Hello All,

I came to Nepal on a month long vacation and went to US consulate for H1B stamping but I have been handed 221g. I don't see a clear reason why I have been delayed. Here is my profile:

Working full time in R&D in a good company in Oklahoma. Salary in 50 - 60 K range. I extended H1B a year back,.
Did a MS in Chemistry from a good US university.
This is the first time I have been to Nepal from US. F1 visa on passport has already expired.

Do you see anything in my profile that could be  a red flag? I have mostly seen people working for clients being scrutinized which is not true in my case. Could it be random? Or could it be my low salary? I have 5 years experience andI have been suggested by some people that salary is low for experience and could trigger a 221g. I am having a nightmare because HR in my company don't understand these issues well and won't be able to help. Any suggestions on  what should I do?
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Shit. I was just hearing about IT people being stopped by embassy due to fraud. but you in Chemistry major R&D also got 221g? hearing it first time.

Its a radom audit. No need to worry if your work is legit. Enjoy your stay , you should get your stamping done soon.

Maybe it has to do with some TAL..You should be fine..

It might just be a PIMS update problem as someone suggested above.
I dont see having problem with salary. Becoz if it was too low then USCIS would have denied the H1-B in the first place either during LCA or H1-B filing itself.
Always send a small email to embassay in KTM with your approved H1-b and ask them to update PIMS.
Went twice, and it was like a charm.
I had a friend, who went after 11 years, and he did had send email to update PIMS, and got visa easily too.

I also guess it is random audit. I have heard that when u work for chip indrustry (mostly on R&D).. there are higher chances that u will be picked for audit... as they want to do extensive background search to make sure that information will not go out of the country. I am also thinking u were picked for audit for same reason.. working in R&D in checmical field.

Chill, everything will be fine for you.

My suggestion, ask your manager to contact US Embassy mentioning that u r working for him and you are being missed becuase of this extended vacation and can contact if they have any question, I bet they will expidite whole process.