Sometimes a consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents, or the case requires further administrative processing. When additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the embassy.
Reminder:
A visa denial (refusal) under section 221(g) of the INA means that the consular officer did not have all of the information required to determine if you are eligible to receive a visa. This means you are not eligible for the visa now, but your case is pending further action for one of the following reasons:
- Administrative processing,
- Your application is incomplete and/or further documentation is required.
If your case requires further administrative processing:
If administrative processing is required, the consular officer will inform the applicant at the interview. Duration of administrative processing varies but most administrative processing is resolved within 6 months. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 6 months after your interview. Please check your email frequently, as soon as the administrative processing is completed, we will notify you by email with additional instructions.
Tips
Form DS-260 (the online immigrant visa application form) accurately and completely filled out including the applicant’s entire employment history, not just the past 10 years. Responses such as “retired” or “self- employed” without an explanation may cause delays. In addition, exact dates of every trip (not just the year) to the United States must be provided. If the applicant stayed more than six months in the United States on a tourist visa, he/she must bring to the interview proof that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security granted an extension of stay.
Case requiring administrative processing will receive additional instructions via email. Please fully and accurately complete DS-5535 form and send it to us after your interview.
Except in cases of emergency travel (i.e., serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family), before making inquiries about status of administrative processing, applicants should wait at least 6 months from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents.
You will not receive an individual response to email inquiries about administrative processing, and we cannot predict how long the process will take or cannot give advice on where to wait while this process is on-going.
If your case requires further administrative processing, please send all of the missing documents along with your valid passport after receiving processing completed confirmation via email from the Embassy.
Online Status Check
- Immigrant visa applicants can check the status of their application online at: https://tr.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/iv-status-check/
- Visit he Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC), applicants can verify the status of their application online at: https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/ and clicking the link for “Check My Visa Application Status” located under the “IMMIGRANT” category. You will be required to enter your case number.
Missing documents:
If your application was denied because documentation or information is missing, please provide the missing documents or information after your interview. You have one year from the date you were refused a visa to submit the additional information, otherwise your case will be terminated.
Documents may be submitted to the U.S Embassy via any courier service and must also be uploaded/scanned to your file in the Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) at https://ceac.state.gov/IV for electronic/paperless cases. To see the uploading/scanning tips, please review the instructions on: https://tr.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/Uploading-to-CEAC-instructions.pdf.
If you registered with Turkish Postal Office (PTT), you may send documents via PTT. For more information on courier services, please visit our consular service provider at: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-tr/iv/information/courier.
Please send the missing documents along with your passports at once. Documents uploaded will not be reviewed until they are received with your passport at the Embassy.
If you already submitted additional documents for your case as requested by the Embassy, please allow 2 weeks for a consular officer to review your case. Due to the volume of mail received, you will not be notified of receipt of your documents unless we require additional information. DO NOT send multiple emails with the same inquiry. Once the additional information is evaluated, we will provide additional information.
After Your Visa Approval
We will place your immigrant visa in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. If applicable, we will also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities.
Many IV packets are now transmitted electronically to Customs and Border Protection and are accessible at the U.S. Port of Entry. Any immigrant traveler carrying a visa with a special annotation (IV Docs in CCD) is not required to hand-carry an IV packet.
USCIS Immigrant Fee: All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. Only children are exempt from entering the United States under the Hague Process, Returning residents. and people traveling on a K visa are exempt from paying USCIS fee. Please refer to USCIS Immigrant Fee to make the payment.
We encourage you to read the following instructions: Know Before You Go.
Visa Renewal/Replacement/Re-issuance: Applicant(s) who are unable to use an Immigrant Visa during its validity, or an applicant seeking a replacement visa can reapply by resubmitting the DS-260 if the petition has not been revoked and if the basis for immigration still exists (i.e., familial relationship). They (and any derivative applicants) will need to come to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara in-person to bring their passport, 2 new photos, new medical report, unused visa packet (if you have one), and to pay the appropriate IV application processing fee per applicant. Complete list of fees can be found at: Fees for Visa Services.
Getting an appointment: If your IV has expired and you are planning to travel to the United States in the next six months, please send an email with the subject line “reissuance request”. As soon as we receive your e-mail, we will provide you further guidance on getting an appointment.
If your appointment request has already been approved, please visit our service provider’s website at: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/. login to your account and proceed with scheduling an appointment. If there are not available appointments on the website, please check this website regularly for availability. If you encounter any technical issues with your account, you can contact our service provider at: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-tr/iv/information/contact_us.
