Application Refused under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 221(g)

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Overview

At times, the consular officer cannot complete adjudication of a visa application during the interview due to insufficient information or missing documents. The consular officer who interviews you will tell you at the end of your interview if your case is being refused under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 221(g). The officer will provide you a letter explaining the reasons for this action and indicate what is required from you such as updated documents, missing documents, or other information.

If further information is required, the officer will inform you on how to submit that information. As part of this process, you will be given a written letter and will have 12 months from the date of your application to submit the requested documents. After one year without a response, an application refused under Section 221(g) is terminated per Section 203(g).

If the Consulate General requested only additional information or documentation from you, you must submit those documents at a SF Express office. If the officer determines that an additional interview is required, they will explain how to schedule a follow up appointment using the GSS system.

Effective January 18, 2023, Hong Kong applicants can submit their 221(g) documents for free at S.F. Express - SFX Wan Chai, G/F, 182 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Applicants can select any other SFX 221(g) drop-off location against a fee of HKD 103 to be paid (cash only) at the counter when picking up their passports or dropping off their (221(g) documents from / at the 3 other locations in Hong Kong/Macau:

  • Kwun Tong, Workshop No.1, G/F, Hung To Industrial Building, 80 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon.
  • Tsim Sha Tsui, Unit A, B & C,G/F, Eu Yan Sang Tower, Nos. 11-15 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

  • Effective January 26, 2023, applicants can choose again the Macau self-pickup location for their passport collection and 221(G) documents submission. The address is G/F, 3B Veng Fung Industrial Building, Rua Cinco Bairro Da Areia Preta, Macau. There is a pickup/ drop off fee of MOP 106 to be paid (cash only) at the counter.

SFX Home / Office delivery will become premium against a fee of HKD 263 per passport, to be paid on delivery to the SFX courier (cash only).

Other Information

Some refused visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after your interview. You will be advised of this possibility during your interview. However, the length of processing time will vary considerably based on the circumstances of each case. Consular staff cannot predict with any certainty or accuracy how long such processing will take in any individual case.