The Consular Officer didn’t say if I was approved or not. They took my passport though, is that a good sign? Am I approved? Posted on October 20, 2014 by Mrs. Presson Neither. It’s not a good sign nor a bad sign. Them taking your passport is not (in any way) an assurance that you’ve passed your interview nor has anything to do with your visa status. There are other background checks that are still needed to be done before an approval / issuance of a visa. This is called Administrative Processing. What you need to monitor is your CEAC Visa Status. That will tell you exactly where your case is. This happens to all cases, especially a 221G Request for Additional Documents. They hold your passport so when the Administrative Processing / Review is done, they will either: Be able to issue you your visa on the passport that you left with the Embassy. This eliminates the extra step/process of contacting you to send your passport in. or; Just send back your passport when you’re refused/denied a visa. You just have to be patient and wait for your CEAC Visa Status updates. Related Posts:Why is my case on Administrative Processing and/or 221G? How All cases go through Administrative Processing. This means the U.S.…How soon does it switch from Administrative Processing to… One, there is no particular pattern. Two, nobody (even if…I’ve submitted complete documents during my interview… No one knows the answer to that question. It…I’ve complied with the 221G Request for Additional… No one knows the answer to that question. It…What is a 221G Request for Additional Document? In order for the Consular Officer to make a decision…Our I-129F Petition was approved. What’s the next… If you always check your case status online and/or your…
john says: me im 200 days stuck in administrative processing consul took my passpoprt no 221g form given to me. emailed USEMB always reply further review why would they just keep a person waiting for 200days its a mental torture
Mrs. Presson says: It is what it is, and all you can do is patiently wait and follow up your case. You have to remember they are reviewing hundreds of thousands of cases and not just yours.
charlette says: Erika, I thought I read an article you wrote about your own case, and you mentioned that you and your fiancee had a U.S. representative intervene just 3 weeks or so into your wait time? Don’t you advise the rest of of us to do something similar? This man has waited over 6 months for some notification post interview. That would seem to me to signal a problem , like maybe they lost his file or something.
Mrs. Presson says: I do not advise anyone to go on and contact their state representatives just because they want wait times to be faster. It’s a case-by-case basis. My situation was that the Consular Officer was obviously “power-tripping”, giving inconsistent information, even when we have satisfied the requirements (221G) and clearly surpassed the HHS Poverty Guidelines. That was his only deal, proof of current sustained income that we already have provided. And of course, not to mention how he treated me at the interview, he had to be reported. Some U.S. Embassies have longer processing than ours. Some take years because it is normal for them.
gie says: Hi Erica, I have a question about my Police Clearance. I did apply my police clearance in Brunei since June 16th, 2015 and until now they were still pending. Accdg. to K1 visa required documents , police clearance is needed when your out of your country since your 16 for more than 6 months. I asked my niece who was working in Brunei to process my PC and even my ex boss is already helping me to follow up the releasing of my PC. The police officers told my ex boss that the department didn’t process yet the result, so the police cannot do anything without the result . The question is, is it possible that the Co will give me a pass declaring all this statements? i also have the receipt applying my PC last June 16th, 2015 and it’s almost 1 month already. May you please give me an advice to ease my burden. Thank you Good day and God Bless.
Mrs. Presson says: The Consular Officer’s decision is his/her own. No one else will be able to tell you what they will decide on. You can present your case, but that doesn’t guarantee you anything. Everything’s under their discretion.
lani says: Hi Erica, I just wanted to thank you about your blog.i’m done now with my medical and interview and the american consul said my case got approved.and to the window 5 releasing area said ok, we will just gonna send your visa and wait for 2GO to text you.i did managed to prepare and provide all documents required for the whole steps and stage process of k1 visa,it went smooth because of your well documented and infos you shared for us to follow,thanks god i found you…thank you for helping k1 visa applicants MORE POWER! GOD BLESS U MORE..
Dino S. David says: Good Day! I interviewed last May 15, 2015 for k1 visa, the consul ask me for some documents (CENOMAR and NBI with AKA). My status was AP until yesterday then switched to READY but i noticed the updated status is June 11, 2015. Im afraid because my Medical Exam expires on July 17th. Is it possible my ViSa will be issued before that date? In your own opinion only. Thanks!
Mrs. Presson says: As previously mentioned, no one will be able to tell you when your visa will be approved. All you can do is wait. There is no pattern. Every update depends on the Consular Officer / Case Worker.
Shershaf says: hello, my fiance went through k1 interview last week. He was not given a 221(g) slip nor was he told he was approved. The interviewer told him he will receive a letter in the mail. Ever since the interview day the CEAC status says administrative processing. It was updated yesterday but with no new information. They didnt keep his passport either. Should I assume he was refused. We are so frustrated. Please advise
Mrs. Presson says: Please read: Why is my case on Administrative Processing and/or 221G? How long will it be stuck on AP? Not keeping the applicant’s passport doesn’t necessarily mean a refusal either. When the Administrative Processing ends, the status will switch to either Issued / Refused. If it’s “Issued” they will ask for the passport so they can print the Visa on it.
Aakash says: I am in same boat they returned my passport outright after interview . And didn’t issue any 221g . They gave me a slip regarding administrative process written” please bear with us your case undergoes mandatory administrative process and they will contact me when it will be completed . I am in lot of stressed , I don’t know what to do ? Status updated from 30 june to 2 july as my interview was on 29 june . When I will hear from them ?
Mrs. Presson says: Please read: I’ve submitted complete documents during my interview and was told that I was approved. Until now, it’s on Administrative Processing. When will my K1 Visa be issued?I’ve submitted complete documents during my interview and was told that I was approved. Until now, it’s on Administrative Processing. When will my K1 Visa be issued?
Sheng says: Hi Mrs. Presson, Based on the priority date schedule it has come to my knowledge that the priority date of my husband March 14, 2013 is current since November 2014 to present. He had already updated documents that have already expired; such as Police Clearance and NBI clearance since he was waiting for about 8 months ago. He was interviewed last May 2014 but they asked him 1 more document (Japanese police clearance). We submitted all documents to US Embassy Manila last year and they sent us a letter stating that all documents are already received; they even assured us that they will notify us and take further action on our case as soon as the priority date becomes current but until now we never heard from them. We sent emails and called them but they only give us an automated response so I decided to send a mail to (US-NVC). Regarding this, His medical examination will be expired this 30th of April that is why we have been sending letter through email and I only get an automated response from US Embassy Manila. I even contacted US embassy Manila phone number but they never answered my calls. I hope that you would help us regarding our situation right now. I checked his case status and it is administrative processing updated Feb. 2, 2015. What should we do? We are worried now. Hope you can help us … Thanks Sheng
Mrs. Presson says: I’m sorry to hear that you are left hanging, but I do not exactly know what to tell you as I don’t work for the U.S. Embassy nor affiliated with them. I’m not even sure what help you are asking of me because there really is nothing I can do / or tell you but just continue to follow up your case with the proper authorities (USEM). Administrative processing is indefinite, no one will be able to tell you when it will end. You just have to wait, follow up your case, and wait for updates. You might want to call them again after the Holy Week, because USEM observes U.S. and Philippines Holidays. Good luck!