There are different types of documents/papers with different colors which are issued after a DV interview. Also, there are three possibilities of the outcomes of the visa interview.
Papers Issued After The DV Interview
Below are Papers issued after the DV Interview:
- The visa approval document/paper
If your visa is approved, and you’re given a specific document, normally it is green in color, it mean your visa has been approved.
- Visa refusal, 221(g) document/paper
Visa refusal means that you have not been successful and you cannot be issued with a visa because the embassy or the consulate has found some good reasons. By so doing you undergo the process called administrative processing. Under this refusal, there are three documents with different colors that are issued.
- White Paper 221(g) Visa Refusal
- The Yellow Slip After DV Interview
- 221(g) Pink Paper/Slip Issued After The DV Lottery interview
Those are the outcomes of the DV lottery interview.
Difference between the 221(g) visa refusal and the administrative processing
What is the difference between 221(g) refusal and the administrative processing?
Administrative processing and 221(g) visa refusal are related but they are not the same thing. The two terms, they are used together but they don’t mean the same thing.
What is administrative processing?
The administrative processing refers to the additional checks or reviews that a visa application undergoes after the initial interview by the consular officer, if need be.
After the interview and the consular officer or the consulate find some reason of doing further reviews, further check on the information you have provided, then that is what is call administrative processing (AP).
That process of reviewing or checking or doing further checking, that process is the administrative processing. This can involve further background checks, additional documentation or information requests or need a further review of the application by the embassy or consulate.
On the other hand, the 221(g) visa refusal is the specific type that indicates the need for the further administrative processing or review.
For the 221(g) visa refusal, this is not a permanent refusal. It simply implies that you have some specific areas that need to be checked and it will be specific. It will tell you that “you are put on hold because of this reason, provide such and such a document to counter this reason for us to approve your visa or for us to see whether we can approve your visa.”
221(g) is specific type of refusal. When the specific type of refusal emerges, then you are put on administrative processing, meaning further review because of that reason of refusal.
This can happen when the consular officer needs more information or documentation to make a decision or if additional background checks or review is needed.
In other words, administrative processing is a broader term that encompasses any additional checks or review that a visa application undergoes. While the 221(g) visa refusal is a specific type of refusal indicating the need for that administrative processing.
It is important to note that administrative processing can sometimes lead to 221(g) visa refusal. But not all administrative processing lead to visa refusal.
For example, when you undergo a visa interview, the consular officer might see some reason for them to conduct additional check within the embassy, with maybe the supervisor because of the answer that you give.
They tell you, go with your passport and after some hours we will call you back to send the passport back after they have finished with some further checkups. Sometimes it may take some few minutes or some few hours just within the embassy checking and reviewing your documents. This is also administrative processing.
At other times they might require you to leave their passports behind, as they are doing further check or administrative processing, and in so doing they will issue a document to specify the reason for the refusal, i.e the 221(g) visa refusal. It may take sometimes maybe a week or two or even months.
If additional information or document is provided and the visa officer is satisfied with the review, the visa application can still be approved even after administrative processing has occurred.
Overall, it is essential to understand that administrative processing and the 221(g) visa refusal are related, but they are not the same. They are not interchangeable terms.
Does the 221(g) visa refusal apply to nonimmigrant visa as well?
Remember, we have two categories and the DV lottery visa is an immigrant visa. But we have other type of visas that are meant for the temporary visit, maybe for the reason of business or visit or student or any other just temporary.
Do the 221(g) visa refusal also apply to these temporary visas?
The answer is yes. The 221(g) applies for both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. Both of you can be refused and you can be refused under this 221(g) visa refusal.
The nonimmigrant visa is for the temporary stay in the United States, but the immigrant one is for a permanent stay, for example, the green card that is gotten from the diversity visa.
As explained above, the 221(g) visa refusal is issued when there is a need for further administrative processing or review of the visa application.
The final decision can only be made after you have met the requirements in the 221(g).
The next is on the white paper that is issued on the 221(g) visa refusal. What does it entail and what are you supposed to do once you get issued with this paper?
DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.