A Hyderabad resident and H1B visa applicant still awaits their passport—35 days since their approval. The on-site interview occurred on March 10, and the CEAC website indicated “Approved” on the very next day, that is, March 11.
But since then, there’s been no update. The status still hasn’t changed to “Issued,” and the passport hasn’t been returned. Several emails to the visa help desk have only confirmed one thing—it’s probably stuck in administrative processing.
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That’s the infuriating part. When an officer indicates “approved” and the case status also shows it, you think things will progress. Particularly because a lot of others, even dropbox applicants, are getting their stamped passports in 7–10 days.
Delays such as these are not rare, but they’re never certain. Administrative processing can be anything from background checks to plain internal holds—and there’s no set timeline.
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This is not merely a hassle; it interferes with travel plans, employment start dates, and good conscience. There is no way to hasten it, and most of the applicants end up checking the CEAC website every morning in hopes of some progress.
For others, it’s not only a visa—it’s coming back to their life, their career, their stability in America. And when that’s held up without explanation, it’s like being in limbo.
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More openness in these situations would ease the unease. Until now, people simply wait—with approved visas and no passports in hand.
