Chris2013 Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Hi All, I came to US in 2008. After that, I got extension for my h1b multiple times. I never went out of US after 2008 as my parents or in-laws were always visiting us. Finally, the time to go to India has come for my father's surgery. As I live in Houston, thought of getting stamping from Matamoros (5 hrs drive from my home). Yesterday, I had finger prints and went fine. Today morning at 10:30 AM, I had visa appointment. I reached consulate on time and sequence of events happened in the following order: Security checking of our belongings -> Personnel arranges our DS 160 conf. page, I-797 in order and provided a token. -> Waited for my turn and I went a VO (may be mexican) - he just validated my passport, I-797 and few questions and then asked me sit in the hall with others and check for my token number for another interview. My main Visa Interview: I went to VO counter after my token number is displayed. The VO was young and talked very casually. Here are the questions from Officer 1: 1. Asked for Passport(s), I-797 documents 2. Where do you work? 3. Who is your employer? 4. Are you married? Any kids? Why didn't you bring them for stamping? 5. How did you get H1B extension as you have completed 6 years of stay? Do you have I-140 approval copy? - My employer never gave I-140 copy even though I request him many time. Few months back, I submitted FOIA to USCIS to get I-140 copy. When I requested for I-140 copy, USCIS sent the application which was submitted by my employer. This application had Approved stamp also. That worked for me. 6. Few more general questions - how is the weather in Houston and so on.. Officer 1 told me that he will be back in few minutes. He came back in 5 minutes. Again, started asking few questions in general..such as w2 and so on. Suddenly, another personnel came and standing next to Visa Officer 1 and directly told me - "Hi.. I am from Anti-fraudulent department. I need to ensure the company is good and not performing any frauds. I need to validate complete information. So, I am sorry. I cannot issue Visa at this moment." I am SHOCKED. At that moment, I got lot of things in my mind. This is the first time, I got 221g on any US visa. So many ... "What if" questions.. I have my family, belongings, loans and so many other things in US, what next?.... The Officer 2 asked me to walk with this to another counter to further discuss on this. I was little happy that I was given a chance to talk to him and explain what he is looking for. We both walked to counter 10 (seems to a small room with open door). Officer 2 was very nice and polite in asking all the questions. He asked me many questions as below: a. Where do you work? b. What do you do - role and responsibilities? c. Who is your employer? d. Where is your employer located? e. How do you report to your employer? f. How often you report to your employer? g. How often you go to your employer's office? h. How many employees working for your employer? i. When you go to your employers officer, how many people you see? j. Do you know, where are other employees of your employer working? h. Who is your client? i. Where is your client located? - Showed the client letter j. Where do you stay? - Showed him my US driving license k. Do you have any documents to share? - Provided I-129, Vendor letter, Old h1b documents, W2 document, Showed Company Tag and so on. l. Do you want to share any other information? - Mentioned that I had USCIS site verification when I got my previous H1B Extension. Explained the details of verification done by USCIS personnel. I provided complete and TRUTHFUL information to the visa officer. Visa Officer 2 mentioned that "I know that Mexico is NOT your home country. Do you have any place to stay?". I told him that I am currently staying in a hotel but I don't have any other place to stay in Mexico. Then, VO 2 told - "I am sorry but the process will take several days. If you want you can go back to India and come back to Mexico once we finalize on your case." I saw the VO 2 was having my passports (old and new). I asked him, May I have the passports? He immediately gave the passports. I asked him, I have copy of the passports. Do you have to have them? He said, no. Thats fine. We have your information. VO 2 gave me 221g (Spanish document) and explained in detail. Not sure how long this process may take. I am still in Matamoros. Note: Whoever going for stamping, please ensure you have all the documents and also prepare for the kind of situations I am going through. Any suggestions are helpful to me at this time. Thanks, Krishna Link to comment
mirage13 Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 you could have directly come to India foe stamping than matamoros , home country makes difference. Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted July 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Based on my travel plan, visa appointment dates were not available in India. Also, I talked to many friends and forums regarding Stamping at Matamoros, I haven't saw any information of rejections in Matamoros, Mexico. I was able to get the appointments within short span of time. Good thing what I observed in Matamoros consulate is officer spent really good amount of time with me to collect all the details and document. Otherwise, the process can also get delayed due to lack of proper information. I hope the process will move fast as VO got complete information. Appreciate for taking time to reply back to my post. Your suggestions will help me at this point of time. Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted July 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 All the comments requires admin approval. This is taking lot of time posts. Not sure when I can see someone comments for my post. Please post your comments at http://www.********.com/usa-discussion-forums/h1b/1451679455/h1b-stamping-221g-matamoros-mexico. Link to comment
reds3010 Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Hi Kris - I hope this gets sorted out and you get your visa soon. Good luck ! I'm based out of Houston too and am/was planning for stamping in mid-August in Matamoros. I work fulltime for a fortune 500 company and I've my previous h1b stamp from the same company. I'm going for Extension this time. Are there lot of people for h1b stamping in Matamoros ? do you work for consulting company ? please do keep us posted on your status. -reds Link to comment
sknet Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Krishna, Sorry to hear this. It is better to go to India.. Eventually it will be cleared but it takes sometime. Same thing happened to my friend in Canada. It took 2 months for him to get it cleared. For another friend it took a week in Canada. Case to case it is different. Also, don't post these many details about the questions in forums. VO's occasionally citing forums too... I wish your father's surgery go well and recover soon. Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted July 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 This morning, I checked for the status online and found the following: Your visa case is currently undergoing necessary administrative processing. This processing can take several months. Please follow any instructions provided by the Consular Officer at the time of your interview. If further information is needed, you will be contacted. If your visa application is approved, it will be processed and mailed/available within one to three weeks. Note sure, how long this process may take. Thank you all for viewing my post and providing your comments. Link to comment
belkin07 Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Krishna, Sorry to hear this. Recently I attended for my H1b visa. I noticed that VO's are very particular about approved I-140 for 6th year extension cases. I hope everything will be resolved soon. Link to comment
Tjgarla Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 AS you mentioned that your employer did not give you the 140 document. and this is what triggered the 221g. Your employer should have just given you the document. Link to comment
sreereddy99 Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Kris, what did you answered for Q4 ? Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted July 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 sreereddy, Can you type the Q4? I wrote two different set of questions in my post? Kris Link to comment
sreereddy99 Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 Kris, Sorry to hear this, don't worry you will get the visa its just the matter of time. do we need the original or the copy of I-140 ? Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted July 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 When our I-140 is approved, our employer will receive I-797A document. I have copy of I-140 application with Approved Stamp (Got it from USCIS using FOIA) applied by employer. Link to comment
sreereddy99 Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 kris, its about your family. 4. Are you married? Any kids? Why didn't your bring them for stamping? and any news on your application ? Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted July 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 Married. Have kids. I mentioned that my family didn't plan to go to India currently as kids are busy with various activities. I am along travelling to India. He said OK. Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted July 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 no updates so far. Also, the consulate systems are not working to issue any visas. Not sure when they are going to work again. How much impact of these system problems have on my case. Link to comment
rahul412 Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 4. Are you married? Any kids? Why didn't your bring them for stamping? So are you going to say the same what OP said during the interview?? That will be hilarious.... Link to comment
sreereddy99 Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 not really , I just want to know is it legal to leave h4 in us without h1. Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted July 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 First week over... hmmmm...heard that Visa Systems I took some opinions from ****.com site: http://www.*********.com/************* I am in touch with my attorney from my employer and will see how it goes? sreereddy99: I posted question "H1 & H4 Visa Stamping Mandatory together?" in www.****.com site to get inputs from various attorneys. You can find information at http://www.*********.com/************* You can consult your attorney before you plan for your visa stamping. Link to comment
sreereddy99 Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Kris, Thank you for the information. Actually my family(h4) already have the visa , they got stamping last year in India. please update your status accordingly. Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 day after day passing on. nothing much left in mind...just anxiety, hopes.. may be today or tomorrow.. not sure how long this process will take. so far, no replies from consulate for any of the 221g status request emails.. i am understanding the pain of everyone who gone through this 221g process. How uncertain the life becomes with 221g? just waiting ... Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted August 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 no update so far. Still, waiting.. :) Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted August 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Found an interesting article http://www.****************.com/*********** Link to comment
sreereddy99 Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Kris, Any update on you case ? Link to comment
Chris2013 Posted August 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 no update from the consulate. Whenever I request for the status, I am coming to know that case is pending. Yesterday, I came to know that consulate reached my client for verification for my job. I hope I will hear something soon. Also, other friend who got 221g (white slip) on the same day of my interview, got visa couple of days back and he left to US. I see some progress and hopefully, all the issues will be resolved and will get my visa soon. Link to comment
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