How to Schedule a 221(g) Appointment at a U.S. Consular Post in India
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221(g) Appointment: While a visa candidate can be given a 221(g) refusal for serval reasons, it often signals that the consular officer requires more data before making a final determination about a visa application. At certain U.S. consulates, including those located in India, a candidate who was denied a visa under INA 221(g) and needed to appear for an in-person interview was previously permitted to walk in on any weekday at certain stipulated times. Because of the ongoing pandemic, however, walk-in appointments have been suspended indefinitely. An overview of the process for planning a follow-up appointment at the U.S. consulates in India is given here for the benefit of MurthyDotCom readers.
Background on 221(g) Denials
A U.S. consulate might require a candidate to plan an interview because an updated document is required. Or if the adjudicating officer needs to explain data. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the resumption of regular consular operations. A few candidates have been informed to wait to get an update from the consulate. While others are advised to plan a follow-appointment.
The process to Schedule a 221(g) Appointment
To plan a 221(g) appointment, the candidate should sign in to their profile on the CGI Federal site. The option to plan an appointment should be visible on the home screen. Alternatively, the candidate can navigate to the top left corner of the screen and select “Schedule Appointment”. The date and time can be chosen from the available options. There is no fee associated with planning a 221(g) appointment at any consular post. When the appointment is planned, the system doesn’t allow the candidate to cancel or reschedule the interview.
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Conclusion
It is essential that a 221(g) refusal is dealt with timely and proactively. As failure to submit the required information within one year from the date. The denial is received will result in the suspension of the visa application.
