Security Clearance Nightmare for H1B visas

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homer simpson

Registered Users (C)
My friend is currently stuck in Nogales Mexico trying to enter United States.

She has a master's degree in Environmental Engineering from the US and a valid H1B approval ( I 797). She works for a environmental consulting firm in Phoenix AZ.

She visited Nogales US Consulate last friday to get her visa stamped. The immigration officer looked at her resume and her degree and told her that she needs a security clearance. They did not stamp the visa on her passport. She was previously on F1 Visa and then on OPT. Her OPT has expired as of January 2006.The consulate has been asking for security clearances for "environmental engineering" students. There was no warning or noticification on this issue on any consulate website. WHY?

She is currently in Nogales as she cannot enter United States.

Whats the solution to this case?
What is security clearance and how long does it take to obtain one ?
Can the company she is working for help in anyway?

please help! she cannot speak spanish and she is stuck.
 
homer simpson said:
My friend is currently stuck in Nogales Mexico trying to enter United States.

She has a master's degree in Environmental Engineering from the US and a valid H1B approval ( I 797). She works for a environmental consulting firm in Phoenix AZ.

She visited Nogales US Consulate last friday to get her visa stamped. The immigration officer looked at her resume and her degree and told her that she needs a security clearance. They did not stamp the visa on her passport. She was previously on F1 Visa and then on OPT. Her OPT has expired as of January 2006.The consulate has been asking for security clearances for "environmental engineering" students. There was no warning or noticification on this issue on any consulate website. WHY?

She is currently in Nogales as she cannot enter United States.

Whats the solution to this case?
What is security clearance and how long does it take to obtain one ?
Can the company she is working for help in anyway?

please help! she cannot speak spanish and she is stuck.
Click to expand...
I know that you have to be very cautios with what you write in CV and any other paper related to occupation. My friend got the same response when he applied for J1 visa (luckily it was in his home country) cause he said in his papers that he's going to do genetic engeniring in US.
She should try to get a letter from an employer stating something like "not related to security of US and can't be dangerous to US". Sometimes what is absolutely normal for specialist is suspicious for people who are not in the field....
 
I am stuck in Toronto for security clearnace. Last time it took 9 days and this time 8 days have been passed. Any idea what we should do. Visa office told me taht I have to wait till I receive email from consulate to re-apear.
 
what happened to your friend? I have an appointment in Nogales on June 12. I work in IT for a biomedical company that makes laboratory instruments for diabetic patients...will they require a security clearance on me now? I have an approved I-140, as well. Man....if it's that bad, I might as well just cancel the God-damned appointment. The last thing I want is getting stuck in God-forsaken Nogales, Mexico.

Thanks.
 
Dont go for Visa Stamp untill and unless you want to travel abroad

I suggest all for not go to any US consulate for stamping untill you need to travel abroad.
Make sure that you have flight out of visa stamping country to your own country and come back to get visa after your security is done.
I am stuck in Canada and now flying to Pakistan, will come back after I get any news from US Consulate Toronto.
This is my 7th yr extension. First stamp from Islamabad in 2000, 2nd stamp from Toronto in 2003 and now again.......

Can we make a move to push State dept for performing security clearance in advance while the visa applicant is in US and on clearance s/he should travel and get visa?
 
In such case can we come back if we have valid visa

Do we know if we can come back to US if I have around 10 days left in my existing visa, or will they cancel that also.

Will anyone let me know pls

thanks
 
To my knowledge, yes you can. I would also strongly advise you not to go the US Consulate for VISA(revalidation or stamping) anywhere in India unitl unless it is really required.

Good Luck !!!
 
Homer Simpson - Could you provide an update as to what happened to your friend eventually at Nogales? How long did she had to wait to get her clearance? Her experience etc or even her contact so that I could get some more info from her.

I hold an environmental engineering degree from US as well and currenlty on my2nd H1B - have an appointment at Nogales for restamping on January 11, 2007. I wanted to know if it is still risky and/or how should I prepare to tackle such a situation.

Thanks
 
can you tell me how long it takes for your h1b renewel. I got my last Visa from Torontoo in May 2005 after it took them 4 months for security clearance. now i have to renew my visa in Feb 2007 do i have to go thru the security clearance again?
 
Vanquisher,
Yes, a new name check will be requested by the consulate. It may not take as long as last time, but you cannot be 100% sure.
 
H1b submitted for security clearance?

I had my interview at US consulate Toronto and was told that because I have a common last name, I will have to wait for security clearance which takes from 2-3 months. Does it really take that long?
I have a Pakistani passport and have been on H1b for 15 months now. Before that I was on F1. Has any one gone through this recently?
 
Not to scare you, but someone I know had to wait for 8 months before his security clearance came through. That person has very common first, middle and last names.
I hope your wait is not as long as 8 months!!!
 
name check

Triple Citizen said:
Not to scare you, but someone I know had to wait for 8 months before his security clearance came through. That person has very common first, middle and last names.
I hope your wait is not as long as 8 months!!!
Click to expand...

From what I have read on various govt websites, 88% of the name checks are returned with in 30 days while the rest take longer. It all depends on your full name and DOB. If there is a 'hit' in the database, your case is reviewed by an analyst and can take longer. So bascially its a game of luck.
 
where should i start from,too know how long does it take to clear the security cleara

i wonder that how it is possible that some of the security clearanc takes so long,as my friend's case. it has benn long for about 2 years,is there any one who can tell me is there any solution to do undrestand what is wrong with his case?
 
hi guys and gals

I have been stuck in security clearance since one and a half year. Wats your story? where did ur friend apply? what type of visa F1/ H1 orsome other??
 
hi guys and gals

:confused: I have been stuck in security clearance since one and a half year. Wats your story? where did ur friend apply? what type of visa F1/ H1 orsome other??:confused:
 
litigation

My husband stuck in Tijuana for 7 months now waiting for the H1-B visa. Has anybody in a similar situation thought about the litigation?

Thanks.
:mad:
 
I have a friend who is stuck in Toronto with his family. This is horrible. He's been asked to wait for a least 2 months for some response. If anyone knows how to speed up the SC in Canada, please let me know.

Thanks.
 
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