Visa application process
Visa Application Decisions
There are two main visa application decisions: Denial, and approval. There may also be delays due to administrative processing.
Denial
If the interviewing officer doesn’t feel that you’ve shown sufficient evidence to warrant the requested visa, you’ll be issued a denial.
Before leaving the interview, you should receive a written explanation for the denial. Be sure to request this if you aren’t given one automatically. The most common reason for a visa denial is a failure to prove nonimmigrant intent to the consular officer.
Please report the visa denial to our office via URcompass.
If you choose to reapply, you’ll need to provide new information or documents to address the reason(s) for the previous denial. The consulate won’t reconsider your application if additional materials aren’t available for review. Depending on the timing of a second interview, you may need to request updated documentation from the International Services Office (ISO).
Approval
After successfully meeting the eligibility requirements for your requested category, your application for a nonimmigrant visa should be approved by the interviewing consular official. In some cases, the application will be approved subject to additional administrative processing, which can cause significant delays to processing time. Before your interview and again after approval, be sure to review the visa reciprocity table, which outlines the visa validity period, number of allowed entries, and applicable issuance fees for your specific country of citizenship. These factors determine what your final visa stamp will look like.
It may take the consulate a few days to process the approval and return the updated passport to you. The visa stamp will be issued as a full-page sticker in your passport. Make sure you understand whether you’ll receive your passport by mail or are expected to pick it up in person.
Delays: pending administrative processing
The U.S. government may require some visa applications to undergo additional review before a visa can be issued. Administrative processing involves checks by multiple government agencies and can add several weeks, or sometimes months, to the approval timeline. Most cases take three to eight weeks. Plan your travel with this in mind.
There is no way to predict who will be selected for additional processing, but it is more common for applicants who:
- Are from certain countries
- Work or study in sensitive fields (such as science, technology, or engineering)
- Have common names shared by many others
If you believe your application may be subject to administrative processing, ISO recommends requesting a letter from your department explaining your program or work in the U.S. The letter should be in English and use minimal technical jargon. You may present it at your visa interview. While it cannot prevent administrative processing, it can help clarify your case and may speed up review. Once granted, a security clearance is valid for up to four years for future visa renewals. The letter may include:
- Details about your research
- Your funding sources
- U.S. contacts
- Any information showing the legitimate, non-military purpose of your activities
If your visa is delayed, use the Visa Delay/Denial form in URcompass to notify ISO. Follow all consulate instructions and submit any additional documents they request. ISO cannot accelerate the process, but most delays resolve on their own, though some can take longer depending on the situation.
If you want to talk more about your situation and options, you can schedule a 30-minute appointment with your ISO immigration advisor.