The U.S. Department of State may use a security clearance process when deciding whether to grant or deny a U.S. visa. This is called administrative processing, or, a Security Advisory Opinion (SAO). It involves additional screening beyond the visa interview which may require coordination with other U.S. government agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
What triggers administrative processing?
Certain factors may increase the likelihood of Administrative Processing, including:
- Field of study or research – Nature of research/study may be considered a “sensitive/critical field” that could be used for illegal technology transfer and a possible undesired military application.
- Name related issues – Inconsistencies in name spelling across documents or if the applicant’s name matches or is similar to names in the consular system that require further investigation.
- Country of citizenship or residence – Applicants from countries officially designated as state sponsors of terrorism may be subject to heightened scrutiny and undergo a security clearance. Applicants from other countries may also be targets for enhanced scrutiny—it is not always clear why this happens.
- Social media – As part of the visa application process, you will be asked to list the social media platforms you’ve used in the past five years. This is a routine part of the DS-160 application, and consular officers may review your social media presence as part of standard security checks. In some cases, content that raises concerns related to national security, public safety, or immigration fraud, or other concerns could lead to Administrative Processing
Any student or scholar applying for a U.S. visa may be subject to the security clearance process. This is regardless of field of study or country of citizenship/residence.
Additionally, a previously issued visa (or visas) does not guarantee approval; individuals applying for a visa renewal or a new visa type may still undergo administrative processing.
Learn more
When you apply for a visa, the consular officer decides whether an additional security check is warranted. If the consular officer has reasons to think that your case fits one of the security check reasons outlined above or is unsure about whether the research area fits into one of the sensitive categories, they may decide to send the visa application to Washington, D.C., for review. In this case, you will receive a notice from the consulate, stating that your visa application “has been refused under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.”
This notice is not a final visa denial, but a delay in the visa issuance, pending a security clearance process. The notice also states that “the refusal may be overcome without filing another visa application once you present the required additional evidence”. The notice will also provide a list of additional evidence/documents that the visa applicant must provide to the consulate.
While there is no guaranteed way to avoid administrative processing, visa applicants can take the following steps to help consular officers better understand their case:
- Ensure name consistency – Double-check that your name is spelled consistently across all application materials and documents.
- Prepare a clear explanation of your research/ academic interests – When discussing your research and academic pursuits during the visa interview, use non-technical language that a non-specialist can understand.
- Bring supporting documents, such as:
- A copy of your curriculum vitae (CV)
- A copy of your faculty adviser or principal investigator’s (PI) CV (if applicable) including recent publications. If you cannot find this information online, contact your Academic Department.
- A copy of your WashU department webpage
The duration of administrative processing varies, but it typically takes around 60 days. However, processing times can be longer depending on the complexity of the case.
- The U.S. Department of State does not allow status inquiries until at least 60 days after administrative processing begins.
- After 60 days, applicants may attempt to contact the U.S. consulate where they applied, but consulates are not always responsive to inquiries.
- OISS cannot expedite the process or submit inquiries on behalf of visa applicants.
- You may check the status of your nonimmigrant visa processing online on the U.S. Department of State website.
If your visa application is selected for Administrative Processing –
Notify OISS by email right away. Send your administrative processing notice with the list of the required additional evidence/documents. We will review and provide guidance on your particular situation.
If your arrival is delayed and you are unable to come to WashU by the start date on your immigration document:
- Students: follow the steps on the I-20 or DS-2019 Deferral page
- Scholars: contact your host department for information