Adminstrative processing, also known as Security Advisory Opinion (SAO), refers to the period when a decision on a US visa application falls outside of the normal visa processing times. When you attend your visa interview, your application is being adjudicated by a Department of State consular officer.
Does administrative processing constitute a refusal of a visa?
In such cases, refused visa applications warrant further administrative processing. Upon completion of the case-specific administrative processing, the consular officer might conclude that an applicant is now qualified for the visa for which he or she applied. Alternatively, the officer may conclude that the applicant remains ineligible for a visa.
What is administrative processing?
Administrative process is the continuous and interrelated flow of planning, organization, management and control activities, developed to achieve a common objective: take advantage of human, technical, material and any other type of resources, which the organization has to make it effective for its stakeholders and society.
What is the process for an U.S. visa?
US Visa Application Process - A Step-by-Step Guide Get a digital photograph of each applicant. A digital photograph is required for while applying for a US visa. ... Complete US visa application form DS160. Visitor visa application (form DS160) must be completed online, over the internet. ... Pay the US visa application fee. ... Take appointment for visa interview. ... More items...
Do all K1 visas require administrative processing?
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant's interview by a Consular Officer. After You Receive a K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa
How long is administrative processing for US visa?
60 daysAccording to the U.S. Department of State, most administrative processing cases conclude 60 days or less after the visa interview. However, the average wait time for administrative processing can vary depending on where the consulate is located.
What is the next status after administrative processing?
Upon completion of the case-specific administrative processing, the consular officer might conclude that an applicant is now qualified for the visa for which he or she applied. Alternatively, the officer may conclude that the applicant remains ineligible for a visa.
What does mean that visa is in administrative processing?
Administrative processing takes place after the visa interview, and refers to visa applications that undergo additional review or security clearances outside of “normal” visa processing times.
Can I get my passport back during administrative processing?
During administrative processing, the consular post retains the applicant's passport. If urgent travel is required, the applicant may request for the passport to be returned temporarily and resume the processing of the visa application at a later time.
Is Refused same as administrative processing?
A visa application under “administrative processing” will be deemed “refused” unless and until the application is overturned.
What is administrative processing after visa approval?
What is administrative processing? Adminstrative processing, also known as Security Advisory Opinion (SAO), refers to the period when a decision on a US visa application falls outside of the normal visa processing times.
What happens if my administrative review is successful?
If you request an administrative review and your request is successful, but you are granted a longer period of immigration permission than you applied for, you will be required to pay an IHS for each additional half year of immigration permission. Refunds should be made to the card you used to pay the fee.
Is administrative processing random?
Administrative Processing may be applied randomly to international students and scholars from certain countries and/or from certain fields (usually STEM fields) who are applying for a visa. The U.S. Embassy/Consulate may request a security clearance of anyone, prior to issuing an initial or extension of visa.
What is refused for administrative processing?
This “refused” status may change if: The applicant can demonstrate to a consular officer he or she is eligible for a visa; or. Information comes to the attention of the consular officer from other sources that resolve any outstanding issues relating to the applicant's eligibility for the visa.
How do I know if my U.S. visa is approved?
You can check the status of your visa application on ceac.state.gov. If your visa has been denied, you may find useful information on Ineligibilities and Waivers on usvisas.state.gov.
How many days does 221g administrative processing take?
Form 221g Processing Time Form 221g processing takes 7-20 days if no documents are requested and the passport is kept by the visa officer. Form 221g can take anywhere between 30 days to 17 months if the passport has been returned and employer documents are requested.
How many days it will take to get passport after U.S. visa stamping?
It takes around 2-3 calendar days after the interview to get the passport and visa delivered.
Do all visa go through administrative processing?
Not necessarily. When an individual is placed in administrative processing, visa eligibility has not been determined. Rather, the individual case resulted in a hit on a database used by the consular post.
What is 221g administrative processing?
Refusal under section 221(g) means that essential information is missing from an application or that an application requires additional administrative processing. The consular officer who interviews you will tell you at the end of your interview if your case is being refused under 221(g).
What happens once form DS 5535 is submitted?
DS 5535 is a security check form issued by the US embassy at the time or after your visa interview. It is meant for extra security checks primarily meant to scan the last 15-year history of your travel, employment, and residence.
How long does 221g processing take?
In most cases, 221g administrative processing will be completed within 60 days—typically around 3-4 weeks. In some instances, however, some 221g processing times can take many months or even over a year. Note that you will likely be asked not to inquire about your case for at least 180 days.
What does administrative processing mean in immigration?
What does “Administrative Processing” mean in Immigration? When applying for a visa to the United States, many applicants worry about their “administrative processing” status. Some think this means they are doomed for denial. Others are just confused as to why there is a delay. In this article, we will briefly explain what administrative processing ...
What to do if the processing time for your local office has passed?
If the processing time for your local office has passed, you can contact your attorney to see about inquiring on the status of your case with the consulate.
How to prevent delays in consular processing?
To prevent further delays, comply with any document requests from the consular office as soon as possible. Remember, the time it takes for you to gather your information is outside the processing time.
How long does it take to get a security clearance?
How long it takes to process your security clearance depends on the consular office you attended. Some offices have processing times of 60 days, and others require more time. You can contact your local consular office (start by checking their website) for their administrative processing time.
Do you need a background check for a visa?
Sometimes, the consular office will require a background check to process your visa. This is an extra step in the visa application process caused by either a database match or a trigger in your application or interview.
Is there a way to expedite administrative review?
This means it is an additional time that is added on to the normal visa processing time. There is also no way to expedite the process of administrative review.
Why is a case placed in administrative processing?
Sometimes a case may be placed in administrative processing because the officer needs to do more investigation on the case, either because there are fraud indicators or some other information is outstanding which only the officer can retrieve —for example, the officer may need to have a discussion with a colleague at another Embassy.
What is the purpose of a visa interview?
When you attend your a visa interview, your visa is being adjudicated by a Department of State consular officer. Consular officers are required to make a decision on a case at the conclusion of the interview. In other words, a positive or negative decision has to be entered by the officer at that time; no case can remain in unadjudicated status.
What if my visa is pending?
Consulate can not waive this processing for any applicant. This is not a matter of missing documents and is in no way related to the number of times an individual may have been able to obtain visas or enter the U.S. in the past. If your case is Pending Process, please DO NOT contact the Consulate or you may risk delaying the administrative processing of your visa.
What is the pink handout for a consular interview?
At the time of the interview an applicant who has been refused or pending administrative processing would have received either a pink handout or a blue handout from the Consular officer. If you received a PINK handout please click here. If you received BLUE handouts please read the following paragraph and follow the instructions given therein.
How many remarks are there in a passport case?
The case list below is updated regularly to show the cases that have been processed. A case will have only one of three remarks Pending process or Contact the Consulate or Send Passport.
What is the purpose of “Administrative Processing”?
Department of State with the cooperation of other government agencies to ensure that a visa applicant is not a security risk and the he/she is not ineligible for the requested visa or otherwise inadmissible to the U.S.
How long will administrative processing take?
Processing times are unpredictable. According to the U.S. Department of State, most administrative processing cases conclude 60 days or less after the visa interview. However, the average wait time for administrative processing can vary depending on where the consulate is located. Administrative processing wait time can also be impacted by the individual circumstances surrounding the visa applicant’s case.
What should an applicant do if a case is placed in administrative processing without any written notice?
If the applicant has not received a letter stating that the case has been sent for administrative processing, he/she should contact the consulate or consulate official to inquire whether the visa application has been sent for administrative processing.
How to know if an application is likely to be sent for administrative processing?
Country of nationality: Residents or nationals of the following countries are more likely to be subject to administrative processing: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates or Yemen
Where can I find more information on administrative processing?
For more information about the administrative processing, visit the U.S. Dept. of State’s web page on administrative process ing by clicking here.
How to check status of US visa application?
Applicants can also check the status of their case by calling the U.S. Dept. of State Visa Office at 202-485-7600. When calling DOS, applicants must provide all relevant information relating to their case, including their name, date of birth, passport number, where and when the applicant submitted the visa application.
How to check visa status?
If the consular post associated with your application has a website, view the consular website to determine if there are any instructions on how to make a status inquiry. Also, the U.S. Dept. of State has a website that lets applicants check the status of their visas.
