What is 221(g) under US Visa Refusals?
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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.
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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.
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
Q: Is MIT costly for Indians?
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
Q: Is Texas A&M Commerce a good university?
Texas A&M Commerce is regarded as one of the top public universities across the United States. Moreover, the Texas A&M Commerce ranking 2024 under the category of Best Colleges is National Universities is #369. Also, the acceptance rate of this university is 42%. Additionally, the university offers the best academic programs, expert faculty, job & placement, and more. Besides, Texas A&M University-Commerce also offers over 130 academic degrees for its students.
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: Is University of Minnesota Morris hard to get into?
According to various sources, University of Minnesota Morris has an acceptance rate of around 78% making it moderately selective for admissions. Some of the general admission requirements for international students are given as follows:
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Ranks
- Additional Academic Record
Students are required to apply for admission according to the deadlines given on the official university website.
Q: What are the requirements for admission into Purdue?
Purdue University application must have the following components:
Undergraduate Admissions
- The application itself
- Purdue-specific questions from the application
- Self-reported high-school grades
- Self-reported SAT or ACT scores (if applicable)
- Application fee
Steps to apply for Purdue University Undergraduate Courses
- First of all, complete and submit a Common application as per the Purdue University application deadlines
- Make sure that Purdue University receives all material required to complete the application
Graduate Admissions Steps
- Firstly, check Purdue University entry requirements
- Then, create an application account to start the application
- Choose the campus and course as per the preference
- Then, submit the results of the tests needed for the graduate program
- Prepare the additional documents based on the graduate program
- Lastly, pay the non-refundable application fee to submit the application. Purdue University graduate application fee is USD 75 for international applicants
Q: Is it expensive to study in UT Tyler Texas?
Annual tuition fee required to pursue a degree course at Indiana State University is around INR 15 L on an average, which can be considered affordable as a study abroad option. Students can refer to the table for course-specific fees requirements:
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
BBA (5 courses) | INR 10 L - 15 L |
MBA/PGDM (4 courses) | INR 12 L - 14 L |
BSc BTech (5 courses) | INR 15 L - 18 L |
MIM (3 courses) | INR 12 L - 14 L |
BBA (4 courses) | INR 15 L - 17 L |
BSN (1 course) | INR 15 L |
BSc (1 course) | INR 15 L |
Q: Is Canada or USA cheaper to study?
International students are more likely to receive financial help or scholarships from Canadian universities than from American ones, which is quite uncommon. Furthermore, tuition at Canadian institutions is typically 27% less expensive than that of US universities. However, some United States universities offer international students Financial aid and other scholarships that help them to study in the United States.
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
With 6 years of sound experience in abroad education industry, Nidhi has helped more than 250+ students to get the admission in their dream universities in USA, Canada and Australia. Before moving to the full time c... Read Full Bio
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There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.