F-1 visa news: A 28-year-old PhD aspirant has successfully secured an F-1 visa at the Hyderabad U.S. Consulate despite being issued a 221g white slip during the interview. The student, who is set to pursue a fully funded PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Davis, shared that the process, though initially stressful, concluded smoothly with same-day approval. The details were shared on Reddit (r/usvisascheduling) on July 29.
Visa Interview and 221g Experience
The applicant had their biometrics appointment on July 14, 2025, followed by the visa interview on July 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Despite arriving early at 8:30 AM, they described the experience as straightforward until the 221g slip was issued.
“The process before the interview was smooth — security checks, document verification, etc. The staff were professional and helpful, especially for someone like me going through this for the first time,” they said.
During the interview, the visa officer (VO), described as a “middle-aged white woman who avoided eye contact with almost everyone,” asked a few direct questions.
VO: Can I have your passport and I-20?
Me: Good morning, Officer!” (no response) [Hands over documents]
VO: Did you apply to any other universities?
Me: No officer, just UC Davis.
VO: Did you complete your master’s recently?
Me: No, I completed my master’s in 2022 from the UK.
VO: Who’s funding this degree?
Me: The university is funding this degree, Officer.
The applicant shared, “She handed me a 221g white slip without asking for any additional documents, just verbally instructed: ‘Please ensure your social media accounts are public. That’s it. Thank you.’ My passport was retained with the VO.”
They added that the visa officer seemed to have decided on issuing the 221g early in the process, saying, “I noticed she was already writing the case ID on the 221g form while asking the first question.”
Fast Approval After 221g White Slip
Despite the initial concern, the applicant’s case was approved the same evening. The passport was issued on July 22, 2025, and collected on July 24, 2025.
“Although it felt like a refused in the moment, especially with the 221g, things resolved quickly without me needing to submit anything extra. The interview was straightforward, and the overall process was smooth despite the initial scare,” the applicant noted.
The student also expressed gratitude to the online community that helped them prepare: “This group/community really helped me prepare — thank you to everyone who shares their experiences!”
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