How to Track Your Visa Application: Country-by-Country Guide
Most visa applications can be tracked online within 24 hours of submission. Processing times range from 7 days (Schengen) to 45 days (Canada). Here is exactly where and how to check your status.
Key facts
- Schengen processing time: 7–15 calendar days
- UK Standard Visitor processing time: 3 weeks
- Canada visitor visa processing time: 29–45 days
- US B1/B2 processing time (post-interview): 3–10 working days
- UK Standard Visitor fee (6 months): GBP 135
- Canada visitor visa government fee: CAD 100 + CAD 85 biometrics
- Schengen visa fee (adults): EUR 90
- US B1/B2 MRV fee: USD 185
Overview
Most visa tracking portals go live within 24 hours of your application being logged. Schengen visas typically take 7–15 days to decide, Canada visitor visas take 29–45 days, the UK Standard Visitor takes around 3 weeks, and the US takes 3–10 working days after your interview. Knowing where to look — and what each status message means — saves you from unnecessary panic.
What information do you need before you can track?
Every tracking system asks for at least two of the following:
- Passport number (exactly as printed, including leading zeros)
- Application reference number or GWF reference (UK), UCI number (Canada), case number (US), or Schengen file number
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Date of application or appointment
Keep a copy of your receipt, appointment confirmation email, and any reference slip handed to you at the visa application centre (VAC). Without the reference number, most portals will not return a result.
How to track your UK visa application
The UK Home Office uses two separate tracking channels depending on how you applied.
If you applied through VFS Global (India)
- Go to the VFS Global UK tracking page.
- Enter your VFS reference number and your passport number.
- Select the country where you applied.
- View the current status — typically one of: Application Received, Under Process, Decision Made, Passport Dispatched.
VFS updates statuses once per day, usually overnight. "Decision Made" does not tell you the outcome; the passport or a refusal letter arrives separately.
If you applied online (UK Visas and Immigration)
Applicants who enrolled biometrics at a UK visa application centre can track via the UK Visas and Immigration online service. Log in with the email address used during the application.
The UK Standard Visitor visa costs GBP 135 for up to 6 months (GBP 506 / GBP 903 / GBP 1,128 for 2 / 5 / 10-year multi-entry). Processing is normally 3 weeks. For a full document checklist see the UK Standard Visitor visa guide for Indians.
How to track your Canada visitor visa (TRV)
- Log into your IRCC secure account using the same GCKey or Sign-In Partner credentials you used to apply.
- Navigate to "Check Application Status" on the dashboard.
- Your UCI (Unique Client Identifier) is on every document IRCC has sent you — it looks like 0000-0000.
Status messages you will see include: Received, In Progress, Decision Made, and — for approved applications — Additional Documents Required.
Canada visitor visa processing runs 29–45 days. The government fee is CAD 100 (approximately USD 71.59), plus CAD 85 for biometrics, as published by IRCC. Validity can be up to 10 years. For step-by-step guidance see the Canada visitor visa guide for Indians.
How to track your Schengen visa application
Schengen visas are processed by the consulate of the destination country (or the country of longest stay). There is no single pan-Schengen tracking portal.
- VFS Global: Most Schengen consulates in India use VFS. Go to the VFS Global portal, select the relevant country, and enter your reference number and passport number.
- TLScontact: France and some other member states use TLScontact. Log into your TLS applicant account for real-time updates.
- Direct consulate portals: Germany (Terminvergabe), Netherlands (IND), and a few others have their own applicant dashboards.
Schengen processing is 7–15 days for standard applications. The uniform visa fee is EUR 90 (EUR 45 for children aged 6–11, free under 6), confirmed by the European Commission visa policy page. A valid Schengen visa covers 90 days within any 180-day period. Read the full process in the Schengen visa step-by-step guide.
How to track your US B1/B2 visa application
After your consular interview, the US Embassy or Consulate may retain your passport for administrative processing or send it for visa printing.
- Visit the CEAC case status page.
- Enter your DS-160 barcode number (17 characters, printed on your interview appointment confirmation).
- Select the location where you interviewed.
Key status messages: - Ready" or "Issued: Visa approved; passport being prepared. - Administrative Processing: Further checks required — no fixed timeline. - Refused: Application denied under a specific INA section.
US B1/B2 MRV fee is USD 185, as published by the US State Department. Processing is 3–10 working days after interview for straightforward cases. Validity is typically 10 years. See the US B1/B2 interview preparation guide before your appointment.
What do common status messages actually mean?
| Status message | What it means | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Application Received / Submitted | VAC or consulate has logged the file | Wait for processing to begin |
| Under Process / In Progress | Consulate officer is reviewing documents | No action needed |
| Additional Documents Requested | Officer requires further evidence | Submit documents promptly via the channel specified |
| Decision Made | A decision has been reached | Check for passport return or email notification |
| Administrative Processing (US) | Background check underway | Check CEAC daily; timeline is not published |
| Passport Dispatched | Passport sent via courier | Track via courier reference number |
| Refused / Rejected | Application denied | Read the refusal notice and assess next steps |
How long should you wait before contacting the visa office?
As a general rule, do not contact the consulate or VAC until the standard processing window has passed:
- Schengen: after 15 calendar days
- UK: after 3 weeks
- Canada: after 45 calendar days
- US: after 10 working days post-interview
When you do contact them, have your reference number, passport number, and application date ready. For UK applications, VFS Global India can be contacted via the helpline number listed on your appointment confirmation; email is rarely answered promptly. For Canada, IRCC's web form is the correct channel — not the phone line for most routine queries.
If your application has been refused, the first step is to read the refusal letter carefully. The guide to reading a visa refusal letter explains how to interpret each refusal reason and whether reapplication or an appeal is the right path.
Practical tips to avoid tracking delays and errors
- Save every reference number the moment you receive it — take a screenshot of confirmation pages.
- Check portal URLs carefully; several unofficial sites mimic VAC portals and charge fees for showing freely available status information.
- Tracking portals can show stale data on weekends. If the status has not changed on a Monday morning, wait until Tuesday before acting.
- If your travel date is within 72 hours and your passport has not been returned, call the VAC emergency line immediately — most VACs have a priority callback option for imminent travellers.
- For Schengen applications, remember that the VAC (VFS or TLS) only knows what the consulate has communicated to it. A status of "Under Process" at the VAC level may already be "Decision Made" at the consulate — there is sometimes a lag of 12–24 hours.
For destination-specific timelines and what to prepare before you apply, the Schengen Area visa destination page, United Kingdom visa destination page, and Canada visa destination page each carry the latest confirmed processing windows.
Questions, answered
How do I track my VFS visa application from India?
Go to the VFS Global website, select the destination country and the application centre country (India), then enter your VFS reference number and passport number. Status updates once per day. You will need the reference slip or confirmation email you received at the time of your appointment.
What does 'Administrative Processing' mean for a US visa?
Administrative Processing means the consulate is conducting additional background or security checks before making a final decision. There is no fixed timeline published by the State Department. Check your CEAC status daily. Most cases clear within a few weeks, but some can take several months.
How do I track my Canada visitor visa application?
Log into your IRCC secure account using the GCKey or Sign-In Partner credentials you used when you applied. Go to the 'Check Application Status' section and use your UCI number. Canada TRV processing takes 29–45 days, so allow the full window before contacting IRCC.
Is there a single portal to track all Schengen visa applications?
No. Schengen visas are issued by individual member-state consulates, not a central EU body. Most consulates in India use VFS Global or TLScontact. Log into the portal corresponding to the consulate that processed your application and enter your reference number and passport details.
My UK visa status shows 'Decision Made' but I have not received my passport. What should I do?
Wait 2–3 working days after the status changes before contacting VFS, as dispatch takes time. If your passport has not been returned after 5 working days of the status change, contact VFS using the reference number on your appointment confirmation. Check the courier tracking number if VFS has sent one.
Can I track my visa application without the reference number?
Generally no. Every tracking portal requires at minimum your passport number and your application or file reference number. If you have lost the reference number, contact the VAC (VFS, TLScontact, or equivalent) with your passport number and date of application and request the reference to be resent.
How long after a visa decision is made will my passport be returned?
For VFS-processed applications in India, passport dispatch typically occurs 1–3 working days after the decision is logged. Courier delivery adds another 2–4 working days depending on your location. US passports are usually returned within 2–5 working days of a visa approval.