What happens if H1B 221 g received?

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I am sharing my US H1b visa first-time stamping experience with the other aspirants, in case it could be helpful to them whatsoever.

I attended the H1b visa interview on Feb 8th, 2021 in the New Delhi embassy. First time stamping. The documents asked

1. Original I797
2. Client letter
3. Passport

Questions asked:

1. My work, the job I am going to do (twice)

2. tenure with my company

3. Client name

4. My last visit

5. Have I ever worked on H1b in the USA before? — Yes, 2 years back but for the same client only

6. Have I been working for the same client from India — Yes

7. Work address.

8. Client letter or anything that can confirm that I will be working for them

I didn’t have the client letter so they gave me 221(g) blue slip, reason they gave me that since my petition is starting from May 2021 (interview date was Feb 2021) so they need to ensure if they still need you. The consular asked me to drop the client letter and the passport at the VAC center.

The 221(g) mentioned that I have to send PDF to HLProcessing@state.gov. The 221(g) didn’t mention dropping physical docs at VAC as I was told by the Consular.

Anyways, I sent the client letter to the above email and also went to VAC center to drop the physical documents at the VAC center. At the VAC center, the person at the reception counter told me that they can’t accept the physical document just on the verbal communication. So I have to wait for an email from them confirming that I can drop the physical documents. He also mentioned that this is the process with blue-slip. If it was white-slip they would have taken the documents.

Update:

I got an email from the embassy saying “Please submit your passport for further processing “ on the 26th March 2021.

Step 1: Took the printout of the email.

Step 2: Went to New Delhi VAC on 30th March. It was a walk-in and no appointment needed. The documents required are given on their site.

Apply for a U.S. Visa

Step 3: At VAC.

3.1: A security guard stopped me at the gate and asked for an appointment, showed him the email I have received, and told them that I am here to deliver the passport.

3.2: Go inside follow the procedure. At the counter, they will keep one copy of the document submission form and return another copy with a stamp.

3.3: The only document I gave is my passport as per the email.

Step 4: Instruction to check the status is given below.

On March 31st, I checked the status it shows “Administrative Processing”

April 1st, the status changed to “Issued”

Step 4: Got an email from <no-reply@ustraveldocs.com>

Your document(s) have been collected from the US Embassy/Consulate

The passport number being returned is <passport number>

You have chosen to have your documents delivered to the following location:

Delhi, Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Concourse Level, NewDelhi, 110001

If you have any issues or concerns, please contact us at www.ustraveldocs.com/in.

Step 5: Went to the VAC and collected the passport. The docs carried 1. print out of the email, 2. id proof, 3. copy of id proof.

Done!

How to check status:

1. Open https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx
2. Enter the Visa type in my case it was NIV — Non Immigrant Visa
3. Select the location where you visited for the interview
4. Enter Case number. The case number can be found on the blue slip where the consular will write your case number. The format can be like 20121183451. Now here is the trick to enter it. You have to break it down like this 2012118 345 0001. The first 7 digits and next 3 digits stick together and the remaining have to be made 4 digits by prefixing the needed number of zeros, in this case since it is a single digit 7 it will be 0007. If it was 17, you have to enter 0017. So, enter 2012118 345 0001 in the case number.
5. Enter the captcha and submit.