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Administrative processing is a term commonly used in the U.S. visa process, though it’s not formally defined in the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM). Instead, the FAM refers to it in the context of visa refusals under INA Section 221(g). According to 9 FAM 306.2-2(A), a visa refusal under 221(g) occurs in two situations: when the consular officer determines that the applicant has not yet established eligibility for a visa and requires additional documentation, or when the case must undergo additional internal review—what is colloquially referred to as “administrative processing.”

In recent years, the frequency of visa applications being sent into administrative processing has noticeably increased. Applicants often refer to this stage as being “checked,” and it is most commonly identified by a small sheet of paper handed to the applicant after the consular interview. This sheet typically cites INA Section 221(g), which reads: “… the applicant did not establish eligibility for the visa to the satisfaction of the consular officer, as is required under U.S. law, specifically section 291 of the INA.” In plain terms, if a consular officer cannot immediately determine whether to approve a visa application during the interview, the case may be temporarily refused under 221(g) and sent for further review.

There are a few different forms of administrative processing. The most common involves a request for additional documentation. In such cases, the refusal notice will specify the documents that are needed and provide instructions for how to submit them. If the applicant submits the requested materials within the required timeframe, and they satisfy the consular officer’s concerns, the case status typically changes to “approved” and later to “issued” once the visa is printed. However, if the applicant fails to provide the requested documents within one year, the application may be permanently refused.

In many cases, administrative processing ends with visa issuance. Still, delays can be frustrating, especially if the process drags on for several months. There are a few practical steps applicants can take if their case remains unresolved for an extended period.

First, applicants can contact the U.S. embassy or consulate where the interview took place. If more than 90 days have passed since the interview, it is appropriate to follow up using the contact methods listed on the consulate’s official website.

Second, if the applicant has a U.S.-based employer, family member, or other interested party, that person can contact their congressional representative. Congressional offices typically have immigration liaisons who can make formal inquiries with the Department of State or USCIS on behalf of constituents.

Third, applicants sometimes consider submitting a new visa application altogether. While this may seem like a logical solution, it is rarely effective in practice. Any new application must disclose the prior refusal and pending administrative processing, which means the new case will be linked to the original one. As a result, the new application may remain on hold until the original case is resolved. In some situations, this can even slow things down further. For this reason, the State Department generally advises against reapplying for the same visa while an earlier application is still undergoing review.

One final but critical point: under U.S. immigration law, any case placed in administrative processing is considered a visa refusal, even if the applicant ultimately receives a visa. This means that in future visa applications, the applicant must truthfully disclose having been refused a visa in the past. A prior 221(g) refusal does not automatically harm future applications, but failure to disclose it can have serious consequences, including denial for misrepresentation.