Which official websites show visa application status?
Check your visa application status through the official tracking portal of the embassy or visa application center where you applied. You will need your reference number and date of birth.
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How to check your visa status - step by step
Step 1: Find your application reference number
Locate the reference number on your application receipt. For VFS Global it is the GVCN or reference code on your invoice. For US visas, use your DS-160 confirmation number or CEAC case number. Without this, you cannot track your application.
Step 2: Visit the official tracking portal
Go directly to the website of the visa center or embassy where you submitted your application. Common portals are visa.vfsglobal.com, blsinternational.com, tlscontact.com, and ceac.state.gov for US visas.
Step 3: Enter your details
Enter your reference number and date of birth or other requested credentials. The portal will show the latest status - usually one of "Application received", "Under process", "Decision made", or "Ready for collection".
Tracking by visa type
Schengen visas
Most Schengen consulates outsource applications to VFS Global, BLS, TLScontact, or VisaMetric. Use the tracking page on your provider's website. Some consulates also offer SMS notifications for status updates.
US visas
Track US visa applications on ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker. Use your DS-160 application ID or case number. Statuses include "Issued", "Refused", "Administrative Processing", and "Ready" for passport pickup.
UK visas
For UK visas, sign in to your application using the link in your UK Visas and Immigration emails, and keep the reference number from your application form. GOV.UK says you will get an email when a decision has been made, and for a Standard Visitor visa you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks.
What if my status doesn't update?
If your status hasn't changed in over 3 weeks for Schengen or 6 weeks for US visas, contact the visa center helpline. Avoid reapplying or rebooking your trip until you have a decision in hand. Use trip1 to keep your hotel booking refundable while you wait.
Important: Never trust third-party visa tracking services that ask for your passport number or full personal data. Use only the official portal listed on your application receipt.
Visa application status - FAQ
Go to the tracking page of the visa centre or embassy where you applied, such as VFS Global, BLS, TLScontact or the US CEAC site, and enter your reference number with your date of birth. The number is on your application receipt. Use only the portal named on that receipt, never a third-party tracker asking for your passport details.
Open ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker, choose nonimmigrant visa, pick the embassy or consulate where you applied and enter the application ID from your DS-160 confirmation. A case in administrative processing can show as refused, because the State Department keeps it refused under section 221(g) until the extra review ends. The embassy contacts you once it is complete.
Use the tracking page on the VFS Global website for the country you applied to, and enter the reference number printed on your receipt or invoice with your date of birth. Most Schengen consulates outsource applications to VFS Global, BLS, TLScontact or VisaMetric, so check your receipt to see which company handles yours before you search.
For a Schengen visa the normal processing time is 15 days, which can be extended to up to 45 days if the consulate needs a closer look or more documents. A UK Standard Visitor visa decision usually arrives within 3 weeks of your appointment. US waits vary widely by embassy, from a few weeks to several months.
Contact the visa centre helpline or the embassy where you applied, but do not reapply just because the status is stuck. A long silence often means extra review, which in the US is called administrative processing and has no fixed timeline. Keep your hotel on a refundable rate with trip1 until you have the decision in hand.