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ARTICLE · 06 AUGUST 2025

Navigating Visa Administrative Processing: A Guide For Foreign National Employees And HR Professionals

Greenberg Traurig
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For foreign national employees and the HR professionals who support them, few immigration experiences are more frustrating than hearing the words "administrative processing" after a visa interview.

United StatesImmigration
Ian Macdonald
Ian Macdonald

For foreign national employees and the HR professionals who support them, few immigration experiences are more frustrating than hearing the words "administrative processing" after a visa interview. This additional review step can derail carefully planned start dates, business trips, and family reunifications. Understanding what administrative processing entails and how to navigate it can help both employees and employers better prepare for and manage these delays.

What Is Visa Administrative Processing?

Administrative processing is the term used by U.S. consular posts when a visa application cannot be immediately approved at the time of interview. The Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) defines administrative processing as "clearance procedures or the submission of a case to the Department." According to recent guidance from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), this occurs when the FAM references "overcoming a refusal under INA 221(g) in two instances:

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