The Visa Status Check page is updated as your visa case cycles through different stages, and it can be very useful to gauge where your case is at in the process.
When your case has been uploaded into the consulate's local system, it will say "Application Received."
Once your case has been processed, either through an interview or through an interview waiver program, there are three main statuses: Refused, Approved, Issued.
Confusingly, "Refused" can mean a variety of things, for example:
- Your case was refused under 221g, which is the formal code for administrative processing. Something is missing in your case. Be on the lookout for communication from the consulate!
- Your case was refused under 214b. This means the officer either doubted your ties to your home country or thinks you may not use your visa correctly. Seek assistance if this happens to you!
Now, when the visa officer tells you the visa is approved, it actually goes through a 2-stage process that shows up as two different statuses.
- The first is "Approved." This means the officer has made the decision to approve your case, but it is still going through final screening and has not yet been printed. Final screening refers to security checks (criminal or immigration violations). Once in approved status, a case is very unlikely to be pulled back (although it can happen).
- Usually, it then advances to "Issued," which means the visa has passed all checks and is printed in the passport ready for delivery. You can usually expect delivery within 2-3 days after the Issued status appears, but check your application profile for exact delivery instructions and tracking.