CEAC stands for Consular Electronic Application Center and is an online portal of the US Department of State. To check the status of your application for a nonimmigrant US visa online, you can visit the CEAC website. All nonimmigrant visa (NIV) cases created within the last year are available in the CEAC Status Check.
CEAC Visa Status Check to track US visa application
The US CEAC website allows US visa applicants to create DS-160, DS-260 visa applications and check the US visa stamping status online. You can use the CEAC portal to check the status of both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas.
How to check US visa status online
You can use the CEAC Visa Status Check tool to track the status of any of the nonimmigrant or immigrant US visa application online. Here are the steps to check US nonimmigrant/ immigrant visa status online:
Step 1: Log in to CEAC Visa Status Check portal to know the current status of your visa application.
Step 2: Select Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) or Immigrant Visa (IV) in the ‘Visa Application Type’ section.
Step 3: Select the location where you went for a US visa interview.
Step 4: Now type the Application ID or Case Number.
- Application ID: Also known as CEAC barcode, it can be found on the DS-160 confirmation page, starting with AA followed by 8 digits.
- Case Number: Case number is given by the consulate on a slip to a visa applicant, basically for administrative processing or 221g. Type it correctly with space, else you will get an error – “Your search did not return any data”.
Step 5: Enter the captcha code that is shown in the image.
Once you successfully insert the required details, your visa status will be displayed on the screen. The output will be one of the following:
US visa application status
| Status | Message Displayed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Issued | Your visa stamping is already completed and awaiting final approval. If you don’t receive it in a week to 10 days, you can contact the Embassy or Consulate where you submitted your application. | The visa has been issued |
| Application receipt pending | Your visa application has not yet been processed into the visa system. At some embassies, the application will remain in this status until you show up in the interview or your application is ready for review. | – The application information yet to be entered into the embassy system. – Status of the application will be pending until the applicant shows up in the interview. – For mail-in cases, this means the Embassy has not received the application. |
| Application received | Your visa application is ready for your interview, biometrics, and you need to submit required documents. | – Includes cases that are pending for additional documents. – For mail-in cases: The embassy or consulate has received the visa application and is under review. – Cases pending for additional documents are also included here. |
| Administrative processing | More information and checks are required in your case. It can take another 60 days to process the application after the visa interview. In case of additional documentation or another interview, authorities will get in touch with you. | This status includes: – The visa has been approved but not yet stamped. – Pending for additional documents/ information |
| Refused | This indicates your application has been refused. For further clarification on the same, you can contact the US authority that handled the interview process. | This includes cases that are: – Pending for additional information/ documents – Cases with a waiver request pending. – Denied under Section 214(b) of the INA. |
Note:
- In case of additional documents, authorities may contact you via email or phone. Keep checking your inbox regularly.
- Due to a variety of factors, the US Embassy or Consulate can’t guarantee the issue of a US visa before a fixed date. Hence, it is advised not to buy tickets or make final travel plans until your visa is granted.
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FAQs
You can log in to the CEAC system portal to check the status of a US visa application. You can also contact the NVC via phone. Keep your personal details and barcode handy for visa status updates.
Ready indicates that your application has gone through the initial screening and your case is ready for an interview.
Return to NVC means your application has been sent back to the National Visa Center due to the problem at the time of visa application processing. You need to get in touch with the NVC to know further actions.
There isn’t any certain fixed time frame for visa application processing and it largely depends on the US visa type you are applying for and the volume of applications.
