Help for F1 221g denial

[mfhanif]

Dear all
I am denied my F1 visa under section 221g on the basis that my name was Too Common on 19th May 2006. Although the visa officer ssaid that this is not a rejection but they need clearance from washington. How much time do they take for the processing or clearance?
What should i do?

[NJIT]

Do not worry brother.221[g] is the case where US officials needs few clearence from DC.I have never seen a reject under 221[g].So just be cool and whole process of thisclearence takes at max 6-8 weeks.

[aesthetic_ascetic]

Yeah the too common name thingie can be a real headache, but at the end of the day, all's well that ends well... last year my visit visa was held back by a month and a half for this reason, but the worst was to come at JFK:

I'm told to wait by the officer checking our papers at the airport, while the rest of my family, all women by the way, are told to proceed to the baggage collection area... the officer takes me to a hall full of people... some are appearing for their green cards, some for sundry other reasons... all this while, the officer keeps whispering to his collegues about me, and the word "prime" keeps popping up... "I think I've got a prime", "he's a prime", "its a prime"... I'm nervous, to say the least... they've got me confused with some "prime" suspect, I keep thinking...

The end was rather anti-climatic... after three hours, they just told me to go, thank you very much...

[asad100]

This is the respect Americans show for foreigners....prime suspect

[aesthetic_ascetic]

Actually Americans aren't at all bad... my personal experience is that the overwhelming majority of Americans, visa officers and staff at airports included, are nice, friendly and hospitable...

[NJIT]

One of my friends story.

His name is Mohammad Khatum , Ntionality Indian , born in Dubai and native thr for 13 yrs later shfted to Pune n staying these till now.His visa is out under 221[g] because :
1)His name matched a most wanetd by FBI
2)His DOB matched a most wanted by FBI

How coinicdent is that..... sheer bad luck !

[simba]

@mfhanif : Whats your real name?
wow Daddy thank me for not naming me Rahul!!

what does too common means? just being someone Rahul would mean he would have difficulty in gettin VISA. Well atleast I have an uncommon name, hehe

[Tino]

I think we are starting rumors here.... so let me just jump in with my opinion: 221g is NOT a denial. It is a delay. They have to double check your name. It is just tighter security in some countries since 9/11. If you get caught up in that then it is annoying, but it is just typical government stuff.... nothing to worry about, just a delay.

I have heard soooooo many stories about visa denial, matching to most wanted list, mean immigration officers, etc.... but in 90% of the cases it is always "my friend", "someone I know", "my friend's friend". Honestly, do not believe any story unless it comes from the person directly to you. Second hand stories are nearly always urban myths. If you have been accepted for a MS or PhD from a known school. If you have the financial resourses. If you are reasonably normal at the interview, you will get the visa.

When you come to the US you will go through immigration easily 90% of the time. 10% of the time you will have to answer some extra questions. I am German. Totally clean cut white guy with very good English (if I may say), and I have been questioned and seached by immigration/customs. It is their job. Just relax, if you are not breaking the law, you have nothing to fear.

With all of that said mfhanif, where is your follow up? I really appreciate all the posters that come back and let us know what happend! So please let us know!

Or who tell there own story directly like aesthetic_ascetic . (BTW aesthetic_ascetic, you event at JFK seems really minor, irritating, but what is the big deal really?)
Thank you, Tino

[simba]

hmmm. Thts a strong reply!!!!

[Tino]

Hey, I included smiley marks!!!

Sorry if it was too strong for you, but I just hear this stuff all the time, but almost never anyway to verify it. People get so nervous about the visa, about travel to US, about entry to the US, about immigration.... and I just want to spread the good news: "Relax.... don't believe the hype..... you will get the visa.... you will get through the airport.... you will make it to school..." There were almost 700,000 F-1 visas issued last year!

Cheers,

Tino