CEAC status “Expired”: what it means and how long it takes
As of 2 November 2026, 358 of the 1072 tracked 221(g) cases with no reported outcome are more than a year past their interview date.
Expired is commonly reported to mean the application is no longer active, usually because a deadline passed without the next step being completed. The rules depend on the visa type.
What it means
- CEAC shows a one-line explanation of "Expired" when you look up your case; read it first. What follows is commonly reported and depends on the visa type.
- One related deadline is official: if an officer refuses a visa under 221(g) and asks for more information, the State Department says you have one year from the refusal to send it. After that you must reapply and pay the fee again.
- Immigrant visa cases can also be closed if the applicant does not respond for a long time. Check your notices or contact the National Visa Center to confirm.
How long people stay in this status
358 of 1072 tracked 221(g) cases with no reported outcome are more than 365 days past their interview. We do not track when CEAC shows Expired, so we cannot say how many of them did.
Based on reports applicants share publicly, anonymised. Cases with no outcome yet have no end date, so they are not in the medians. How we measure.
What to do next
- Check whether you were asked for documents and whether more than a year has passed since the refusal.
- For a nonimmigrant visa, you will usually need a new DS-160, a new fee and a new appointment.
- For an immigrant visa, contact the National Visa Center or the embassy or consulate before taking any step. Your options depend on the case.
Quick answers
How long do I have to respond to a 221(g)?
One year from the refusal date, per the State Department. After that you must reapply and pay the application fee again.
Can an Expired case be reopened?
It depends on the visa type and the reason. Check with the embassy or consulate, or the National Visa Center for immigrant visas.
Related CEAC statuses
- CEAC “Refused”: what it means
- CEAC “Administrative Processing”: what it means
- CEAC “At NVC”: what it means
- CEAC Refused to Issued: how long it takes
- What a 221(g) white slip means
- Wait times by consulate
- The 221(g) playbook: what to do and when
Other statuses: Approved · Issued · Ready · Application Received · In Transit
Community data, not legal advice.