Administrative Processing
General Information
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant's interview by a Consular Officer. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on individual circumstances of each case.
If additional information or action is required from you, we will contact you directly with further details. Otherwise, you do not need to contact us; we will contact you as soon as the administrative processing of your visa application has been completed.
Applicants are advised not to make any travel plans until such time as our office has notified you that your visa has been issued.
How to Check the Status of your IV or SIV Application
You can now check the status of your pending Immigrant (IV) or Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) application online, by visiting the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website, and following the next steps:
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Log on to the following website: https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/.
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Under the category labeled "IMMIGRANT", click on the "Check My Visa Application Status" link.
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Enter your case number (it should be thirteen digits long, and begins with three letters, such as BGH), and click the "Submit" button.
You will see one of the following status indicators appear:
- Administrative Processing - Your case is currently undergoing additional administrative processing. This processing can take several months to be completed. You do not need to contact us. We will contact you with further instructions once this processing stage is finalized.
- Issued - Your visa has been issued and we are preparing the return of your passport to you using the prepaid courier airway bill you provided to us during your interview. You will receive an email from us with your shipment tracking number as soon as your visa has been posted in the mail.
- Refused - Your visa application has been refused. Please see the letter you received during your interview, or by mail, for further details.
Please be advised that, due to the availability of this online status verification website, the Immigrant Visa Unit will no longer respond to email requests for a status update regarding IV or SIV cases.
