Visa cannot be approved. Further administrative processing required.

[march16filer 153]

A friend of mine applied for B1/B2 visa and he wasn't refused, but, put on additional administrative processing. 

Does anyone have experience with that? What triggers it? How long does it usually take?

 

Thanks!

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

7 minutes ago, march16filer said:

A friend of mine applied for B1/B2 visa and he wasn't refused, but, put on additional administrative processing. 

Does anyone have experience with that? What triggers it? How long does it usually take?

 

Thanks!

 

Administrative process (AP) is just them doing background/security checks, verifying information, ect.. It is open ended, no definitive timeline can be given really. Can be 2-3 days, 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, or even years. It doesn't end until the embassy finishes their checks and makes a decision. Not much can be done except wait for their decision.

[Boiler 45,773]

The longer ones are usually connected with coming from a T country, how long has your friend been in AP?

[march16filer 153]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

The longer ones are usually connected with coming from a T country, how long has your friend been in AP?

What's a T country? Where is that list? It's been since April 21st. 

[Boiler 45,773]

Which Country is involved?

[march16filer 153]

4 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

 

Administrative process (AP) is just them doing background/security checks, verifying information, ect.. It is open ended, no definitive timeline can be given really. Can be 2-3 days, 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, or even years. It doesn't end until the embassy finishes their checks and makes a decision. Not much can be done except wait for their decision.

That's interesting. @Boiler just mentioned that it's triggered by visiting certain countries. 

Just now, Boiler said:

Which Country is involved?

He's been to a bunch of countries. Is there a list of countries that land visitors on the AP?

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

1 minute ago, march16filer said:

That's interesting. @Boiler just mentioned that it's triggered by visiting certain countries. 

He's been to a bunch of countries. Is there a list of countries that land visitors on the AP?

 

It can also be triggered yea by previous travel history, but it also involves still security/background checks and information verification, so could be a combo of both.

 

I don't know if there is a specific list, but traveling to like Syria will raise some questions from the embassy.

[march16filer 153]

Just now, Ben&Zian said:

 

It can also be triggered yea by previous travel history, but it also involves still security/background checks and information verification, so could be a combo of both.

 

I don't know if there is a specific list, but traveling to like Syria will raise some questions from the embassy.

Yeah, he's been to Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia, which I am sure all trigger some concerns at the embassy. 

[Boiler 45,773]

Where is he from?

[march16filer 153]

Just now, Boiler said:

Where is he from?

ِEgypt.

[Boiler 45,773]

That would explain it.

[march16filer 153]

Just now, Boiler said:

That would explain it.

But everyone else got their visas from there within a week. I don't think that explains it at all. 

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Again it's a combination of things. Egypt itself probably gets some extra scrutiny, then add in the prior travel history... there is no specific right or wrong answer as to why AP is triggered but the embassy feels compelled to do more checks for a reason.

[Boiler 45,773]

As has been mentioned it is an individual process.

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

How many friends do you want to ask here for?