US Embassy used to email/inform you that your passport is on its way? Was it the passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com? did you also receive a text from the courier? thanks!

Hi,
Sorry ***** lang ulit ako nakapag login dito. Di ko na mahanap sa email ko yung dating email sakin. Yung sa txt wala akong na receive sa email lang ako may nareceive.

Oooops na receive mo pala yung Visa mo....hehehe.

[Anne_]

hi everyone! I was interviewed last September 12, H1B category, 1st time. I was interviewed twice (first by an American consul, then a Filipino). They kept my passport and a copy of my contract with my employer. I was not given any slip. I was not asked to submit other documents. I was told that they would just call me. It has only been 6 days pero nahihirapan na ako. I have read here that it can take months. Nakuha niyo na ba ang visa ninyo? How did it go?

[KopeLand]

hi everyone! I was interviewed last September 12, H1B category, 1st time. I was interviewed twice (first by an American consul, then a Filipino). They kept my passport and a copy of my contract with my employer. I was not given any slip. I was not asked to submit other documents. I was told that they would just call me. It has only been 6 days pero nahihirapan na ako. I have read here that it can take months. Nakuha niyo na ba ang visa ninyo? How did it go?

Well, all you can do is wait. Most likely, they are trying to verify kung valid ba yung employer, workplace, etc. What kind of job are you in? Where you a direct-hire or did you go through an agency? Kung direct-hire, is your employer a consulting or staff services company? Dito medyo mahigpit ang US embassy, kase hindi sure kung meron ka talaga work pagdating sa US.

Usually merong database na tinitingnan ang US embassy at dapat updated yun with your name and employer info. Ang lawyer/employer mo ang dapat magpasok ng info mo dun sa database na yun. So chances are, wala pa yung name mo sa database. Most likely hihintayin lang ng embassy na ma update yun, hindi sila gagawa ng paraan para ma update yun, kaya kung gano tagal ma update yun, dun ka pa lang nila kokontakin. Try mo kontakin yung lawyer/employer mo about it.

Good Luck!

[maep]

Hi guys, I have a question sa mga nurses and PTs out there na nainterview na for their eb3..un notarized job offer ba is from your employer? Or from the clinic or facility where you will work? Kasi through agency ako. So sa employer ba dapat manggagaling yun or from the facility where I will be deployed? TIA...