J1 Visa Administrative Processing

[eliza-klein 1]

Hello everyone!

I got a little bit confused the last days so I'd like someone's opinion on my issue.

I went to my interview at the Paris Embassy on December, 24th for my J1 Visa. All papers were in order, that just after a couple minutes the vice-consul who did my interview told me that my visa was approved and that I would receive my passport with the Visa in it back in 4 days.

It's almost been 2 weeks and not having received my passport back, I looked up the CEAC website and my Visa Status is 'Administrative Processing' (Your visa case is currently undergoing necessary administrative processing. This processing can take several weeks. Please follow any instructions provided by the Consular Officer at the time of your interview. If further information is needed, you will be contacted).

I read all over the internet that this happens when they need additional information on your application and that you are told during the interview and that they hand you a special sheet that tells you further instructions.

I never got a sheet and he said everything was okay and that I would receive my passport back...

So now I am getting worried that I won't get the visa in time. My internship starts on Jan, 19th and my flight is on Jan, 13th...

Did anyone experience the same as me?

Thank you very much for any help.

Eliza

[jan22 3,043]

Sorry, but there are all kinds of reasons for administrative processing, not all of which include needing additional information from the applicant. It could, for example, be needing to clear information received in the application/interview about course of study, prior fields of work, etc. It also is all over the internet not to purchase a ticket until you have the visa in hand -- no guarantee that you will get it by the 13th, although hope you will.

[AV1310 0]

Hi Eliza,

I am in the same situation I had my interview on the 23th of december and my status is "Administration Processing".

I am also quit worried.

Can you please let me know when you get your passeport, and so will I.

I hope that we both will get our passeport as soon as possible.

I will share with you if i found some more info.

thank you

[jensanfrancisco 0]

Can either of you advise on any delevelopments? I sent a J1 renewal application via courier and my status has now changed to administrative processing also but I've not been contacted to provide more information or anything.

[eliza-klein 1]

Hello guys,

Still AP today. So for now about 3 weeks.

Status updated date changed yesterday to Jan 8th 2015. At least someone is watching my application.

[AV1310 0]

My status changed this afternoon to "Issued".

I don"t when will I get it but will keep you posted.

Eliza my status was updated yesterday to "Admin processing " too and today to "Issued".

So I think yours will also soon change to "Issued"

I will keep update on when I get my passeport

[jensanfrancisco 0]

So it took about a week from when it changed to AP to then change to issued - glad it's moving forward for you. I'm dealing with the US embassy in London which might take longer, no sure.

[jensanfrancisco 0]

Hi both,

My status changed this afternoon to "issued" as well, so I'm hoping that means approved...I'll let you know when I get the passport back.

Jen

[eliza-klein 1]

Hello guys,

I've got a call today from the paris Embassy telling me they've got my Fax today (I sent it on Jan 5th), that they found the problem and that they are going to send me my visa this week.

So here's my timeline:

Dec 23rd 2014: case opened

Dec 24th 2014: administrative processing

Jan 8th 2015: status updated date changed to 8.01

Jan 13th: Ready

Jan 13th: back to AP in the afternoon

Let's see if I'll get my visa!

[luoxuan 0]

Hello guys,

I've got a call today from the paris Embassy telling me they've got my Fax today (I sent it on Jan 5th), that they found the problem and that they are going to send me my visa this week.

So here's my timeline:

Dec 23rd 2014: case opened

Dec 24th 2014: administrative processing

Jan 8th 2015: status updated date changed to 8.01

Jan 13th: Ready

Jan 13th: back to AP in the afternoon

Let's see if I'll get my visa!

Hello Eliza,

I also took my interview at the Paris embassy on Feb 3 and my case is still under AP. I've tried emails and phone calls but I've only got standard answers.

You mentioned in your post that you faxed them. What did you say in your fax and how to fax them ?

Btw, did you get your visa ? are u in the US now ?

Thanks

[eliza-klein 1]

Hey luoxuan,

I did get my visa after a while and yes, I am in the U.S. right now.

The fax number is on the U.S. Embassy (Paris) website under Contacts. I just told them about my situation.. That no-one told me about AP and that I need my visa because the internship is mandatory for my business school program. That's all.

Did they told you that your case was going to AP when you had your interview?

Are you a French citizen or a Chinese citizen? Because it's more difficult to get a visa in Paris if you're not a EU citizen.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Eliza

Edited February 20, 2015 by eliza-klein

[luoxuan 0]

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

They did tell me that my case needed AP during my interview on Feb 3. My VO said 3-4 weeks but on the sheet of paper I received it says 4 to 8 and on the website 60 days so very long in a word.

I called the visa center and sent email but only received standard.

I have a Chinese passport and am in a French Engineering School so my internship is also mandatory and I have been told that I can't start later than March 16th

So in the end how long did it take for you to get your visa ? Did you start your training on time ?

Best

Xuan

Hey luoxuan,

I did get my visa after a while and yes, I am in the U.S. right now.

The fax number is on the U.S. Embassy (Paris) website under Contacts. I just told them about my situation.. That no-one told me about AP and that I need my visa because the internship is mandatory for my business school program. That's all.

Did they told you that your case was going to AP when you had your interview?

Are you a French citizen or a Chinese citizen? Because it's more difficult to get a visa in Paris if you're not a EU citizen.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Eliza

[AlgeriaParis 2]

Hi luxuan,

Did you get your visa? Any updates? How long did it take?

[matepas 0]

Hi,

 

I had my interview for J1 visa in US consulate in Hong Kong on 27th March (Monday). After a quick interview, I was told that my visa is approved. I am a Polish passport holder and I needed my passport back on that day, so the Officer informed me that I can take it and to come back to the Consulate on Thursday (30 March) to get the visa printed in my passport.
So, on Thursday I went to the Consulate again and I was told that unfortunately my visa is not ready yet and that they can't give me any information when the visa will be ready to pick up...

 

1 day later (Friday 31 March), I received an email from the Consulate saying "NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION: Your visa application s undergoing necessary administrative processing. Processing time varies from case to case, and it is unfortunately impossible for us to predict the exact date when the processing will be complete." 

 

Also on the same day (31.03) the CEAC webside was updated: LAST CASE UPDATED: 31.03 (CASE CREATED: 24.03)

 

It is 6th of April now and the CEAC webside still says "Administrative Processing". I called the Consulate today, also send them emails, but they still say that they have no updates for me. 

 

My J1 program starts in just 11 days and I am totally freaking out now...

Anyone can give me some information regarding this kind of cases?