Visa Application Decisions

Approval

After successfully meeting the eligibility requirements for your requested category, your application for a nonimmigrant visa should be approved by the interviewing consular official. (In some cases, the application will be approved subject to additional administrative processing, which can cause significant delays to processing time.)

It may take the consulate a few days to process the approval and return the updated passport to you. The visa stamp will be issued as a full-page sticker in your passport. Make sure you understand whether you will receive your passport by mail or are expected to pick it up in person.

For F-1 and J-1 applicants, the visa cannot be issued more than 120 days before the start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019. If you apply earlier than this, your passport will be held at the consulate until then.

Denial

If the interviewing officer does not feel that you have shown sufficient evidence to warrant the requested visa, you will be issued a denial.

Before leaving the interview, you should receive a written explanation for the denial. Be sure to request this if you are not given one automatically. Please report the visa denial to our office. The most common reason for a visa denial is a failure to prove nonimmigrant intent to the consular officer.

If you choose to reapply, you will need to provide new information or documents to address the reason(s) for the previous denial. The consulate will not reconsider your application if additional materials are not available for review. Depending on the timing of a second interview, you may need to request updated documentation from the International Services Office.

For F-1 and J-1 applicants, if your visa is denied and you are unable to participate in your intended program at the University of Rochester, you should return the I-20 or DS-2019 to your department or the ISO.