Calling all Toronto 221Gs

kalyan_chakri31

By kalyan_chakri31,
in H1B : Visa Stamp

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 615
  • Created
  • Last Reply
thinkb4umail Member

thinkb4umail

Posted
Posted

I got this forum link from subvern1...

here is my case:

 

Hello,

My wife and I had our US renewel interviews at US Embassy in Toronto, Canada on Jan 27th 2014 (today).

We both have H1B visa. I am a regular FTE and my wife works on EVC model.

I could get an appointment for both of us at the same counter at the same time (we were interviewed together)

 

I got my Visa approved, and the officer said I could collect it within 3-4 days. Unfortunately, the same visa officer gave a 221g- Green slip for my wife. The "Other" section was selected in the Green slip, and nothing was written below it. He did not require any information from our end, and he said he needs to do some processing from his end, and will get back to us (call or email us) within 2 weeks.

Further more, he kept her Original I-797, and gave back the passport.

 

Main Documents we took: All previous I797's, new H1b from November 2014.

She had all the client, vendor, employer letters, 2 paychecks from current employer. All tax docs, MS degree, etc...

 

Our experience:

We entered the consulate at 9 AM. At initial counter, submitted our ds 160 forms, I797 and passports. She wrote "PIMS ok" on my application, on my wife's application she wrote PIMS - SMIE or SMEI (PIMS followed by those letters). Not sure what that means?

 

After finger printing, we were called according to our token number for Visa interview.

VO: Are you both on H1's?

Us: Yes

VO: Let me start with you first Sir? What company you work for, what do you work as, what is your annual salary, do you work for any specific client?, where do you live?

Me: Answered all the questions, I am a FTE. We have many clients we work for...told other info....

VO: Did you do your MS...what was your thesis about..etc?

Me: Yes, ...and explained details

 

VO:Next to you Mam:

Wife: Sure

VO: Same questions again: What company you work for, what do you work as, what is your annual salary, do you work for any specific client?, where do you live?

Wife: She is a contractor working at client's place. She provided all details

VO: Took some time, and then mentioned that your company XXX address looks like residential address.

Wife: No sir, it is not. I have pictures of my Company. And showed the pics. He was pleased.

VO: Did you ever visit your company?

Wife: Yes, once.

VO: Do you get paid in time? In past we have heard that your company does NOT pay in time.

Wife: Yes, I got paid in time. I received 2 paychecks from them. Both were paid on time.

VO: Took a while again, and he finally said...Sir, I am approving your Visa, but Mam we need more time to process your case.

Us: We were left in a confused state. We asked him if he needs client letters or any other doc.

VO: No, I do not require anything from you right now. Additional checks needs to be done from my side.

He kept the I797 and returned the passport of my wife.  No slip was given at this point.

Us: This is what worried us. If he had kept the passport, we would be confident that he is doing some checks. Anyways, he kept the I797, so that was good sign.

 

We came out of embassy and identified that we were not given any slip. We went back and the security officer did not let us in. He took my wife's passport and went inside, and brought a Green slip along with it. There was no docs required on the 221g - Green slip. (Only "Others" was checked, and nothing written below it).

-------We did this step, if the VO could give in writing why there was a query placed. however, no luck, he wrote nothing on the 221g except my name and batch number.--------

 

We are guessing the intial check of PIMS might have failed. Again, why the passport was returned and I797 kept is questionable.

We are stuck now, and have to wait for embassy to contact us.There is no bar code or case number or any ID on 221g form as well.

 

Please let us know if anyone had similar experience or any thoughts?

 

Miscellaneous: Dont carry bagpacks or cell phones/any electronics, even keys. You have to walk across the street and deposit it in a convenience store for $5. The same store takes pictures too ($12 for 2 pics). The photo machine in embassy was broken, so everyone was running out in snow to the store to take pics. So please carry everything.

 

Thanks and Let us know.

--T

Link to comment
Parker Advanced Member

Parker

Posted
Posted

I got this forum link from subvern1...

here is my case:

 

Hello,

My wife and I had our US renewel interviews at US Embassy in Toronto, Canada on Jan 27th 2014 (today).

We both have H1B visa. I am a regular FTE and my wife works on EVC model.

I could get an appointment for both of us at the same counter at the same time (we were interviewed together)

 

I got my Visa approved, and the officer said I could collect it within 3-4 days. Unfortunately, the same visa officer gave a 221g- Green slip for my wife. The "Other" section was selected in the Green slip, and nothing was written below it. He did not require any information from our end, and he said he needs to do some processing from his end, and will get back to us (call or email us) within 2 weeks.

Further more, he kept her Original I-797, and gave back the passport.

 

Main Documents we took: All previous I797's, new H1b from November 2014.

She had all the client, vendor, employer letters, 2 paychecks from current employer. All tax docs, MS degree, etc...

 

Our experience:

We entered the consulate at 9 AM. At initial counter, submitted our ds 160 forms, I797 and passports. She wrote "PIMS ok" on my application, on my wife's application she wrote PIMS - SMIE or SMEI (PIMS followed by those letters). Not sure what that means?

 

After finger printing, we were called according to our token number for Visa interview.

VO: Are you both on H1's?

Us: Yes

VO: Let me start with you first Sir? What company you work for, what do you work as, what is your annual salary, do you work for any specific client?, where do you live?

Me: Answered all the questions, I am a FTE. We have many clients we work for...told other info....

VO: Did you do your MS...what was your thesis about..etc?

Me: Yes, ...and explained details

 

VO:Next to you Mam:

Wife: Sure

VO: Same questions again: What company you work for, what do you work as, what is your annual salary, do you work for any specific client?, where do you live?

Wife: She is a contractor working at client's place. She provided all details

VO: Took some time, and then mentioned that your company XXX address looks like residential address.

Wife: No sir, it is not. I have pictures of my Company. And showed the pics. He was pleased.

VO: Did you ever visit your company?

Wife: Yes, once.

VO: Do you get paid in time? In past we have heard that your company does NOT pay in time.

Wife: Yes, I got paid in time. I received 2 paychecks from them. Both were paid on time.

VO: Took a while again, and he finally said...Sir, I am approving your Visa, but Mam we need more time to process your case.

Us: We were left in a confused state. We asked him if he needs client letters or any other doc.

VO: No, I do not require anything from you right now. Additional checks needs to be done from my side.

He kept the I797 and returned the passport of my wife.  No slip was given at this point.

Us: This is what worried us. If he had kept the passport, we would be confident that he is doing some checks. Anyways, he kept the I797, so that was good sign.

 

We came out of embassy and identified that we were not given any slip. We went back and the security officer did not let us in. He took my wife's passport and went inside, and brought a Green slip along with it. There was no docs required on the 221g - Green slip. (Only "Others" was checked, and nothing written below it).

-------We did this step, if the VO could give in writing why there was a query placed. however, no luck, he wrote nothing on the 221g except my name and batch number.--------

 

We are guessing the intial check of PIMS might have failed. Again, why the passport was returned and I797 kept is questionable.

We are stuck now, and have to wait for embassy to contact us.There is no bar code or case number or any ID on 221g form as well.

 

Please let us know if anyone had similar experience or any thoughts?

 

Miscellaneous: Dont carry bagpacks or cell phones/any electronics, even keys. You have to walk across the street and deposit it in a convenience store for $5. The same store takes pictures too ($12 for 2 pics). The photo machine in embassy was broken, so everyone was running out in snow to the store to take pics. So please carry everything.

 

Thanks and Let us know.

--T

 

you should get a response in 2 weeks as vo indicated... for me vo indicated a month and it took exactly a month.. but make sure you follow up with them....

Link to comment
SSSalem Newbie

SSSalem

Posted
Posted

Hi all, I need your comment and advice:

 

My B1 visa interview was in Mar 2013. VO gave me yellow sheet and returned my passport for administrative review. After 1bout 90 days, VO sent me email and say my application is refused due to that administrative has not been completed.

On Dec 12, 2013, VO sent me clearance email and asked for passport and the email say it will need a week to complete and send your passport back.

On Jan 06, 2014 VO sent me email and asked for US $10 money order. I did in the same day and I sent it.

On Jan 20 I sent email asking for statues update.

On Jan 23, I received email say that my application is under administrative review.

 

up today, I am waiting and I don't know, how they say in the clearance email, it needs a week, and latter on they say it is under administrative review. My understanding, all review is complete when VO send clearance email.

 

Now, I have conference presentation in March and I don't know what is the issue. Please any one has idea, let me know.

Link to comment
Parker Advanced Member

Parker

Posted
Posted

Hi all, I need your comment and advice:

 

My B1 visa interview was in Mar 2013. VO gave me yellow sheet and returned my passport for administrative review. After 1bout 90 days, VO sent me email and say my application is refused due to that administrative has not been completed.

On Dec 12, 2013, VO sent me clearance email and asked for passport and the email say it will need a week to complete and send your passport back.

On Jan 06, 2014 VO sent me email and asked for US $10 money order. I did in the same day and I sent it.

On Jan 20 I sent email asking for statues update.

On Jan 23, I received email say that my application is under administrative review.

 

up today, I am waiting and I don't know, how they say in the clearance email, it needs a week, and latter on they say it is under administrative review. My understanding, all review is complete when VO send clearance email.

 

Now, I have conference presentation in March and I don't know what is the issue. Please any one has idea, let me know.

which consulate are you talking about.... ???

Link to comment
SiriP Advanced Member

SiriP

Posted
Posted

Congrats Parker , bi2013 and other got the visa.

 

I am waiting 90+ days from Montreal Conuslate. Here is my case:

 

Interview date: 31Oct 2013

Cosulate: Montreal

status: 221g white slip

 

They didn't ask for any documentation and there is no status update date in CEAC wesite (Creation & Status update both are same 31Oct 2013)

 

Have any one there from Montreal ?

Link to comment
amrinder86 Advanced Member

amrinder86

Posted
Posted

Congrats Parker , bi2013 and other got the visa.

 

I am waiting 90+ days from Montreal Conuslate. Here is my case:

 

Interview date: 31Oct 2013

Cosulate: Montreal

status: 221g white slip

 

They didn't ask for any documentation and there is no status update date in CEAC wesite (Creation & Status update both are same 31Oct 2013)

 

Have any one there from Montreal ?

My case  similar to you. No update since my interview date 4th Nov. Email reply  : Admin Processing. 

Link to comment

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing