| U.S. Department
of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Services |
 |
| U.S. Department
of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Services |
|
Q. If I sent a fax or another document for my case, can I call and check to make sure that you have received it?
A. No. This is not necessary and we unfortunately do not have the resources to answer these inquiries. If you want confirmation that we have received a document, you will need to send it certified or registered mail.
Q. Where can I get information on the status of my application?
A. You can see your case status online at http://12.172.51.143
Enter your case number and you will see the latest status of your application.
You may also call the automated telephone system at 202 663-1225 to receive the same status information.
Please note that if additional documentation is needed from you, the Waiver Review Division will contact you directly. When a final determination has been made in your case, you will be notified. Until you hear from the Waiver Review Division, therefore, the status of your case is considered "open." You should make plans regarding your work, life in the U.S. and/or return to your home country for both a recommended and not recommended decision on your case.
Q. How can I be sure that you have received the "no objection" statement?
A. You can ask the embassy from which you requested the "no objection" statement if it has been sent to the Waiver Review Division. The Division unfortunately does not have the resources to notify each applicant when a "no objection" letter has been received on his/her behalf. Rather, the applicant will be notified if any additional documentation is needed or when a final determination has been made.
Q. How can I check on the status of my application based on fear of persecution?
A. This is not necessary and we unfortunately do not have the resources to answer these inquiries. However, please note that if additional documentation is needed, the Waiver Review Division will contact you directly. When a final determination has been made, you will be notified. Until you hear from the Waiver Review Division, therefore, the status of your case is considered "open." You should make whatever plans you need to make regarding your work, life in the U.S. or return to your home country on the assumption that you will not/not be recommended for a waiver.
Q. How can I check on the status of my application based on exceptional hardship?
A. This is not necessary and we unfortunately do not have the resources to answer these inquiries. However, please note that if additional documentation is needed, the Waiver Review Division will contact you directly. When a final determination has been made, you will be notified. Until you hear from the Waiver Review Office, therefore, the status of your case is considered "open." You should make whatever plans you need to make regarding your work, life in the U.S. or return to your home country on the assumption that you will not/not be recommended for a waiver.
Q. Should I send the fee in several times just to make sure that you've received it?
A. Absolutely not. If you do this, you are very likely to pay more than once for the same service since we will not be able to retrieve your duplicate payment and refund the money to you.
Q. Will I be notified by the Waiver Review Division that my application has been forwarded to BCIS?
A. In No Objection, interested U.S. Government agency and State Department of Health applications, you will receive a copy of the recommendation letter. In exceptional hardship and persecution cases, you will not receive a copy of the recommendation. Instead, you will be notified directly by the BCIS.
Q. If my application is denied, will I be notified of the reasons why?
A. Yes.
Q. If I come in person to the Visa Office in Washington, D.C., will someone be able to speak to me about the status of my case?
A. No. Please do not travel to Washington, D.C. for this purpose. The Visa Office unfortunately does not have an "in-person" information service. You may obtain your application's status from our automated system by calling 202-663-1600 or 202 663-1225. If you need to speak to an officer about the waiver review process, you may contact the Public Inquiries Division at (202) 663-1225. Unless your case has been pending beyond the estimated processing time, there is no need to check on the status of your application. You will be contacted if anything is needed from you and you will be notified when a final determination has been made. Until you are notified that your request for waiver recommendation is approved, you must consider yourself without a waiver of the 212(e) home-residence requirement and act accordingly.
Q. Should I send a copy of my data sheet to the Waiver Review Division?
A. Absolutely not. The lock box in St. Louis will forward your data sheet to the Waiver Review Division. If you fax or mail additional copies of your data sheet to the Waiver Review Division, it will not be processed.
Q. When does the Waiver Review Division consider the application is complete?
A. The Waiver Review Division considers the application complete when the data sheet, the user fee, the application from the Embassy, U.S. interested Government Agency, State Department of Health or Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (BCIS) and copies of all IAP-66 forms are received. At that time, the division can process the waiver.
Q. What do I do if my waiver application based on "No Objection" is taking longer than the processing time?
A. You can send a letter by mail or fax to the Public Inquiries Division requesting the status. It is possible that the case is problematic. The case could be missing documents or the applicant could not be reached at the last known address.
Q. What do I do if my waiver application based on "Interested Government Agency (IGA)" is taking longer than the processing time?
A. The IGA can contact the Public Inquiries Division requesting the status via mail or fax 202 663-3899. There is a government telephone line available.
Q. What do I do if my waiver application based on "State Department of Health" is taking longer than the processing time?
A. The State Department of Health can contact the Public Inquiries Division requesting the status via mail or fax 202 663-3899. There is a government telephone line available.
Q. What do I do if my waiver application based on "Exceptional Hardship" is taking longer than the processing time?
A. Please keep in mind that if medical issues are involved, the Division must request a medical opinion before rendering a decision. If government or international funding is involved, the Division must request views from the sponsor. Therefore, Exceptional Hardship cases may take longer. You can contact the Public Inquiries Division requesting the status via mail or fax 202 663-3899.
Q. What do I do if my waiver application based on "Persecution" is taking longer than the processing time?
A. The Division requests investigations and studies of the issues claimed in the case. Therefore, the Division relies on information conducted from the overseas investigation and study. If there is government or international funding involved, the Division must request views from the sponsor, as well. The Division must receive the views and information before rendering a decision. Therefore, Persecution cases may take longer. You can contact the Public Inquiries Division requesting the status via mail or fax 202 663-3899.
Q. How long should it take before I get a decision on whether you will recommend a waiver in my case?
A. The processing times will vary depending on the type of application you have submitted. The times given below are estimates only from the date of receipt of all documentation necessary to adjudicate the application.
No objection - 12-16 weeks
Interested U.S. Government agency - 4-8 weeks
State department of health - 6-8 weeks
Exceptional hardship - 3-4 months
Fear of persecution - 3-4 months
Advisory opinions - 6-8 weeks
June 2002