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Lengthy Delays for Visa Applicants

Foreign visitors applying for visas with which to visit Fermilab face lengthy delays due to slowdowns in visa processing. Three to four months is the average processing time, seemingly regardless of whether a visa has been issued to the applicant previously, and regardless of whether the last visa application went quickly.

The reason for most delays is that certain security clearances (also called “administrative processing”) must be completed before U.S. Consulate may issue visas. Neither the U.S. Consulate, nor Fermilab, can speed up the time taken for security clearances.

If, when you schedule your visa interview with the U.S. Consulate, you receive an interview date that is more than 30 days in the future, please fax us a completed Visa Delay Form, which will help us in our communications with the visa authorities. This also helps us to maintain an awareness of visa processing overall, and specific examples of problems resulting from the delays, so that we can provide this feedback to the Department of State.

We also strongly recommend that you bring the items listed below with you to your interview. Consular websites usually do not list these items for “regular” visa applications, because the items are needed more to support science-based security clearance requests.

1. Your complete C.V. or resume (and if your spouse is accompanying you, the spouse’s complete resume too, even if s/he will not be working);
2. Your complete list of publications (and if your spouse is accompanying you, the spouse’s complete list of publications too, even if s/he will not be working);
3. A detailed, but understandable (i.e. non-scientific, “plain language”) description of your proposed research or other activities for your visit to Fermilab;
4. A Letter of Invitation from Fermilab;
5. A letter from your home institution that explains your title and duties (if you are employed) or your program of studies (if you are a student); your wages (if any); and the benefit to the institution of your participation in the U.S. event. This letter also should confirm (if this is the case) that the institution expects you to return to it and resume your usual activities upon the completion of the event in the U.S.; and
6. A detailed itinerary.

If you have other questions about the U.S. immigration process, please email us.

Questions? Comments? Contact the Users’ Office!