Where to Check Your Visa Status Online
The U.S. Department of State runs a tool called Visa Case Status Online at travel.state.gov. You enter your case number and passport number, and the system tells you whether your visa is approved, denied, or still being reviewed. This is the official source — no other website can tell you your actual status.
The case number appears on your visa process receipt, which you received when you submitted your forms at a U.S. embassy or consulate. If you cannot find the receipt, you can still search by passport number alone, though the case number makes the search faster and more reliable.
The status updates once a day, usually overnight. If you checked yesterday and the status has not changed, checking again in an hour will not show new information. Most cases update once per week or less often, so daily checking is not necessary.
Key Takeaways
- The official U.S. State Department visa status tool is at travel.state.gov, and it is the only source that shows your real status.
- You need either your case number (from your receipt) or your passport number to search.
- Status updates once per day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times per day will not show new information.
- The status page shows approved, denied, or under review — it does not show when your visa will be ready for pickup.
- If your status has not changed in more than 60 days, contact the embassy or consulate where you applied, not the State Department.
What Each Status Message Means
Under Administrative Processing means your case is still being reviewed. This stage can last anywhere from a few days to several months depending on your visa type and background. You cannot speed this up by contacting the embassy, and calling repeatedly will not change the timeline.
Approved means your visa has been granted. The next step is to schedule a pickup appointment at the embassy or consulate where you applied. The status page does not tell you when the visa is ready — you must contact the facility directly or wait for an email notification if you provided an email address.
Denied means your process was rejected. The status page does not explain why. You can request a detailed explanation by contacting the embassy or consulate, though they may not provide one. Some visa types allow you to reapply after a waiting period.
Refused is similar to denied but typically means the consular officer made the decision in person during your interview, rather than through a paper review. The rules for reapplication are the same as for denied cases.
Finding Your Case Number If You Lost Your Receipt
Your case number was printed on the receipt you received when you submitted your visa process. If you no longer have this document, you can search by passport number instead on the State Department website — the search will work, though it may take slightly longer to load.
If you applied through a visa process center (not directly at an embassy), that center may also have a separate tracking system. Check your confirmation email from the process center for a link to their own status tracker, which sometimes shows information faster than the State Department system.
Do not contact the embassy or consulate to ask for your case number unless you have already tried searching by passport number and it did not work. The embassy staff can provide it, but response times are often slow.
What to Do If Your Status Has Not Changed in 60 Days
If your case has shown "Under Administrative Processing" for more than 60 days, you can contact the embassy or consulate where you applied. Have your case number and passport number ready. Most facilities have an email address or phone line for visa inquiries, which you can find on the embassy's website.
When you contact them, explain that your case has been under review for a specific number of days and ask whether there is additional information they need from you. Some cases stall because the embassy is waiting for documents you have not yet sent. Others are delayed for reasons outside anyone's control, and the embassy cannot speed them up.
Calling repeatedly or sending multiple emails will not move your case forward and may actually delay it. One inquiry per week is reasonable; more than that is counterproductive.
Visa Status for Family Members and Dependents
Each person explore for a visa has their own case number and their own status. If you are explore with a spouse or children, you must check each person's status separately using their individual case numbers and passport numbers.
Some visa types (like spousal visas) may be processed together, but the status system still tracks them separately. Do not assume that because your status is approved, your family member's status is also approved — check each one.
If you applied through an immigration attorney or visa consultant, they may have access to a different tracking system that shows more detail. Ask them whether they can check your status on your behalf.
Common Reasons Status Does Not Update
The most common reason a status appears stuck is that the case is genuinely under review and no decision has been made yet. This is normal and does not mean anything is wrong. Some visa categories routinely take three to six months.
Another reason is that you are checking the wrong case number or passport number. Double-check that you entered the information exactly as it appears on your receipt or passport — even a single digit wrong will return no results or the wrong case.
If the system says it cannot find your case at all, verify that you applied at a U.S. embassy or consulate (not through a private visa service) and that you are using the correct case number. Some visa process centers issue their own tracking numbers that do not work on the State Department system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check someone else's visa status?
Only if you have their case number and passport number. The system does not verify your identity, so technically anyone with this information can check the status. For security reasons, do not share your case number or passport number with people you do not trust.
What does it mean if the website says "case not found"?
Either you entered the case number or passport number incorrectly, or your case has not yet been entered into the system. If you applied very recently (within a few days), wait a week and try again. If you applied months ago, contact the embassy or consulate to confirm they received your process.
Will the status page tell me when to pick up my visa?
No. The status page only shows whether your visa is approved, denied, or under review. Once approved, you must contact the embassy or consulate directly to schedule a pickup appointment, or wait for them to email you if you provided an email address during your process.
How often should I check my visa status?
Once per week is reasonable. Checking daily or multiple times per day will not show new information because the system updates only once per day. Checking too frequently can also make you more anxious without changing anything.
What if my visa was approved but I cannot pick it up?
Contact the embassy or consulate where you applied and explain your situation. Some facilities allow family members or authorized representatives to pick up visas on your behalf, though policies vary. You may also be able to request that the visa be mailed to you, depending on the country and visa type.