Security Checks for Nonimmigrant Visa Processing

There are three kinds of security checks affecting nonimmigrant visa processing:

• The Visas Condor: Heightened Security Checks
• Visas Mantis: Technology Alert List
• NCIC Criminal Database Checks

Each of these security checks may affect your visa application, so it is important to understand each of these processes.  Providing the information needed by the consular official may help avoid lengthy delays in visa issuance.

The Visas Condor: Heightened Security Checks

The specific criteria for Visa Condor checks are classified.  However, these checks are likely based on several factors:

• The information that may trigger greater scrutiny include unexplained travel to predominantly Muslim countries in the last 10 years, prior employment in sensitive areas, military service for certain nationals, or specialized skills or training that may have military or security implications.  This information would be disclosed on Form DS-157, which is required for men between the ages of 16 and 45 years old, and for all applicants age 16 and over who are from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. 
   
• Your country of birth, citizenship, or residence may also require a Visa Condor check.  If you were born in a "T-7" or "List of 26" country, you will likely be subject to a Condor security check. 
  
  NOTE: The T-7 countries include Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North, Korea, Sudan and Syria.  The List of 26 countries are Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

According to U.S. Department of State reports, approximately 80% of Visas Condor clearances are completed within 30 days.  If your Visas Condor check has been pending for over 90 days, you may call the VO public inquiries line at (202) 663-1225 or email usvisa@state.gov.

Visas Mantis: Technologies with Possible Military Use

The Visas Mantis security check is used when potentially sensitive technologies are involved in your visit, work, studies or research in the United States.  This check is used when you are involved in any of the 15 categories found on the Critical Fields List (CFL) of the State Department’s Technology Alert List (TAL). 

The TAL includes a greatly expanded list of technologies with potential "dual-use" applications.  The list identifies certain fields and technologies that may have military applications.  The TAL list is very comprehensive, including almost every technology or skill involving chemistry, biochemistry, immunology, chemical engineering and pharmacology, for example.  The wide scope of this list means that nearly every research scientist, physician, academic and engineer involved in any of these fields could be required to undergo a Visa Mantis security check.  According to guidance by the U.S. Department of State, a Mantis clearance is generally not warranted if the technology falls within the public domain or if it involves information that would generally be taught in an academic course.  Please read our Technology Alert List page for more information.

The State Department contends that 80% of Visas Mantis checks are completed within 30 days.  If your Visas Mantis check has been pending for over 90 days, you may contact the SAO Problem Resolution Unit at saoinquiries@state.gov.  Many foreign nationals and immigration attorneys have reported a substantial increase in the number of Mantis “hits” since 2003, particularly for nationals from Russia, China and Hong Kong.

NCIC Criminal Database Checks

Consular officials also search the National Crime Information Center (“NCIC”) database for information on criminal convictions before issuing a visa.  Many people with common names receive a “false hit.”  This occurs when someone with the same or similar name appears in the NCIC database with a criminal conviction.  These false hits are occurring with increased regularity, and may take between 4 and 6 weeks to process.  The U.S. government recently added 7 million names to this database, of which as many as half were Latino.  This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of false hits and delays for persons with common Latino names. 

False hits are a major cause of delays in visa processing for visa applicants.  False hits can occur in both the Condor or NCIC criminal database.  People with common names such as John Smith, Juan Gonzalez, Xian Lee or Ali Mohammad are extremely likely to have a “hit” in one of these databases.

If you have a common name or an arrest or conviction, you may want to consider processing your visa as a Third Country National in Mexico.  Some consulates in Mexico have implemented a pilot fingerprint program.  This program allows posts to process clearances on "false" hits in the same day, while clearances for positive hits are often received in two days.