Visa Delays

Current and prospective students applying for U.S. visas should be aware of the possibility of visa delays. The most common reasons for non-immigrant visa delays are the following:

1. Security clearances for some visa applicants

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), together with the Department of State (DOS) have indicated that the process of issuing visas to some individuals will be slowed due to "name check" security clearances. The DOS has stated that their goal is to issue the security clearances within a 30-day period; however, some clearances can take up to four or five months. In a recent memorandum the DOS indicated that a security clearance would be valid for 12 months providing the applicant is applying for the same visa type, for the same activity. This means that if a student successfually obtains security clearance, enters the U.S., and then needs to travel again, he or she may not have another visa delay due to security clearance procedures.

The following categories are used to determine who may be subject to this process:

By country of citizenship, nationality, or birth

Special scrutiny is now imposed on visa applicants who were born in or are nationals or citizens of certain countries. The list has varied since 2001, and it is often unclear whether or not a particular country is still officially on the list or not. The list was originally designed to apply to male visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45. However this designation has not been applied consistently, and female applicants have also been subject to security procedures.

It is recommended that you check with your government's local consulate to learn the current status with regard to security clearance. In the past, the list of countries has included the following:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the territories of Gaza and West Bank.

Please note that this list will continue to change.

By field of research

A security clearance is now normally required for graduate students conducting research in certain sensitive fields, as listed on the DOS Technology Alert List (TAL). To see the most recent list of sensitive fields of study/research, go here to see a previous list. The State Department is not releasing its currents list.

The ISO strongly recommends that if a current or prospective student is or will be conducting research in one of the fields deemed "sensitive," that he or she present a letter from his or her department at the time of the visa interview that outlines the specifics of the student's research, source of funding, contact persons in the U.S., and anything else that will establish the legitimate, non-military purposes of the course of study. While this letter will not prevent a student from being subject to a security clearance, it may help to speed the process along.

If, as an F-1 or J-1 visa applicant, you find yourself subject to a security clearance, please notify the ISO by email as soon as possible. Include in your email your full name, date of birth, date and place of your visa application, your field of study, and the reason for the delay (if any) provided by the consular official. The ISO may not be able to speed up the visa application process, but will report visa delays to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, so that a national list can be compiled of visa problems and the practices of particular consular posts.

2. Visa Interviews

Effective August 1, 2003, the DOS began to interview most applicants for nonimmigrant visas. The consular officer may only waive the interview requirement for the categories of applicants listed below if they present no national security concerns:

1. Children age 16 and under
2. Persons age 60 and older
3. A, C-2, C-3, G, or NATO visas
4. Applicants seeking re-issuance of a nonimmigrant visa in the same classification at the consular post of the alien's usual residence within twelve months of the expiration of the applicant's previous visa and for whom the consular officer has no indication of any noncompliance with U.S. immigration laws and regulations.
5. Applicants for whom a waiver of personal appearance is deemed to be in the national interest or who are faced with unusual circumstances (emergency, unusual hardship, et al.) as determined by the consular officer.

All other applicants must appear before a consular official for a personal interview. The ISO recommends that you begin the visa application process as early as possible to account for delays in scheduling an interview.