Endless Delay: B1/B2 Visa Stuck for 15 Months

The B1/B2 visa backlog is turning into a never-ending wait for many Indian applicants.

One applicant recently shared that their visitor visa was refused under 221(g) and has been stuck in “administrative processing” for over 9 months! Adding to the discussion, other people report 14 and even 15-month delays for the same category.

While 221(g) is technically not a denial, it’s a bureaucratic nightmare. You’re not told what’s wrong, how long it’ll take, or even if you’ll get the visa at all. There’s absolutely nothing you can do to speed it up and you’re just expected to wait forever.

Some people apply for B1/B2 to visit family; others to attend urgent events. But instead of a clear yes or no, they get months of silence.

This shows how little transparency exists in non-immigrant visa processing — especially when it comes to 221(g). There’s no explanation, no contact, just a vague system message that reads “Refused” and a looming promise of “administrative processing.”

These frustrating delays, added to the indefinite F-1 visa freeze from the US, paint a grim picture for the future of immigrants.