Immigrant or fiancé(e) visa case status and delivery information

The information on this page applies after the visa interview has taken place. If you are at an earlier stage, click here for an overview of the application process in your case for information about the next steps.

Please check the letter you received and the information on this webpage for information about the status of your case and what to expect. You will be contacted by email once the processing of your case is complete or if additional information or documentation is needed. We are unable to provide personalized case status updates in the meantime, or confirm the receipt of documents. 

Important: It is not possible to collect your passport from the Embassy. If your visa application is approved your passport will be returned to you by the method you selected when you registered with the Visa Appointment Service.

All times are given for guidance only. We strongly advise you against resigning from employment, giving up accommodation, or making final travel or wedding plans unless you have received your passport containing a valid visa appropriate for your purpose of travel. No expedited processing service available.

If you have attended your immigrant or fiancé(e) visa interview, select the status of your case from the list below to find out what happens next, and keep reading for the answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

1) My visa was approved at the visa interview. When will my passport be delivered?

How long will this take?

Visa processing usually takes approximately seven to ten working days, but it can take longer in some cases.
Delivery typically takes a further one to two days.
Times are given for guidance only. We cannot advise specifically how long it may take for you as processing varies in every case. If your case is likely to take significantly longer, you will be contacted.

Important: No expedited or premium processing service is available. This is why we caution you against making final travel plans unless you have received your passport containing a valid visa appropriate for your travel.

When will my passport be delivered?

You are not required to monitor the status of your case online. The information provided during your interview and on this webpage reflects the status of your case until visa processing has been completed.
The courier service will email delivery tracking information to you as soon as processing is complete and delivery arrangements have been made.

How will my passport be delivered?

Your passport will either be delivered to a courier depot or to your home or office, depending on which delivery option you selected when you registered with the Visa Appointment Service.
Sign in to your Visa Appointment Service account  to check which delivery option you chose.
Click here for courier depot opening times, information about who can sign for or collect your documents and further details about delivery and collection arrangements.
The Embassy cannot answer questions about delivery or collection arrangements. As soon as visa processing is complete and your delivery tracking information, you will be given contact details for the courier at that time. You can contact them with any further questions.

2) My application was refused because my medical report had not arrived. What should I do?

Why was my application refused?

A medical report is required for every visa applicant, no matter their age. It was not possible for the consular officer to make a decision about your case without the medical report.

What should I do next?

If you have not yet arranged your medical appointment, click here for information about how to book and what you will need to take with you. If you do not have a copy of your police certificate or passport, click here to contact the Immigrant Visa Unit to request a copy.
If you attended your medical examination at least five working days before your visa interview and you do not know why there may have been a delay in completing your medical report, please contact the physician to find out the status of your medical. Important: If additional tests, information from your doctor or consultations are required, your medical report cannot be completed until all the necessary information has been provided to the panel physician.

How will I know when you have my medical?

It typically takes five working days from the date on which the medical report is completed for the medical to be received by the consular officer.
Workload constraints prevent us from confirming the receipt of medical reports. It is not possible to track your medical report online.

How long will visa processing take?

If your visa application is approved following a review of the medical, you should allow an additional seven to ten working days for visa processing, plus a further one to two days for delivery.
These timescales are given for guidance only. We cannot advise specifically how long it may take for you as processing varies in every case. If it is likely to take significantly longer, you will be contacted.
You will be contacted by email as soon as processing is complete and delivery tracking information is available. Your Visa Appointment Service account will be updated at the same time.

Important: No expedited or premium processing service is available. This is why we caution applicants against making final travel plans unless they have received their passport. You are not required to monitor the status of your application online.

How will my passport be delivered?

Your passport will either be delivered to a courier depot or to your home or office, depending on which delivery option you selected when you registered with the Visa Appointment Service.
Sign in to your Visa Appointment Service account to check which delivery option you chose.
Click here for courier depot opening times, information about who can sign for or collect your documents and further details about delivery and collection arrangements.
The Embassy cannot answer questions about delivery or collection arrangements. As soon as visa processing is complete and your delivery tracking information, you will be given contact details for the courier at that time . You can contact them with any further questions.

3) My application was refused for administrative processing. How long will it take?

Why was my application refused?

More processing of your application is required before the consular officer can make a decision in your case.

What should I do next?

Check the letter you received during your interview. If you have been asked to submit additional information or documentation, you must do that before the processing can start.
If no additional documentation or information has been requested from you, this means no further action is required from you for the processing to begin.
Do not attempt to submit your passport or any other information or documents unless they have specifically been requested from you.
Make sure your email address is up-to-date on your Visa Appointment Service account.

How long will this take?

There is no specific amount of time that administrative processing may take because it varies in every case. Therefore, we have no way of predicting how long it may take for you.
Administrative processing typically takes at least several months, and some cases can take a year or more.
Check your email account, including your junk/spam folder, regularly for any updates. That is how we will tell you as soon as the processing of your case is complete, or if any more information or documentation is needed from you.

Important: We will be unable to provide status checks while your application is undergoing administrative processing because we cannot predict how much longer your case will take. Your application will remain refused unless we contact you by email to tell you otherwise. We will contact you as soon as processing of your case is complete.

All times are given for guidance only. We strongly advise you against resigning from employment, giving up accommodation, or making final travel plans unless you have received your passport containing a valid visa appropriate for your purpose of travel. No expedited processing service is available.

4) My application was refused for an additional document/more information. How can I send it?

Why was my application refused?

A decision about your case cannot be made until the consular officer has received and reviewed all necessary information and documentation.

How should I submit the document/information?

Please check the letter you were given during your visa interview for information about what has been requested from you and how to submit it.

If you have been asked to submit by email

The email address is for submitting the requested item(s) only. Please do not try to request case status information or for confirmation of receipt of documents.

If you have been asked to scan and upload a document to the CEAC system

If you have questions after checking the on-screen help, you can ask a third party such as a friend, relative or librarian to help you.

If you have been asked to send in an original (physical, rather than electronic) document

Follow the instructions you were given to ask that your Visa Appointment Service account is updated to allow document submission.
Once you have received confirmation that your account has been updated, you should then sign in to your Visa Appointment Service account and follow the on-screen instructions.
You should expect to either see either a ‘Print Instructions’ option or a green ‘Continue’ button, following which you will be able to print your courier-in receipt and instructions about how to submit your document(s).
You should take your document(s) to a courier depot if at all possible. If you cannot, you should use Royal Mail Special Delivery, keeping your own record of all tracking details.
It is not possible for you to use any other courier service to send documents, or to hand-deliver your documents to the Embassy.
You should not attempt to book a new interview appointment.

How long will this take?

Allow several days for your submission to reach the consular officer. Workload constraints mean that we are unable to confirm the receipt of information or documents. 
If the consular officer is able to approve your application after checking your documents, expect visa processing to take a further seven to ten working days, plus one to two days for delivery. You will be contacted once the processing of your application is complete.
You should not expect to monitor the status of your submission or case through your Visa Appointment Service account. You will be contacted once the processing of your application is complete, or if it is likely to take significantly longer.

5) My application was refused for a review. How long will it take?

Why was my application refused?

A comprehensive review is needed before the consular officer can make a decision in your case.

What should I do next?

Check the letter you received during your interview. If you have been asked to submit additional information or documentation, you must do that before the review can begin.
If no additional documentation or information has been requested from you, this means you do not need to do anything for the review to start.
Do not attempt to submit your passport or any other information or documents unless they have specifically been requested from you. 
Make sure your email address is up-to-date on your Visa Appointment Service account.

How long will the review take?

There is no specific amount of time that the review may take because it varies in every case. Therefore, we have no way of predicting how long it may take for you.
A review typically takes at least several months, and some cases can take a year or more.
Workload constraints prevent us from confirming receipt of documents, and you should not expect to monitor the status of your application through your Visa Appointment Service account. You will be contacted once the review of your application is complete.
Check your email account, including your junk/spam folder, regularly for any updates. That is how we will tell you as soon as your case is complete, or if any more information or documentation is needed from you.

Important: We will be unable to provide status checks while your application is being reviewed because we cannot predict how much longer your case will take. Your application will remain refused unless we contact you by email to tell you otherwise. That is why it is important for you to check your emails regularly. We will contact you as soon as processing of your case is complete.

6) My application was refused because a waiver of inadmissibility is needed/My waiver has been approved. What happens next?/What does it mean if no waiver of inadmissibility is available?

Why was my application refused?

U.S. law prohibits the issuance of visas for various health, criminal, or security related reasons, known as inadmissabilities.

Sometimes a waiver of inadmissibility can be applied for. If you are granted a waiver, you can proceed with the visa application process.
If your waiver application is refused, or if no waiver is available in your case, then it will not be possible for you to move to the United States and your visa application will be closed.

What should I do next?

If a waiver is available, the consular officer will have advised you that your petitioner is required to file for a waiver of inadmissibility for you. The application is filed with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Information about the circumstances under which an applicant may qualify for an I-212 or I-601 waiver and how to file is provided on the USCIS website.
The Embassy cannot answer any questions about the waiver process.

What happens if the waiver is approved?

It can take several weeks for your case to be returned to the Embassy.
The Immigrant Visa Unit will contact you as soon as the processing of your application can resume. Depending on the amount of time that has passed, you may be required to undergo a new medical examination. This is because a medical is valid for a maximum of six months.
Please ensure your email address on your Visa Appointment Service account is up-to-date.