NEW DELHI– A Delhi resident has encountered a delay of more than a year in receiving his passport from the US Embassy after officials verbally approved his B1/B2 visa application.
The man submitted his application in 2024 alongside his wife, who attended consular interviews at the US Embassy in New Delhi during May of that year.
The consular officer informed both applicants that their visa applications had been approved. However, while the wife retrieved her passport within three weeks of the interview, her husband’s document remained in the embassy’s custody after 12 months.
Embassy officials have consistently cited “administrative processing” as the reason for the prolonged delay. The man has submitted multiple inquiry tickets seeking clarification on the status of his application, yet receives identical responses from embassy staff.
Administrative processing typically involves additional security clearances or background verification procedures that US consulates implement for certain visa applications. Standard processing times rarely exceed sixty days, making this year-long delay particularly unusual for tourist visa categories.
The passport retention has created significant personal and professional obstacles for the applicant. International travel has become impossible, preventing the individual from responding to emergencies or fulfilling business obligations abroad.
The restriction affects not only leisure travel but also urgent family matters or career opportunities requiring international movement. The man cannot apply for visas to other countries or participate in any cross-border activities.
Online forums have revealed that this situation represents part of a broader pattern affecting multiple visa applicants. Several individuals have shared comparable experiences of extended administrative processing periods with US diplomatic missions.
Social media discussions have generated various reactions from the public, with some users suggesting direct appeals to senior embassy officials. Others have recommended documenting travel requirements to other destinations as a method to expedite passport return.
Forum participants have offered diverse advice ranging from contacting the US Ambassador directly to questioning whether the embassy has misplaced the document.
Some users have shared successful strategies where they requested a passport return for travel to third countries before continuing US visaprocessing.
The incident has sparked discussions about thebalance between security procedures and reasonable processing timeframes for routine tourist visa applications. Many commenters have expressed concern about the precedent such delays might establish for future applicants.
Despite repeated inquiries, embassy representatives have not provided specific timelines or detailed explanations for the extended processing period. The standardised responses citing ongoing administrative review have offered no additional clarity to the affected family.
The case highlights potential gaps in communication protocols between diplomatic missions and visa applicants when processing extends significantly beyond normal parameters. The absence of regular updates or milestone communications has intensified frustration for the waiting family.
This incident underscores the importance of understanding visa processing procedures and potential delays that can affect international travel plans, even after initial approval notifications from consular officers.
