Hello askary,

The applicant can submit a new DS-160 with updated travel dates, but it is not necessary. The applicant will be given plenty of time to discuss the change in his travel plans and his future travel plans.

If the applicant does not appear for a 221g appointment, the validity of the receipt will eventually elapse and he or she will need to apply for another visa, pay all applicable fees again, and appear in person. They will not be eligible to use Dropbox in the future until they appear for an in-person interview.

The passport should be returned very soon, but if it has not been returned within 1-2 weeks time, the applicant should contact Lagosniv@state.gov and/or lagosdropboxreturn@state.gov to ask for an update.

askary:
Hello VO

Kindly proffer advice to the following.

Background - A drop box was made for a B1/B2 Visa application. Applicant recently tracked the visa application and the message had changed from "Received at the US Consulate" to "Administrative processing". Also, he notes on checking his CGI profile that new dates had been opened on the page to schedule a 221G appointment with the nearest date being more than 3 months away.
Applicant's reason for the B1/B2 application was to attend a short 5-day course for professional development in the US and possibly spend some 3 days to do some shopping as part of his vacation scheduled for this Month (May 2019). Invariably this means that the intended short course and travel dates indicated on the DS160 form filled would have elapsed by the time the applicant makes appearance at the Embassy after getting to schedule the nearest available 221 appointment date opened on the CGI platform which is in September 2019;

Questions:

1. Prior to appearing for the 221G appointment in 3 months time, should another DS 160 form be filled to indicate a future date of intended travel? Already, the course coordinators of the executive short course in the US have been duly notified of applicant's inability to participate on the May course and applicant has been given the opportunity to re-enrol for the upcoming October course.

2. Please advice, is there any need to still appear for 221G appointment if the applicant does not wish to enrol for the October short course offered? Applicant tries to avoid international travels during Winter .

3. Will applicant still be eligible for a drop box application when making another B1/B2 applications within the drop box eligibility period if he did not proceed with this 221G appointment?

4. Applicant passport has not been returned, and he has not received any notification on passport collection, also there is no information available for the passport number in the passport tracking status. What happens next?

5. In the event that applicant makes the 221G appointment in September without filling a new DS160 with new intended dates of travel , if his adjudication will be based on the information of the initial DS-160 submitted which indicated an intended travel date in May? Wouldn't that be an obvious reason to expressly deny applicant?


Thank you for your time. I look forward to answers to the above 5 questions.

USMissionNGRA:
Hello adlerian,

You should be able to book a student visa appointment if you are using the new receipt number. However, if you having difficulty with that, please book the F1 appointment as soon as you are able, and if that is not early enough, you can request an emergency appointment and describe your situation in the notes. If you have any difficulty with that option, please write back here and we'll try to work something out.

Hello USMissionNGRA,

I finally got my 221G follow-up appointment booked over the phone yesterday for a date in July. Since I can only book the student visa appointment after this date, it may be late. I also cannot make an emergency request as this feature is not enabled on my profile. Kindly advice what I can do to be able to schedule the student visa appointment early enough.

Thanks.

Hi, I have an American visiting visa that expired some days ago B1/B2 visa. I'd like to apply for a renewal via Dropbox. Can someone walk me through the process and also what is the realistic chance of getting a renewal via Dropbox. P.S I used the visa just once and I'd like a renewal between July and August so that I can travel by December/January. Id appreciate a swift response thanks

USMissionNGRA

I had my 221g interview Dec 1, 2018. Up till this moment, it is in administrative processing.

The anticipation of having to check regularly is not easy as my plans to the US is on hold.

May I please ask, what could be the problem?

It is almost 6 months now. Nothing has changed. To the best of my knowledge, all questions were answered correctly.
Please find attached my present situation.
Thank you greatly for your help.

Hello Tk05,

Please email LagosNIV@state.gov with the specifics of your case.

Tk05:
USMissionNGRA

I had my 221g interview Dec 1, 2018. Up till this moment, it is in administrative processing.

The anticipation of having to check regularly is not easy as my plans to the US is on hold.

May I please ask, what could be the problem?

It is almost 6 months now. Nothing has changed. To the best of my knowledge, all questions were answered correctly.
Please find attached my present situation.
Thank you greatly for your help.

Good evening VO.To apply for a tourist visa,is it advisable to book for hotel reservation before we proceed with the application?Thanks in anticipation to your response.

How do I know if my visa refusal was temporary one or permanent refusal, his can I know my status on my visa applications, this will help me to know if I can still apply with my family or to face another nation for my vacations, I have been denied alone, I have been denied with my spouse likewise I was denied with with my daughter as family trip.
I have been to south Africa, I have traveled to India and UK, just that I have been doing that alone without my family.

How do I know if my visa refusal was temporary one or permanent refusal, his can I know my status on my visa applications, this will help me to know if I can still apply with my family or to face another nation for my vacations, I have been denied alone, I have been denied with my spouse likewise I was denied with with my daughter as family trip.
I have been to south Africa, I have traveled to India and UK, just that I have been doing that alone without my family.

Hello judithidoghogm,

We advise people not to make nonrefundable travel plans until they have their visas in their hands. If you would like to book a hotel before you get your visa, you are welcome to, but it will not affect your application at all.

judithidoghogm:
Good evening VO.To apply for a tourist visa,is it advisable to book for hotel reservation before we proceed with the application?Thanks in anticipation to your response.

Hello arro,

It sounds like you are asking about the difference between a 221g refusal, a 214b refusal, and a 212(a) refusal. If this is not correct, please let us know so we can answer your question better!

- A 221g refusal is a "temporary" refusal - it means that the officer did not have enough information and/or time to make their final decision. If you are refused under 221g, sometimes we will ask you to give us more information, and sometimes we will just tell you that your case is in "administrative processing". This can happen for a variety of reasons. U.S. immigration law requires consular officers to make a decision on every case we come across, so even though a 221g refusal basically just means your case is pending, it is a "temporary refusal" that will ultimately result in either an issuance or a refusal under 214b and/or 212(a).

- For lack of a better phrase, a 214b refusal is a "final decision". It means that the officer was not convinced that you would not attempt to immigrate to the U.S. and/or that you would not otherwise misuse your visa. Again, our immigration law requires that we assume every single applicant is an intending immigrant until they can demonstrate otherwise to the officer's satisfaction. This refusal doesn't mean you can't apply again in the future, but it does mean that unless something has changed significantly in your circumstances, you will almost certainly get the same response. From your description, it sounds like you have been refused under 214b.

- A "permanent refusal" is often called a ban on this forum, and those are the refusals that fall under section 212(a). These refusals are relatively rare, and anyone who has one would have been told verbally and in writing whether they were refused under one or more of these sections. Examples of what might warrant a refusal under 212(a) are: material misrepresentation, criminal convictions, and unlawful presence in the U.S.

We hope this helps! Please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visa-denials.html for more information.

arro:
How do I know if my visa refusal was temporary one or permanent refusal, his can I know my status on my visa applications, this will help me to know if I can still apply with my family or to face another nation for my vacations, I have been denied alone, I have been denied with my spouse likewise I was denied with with my daughter as family trip.
I have been to south Africa, I have traveled to India and UK, just that I have been doing that alone without my family.

am very grateful for this quick reply, this is what i have been looking for all this years, i was confused why all the rejections untill i went thru my Ds160 and saw some typing errors that i have made in my applications like where i want to put 15days and i went ahead to put 15 weeks ironically, again what must be the status of my friend or cousins in usa that want to send me and invitation for my short visit?
how do i convince the VO that i will come back to my country, i work with the federal government of the federation and i have my wife and children with me here in abuja, i have my aged parents and am the first born meaning the up keep is still with me.
i wish paper applications can work like the united kingdom.
i am hoping to visit united state of america during this winter since my annual leave for this year too will be in winter, last one too was in winter which i spent in london, Nottingham, Manchester, if i can get usa i wish to visit places like nyc, md, tx,la back to my home country.
advice please.

Hello USMissionNGRA,

I have a B1/B2 visa which I had before my wife got admmitted into a college in the US on a F1 and my son on a F2.

Is there a limit to the number of times I can visit them on the B1/B2 visa in a year without raising any concerns with the CBP for the category of the B1/B2.

The maximum I stay on each visit is two or three weeks which is usually my time off work as an offshore petroleum engineer every two months.
Or should I apply for a F2 visa instead?

Thank you.

Thanks for the prompt response,but for proper clarity,in this case will a medical visa be categorized as being in the same visa class as a visiting visa?

USMissionNGRA:
Hello Sisiyemisi,

If you are applying for the same visa class as your old visa, the old visa will be cancelled upon receipt of your new application.

Hello jossylad86,

It sounds like you are asking for advice on how to avoid CBP's attention, which (we are sure you understand) we are not in the business of providing. That being said, unless explicitly written on your visa, there is no limit to the number of times you can use your B1/B2 visa within its validity period. The amount of time you are admitted for on each visit will be written in on your U.S. entry stamp. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to let us know!

jossylad86:
Hello USMissionNGRA,

I have a B1/B2 visa which I had before my wife got admmitted into a college in the US on a F1 and my son on a F2.

Is there a limit to the number of times I can visit them on the B1/B2 visa in a year without raising any concerns with the CBP for the category of the B1/B2.

The maximum I stay on each visit is two or three weeks which is usually my time off work as an offshore petroleum engineer every two months.
Or should I apply for a F2 visa instead?

Thank you.

Hello Sisiyemisi,

A "visiting visa" is the popular name for either a B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa. All are intended for short term visits to the United States. Technically, a visa issued explicitly for medical treatment is a B2 visa, but because we generally issue B1/B2 visas rather than just B1 or B2 visas, the answer to your question is yes: it is the same visa class.

Sisiyemisi:
Thanks for the prompt response,but for proper clarity,in this case will a medical visa be categorized as being in the same visa class as a visiting visa?

Hello USMissionNGRA,

Your advice will be appreciated.

I recently came home for the easter holiday and decided to apply for a B1/B2 renewal on the 9th of April via dropbox.

Unfortunately i am overdue back at work in Abidjan and my application has not been updated since the day the case was created.

What can i do? Can i withdraw the passport and will the application processing still go on?.

Thanks

Dear USMissionNGRA,

I submitted my passport for B1/B2 dropbox renewal bout 6weeks ago.

Please advise on the steps to take to withdraw my passport as I need it urgently for another purpose.

Thank you,

Hello chitsie25,

We apologize for the delay. Please email LagosDropboxReturn@state.gov to request the return of your passport.

chitsie25:
Hello USMissionNGRA,

Your advice will be appreciated.

I recently came home for the easter holiday and decided to apply for a B1/B2 renewal on the 9th of April via dropbox.

Unfortunately i am overdue back at work in Abidjan and my application has not been updated since the day the case was created.

What can i do? Can i withdraw the passport and will the application processing still go on?.

Thanks

Hello Deyonsesi,

We apologize for the delay. Please email LagosDropboxReturn@state.gov to request the return of your passport.

Deyonsesi:
Dear USMissionNGRA,

I submitted my passport for B1/B2 dropbox renewal bout 6weeks ago.

Please advise on the steps to take to withdraw my passport as I need it urgently for another purpose.

Thank you,

Is it compulsory that one wait till after two months before reapplying for a F1 VISA. Does it means desperacy too?

USMissionNGRA:
Hello buddwizer,

The wait time for F1 visas is significantly less than the wait time for B1/B2 visas. We make every effort to ensure that students can make their program start dates on time. If you are having difficulty scheduling an F1 visa application at a time that works for you, please use the "Request an emergency appointment" option on the CGI website.

Hello USMissionNGRA, Thank you for your reply. I have now put in an application for the renewal of my F1 visa. However, its been over a week and i cannot seem to get an appointment date. I keep seeing the message "There are currently no appointment dates"
as shown in the screen shot. Also, i do not have an option to pick an emergency date. My new session starts by the last week in August 2019.

Dear USMissionNGRA:

Greeting and thanks for all you do.

Kindly provide insight to when the status tracking of a US visa using the DS-160 number submitted during a dropbox application changed from "Administrative processing" to "Issued".

Hello USMissionNGRA.
It's really great that questions regrding US visas can be asked like this. My mum and I submitted applications for NIVs via drop box a month apart. She submitted hers on the 8th of April 2019 and I submitted mine on the 2nd of May 2019. We haven't heard back yet, but we tracked the status of both Visas and while mine says PASSPORT RECEIVED, hers says NO STATUS. I am a little concerned about that and have emailed lagosNIV@state.gov but got a generic response. I'd appreciate some guidance on what NO STATUS means and of there is anything we can do about it. Many thanks.

Dear USMissionNGA,

I submitted my online visa renewal application for BIB2 category. I have been trying to schedule an appointment for interview in Abuja but I keep getting the message "no available appointment dates". Please what does this mean? Is this message normal or was there anything I did wrong? This has been on for over a week now. Please your clarification will be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Dear USMissionNGA,

I submitted my visa application through drop box on the 17th of April. For 2 weeks after the submission I was able to track the status of my passport through the application dashboard.
Each time I log in to check the status now, it says , NO status for this Passport.
I am only able to track though the ceac website, which states passport received since the 18th of April.
My question is what is the exact processing time for the last set of drop box visas.
This is because I'm scheduled to travel in August and I have another visa Interview schedule for June at another embassy.
Can I know the estimated wait time for passport pick up , this will enable me make a decision between waiting or asking for the passport.
Thx.

USMissionNGRA:
Hello Deyonsesi,

We apologize for the delay. Please email LagosDropboxReturn@state.gov to request the return of your passport.

Hello USMissionNGRA,

I have been sending emails and calling you office to secure the return of my passport but I am yet to receive a positive feedback.

I even visited DHL today since it is past 5days but I was told my passport was not ready.

Please assist as I urgently need the passport.

Thank you.

Please can some advice me on the matter at hand. I applied for US F1-Visa on May 1st 2019 before the Drop box was canceled on May 14th 2019. Unfortunately I arrived in Nigeria on May 16 2019 so I could not use the Drop box option again. Now I am trying to book an appointment but when I reach the 'Schedule Consular Appointment' Page; it tells me "There are currently no available". Any one else facing the same problem. Your help will be much appreciated God Bless you.

PLEASE NOTE: I cannot see a Calendar (At least it would be fair to see all unavailable and booked slots)

Please help.
When filling the DS160.How do I answer this question?
Person/entity paying for the trip?
Is the question asking for who is paying for my flight ticket,or who is paying for my entire stay in the USA?
And what if I have multiple sponsors?

Hello US MISSION NG,

Please I have two questions.

1.Is it compulsory that I have some kind of funding to be issued F1 at this time of the year as that is the trend?

2. I have submitted DS160 before the addition of social media handle.Do I have to submit another one?

3.My school want to offer me GA but it’s not on my i20, it will just be a letter.how do I inform the VO as it’s only i20 and passport that he/she will ask for?

Dear @USMissionNGRA,

I applied to renew my B1/B2 visa on 11th April. I however had urgent business travel to the UK and requested to retrieve my passport. When I picked up my passport, I was given a 221g letter to schedule a followup appointment within 48 hours to continue my application process. When I signed in to my profile the only dates available was either 11th may, which was the morning I was travelling to the UK or sometime in Septmeber. I called the US travel docs call center to inform them and they advised to book 11th May and no show on the appointment. I was also told that I will get another set of options for dates 72 hours after the appointment has been tagged a no show.

This has not been the case as all i get on my profile is there are not dates available at the moment. I have checked everyday since then and it is still the same issue. I was scheduled to travel to the US in May on business and I missed my trip due to this issue.

My problem now is that I need to process my F1 visa as I am starting graduate school in August and need to get an interview date for my visa. I have not been able to do this as my previous receipt number is still on my profile. The call center have been tossing me around even though I have told them I am no longer interested in applying for B1/B2 and they should take off the receipt so I can process my F1. They keep telling me to check my profile for dates to book for B1/B2 and then cancel the appointment, but there are no dates!! They keep closing my case and giving me generic responses, without even addressing the problem.

Please can you advise me on how I will be able to process my F1 as I have already purchased another receipt and paid my SEVIS fee? Anytime I go on to my profile to process the F1, the old receipt is still on there and even when i proceed with it, it says there are no dates available. Please help as i don't want to lose my admission and scholarship. Thank you.

Deyonsesi:


Hello USMissionNGRA,

I have been sending emails and calling you office to secure the return of my passport but I am yet to receive a positive feedback.

I even visited DHL today since it is past 5days but I was told my passport was not ready.

Please assist as I urgently need the passport.

Thank you.

Dear USMissonNGRA,

I am quite unhappy right now. I was advised to send an email to retrieve my passport and I have been doing that over the last almost three weeks now but I am yet to get my passport back.

Please what other step can I take as I have also been calling your office all to no avail. I have visited DHL severally too.

Kindly advise as I need to get my passport back urgently please.

Thank you.