Government Processing Delays - General Advisory
The ISSS office recommends that all students allow for additional processing time when submitting immigration related requests to USCIS or other U.S. agencies. We have observed long processing times and delays in approvals with regards to visa applications, OPT and STEM OPT requests, and change of status applications. Please note these delays pertain to requests adjudicated by government offices, such as USCIS, embassies, and consulates. Processing times for requests submitted to the ISSS office remain the same.
Please plan ahead if you will be submitting any of these requests in the near future, and expect that your request may take additional time to be processed. If you have further questions about how to plan for any requests, please contact the ISSS office.
What Can You Do To Improve Processing Times?
Following these tips can help you make sure your application is processed as quickly as possible:
- Ensure you have submitted all applicable documents for your request and that your paperwork is filled out clearly and completely. For USCIS requests such as OPT, the ISSS office is available to review your documents before you submit them. This can help prevent delays due to missing or incomplete documents.
- Make sure you collect all relevant documents for your request. When requesting a visa at the embassy, contact the embassy in advance to find out what documents are needed. Bring along additional paperwork if possible, such as transcripts, letters from your department, or offer letters (for students on OPT).
- Check your mail. If the government requires additional documents to process your request, you will receive an RFE ("Request For Evidence") in the mail. Often you only have 30 days to respond to the request, so be sure to check your mail every day to avoid delays.
- Track the progress of your case. When you receive an I-797 receipt notice that your case has been received by USCIS, it will contain a case number. You can use that case number to track your case. USCIS also provides general information on processing times. Keep in mind that this is general information, and it may not accurately represent every case going through adjudication. Your request may take more or less time than is listed to be processed.