What is 221(g) under US Visa Refusals?

To pursue your higher education in the United States, you need a US student visa. You will have to undergo a student visa process for this, and as an outcome, a Section 221 (g) may be issued to you. Let us discuss in detail about what is 221(g) under US visa refusals.

Section 221(g) Tracker – Recent studies have shown that the United States of America is the most visited study-abroad destination among Indian Students, with over 268,923 Indian students travelling to the United States in the academic year 2023-24, this number is only bound to spiral north in the future. The US is home to the top universities in the world that provide international students with stretches of green ground for them to grow and innovate.

The US is also a boiling pot of mixed culture race and diversification, bringing students from around the world to immerse and learn about cultures from all corners of the world. A frontrunner in scientific and creative innovation, the United States of America also provides innumerable academic courses for students to choose from for their higher education.

Why study in the USA?

Studying in the United States of America is an expensive investment when you compare it with the universities in your own country, however, the ROI (return on investment) is totally worth the effort. With international students being allowed to work 20 hours/week, several grants and US Scholarships being provided by US universities and various independent organizations and the availability of education loans from banks and financial institutions have only made education in the USA more achievable. A land of opportunities, the United States of America also provides great employment opportunities for students going to study in the USA. Students visiting the US for higher education are allowed to stay back for one year under the ‘Optional Practical Training Programme,’ while students pursuing STEM Courses can stay back up to 24 months in search of employment.

US Visa Interview Process

Students looking to visit the United States of America would require a US Student Visa for the same. Procuring the visa process includes candidates having to undergo a visa interview process, which includes candidates having to bring with them a list of documents mandatory for the US Visa Interview Process that takes place at the US Embassy or US Consulate in your country.  There is a lot of misinformation around the US Visa Interview process as the United States has a strict reputation for letting immigrants into the country.  However, candidates going to pursue higher education need not fret about the process as long as their documents are in sequence and their story in place. Candidates should have their documents in order and they should know in detail about the academic institution of their choice and have comprehensive knowledge about the opted course. On completion of the interview process, the consulate/ US Embassy would either approve the candidate’s visa request, reject the visa request or issue the candidate a Section 221(g).

Read Reasons for rejection of US Student Visa.

What is a 221(g)?

Most students panic when they receive a Section 221(g) slip. However, that should not be the case. 221g is only a request for additional information to verify your case, it is neither an acceptance nor a rejection of your visa request. Students are requested not to dive into a frenzy on receiving a 221(g) status, as it does NOT make you ineligible to enter the US, it only puts your application on hold to request additional information from you about your US Visa Process.

Reasons for 221(g)?

There could be innumerable reasons for the issue of Section 221(g) under US Visa Regulations. However, the most common include:

• Incomplete PIMS: All students must complete their Petition Information Management Service (PIMS) online. The inability to do so could lead to a visa applicant receiving a Section 221(g).
• Employment Check: If a candidate belongs to an occupation/employment that is not well defined, then officials might require more information on the same leading to a Section 221(g).
• Background Check: Students who are found engaged in activities designated on or related to TAL (Technology Alert List) could be issued a 221(g)

If the applicants are unable to fulfil the criteria of 221(g), they will have to face rejection under section 214(b). Check out the top reasons for 214(b) visa rejection.  

What after 221(g)?

Once the Department of State has issued the candidate a 221(g), the next obvious move would be to understand the reason for receiving Section 221(g) and submit all the respective documents needed to get through the US visa application process. Candidates will have the option to submit their documents electronically or at the VFS drop box. Details for the submission process will be mentioned in Section 221(g) slip. Once you have submitted all the required documents, the candidate is required to wait for his visa to be approved or denied.

Candidates should be informed, that Section 221(g) processing time could take months to get through and in the most unfortunate cases could even take years. If the US Embassy/ Consulate plans on issuing you a visa, they would request for your passport to stamp the visa officially and in the most unfortunate cases, if your visa gets rejected, the consulate would return all the documents to you in their original form. Candidates are required to contact the US Embassy only after a minimum of 60 days to pursue their 221(g) status.

What after your 221(g) petition gets rejected?

In the event of your 221(g) petition being rejected, the US Consulate would return all your documents to you in original excluding your i-797 which would be sent back to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with comments for reconsideration of your proposal.