SabrinaJerome

221g is normally used for further processing.
For various reasons they need to look more at your case.
We had one for the tourist visa and eventually we got the visa. 
Read carefully all about the form. It's not usually a refusal.

Thread is moved from Off Topic to General Immigration Discussion.
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Violent physical exercise is one way to reduce stress.
Those from my era found it valuable to craft new and increasingly unprintable curses about the rogue Guayaquil consulate.

Hello forum, 
This is not so much a question about bureaucracy. I'm rather curious to know how other members are handling the long delays, and what are some of you doing whilst waiting for your new life to finally begin.
Due to the unpredictabile nature of the process, it can be hard to find a routine, and it seems as though I just can't effectively plan for the long term...just....yet...
Whether you're undergoing a 221g AP,  waiting for a waiver,  or clocking in the 12 month wait period before  your Noa 2 arrives, how are you coping with the long waits? Are you working/ able to work? If not, is it affecting you negatively? Do you have a good support system? Are you worried or optimistic? Do you fear unusually long delays or unexpected turns of events? I think this could be an interesting discussion, let me know below.
Thanks
 

its very hard for all of us as adults.... But, with kids its a disaster. They are depressed and sad, they are so attached to me. I wish the Immigration authorities would consider such cases. They have been counting the days through my process till the day of the interview (28 months). 
Last week after the interview i had to file my DS-5535 and status is AP.  Now, we have to wait again!! But we do not know for how long!!. i have no idea what to tell my kids this time.
Hopefully this nightmare will end soon and we all meet our loved ones.

My understanding is that the 221g is the standard administrative processing form that has been around a long time. I remember getting one in 2013 for the tourist visa. It can be given for a lot of reasons.
The 5535 was administered starting in spring 2017 and expired at the end of November. However it is still being given. 
We were not given the 5535 but still asked for email addresses and social media handles.

Hello everyone,
 
I have some great news, Alhamdulillah! After having our Visa Interview for a permanent resident, spouse vIsa (not fiance) in Casa Blanca on June 19th, 2017 and being placed in Administrative Processing with form DS 5535, my wife was issued her Visa on January 29th, 2018. She now has her sealed envelope in her hand and can enter the country anytime between now and June 22nd, 2018.
 
I visited her in Fes in early January and let the Consulate know that I was in the country through email. They then called her and asked if I was indeed in the country with her, then they said they were sending her passport back to her so she may redo the medical exam and that the case was going to be complete in a couple weeks. I am not sure of this timing was a coincidence or if me visiting her was connected to the progression of the case, I am just grateful for the visa being issued.
 
I would like to say that this was very heavy upon my mental health and my heart, but we remained patient and resilient, we relied upon God first and foremost, we remained optimistic and hopeful that we would be together. I know this is so stressful and difficult for you, but very soon you will look back upon this experience and smile knowing that you can be with your loved ones. Keep praying everyday. I hope your visas will be issued soon, God willing.
 
Warmly,
Fedi
 
 

Hello guys,
 
Some sort of good news. I have recieved the visa after more than a month of waiting and filling DS 5535.
Be patient and soon you will hear some sort of good news  
 

I analyzed 3705 cases and summarized them in the charts below.
Most cases are scheduled on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 29th, 30th monthly, you should call them in the end of these dates. The rest of the month, they are just chilling.
And somehow they don't want put much effort in January and November. On the other hand, they like scheduling people in December. :)) I don't know why but maybe they want to finish the work as soon as possible and go home for the holidays.

Go approved today... 
Finally. Since 18th June 2016
Patiently waiting. 
Thanks so much VJ. 

I think it's an early unofficial form of DS-5535 before this: "DOS asked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a 180-day emergency approval of Form DS-5535, and gave the public until May 18, 2017 to submit comments on the proposed form. Procedures for submitting comments to DOS are described in the Federal Register notice."

In my opinion, that form is some kind of "extreme vetting." Read more here:
http://www.nafsa.org/Professional_Resources/Browse_by_Interest/International_Students_and_Scholars/Form_DS-5535,_Supplemental_Questions_for_Visa_Applicants/

Had my spousal interview 22nd January 2018 in lagos 
Appointment was 6 45am
Elderly ones and family with kids were attended to first.Aftr all the security checks a beautiful American woman attended to me and asked the following 
Who called me
Where did we meet
When we got married
How many weddings
Where he works
My address in Nigeria
His address
SHOW me your favorite pix
VISA APPROVED 
Just be confident and put on smiling face
I WISH all of you THE VERYBEST 

I never knew this form even existed until my fiancé was handed this form after his interview. They have an open discussion for Americans to give their thoughts on this form. If anyone is willing to give their thoughts please do so before October 2nd. I don't see anything wrong with the form, but I think when submit your original application, this form should be included in the checklist. Having people on edge and wondering is a hindering. Fiancés can't make wedding plans and married couples having to obtain a LDR after already waiting. I don't think this form was thought out well 

Called NVC this morning and we have an interview date!!!
February 20, 2018 in Madrid!!
CC on 12/06/17
 
Hoping for the best for all of us!!!

Interview yesterday!! Today status is issued!!!

Not sure but check your spam folder just in case.  If it's not there it should come through soon. If not by Monday evening I would give a call. Or call Monday morning!  😉

Called on friday and my husband finally has an interview date for January 16th woohoo.. 1 day after my birthday yayy..

Scan Date: 9-1-2017
Case Complete: 10-26-2017
Interview Date: 1-9-2018

Hello everyone! 
December 1, 2017 I received an email letter from NVC (the letter was dated November 30, 2017) informing me that my interview will be on January 23, 2018.
The review process didn't took 8 to 11 weeks!! 
We didn't receive any notice that our case is complete. So we do not know when our case got completed. 
But we are very happy from the result.
Wishing you all good luck!! 

We got an interview date!  
January 18 Madrid
via email.
 
cc Nov 8
 
I love how they send out batches of emails Friday night ... after they are closed... for the weekend. Very smart they are! 
After you have given up hope for another week, and you get a nice weekend present. So happy!! And relieved! Now we can make plans for the holidays, and our 2 year anniversary.  
 
I'm glad I didn't call last night, since, if they were to tell me about the interview I would've had to wake up my husband in Spain! lol
 
Anyway, don't give up hope, interview appts are being sent for sure, even after offices are closed.

We got an interview date!  
January 18 Madrid
via email.
 
cc Nov 8
 
I love how they send out batches of emails Friday night ... after they are closed... for the weekend. Very smart they are! 
After you have given up hope for another week, and you get a nice weekend present. So happy!! And relieved! Now we can make plans for the holidays, and our 2 year anniversary.  
 
I'm glad I didn't call last night, since, if they were to tell me about the interview I would've had to wake up my husband in Spain! lol
 
Anyway, don't give up hope, interview appts are being sent for sure, even after offices are closed.

Hi everyone, got my interview letter this morning.
 
Priority date: 06 March 2011
CC: 09/Sept/
Interview notification: 02/Dec (Though the letter was dated 1st of Dec)
Interview date: 24 Jan
Category: F1
Location: Lagos
 
VJ has been quite informative for me, I am glad I found this website and this topic although it's not under my category but it's always busy here.
 
N.B Please did anyone else here submit an original document to NVC? I have my original birth certificate with NVC I'd like to know if there is someone else here with something similar. Or if someone in the past could share a little knowledge on what happened at the interview?

Congrats to everyone who got their p4 letters , got mine and my  interview date is jan 03 , scan date sept 28 ,cc november 15 

Got my interview date !!! January 03rd !!!!
 
Barbadoss !! 

I called ..... Interview scheduled !!!!!!!!!!!
 
I'm in complete disbelief !!!
 
January 16 !!!!
 
 

Received my interview letter email today, with interview date 24 Jan 2018! Thigs must really slow down during the Christmas and New Year period here...