221g green H4 visa Renewal stamping Mumbai consulate Feb-2012 SUCCESS

[Major_Pune]

Hi All,

First of all, when you are reading this post, it means that you or your spouse has crashed and burned in this 221g process. That’s really bad news.

But the GOOD news is….there is light at the end of the tunnel !! We just don’t know how long the tunnel is….

Anyways, I am sharing my experience here to convey just one message – DO NOT LOSE HOPE

Case: My wife went alone for her 2 month India trip from mid Jan to mid Mar 2012

Visa Type : H4 Renewal Stamping

Place: Mumbai Consulate, Bandra Kurla complex

Chain of Events:

27-Jan-2012

Booked visa appointment for 16-Feb-2012, document set including I-797s, last 3 month pay slips, W4, tax returns, bank statements, company letter, client letter, marriage certificate, etc etc … all ready

08-Feb-2012

Submitted required docs at Pune’s Sohrab hall visa office at least 4 days before Mumbai appointment

16-Feb-2012

Visited Mumbai consulate for interview with Visa Officer (VO)

Lady VO : Which company your husband works for?

Wife : XYZ

VO : Please give me your I-797, husband’s I-797 and pay slips

Wife : Handed over

VO : Show his tax documents

Wife : Handed over

VO : Is he paid monthly or bi-monthly?

Wife : Monthly

VO : Does his company pay him salary on time?

Wife : Yes, always.

VO : How long he has been working for this company?

Wife : X years

VO : Does he get a fixed salary per month or on percentage basis?

Wife : Percentage basis based on end-client rate **** Not sure if this was right thing to say ****

VO : When did you two get married?

Wife : X Date

VO : What do you do over there?

Wife : I am a housewife

Immediately after that she handed over green color 221g to my wife marking following documents:

From Company (Petitioner)

2009, 2010, 2011 Financial statement and tax return statements

Employment verification letter

Client Letter mentioning contract terms and job details

From H1B holder (Me)

2009, 2010, 2011 monthly pay slips

2009, 2010, 2011 monthly bank statements

2009, 2010, 2011 w4 and tax returns

VO : I am sorry but I can’t approve your visa at this time. You’ll need to furnish all of the listed documents. Once you have them, submit it at any of the VFS centers.

12-Mar-2012

My company advised to respond through attorney. So attorney created a set of all documents and sent to my wife in India. She submitted the whole set next day to the Mumbai consulate VFS center at Mahalaxmi in person.

She was asked NOT to submit passport and to submit only copies and remove all original docs.

…..

…..

WAIT PERIOD OF 4 LOOOOONG WEEKS = Checking CEAC barcode on consulate site, reading visa forums, frustration, depression, losing hope, crankiness, loss of money due to airline ticket rescheduling, attorney fees etc

09-Apr-2012

FINALLY, received email from Mumbai consulate saying “We are ready for final processing. Please submit your passport, pending letter and the courier envelope to the Consulate General via any of the VFS offices. Please carry a copy of this email for ready reference.”

Note: The CEAC barcode # never appeared in the pdf file published daily at Mumbai Consulate website

11-APR-2012

Submitted passport at Pune’s Sohrab hall visa office

16-APR-2012

Got the stamped passport back via courier!!!!

Total Visa process time start to finish with 221 g = 2 months

I want to wish all the very best to all those waiting for the clearance on their 221G.