U.S. visa processing times vary widely depending on your specific visa. Some visas are processed in minutes. Other visas are processed in months.
Generally, a temporary, non-immigrant visa will be processed much more quickly than a permanent, immigrant visa. If you’re visiting the United States for business or pleasure temporarily, then your visa should be processed within a few days. Immigrant visas, meanwhile, can take a few weeks.
Keep reading to discover more information about how long it takes to get a U.S. visa.
How Long Does It Take to Get a United States Visa?
The average United States visa application will be processed within 3 to 5 weeks.
Within 3 to 5 weeks of completing your application and embassy interview, you should hear back on whether your application has been approved or denied. At this point, your passport will be mailed to your address, which can take 2 to 3 additional workdays.
If your application is refused, then your application may enter a period of limbo. It can take about 60 days from the date of the embassy interview for your visa application to be processed. In some cases, your visa might be rejected after 6 months. This is particularly common if your application is refused under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
If your visa application required you to apply for a waiver of ineligibility, then your visa application will likely take longer. You may have to wait for 6 to 8 months from the date of your embassy interview to get a reply.
How Long Does It Take to Get an ESTA?
If you are a citizen of one of 38 countries on the Visa Waiver Program list, then you should be eligible to apply to enter the U.S. through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
ESTA applications can be completed online in minutes. Typically, you’ll receive a response to your ESTA application within an hour (sometimes, even within a few minutes).
The vast majority of ESTA applications are processed within 24 hours.
Processing Times for Different U.S. Visa Types
Processing times vary for different visas. Generally, more complicated visas – like visas for establishing permanent residence in the U.S. – will take longer to process than short-term visitor visas.
B-1 Visa
The B-1 visa for temporary business-related visits to the United States is one of the most popular non-immigrant visas. There’s no specific timeline for a B-1 visa application. It can take anywhere from 2 weeks to several months to process your visa. It depends largely on the workload of your local U.S. embassy.
B-2 Visa
The B-2 visa for temporary tourist travel in the United States can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to process. Processing times vary from country to country. Like other visas, it depends largely on the workload of the U.S. embassy.
E-1 Visa
The E-1 visa typically takes between 2 to 4 weeks to process. Once the processing time is complete, you will be told whether the visa has been processed or your application has been denied.
E-2 Visa
E-2 visas typically take 4 to 6 weeks to process (for companies) and approximately 2 weeks (for employees). Processing times vary depending on the workload of your local U.S. embassy. If you haven’t heard about your application outside of this period of time, then it doesn’t necessarily mean your visa was denied.
E-3 Visa
E-3 visas take around 6 to 8 weeks to process.
F-1 Visa
The F-1 visa is one of the fastest visas to process. In fact, the F-1 visa is often processed immediately before your embassy interview. The interview is the last step of the application process. By the end of the interview, the consular officer should tell you whether or not your application was approved. The officer will congratulate you or hand you a letter explaining why you were denied. Some F-1 visa applications will take several days to process, in which case your approval will come several days after the interview.
F-2 Visa
The F-2 visa, like the F-1 visa, is one of the faster visas. Some applicants get a response immediately after their consular interview. However, typical F-2 visa applications are processed within a few days to a few weeks. F-2 visa applications rely on the status of the F-1 visa holder (including their financial status and security concerns), which is why they typically take longer to process.
J-1 Visa
The J-1 visa for education and cultural exchange opportunities in the United States can take 1 to 4 months to process. The U.S. Department of State has a special division called the Waiver Review Division that will check your application before making a recommendation. That recommendation is sent to the USCIS, at which point the final decision is made on your application.
Q-1 Visa
A Q-1 visa takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months to process, depending on your country of origin, background, security concerns, and other circumstances. At the conclusion of the application process, you will be contacted to determine whether or not you’re eligible.
M-1 Visa
The M-1 visa is one of the fastest visas available to gain entry to the United States. Like certain other visas on this list, the M-1 visa embassy interview tends to be the last part of the application process. By the time you reach the interview for your M-1 student visa, your application may have already been processed. By the conclusion of the interview, you will have heard whether your visa has been approved or rejected. However, even if you are approved at the end of your embassy interview, it may take up to 4 weeks to process your application.
H-1 and H-1B Visa
The H-1 and H-1B visa can take a long time to process. The wait time depends entirely on your local embassy or consulate. Some H-1B visas take 4 to 7 months to process. However, the U.S. government allows employers to pay a “premium processing” fee, in which case visa application times can be reduced to just 15 calendar days.
H-1B1 Visa
The H-1B1 visa, unlike the H-1 and H-1B visa, is not available for premium processing. Generally, this visa takes more time to process than the H-1B visa. Expect to wait about 4 to 6 months for the visa to be completely processed.
H-2A Visa
The H-2A visa is designed for seasonal workers, which is why it’s processed differently than the other H visas above. Generally, it’s recommended that U.S. employers file the USCIS petition at least 60 days before they need the foreign worker. Priority is given to H-2A visa applications because the U.S. government recognizes that agricultural work is seasonal.
H-3 Visa
An H-3 visa application should take about 4 to 6 weeks, although most experts recommend starting the application at least 6 months before your training program begins. We’ve heard reports of some H-3 visa applications taking as long as three months, particularly in countries with overloaded U.S. embassies and high volumes of applications.
H-4 Visa
The H-4 visa is for the spouse or children of an H visa holder. The processing time for your H-4 visa will depend largely on the H visa holder. Generally, if you’re applying together, the H-4 visa will be processed in the same length of time as the other H visa. If applying separately, however, then processing times vary widely depending on the local U.S. embassy’s workload and application backlog.
H-4 EAD
The H-4 EAD visa is a special visa for certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B non-immigrants. This visa is processed on a case-by-case visa and depends largely on the original H-1B visa holder – say, your spouse or parent. Typically, the H-4 EAD takes 3 months to process. Unlike certain other H visas, there is no premium processing option available, so all H-4 EAD applications take roughly the same amount of time.
L-1A Visa
The L-1A visa for intracompany transfers typically takes about 3 to 4 months to process. Companies that are issuing a blanket petition for multiple employees tend to have their applications processed more quickly than companies making individual petitions. As with certain other employer-sponsored visas, employers have the option to pay extra fees for premium processing. If you pay the extra fee, then you should get a response within 1 to 3 weeks.
L-1B Visa
The L-1B visa has similar processing times to the L-1A visa. Expect to wait for 3 to 4 months for the USCIS and local U.S. consulate to approve or deny your application.
L-2 Visa
The L-2 visa takes anywhere from 15 to 30 days to be processed. As with other dependent visas, it depends on the status of the L-1A visa holder. If the L-1A visa application is completed quickly without issue, then the L-2 visa should be completely similarly quickly.
R-1 Visa
The R-1 visa has one of the longest visa approval times in the United States. Religious workers seeking to work in the United States may need to wait 8 to 9 months for their visa application to be completed. Employers stateside have the option to pay an extra fee for premium processing. With premium processing, your visa should also be approved or denied within 2 weeks, although the final application can take 2 to 3 months to process.
P-1 Visa
The P-1 visa is for individual athletes or entertainers seeking to work in the United States temporarily. A typical P-1 visa takes 3 to 6 months to process. Like other employment-based visas, you can pay a fee of $1,225 for premium processing, in which case your visa will be approved or denied within 15 days.
I Visa
The I visa has one of the shortest visa application processing times. Typically, the visa for members of the foreign media, press, and radio will be processed within 10 days of your application.
O-1 and O-1A Visa
The O-1 and O-1A visa application typically takes 2 to 3 months. This visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in science, education, or athletics. A premium processing fee of $1,225 can be paid to get a response within 15 days.
O-1B Visa
The O-1B visa is for those who demonstrated extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry. Like with the O-1 visa, you can pay an extra fee for premium processing. An ordinary O-1B visa takes about 2 to 3 months to be processed, although premium fees can reduce this to as little as 15 days.
O-2 Visa
The O-2 visa is for the support personnel of those with extraordinary abilities. A typical O-2 visa takes 2 to 3 months to process (similar to the O-1 visa), although premium processing fees can reduce application times to as little as 15 days.
O-3 Visa
The visa is for the dependents of those on other O visas, including unmarried children and a spouse. A typical O-3 visa application is completed within 2 to 3 months, similar to other O visas.
U.S. Transit Visa
A U.S. transit visa is processed much differently than other U.S. non-immigrant visas. Typically, transit visas are processed much more quickly. You should receive a response on your transit visa application within 5 working days.
T Visa
The T visa is one of the most unique visas offered by the United States, and little information is available about processing times for U.S. T visas. The T visa is designed specifically for victims of human trafficking and their immediate family members. As with other emergency visas, the T visa should be processed in a relatively short period of time.
U Visa
The U visa has a relatively long processing time. The U visa for victims of criminal activity can take 12 to 14 months to be processed and approved. This visa is unique and rare and relies on a thorough investigation of extenuating circumstances, which is why application processing times are longer than other visas.
Is Premium Processing Worth It?
Premium processing is available on many employer-sponsored visas above, including H-1B visas and R-1 visas. Premium processing requires an extra fee in exchange for substantially speeding up the application process.
In most cases, premium processing reduces the application time by 50% to 75%. If your ordinary visa application is going to take 3 months, for example, then premium processing can reduce the application time to as little as 4 weeks.
Premium processing fees generally cost between $1200 to $1300, depending on your visa. Some premium processing fees actually guarantee a response within a certain period of time: if you don’t hear a response within 15 days after paying the premium processing fee, for example, then the fee will be reimbursed.
When Do I Get My Passport Back?
Your passport will remain at the U.S. embassy or consulate after your interview. Once your application has been approved or denied, your passport will be returned to you.
All U.S. embassies and consulates use a courier service to deliver your passport. You will receive an email with the package tracking number. You can track your passport from the time it leaves the U.S. embassy to the time it arrives at your doorstep.
You cannot collect your passport in person from the U.S. embassy or consulate. You must wait for it to arrive by courier.
Faster Processing Times Are Available in Certain Emergency Situations
The U.S. embassy or consulate may speed up your application process in certain emergency situations. You may be able to schedule an interview more quickly than usual if you’re in an emergency situation.
Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country if you have an emergency.
Ultimately, U.S. visa application processing times vary widely between visas. Some visas will be processed in under a week. Other visas take several months to a year. Give yourself plenty of room before your visit to the U.S. to account for visa application processing times and unexpected delays.
FAQs
How do you know if your US visa application was successful? ›
To check the status of your U.S. visa application: United States: Use the online visa status check tool for immigrant or non-immigrant visas. Abroad: Contact the U.S. Embassy or consulate where you filed your application.
Why is my US visa taking so long? ›The issue is simply the backlog of visa files that accumulated in US consulates and embassies around the world during an extended processing closure during the pandemic.
Why it shows administrative processing after visa approval? ›Administrative processing takes place after the visa interview, and refers to visa applications that undergo additional review or security clearances outside of “normal” visa processing times.
Can you speed up a US visa? ›You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice. (You can access Emma by clicking on the Ask Emma icon on the top right of this page).
How do I know if my US visa is rejected? ›The consular officer who interviews you will tell you at the end of your interview if your case is being refused under 221(g). The consular officer will either tell you that the case has to undergo administrative processing, or will ask you to submit additional information.
How long does the U.S. Embassy keep a record of visa denials? ›Paper DS-156 records are maintained for eleven years from the date of last action.
Why is US visa so difficult? ›Ineligible Applicant
Visa applicants can be complex, so it's important for applicants to have an experienced attorney on their side to help them with the application process. They may also deny an applicant if they don't qualify for the visa category they applied for, or if they have a criminal record.
Routine B1/B2 Appointments
The U.S. Mission to India resumed processing of routine in-person B1/B2 visas appointments starting in September 2022. Appointments for 2022 and 2023 filled quickly but we continue to open appointments as capacity allows. Please note, these appointments are not placeholder appointments.
It takes from 3 to 5 weeks for a US visa application to get processed. After the processing, the applicant can get a positive reply on their application, and the consulate will deliver the document. The delivery of the visa can take up to two other workdays.
Do you get an email when your visa is approved? ›Yes. When your eTA is approved, you will receive an email confirmation.
How do you know if U.S. visa is approved after interview? ›
At the end of your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied. Visa approval - When approved, you will be informed how and when your passport and visa will be returned to you.
Does processed visa application mean approved? ›“No, It means that a decision has been made on your application. Also, this does not confirm that a visa has been granted.
Will USCIS speed up 2022? ›Applications for work permits saw an increase of processing times from 3.2 months in FY 2020 to 4.3 months in FY 2022.
How long can an Embassy hold your passport? ›If the passport is not collected within 14 calendar days from the selected location, the passport will be sent back to the respective Embassy or Consulate and you can pick it from there.
How can I get visa fast? ›- Submit an expedited request. One of the first things you can do to speed up your immigration case is to ask the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an expedited request. ...
- Premium Processing. ...
- Members of Congress. ...
- Ombudsman. ...
- Process reshuffling. ...
- Hire a lawyer.
What does being found ineligible mean? If a consular officer finds you are not eligible to receive a visa under U.S. law, your visa application will be denied (refused), and you will be provided a reason for the denial. There are many reasons a visa applicant could be found ineligible for a visa.
Will I be notified if my visa is refused? ›The decision to refuse a Schengen visa and the reasons for the refusal are notified to the applicant using a standard form. The decision to refuse the visa includes the reasons on which the refusal was based. You can appeal the refusal.
How can I avoid rejection of US visa? ›Waiver for ineligibility
You must fill in the Form I-601, which is the Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility and send it directly to USCIS Lockbox Facility. If you have any queries regarding your U.S. Visa refusal you should contact the U.S. Consulate where you applied for the Visa.
As part of the ds-160 form filling, you should answer “NO” to the question “have you ever refused us a visa” as your H1B petition was denied and not a US H1B visa.
Can a U.S. visa be denied after approval? ›Each visa application is reviewed individually in accordance with the requirements of U.S. immigration law and applications are refused if an applicant is found ineligible. In most cases, being denied does not prevent you from reapplying in the future.
Can a U.S. visa be denied after administrative processing? ›
Upon completion of the case-specific administrative processing, the consular officer might conclude that an applicant is now qualified for the visa for which he or she applied. Alternatively, the officer may conclude that the applicant remains ineligible for a visa.
What percentage of US visas are approved? ›| Visa Type | Number of Applications | Approval Percentage Rate |
|---|---|---|
| B-1 and B-2 Visas | 7,585,472 | 69.8% |
| E-1 Visa | 7,252 | 91.9% |
| E-2 Visa | 48,401 | 89.4% |
| E-3 Visa | 5,974 | 97.2% |
North Korea
It's one of the most difficult countries to get access to and acquire a visa. One will need to apply for the visa through a tourist agency, which provides state-approved tours. Those from South Korea or with an American passport, are not eligible for this country's visa.
For many, a "B" visitor visa is the easiest and most appropriate one to get. (See 8 U.S. Code § 1101.) The B visa a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2).
Are U.S. visa appointments open for B1 B2 visa? ›The U.S. Mission to India also resumed processing of routine in-person B1/B2 visas appointments starting in September 2022.
How long does B1 visa processing take? ›Duration of Stay and Processing Time for a B-1 Visa
In general, B-1 visa processing time is about three months (90 days) for USCIS to process work permit applications but has been taking longer recently-often 4.5-5 months (135-150 days) to process.
The US Embassy in India has accepted that it has been unable to accommodate travellers before their scheduled departure dates because of the rise in visa applicants. “Visa appointments are now open for all categories!
Can visa processing time 2022? ›Canada is experiencing a large volume of LMIA applications in 2022, which can result in longer processing times and possible delays, especially seen in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Depending on which LMIA you apply for, it can take anywhere from 8-29 business days to process your application.
How long does consular processing take 2022? ›The time needed for consular processing varies from case to case and whether or not your sponsor is a U.S. citizen or green card holder, but you can expect to complete the process in 9-13 months if you're the spouse of a U.S. citizen and 18.5-32.5 months if you're the spouse of a lawful permanent resident.
Do you get an email when your visa is approved? ›Yes. When your eTA is approved, you will receive an email confirmation.
What are the stages of visa processing? ›
- Step 1 – File a Petition with USCIS. ...
- Step 2 – Case Preparation by the National Visa Center. ...
- Step 3 – Visa Interview Scheduling by the National Visa Center (NVC) ...
- Step 4 – Medical Exam. ...
- Step 5 – The day of the interview. ...
- Step 6 – Visa Approval. ...
- Step 7 – After you receive your visa.
Application Received
Your case is open and ready for your interview, fingerprints, and required documents. If you have already had your interview, please check your status after two business days. If no interview was required, please check back in two business days for the updated status of your application.
If this is your status, then the final processing of your visa is being completed and you are going to receive your visa. It takes about 10 business days to receive the visa after an "issued" status.
How can I get U.S. visa immediately? ›- Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.
- Pay the visa application fee.
- Schedule an appointment online for the earliest available date.
At the end of your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied. Visa approval - When approved, you will be informed how and when your passport and visa will be returned to you.
What are the reasons for U.S. visa rejection? ›An applicant's current and/or past actions, such as drug or criminal activities, as examples, may make the applicant ineligible for a visa. If denied a visa, in most cases the applicant is notified of the section of law which applies.
Can visa processing time 2022? ›Canada is experiencing a large volume of LMIA applications in 2022, which can result in longer processing times and possible delays, especially seen in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Depending on which LMIA you apply for, it can take anywhere from 8-29 business days to process your application.
How long does visa take to be approved? ›Upon receipt of the Visa Application through Indian Visa Application Center or directly, the Indian Mission/ Post requires a minimum of three working days to process the case and issue a visa depending upon the nationality and excluding special cases.
Does processed visa application mean approved? ›“No, It means that a decision has been made on your application. Also, this does not confirm that a visa has been granted.
Can visa be rejected after administrative processing? ›Upon completion of the case-specific administrative processing, the consular officer might conclude that an applicant is now qualified for the visa for which he or she applied. Alternatively, the officer may conclude that the applicant remains ineligible for a visa.
What does yellow paper mean in US embassy? ›
The U.S. Embassy may give you a yellow 221(g) Form directing you to submit additional documents or information related to your visa application. Your application will be kept on hold at the Embassy until you submit those documents.
How long does administrative processing take us visa? ›According to the Department of State (DOS), most administrative processing cases are resolved within 60 days after the visa interview.