Visa Denials & Delays
Dealing with a visa problem is stressful, especially when your educational plans are affected. While ISS cannot influence decisions made by U.S. embassies and consulates, we want to help you understand what these decisions mean for your plans to study at UB and guide you as you take your next steps.
If your visa application has been denied, the U.S. Department of State's Visa Denials page can help you understand why and what options may be available to you.
Understand the Reason for Denial
Not all visa denials are the same. Some denial reasons may be addressed by submitting a new application with stronger supporting documentation. Other denials may be more complex and require legal counsel before reapplying.
If you are unclear about the reason for your denial, please contact the embassy or consulate where you applied for clarification.
New & Reentering Students: Review your Arrival Options
If your visa situation affects your ability to enter the U.S. by your program start date, visit the Modifying Your Arrival Plans page to review your options and next steps.
Continuing Students & those on OPT or AT: Contact ISS
If you applied for a new visa during your academic program or practical training and were denied, please let us know. Visit our Contact Us page to learn how.
If you attended your visa interview but were told that your application requires additional review, your case has been placed in administrative processing. The U.S. Department of State's Administrative Processing page explains what this means and how to check your case status.
Administrative processing is an additional review step used for certain visa applications before a final determination can be made. It is not a denial. There is no set timeline for completion of this process. The Department of State does not provide detailed information about the progress of individual cases, and consular officers are not required to explain why a case has been referred for additional review.
Check Your Case Status Regularly
You can monitor your case status at any time on the CEAC website using your case number. The duration of administrative processing varies based on the individual circumstances of each case. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months and cannot be expedited.
New & Reentering Students: Review your Arrival Options
If your visa situation affects your ability to enter the U.S. by your program start date, visit the Modifying Your Arrival Plans page to review your options and next steps.
Continuing Students & those on OPT Or AT: Contact ISS
If you applied for a new visa during your academic program or practical training and it is now under administrative processing, please let us know. Visit our Contact Us page to learn how.
Understand UB’s Limitations
The Department of State consular officers make visa decisions at U.S. embassies and consulates. University staff do not have the authority to appeal or speed up consular visa decisions on a student's behalf.