Where to Check Your Visitor Visa Status

The place you check depends on which country issued your visa. If you applied for a visitor visa to the United States, you check through the U.S. State Department's website. If you applied to Canada, you use the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) portal. Each country maintains its own system, and you cannot check one country's visa through another country's website.

You will need your process reference number or case number to look up your status. This number appears in your confirmation email sent after you submitted your process. If you cannot find that email, check your spam folder or the email account you used when you applied. Keep this number handy before you start searching for your status.

Key Takeaways

  • Your visa status is checked through the official government website of the country that issued your visa, not through a third-party site.
  • You will need your process reference number, which was sent to you by email after you submitted your process.
  • Most countries update their systems once per day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times in a single day will show the same information.
  • If your status shows "decision made" but you have not received a decision letter, wait three to five business days for mail delivery before contacting the embassy.
  • Processing times vary widely by country and visa type — a visitor visa to one country may take two weeks while another takes three months.

Checking U.S. Visitor Visa Status

To check a U.S. visitor visa (B-1/B-2) status, go to the State Department's Visa Status Check page at travel.state.gov. Enter your case number and passport number in the fields provided. The system will show you whether your process is still being reviewed, whether a decision has been made, or whether your visa is ready for pickup at the consulate.

The status page updates once per day, usually between midnight and 6 a.m. Eastern Time. If you checked yesterday and saw "under review," checking again at 2 p.m. the same day will show the same status. Wait until the next day to check again if you are looking for a change. If your status says "decision made," your visa decision letter will arrive by mail within three to five business days — do not contact the consulate before that window closes.

If the system cannot find your case, double-check that you entered your case number correctly. The case number is not the same as your passport number. It appears in your confirmation email as a string of numbers and letters. If you still cannot locate it, contact the U.S. consulate where you applied directly.

Checking Canadian Visitor Visa Status

To check a Canadian visitor visa status, log into the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online portal at ircc.canada.ca. You will need to create an account using your email address and a password if you have not already done so. Once logged in, select "Check process status" and enter your process number.

The IRCC system shows your status in real time throughout the day, unlike some other countries' systems. You may see updates such as "process received," "in progress," "decision made," or "ready to pick up." If your status shows "decision made," you will receive an official letter by mail or email within a few business days explaining the decision.

If you applied through a visa process center (VAC) rather than mailing your process directly, you can also check your status through that center's website. The VAC will show you when your documents arrived and when they were sent to IRCC, but the final decision status comes from the IRCC portal only.

Checking Visitor Visa Status for Other Countries

The United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries each maintain their own status-checking systems. For a UK Standard Visitor visa, use the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online status checker at visas-immigration.service.gov.uk. For Australia, use the ImmiAccount portal at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. For European Schengen visas, check the website of the specific country's consulate where you applied, as each country runs its own system.

Write down the website address for the country where you applied and bookmark it. Government websites can be difficult to navigate, and bookmarking saves you time if you need to check again later. Many countries also allow you to set up email notifications so you receive a message when your status changes, rather than checking manually.

What Different Status Messages Mean

A status of "process received" or "in progress" means your documents have reached the visa office and are being reviewed. This is the longest phase for most applications and can last anywhere from two weeks to several months depending on the country and visa type. You cannot speed up this process by contacting the office — most offices will not provide updates until a decision is made.

A status of "decision made" means the visa officer has completed their review and made a choice to approve, refuse, or request more information. You will receive official notification by mail or email shortly after this status appears. Do not assume the decision is positive — "decision made" straightforward means a information has been reached.

A status of "ready for pickup" or "ready to collect" means your visa has been printed and is waiting for you at the location where you applied (usually a consulate or visa process center). You will have a limited window, usually 30 days, to pick it up. After that window closes, the visa may be returned to the issuing country and you may need to reapply.

What to Do If Your Status Has Not Changed

If your status has remained "in progress" for longer than the published processing time for your visa type, wait an additional week before contacting the office. Processing times are estimates, not guarantees, and many applications take longer than the stated timeframe. Government offices do not provide status updates by phone or email — they only update the online system.

If you have waited well beyond the published processing time, you can contact the visa office by email or through their online inquiry form. Have your process number and passport number ready. Explain that your process has been pending for [X weeks/months] and ask whether there is any additional information they need from you. Response times to inquiries are typically two to four weeks.

Do not contact the office multiple times or call repeatedly. Each contact resets the response clock, and offices prioritize applications over inquiries. One clear, detailed email with all your information is more effective than several short messages.

Common Reasons Status Checks Fail

The most common reason a status check returns no results is an incorrect case or process number. Copy the number directly from your confirmation email rather than typing it from memory. Even one wrong digit will cause the system to show no match. If you cannot find your confirmation email, search your email account for the word "confirmation" or the country name plus "visa."

Another common issue is using the wrong website. A U.S. visa status cannot be checked on the Canadian IRCC portal, and vice versa. Make sure you are on the official government website for the country that issued your visa. Avoid third-party websites that claim to check visa status — they cannot access government systems and may be scams.

If you applied through a travel agent or immigration consultant, they may have submitted the process under their own account rather than yours. In that case, you will not be able to check the status yourself — you must ask the agent or consultant to check it for you and provide you with updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my visa status if I applied through an immigration lawyer or travel agent?

Not directly. If someone else submitted your process on your behalf, the account and process number may be registered under their name or business name, not yours. Contact the person or company that submitted your process and ask them to check the status for you. Request that they provide you with your process number so you can check it yourself in the future.

How often should I check my visa status?

Once per day is sufficient. Most government systems update once per day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times in a single day will show identical information. Checking more frequently will not speed up your process and may cause unnecessary stress. Set a reminder for the same time each day if you prefer a routine.

What does it mean if the system says "decision made" but I have not received a letter?

The online status updates before the physical decision letter arrives by mail. Once the status shows "decision made," allow three to five business days for the letter to reach you. If you have not received it after five business days, contact the visa office to confirm your mailing address is correct in their system.

Can I check someone else's visa status?

No. Visa status systems require the applicant's personal information and are designed to protect privacy. You cannot check a family member's or friend's status without their process number and password. If you need to know their status, ask them to check it themselves or to share their process number with you so you can look it up on their behalf.

What should I do if my visa was refused?

The refusal letter will explain the reason and whether you can reapply. Some refusals are permanent for that visa type, while others allow you to reapply after addressing the issue that caused the refusal. Read the letter carefully and contact the visa office if the reason is unclear. You may be able to request reconsideration or provide additional information to support a new process.