Administrative Processing

Some individuals encounter “” delays with the US Department of State when applying for a visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy outside of the U.S.

Administrative processing occurs when a consular officer determines that additional information from sources other than the visa applicant is needed to establish an applicant’s eligibility for a visa. The consular officer typically informs the applicant at the end of the visa interview or if the interview is waived, upon receipt and review of the application. The consular officer will provide the applicant written notice that their application is subject to additional administrative processing under INA §221(g). Administrative processing may involve further security clearances or a request for a Security Advisory Opinion (SAO), which entails review by multiple U.S. government agencies and can take time.

A common misconception is that a visa status appearing as “refused” on the U.S. Department of State’s  (CEAC) website indicates a visa denial. In cases of administrative processing, a “” once processing is complete. 

To distinguish between a denial and a refusal due to administrative processing, look for an additional paragraph in the refusal notice with instructions from the consular officer. 

According to the US Department of State, “the duration of the administrative processing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.” 

, visa applicants should wait at least 180 days from the date of their visa interview or the submission of the request supplemental documents, whichever is later, before inquiring about their administrative processing status. You may contact the consulate or embassy before this period, but a response is not guaranteed. 

After 180 days, reach out to ISSS   ISSS will review your situation and determine if we can seek assistance from the CU Office of Government Relations. 

The US Department of State does not publish the criteria that make a visa application subject to administrative processing.  Based on experience, they make take into consideration the following factors: 

Nature of Research: If the visa applicant is intending to engage in research activities that could be used by military entities or relate to U.S. national security, this may trigger administrative processing. 

Countries of Citizenship: If an applicant is a citizen of a country the US government considers a typically undergo administrative processing. 

Additional review: Complex cases may require more time for review by the consular officer.

Once administrative processing is complete, the consular officer may determine that the applicant is qualified for the visa for which they applied and provide next steps for receiving the visa stamp. Alternatively, the officer may conclude that the applicant remains ineligible for the visa and notify them of the denial. 

The case status on CEAC will update to either “issued” (visa granted) or “refused” (visa denied) with the date of the change and the previous annotation referring to the consular officer’s instructions will be removed.