CEAC status “Ready”: what it means and how long it takes
As of 2 November 2026, none of the 4,507 cases VisaMoves tracks record how long they spent in "Ready", so we do not publish a time for this status.
Ready is commonly reported to mean the embassy or consulate has your case and it is ready for the next step, usually the interview or scheduling it.
What it means
- CEAC shows a one-line explanation of "Ready" when you look up your case; read it first. The notes below describe what applicants commonly report.
- Immigrant visa cases usually show Ready after the National Visa Center sends the case to the embassy or consulate, or when an interview is scheduled.
- Nonimmigrant applicants sometimes see Ready before the interview, once the application is linked to an appointment.
- Ready does not mean the visa is approved.
How long people stay in this status
We do not track how long cases spend in this status, so we do not publish a number for it. Time here depends mainly on scheduling at your embassy or consulate or at the National Visa Center.
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
- Follow the interview instructions from the National Visa Center or the scheduling site.
- If an officer issues a 221(g) at the interview, the status will usually change to Refused or Administrative Processing.
Quick answers
Does Ready mean my visa is approved?
No. It is commonly reported to mean the case is ready for the interview or the next step, not that a decision has been made.
How long does CEAC stay on Ready?
We do not track this stage. Time in Ready depends mostly on interview availability at your embassy or consulate.
Related CEAC statuses
- CEAC “At NVC”: what it means
- CEAC “In Transit”: what it means
- CEAC “Refused”: 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: Administrative Processing · Approved · Issued · Application Received · Expired
Community data, not legal advice.