Visa essentials
Visa processing times & status tracking
The biggest uncertainty before a decision is "how much longer". This page lists typical processing times and the official status-check portal for each main visa, plus what to do on delays. We do not scrape live data — only authoritative links.
By visa
| Visa | Typical time | How to track |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen | 15 calendar days, up to 45 | Visa-centre reference (VFS/TLScontact/BLS) |
| US | 1–2 weeks after interview; AP takes weeks | CEAC online status (DS-160 number) |
| UK | ~3 weeks; priority/super-priority faster | UKVCAS/VFS; no public status portal |
| China | Standard ~4 working days; express 2–3 | China Visa Application Service Centre app. no. |
| Japan | ~5 working days | Via the accredited agency (no public portal) |
| Vietnam e-visa | 3–5 working days | Registration code on the official portal |
- Schengen: Official portal ↗ — No single EU portal; check the centre you applied through.
- US: Official portal ↗ — "Administrative Processing" has no fixed timeline.
- UK: Official portal ↗ — gov.uk publishes post processing times; contact UKVI on delay (paid).
- China: Official portal ↗ — Track by application number on the centre site.
- Japan: Official portal ↗ — No individual online check; ask the submitting agency.
- Vietnam e-visa: Official portal ↗ — Use the "Lookup" entry on the portal.
When it takes too long
- First confirm you have passed the official typical time (table above); if not, keep waiting.
- Check the status via the visa centre / portal to see the current stage (receiving / more docs / processing / finished).
- If more documents are requested, supply them within the deadline or the case may be treated as withdrawn.
- Overdue with no update: contact the Schengen visa centre, email for US, or use the paid UKVI contact service for the UK.
- Keep all reference numbers, fee receipts and submission receipts as evidence for queries and appeals.
- Beware "expedited agents" — most official channels have no real fast-track; third-party surcharges are mostly an information gap.
Official sources
- EU Visa Code — processing period ↗
- US Dept of State — visa wait times ↗
- UK gov.uk — processing times ↗
Processing times vary by post, season and case; follow the official portal and visa-centre notices. This page is general reference.
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