B1/B2 Approved at interview, 221(g) Refusal by email later, asking to submit passport but haven't received my passport back?

[bilaljah 0]

Hi there, long story short, I had my US Visa Interview in Islamabad, Pakistan in late April 2022. At the interview (which was too short to be true), the officer told me your visa has been approved and handed me the green slip that denoted details of visa approval etc. I did not receive my passport back.

 

Later that day in the afternoon, I received an email notifying me that my Visa was refused pending me submitting the additional information required on Form 221(g) and instructed me to reply with that information to the same email (no submission of a physical letter being mentioned anywhere). My visa status on CEAC also showed as 'Refused' with the footnotes about administrative processing and to follow the instructions of the officer etc.

 

Right after I submitted the Form 221(g) via email on 9th May 2022, I received an automated reply stating this (making me unsure if my email was even received):

----------------------

Thank you for your inquiry regarding nonimmigrant visas.  The United States Embassy in Pakistan remains unable to resume routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services at this time.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date.  Due to staffing limitations, we are unable to respond to questions to this email box at this moment. 

----------------------

 

Yesterday (June 3rd 2022) I got an email stating this:

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Dear Applicant:

 

We are pleased to inform you that we have processed your nonimmigrant visa application.  Please submit your passport along with your DS-160 confirmation page (if already returned to you) through the courier location that you have selected while scheduling your visa interview so that we can complete your case. 

 

Please present a copy of this message along with your passport.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This whole time, My Visa Status on CEAC has been Refused with the additional details about administrative processing, and I haven't received my passport back. The only change is that even after I received the last email, it says Refused but now it is Last Updated to June 03rd 2022. 

 

For those who have made it this far, thank you. My question is, do I have to do anything like submit my Form 221(g) in paper form (because nowhere had I been asked to do this, only to reply in email form) or just hang tight and hope they send me my passport? I emailed ustraveldocs support and after 2 automated answers a real person notified me that my passport was still with the embassy, and that was it. Just looking for guidance. It must be a good sign if they're asking me to submit my passport after my visa application has been processed (even though I never received it back)?

[JeanneAdil 6,196]

they kept your passport/  u have not been denied

Refused is the normal post after interview while the case is going thru the additional security checks

[Crazy Cat 39,226]

3 hours ago, bilaljah said:

Hi there, long story short, I had my US Visa Interview in Islamabad, Pakistan in late April 2022. At the interview (which was too short to be true), the officer told me your visa has been approved and handed me the green slip that denoted details of visa approval etc. I did not receive my passport back.

 

Later that day in the afternoon, I received an email notifying me that my Visa was refused pending me submitting the additional information required on Form 221(g) and instructed me to reply with that information to the same email (no submission of a physical letter being mentioned anywhere). My visa status on CEAC also showed as 'Refused' with the footnotes about administrative processing and to follow the instructions of the officer etc.

 

Right after I submitted the Form 221(g) via email on 9th May 2022, I received an automated reply stating this (making me unsure if my email was even received):

----------------------

Thank you for your inquiry regarding nonimmigrant visas.  The United States Embassy in Pakistan remains unable to resume routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services at this time.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date.  Due to staffing limitations, we are unable to respond to questions to this email box at this moment. 

----------------------

 

Yesterday (June 3rd 2022) I got an email stating this:

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Dear Applicant:

 

We are pleased to inform you that we have processed your nonimmigrant visa application.  Please submit your passport along with your DS-160 confirmation page (if already returned to you) through the courier location that you have selected while scheduling your visa interview so that we can complete your case. 

 

Please present a copy of this message along with your passport.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This whole time, My Visa Status on CEAC has been Refused with the additional details about administrative processing, and I haven't received my passport back. The only change is that even after I received the last email, it says Refused but now it is Last Updated to June 03rd 2022. 

 

For those who have made it this far, thank you. My question is, do I have to do anything like submit my Form 221(g) in paper form (because nowhere had I been asked to do this, only to reply in email form) or just hang tight and hope they send me my passport? I emailed ustraveldocs support and after 2 automated answers a real person notified me that my passport was still with the embassy, and that was it. Just looking for guidance. It must be a good sign if they're asking me to submit my passport after my visa application has been processed (even though I never received it back)?

When they ask you to send your passport, then do so.......always do exactly what they ask.....otherwise, you just have to wait.