IV / EB case – Multiple CEAC updates, still “Refused” (221g). Looking for experienced opinions

[DouglasD90 0]

Hi everyone,

I’d appreciate input from those with experience in 221(g) administrative processing, especially cases with multiple CEAC updates.

Case basics:

• Immigrant Visa (EB-based), Consular Processing

• Embassy: Santo Domingo

• CEAC status: Refused (221g – Administrative Processing)

• Passports: submitted and currently with the embassy

• No additional documents requested

• Principal and derivative cases now updating together

• My nationality: Colombian (born in Venezuela)

• Spouse’s nationality: Venezuelan

Short timeline:

• Dec 14, 2025: Interview → placed under 221(g)

• Feb 18, 2025: Requested 221(g) documents submitted

• Throughout 2025: Several “Case Last Updated” changes, no status change

• Dec 2–3, 2025: Passports submitted and processed

• Dec 16, 23, 30, 2025: CEAC updated multiple times

• Late Dec: CEAC stopped accepting NA/NA and now requires real passport data

• Jan 7, 2026: Another CEAC update, still shows “Refused”

Questions:

1. Is this pattern (frequent updates + passports retained + still “Refused”) typical before “Issued” in 221(g) cases?

2. For those who’ve been through this, how long did it stay as “Refused” before changing to “Issued”?

3. Based on real experience (not speculation), could recent Trump immigration policies affect a consular EB case already at this stage, considering our nationalities?

4. At this point, is it better to keep waiting or to email the consulate after a certain amount of time?

 

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share real-world experience.

[Dashinka 26,415]

52 minutes ago, DouglasD90 said:

Hi everyone,

I’d appreciate input from those with experience in 221(g) administrative processing, especially cases with multiple CEAC updates.

Case basics:

• Immigrant Visa (EB-based), Consular Processing

• Embassy: Santo Domingo

• CEAC status: Refused (221g – Administrative Processing)

• Passports: submitted and currently with the embassy

• No additional documents requested

• Principal and derivative cases now updating together

• My nationality: Colombian (born in Venezuela)

• Spouse’s nationality: Venezuelan

Short timeline:

• Dec 14, 2025: Interview → placed under 221(g)

• Feb 18, 2025: Requested 221(g) documents submitted

• Throughout 2025: Several “Case Last Updated” changes, no status change

• Dec 2–3, 2025: Passports submitted and processed

• Dec 16, 23, 30, 2025: CEAC updated multiple times

• Late Dec: CEAC stopped accepting NA/NA and now requires real passport data

• Jan 7, 2026: Another CEAC update, still shows “Refused”

Questions:

1. Is this pattern (frequent updates + passports retained + still “Refused”) typical before “Issued” in 221(g) cases?

2. For those who’ve been through this, how long did it stay as “Refused” before changing to “Issued”?

3. Based on real experience (not speculation), could recent Trump immigration policies affect a consular EB case already at this stage, considering our nationalities?

4. At this point, is it better to keep waiting or to email the consulate after a certain amount of time?

 

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share real-world experience.

1. Keeping the passports is more positive than negative.  Frequent updates are hard to say given we just went through the holiday season, but hopefully "Issued" will come along soon.

2.  Not been through this, but have seen enough stories of folks going through AP/Refused.  Easy answer is no one can answer how long it will take as each case is handled individually.

3.  No experience here so I will not add an opinion.

4.  I would keep waiting for now as it has not been a month since your interview.

 

Good Luck!

 

 

[TBoneTX 48,893]

Welcome to the forum!

 

In addition to what Dashinka says, remember that key people might have been on vacation during the holidays, and they're catching up now.

[appleblossom 5,650]

2 hours ago, DouglasD90 said:

• Is this pattern (frequent updates + passports retained + still “Refused”) typical before “Issued” in 221(g) cases?

• For those who’ve been through this, how long did it stay as “Refused” before changing to “Issued”?

• Based on real experience (not speculation), could recent Trump immigration policies affect a consular EB case already at this stage, considering our nationalities?

• At this point, is it better to keep waiting or to email the consulate after a certain amount of time?

 

You are aware that anybody from Venezuela can no longer get an immigrant visa? So your wife's case won't be processed any further unless the ban is lifted/amended.

 

Your visa should be issued, your wife's won't unfortunately. So you may need to make a decision on if you want to cancel your own case or keep going - bearing in mind that once you get that visa, you only have six months from the date of the medical to enter the US and activate it, and then will be a LPR of the US with all the obligations that entails. 

[mitzab 366]

4 hours ago, DouglasD90 said:

Hi everyone,

I’d appreciate input from those with experience in 221(g) administrative processing, especially cases with multiple CEAC updates.

Case basics:

• Immigrant Visa (EB-based), Consular Processing

• Embassy: Santo Domingo

• CEAC status: Refused (221g – Administrative Processing)

• Passports: submitted and currently with the embassy

• No additional documents requested

• Principal and derivative cases now updating together

• My nationality: Colombian (born in Venezuela)

• Spouse’s nationality: Venezuelan

Short timeline:

• Dec 14, 2025: Interview → placed under 221(g)

• Feb 18, 2025: Requested 221(g) documents submitted

• Throughout 2025: Several “Case Last Updated” changes, no status change

• Dec 2–3, 2025: Passports submitted and processed

• Dec 16, 23, 30, 2025: CEAC updated multiple times

• Late Dec: CEAC stopped accepting NA/NA and now requires real passport data

• Jan 7, 2026: Another CEAC update, still shows “Refused”

Questions:

1. Is this pattern (frequent updates + passports retained + still “Refused”) typical before “Issued” in 221(g) cases?

2. For those who’ve been through this, how long did it stay as “Refused” before changing to “Issued”?

3. Based on real experience (not speculation), could recent Trump immigration policies affect a consular EB case already at this stage, considering our nationalities?

4. At this point, is it better to keep waiting or to email the consulate after a certain amount of time?

 

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share real-world experience.

 

 

1) “refused” simply means the visa has not yet been issued and is pending further review rather than a final denial. CEAC shows “Refused” until the administrative processing is resolved and then updates to “Issued.”

2) There is no guaranteed timeline, you can check real world time on this forum if you go and search in timelines of similar cases (AP can last for months if this helps in any way)

3) there is no public source showing a specific new rule targeting EB immigrant visas in early 2026 (I tried searching case specific) but there are hundreds of examples on reddit and forums on venezuelans having their interviews canceled at the last moment etc. What I think they are following through the whole process and then stalling at the last phase (issuance) which i think is also the guidance.

 

4) The Department of State does not allow status inquiries until 60 days after the initiation of administrative processing. If 60 days have passed without a decision,visa applicants may attempt to independently contact the U.S. Consulate to inquire about their case, although Consulates are not always responsive to such inquiries. It is important to note that the visa application and its approval or denial is at the full discretion of the Department of State, and no outside entity has the ability to influence the speed or outcome. As such, we are unable to submit inquiries on behalf of visa applicants. (i found this on john hopkins website) https://ois.jhu.edu/travel-information/administrative-processing-and-visa-issues/

 

wishing you good luck

 

 

 

[appleblossom 5,650]

5 hours ago, mitzab said:

there is no public source showing a specific new rule targeting EB immigrant visas in early 2026

 

Not specifically EB visa, but ALL immigrant visas from Venezuela.

 

It was announced last June, back then there were exemptions from the ban for immediate relatives of US citizens (although that wouldn't have helped the OP anyway). Recently exemptions have been taken away too, so now it's all visas. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/12/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-further-restricts-and-limits-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states/

Edited 10 hours ago by appleblossom