Caltech/JPL students and scholars sometimes encounter security-check delays in the visa acquisition process. These delays may happen because your name is a common name, your field of study warrants a closer look or your country of citizenship or birth. These security delays are not unusual and seldom have anything to do with you personally. They are, however, extremely inconvenient.
If your application is subject to a security check, your case is sent to Washington, DC for "administrative processing." There are a number of government agencies that may be interested (FBI, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Bureau, Department of Commerce, etc.) These agencies coordinate their scrutiny and then send the ok-to-process message to the U.S. Consulate where you applied. As you might imagine, these agencies are not open to inquiry about the progress of a case. It does not help to have your Caltech or JPL supervisor call the U.S. Consulate.
Not directly. At your request, your international advisor can file an inquiry with our U.S. Congressional Representatives. While this does expedite the processing of your case, it can uncover whether or not your case is simply lost in the bureaucratic shuffle. It can help keep visa delays on the minds of our Congressional Representatives.
- Notify your Caltech or JPL supervisor about the delay.
- Notify the International Offices at Caltech and JPL so we can make an inquiry through our Congressional Representatives.
- Provide all supplementary documentation/information to the U.S. Consulate. Review the Department of State information regarding "further administrative processing."
- Check the call number or website to follow the status of your pending application.
- Contact the International Offices at Caltech or JPL once you have received your visa.
Visa applications that undergo administrative processing are considered "refused" under Section 221(g) until the visa is issued. A 221(g) refusal is not permanent but is considered a refusal for future visa applications; however, failure to disclose a previous 221(g) refusal of an application ultimately approved should not affect eligibility.