Administrative Processing

VISA APPLICATIONS PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING

Instructions for visa applicants interviewed at the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai

After your visa interview, if you were found temporarily ineligible for a visa, you received a blue or pink Section 221(g) instruction sheet.

If you received a blue sheet, the information on this page and in the case status report is not relevant to you. Instead, you will be contacted by the Consulate if and when further action is required. Please do not contact the Consulate.

If you received a pink sheet, you can check the status of your case online. The case status report is updated regularly.

How to interpret the case status report

Find your BATCH ID in the case status report and note the case STATUS. Your case status will be one of the following. Please follow the appropriate instructions.

(1) RESPOND TO QUESTIONNAIRE

We are awaiting your response to the questionnaire that you were given at the interview. Processing cannot begin until we receive your response as requested.

Here is a link to the Questionnaire (PDF document).

(2) PENDING PROCESS

Your case is still pending administrative processing. The Consulate cannot issue you a visa before completion of the processing. The Consulate cannot waive the processing.

(3) SEND PPT (PASSPORT)

You are required to submit the documents listed on the case status report against your Batch ID. Please mark the package “Attention: CHENNAISAO” and submit it through VFS Services. They may require a service fee. Please include the pink 221(g) sheet. If you are asked to send a travel itinerary with your passport, please attach proof that your travel plans are still valid and necessary.

You may contact VFS at:

• Helpline: (044)-4231-6767
• Email: info@vfs-usa.co.in
• Web site: www.vfs-usa.co.in

Further instructions and information:

Students & scholars

• If you are student applying for an F-1 visa, submit a Form I-20 with a valid reporting date (at least one week in the future) or a letter from the school specifying the latest date that you can report for the same program
• If you are an exchange visitor applying for a J-1 visa, submit a Form DS-2019 with a valid start date (at least one week in the future) or a letter from the sponsoring organization specifying the latest date you can report for the same program

These are general guidelines. Please note that you need to submit your passports and all other additional documents as specified or necessary.

Please click here to check the status of your case.