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