Administrative Processing (221g) for EB-2 NIW — Engineer from Israel (Dual Citizen, CV Sent)

[mrEB2 0]

Hello everyone,

I'm starting this thread to connect with others who are going through administrative processing (221g) for the EB-2 NIW visa. I hope we can share timelines, experiences, and updates to better understand the process and support each other.

My background:

Interviewed: April 10, 2025 at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem

Placed under administrative processing (221g) during interview

Asked to submit resume in Word format, which I did the same day

Confirmation of document receipt: April 24, 2025

Sent follow-up emails: May 12 and June 9

CEAC status: "Administrative Processing" with last update on June 9

Got a reply to my June 9 follow-up on June 18, confirming still under 221g

Profession: Engineer in automation / solar energy /energy storage

Citizenship: Israel and Russia, last been in Russia in 2019

I’m getting close to the 3-month mark and haven’t seen real progress beyond CEAC updates when I follow up. No documents or passports have been requested yet.

I’d love to hear from anyone going through similar EB-2 NIW 221g cases, especially engineers or dual citizens from Israel, Russia, or similar backgrounds.

Questions I have:

How long did your AP last?

Did CEAC updates correspond to actual movement in your case?

Did you ever get an approval without sending the passport first?

Did you try requesting an expedite ?

Thank you all

[appleblossom 4,386]

AP can’t be expedited. 
 

AP varies hugely depending on the reason for it and the countries involved. It can only take a few days, or can be a year or even longer. Generally countries with poor record keeping (i.e.  Pakistan) take much longer. So comparing your AP to others isn’t going to be terribly helpful as they’re all processed so differently unfortunately. 
 

It sounds as though your occupation may be on the TAL list? If so then with Russian nationality that will be two things for them to check, which may take a little longer. 
 

Best of luck. 
 

 

[mrEB2 0]

Thanks a lot for your reply,

Yes, I suspect my occupation (automation systems engineer in the solar/energy sector ) may indeed fall under the TAL list. I also hold Russian citizenship (though I’ve lived in Israel since 2016 and last visited Russia in 2019).

I know AP is highly individual and not comparable in many cases - I’m mostly trying to get a rough sense from similar professional backgrounds or dual citizens who went through EB-2 NIW AP to see if there are any patterns.

[P3ACHY 33]

I'll share this google spreadsheet another user posted a while ago which might give you an idea of how long it could be.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RN8wHEdL4OsvYLSd2pYcEBa3kNR_VRPYBKcGkGkJt5A/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Definitely being a Russian citizen with a profession on the TAL list is a contributing factor.

[mrEB2 0]

 

Thx for the useful file!!!

[mrEB2 0]

Quick question ... if AP ends close to the 6-month expiry of the medical exam, do they still issue the visa based on the original medical? Or do they ask for a new one before stamping?

Anyone had experience with this?

[Boiler 47,438]

You would need a new Medical.

 

Do you not have a Lawyer?

[mrEB2 0]

thx... I do have a lawyer. I’m just looking for outside opinions and real experiences.

[Boiler 47,438]

There are several things that strike me but I have no idea if they are relevant, your Lawyer will of course be familiar with your case and should.

[mrEB2 0]

I’d really like to understand what you meant . You said several things that  strike you. Could you share what those were?

Also, I wasn’t sure I fully understood your comment about the lawyer Could you clarify?

[Boiler 47,438]

The obvious thing is Russia, and I do not have data on this but it seems we went form NIW being a serious situation to being the favoured route (seemed even I would have qualified for one which is crazy) back to where a lot of NIWs are being more closely inspected.

 

Anyways good you have a Lawyer surprising how many do not.

 

Plus of course all we know is what you have written.