After the AP I received a 221(g) refusal — I don’t really understand what this means in practice. Does this mean I need to file a new petition, or are there other options for what to do next? And am I correct in understanding that you can’t reapply at a different consulate — only at the one where you had the interview the first time?
I also had “refused” written, but at the same time they asked me to send documents by email — I couldn’t figure out for a long time whether that meant a refusal or not. It turned out that 221(g) is not a final refusal; it just means the officer needs more time or additional information to make a decision. As for the consulate — yes, you stay with the same one where the interview was; reapplying at a different one is very rare and usually only in cases of 214(b), where they explicitly say you can reapply.
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Thanks — now at least it’s clear this isn’t the end of the world. How long does this admin check usually take? It’s already been two weeks for me and there’s been no news.
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Hang in there — sometimes it’s a month or more; that’s normal for 221(g).
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It says “refused” — but that’s not a refusal, just a pause. I’ve seen people wait 4–6 months without a single request, and they still got the visa. Just don’t write to them every two weeks — in my experience that definitely doesn’t speed things up.
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Don’t deny 221(g). Don’t touch the petition — just wait for approval or for the officer to request documents.
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You’ll get through it; cases like that end up getting closed)
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Two weeks in O-1 administrative processing is literally just the beginning — I’ve seen cases that sat for 8–12 months and still ended up issued a visa. You don’t touch the petition — it’s approved at the USCIS level regardless of the consular status; those are two separate processes. As for reapplying at another consulate — you’re right, they don’t just transfer it.
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