Which tool to use to check visa status
| Your case | Official system | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application at a U.S. consulate (visitor, student, work, immigrant) | CEAC visa status check | Application ID or case number, location |
| Petition or application filed with USCIS (I-130, I-140, I-485, I-765) | USCIS Case Status Online | 13-character receipt number |
| Confirm visa status after entry (admission class and date) | CBP I-94 website | Passport details |
| Green card queue (preference cases) | The monthly visa bulletin | Priority date, category, country |
These are the only authoritative sources for a specific case. Any site that asks for payment to “check visa status” is not an official channel.
What consular visa statuses mean
Consular status pages use short labels. In general terms:
- Ready / At NVC: the case is waiting for documents, fees or an interview to be scheduled.
- Administrative processing: the case was refused under INA 221(g) pending more information or checks; see our 221g visa guide.[1]
- Issued: the visa has been approved and printed.
- Refused: the officer refused the visa on a legal ground; immigrant visa applicants who overcome a refusal within one year are reconsidered without a new fee.[2]
Nonimmigrant refusals must cite a legal basis such as INA 214(b) or 221(g).[3] Exact wording on the official pages can change; read the explanation shown there for your status.
How long until the status changes
For USCIS cases, nationwide averages help set expectations. In August 2026, USCIS took 18.1 mo on average to complete an I-130 family petition.[4] USCIS’s own processing-times tool gives office-level times and the date after which you can submit an inquiry.[5] See USCIS processing times by form. For preference green cards, the status will not change to approved until your priority date is current; check it with the priority date calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my visa status online?
For a consular visa application, use the State Department’s CEAC status page with your application ID or case number. For anything filed with USCIS, use Case Status Online with your receipt number.
How can I confirm my visa status in the U.S.?
Your admission class and authorized stay are on your I-94 record, which you can retrieve on CBP’s I-94 website. The visa stamp only shows what you may apply to enter with.
What does administrative processing mean on my visa status?
The consulate refused the visa for now under INA 221(g) while it gathers more information or completes checks. The status updates when processing finishes.
Can visabulletin.org check my case?
No. We are an independent site with no access to government case systems, and we never ask for receipt numbers or passport details.
Sources
- 8 U.S.C. 1201 (INA 221): issuance of visas, including 221(g)
- 22 CFR 42.81: Procedure in refusing immigrant visas (one-year reconsideration, 42.81(e))
- 22 CFR 41.121: Refusal of nonimmigrant visas
- Number of Service-Wide Forms by Month, Form Status, and Processing Time: August 2026 (report to Congress, CSV)
- Check Case Processing Times