US Visa ‘Clearance Received’ or ‘Department Authorization’ (Annotation)

Prior visa is annonated clearance received or Department authorization when visa stamp is issued after 221g Admin processing. Ineligible for dropbox.

Written by AM22Tech Team
  AM22Tech Team    Updated 2 Jan, 24


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Find if your prior visa is Annotated Clearance Received.

For DS 160 – Prior visa annotated question, check your visa stamp (foil) in your passport for this text:

  1. Clearance Received OR
  2. Department Authorization

If you do have this text, then you have to answer Yes to this question on the DS-160 form or while checking the Dropbox facility.

Am I eligible for Dropbox If I have a ‘Clearance Received’ Annotation?

If you are applying for a new visa stamp-like H1B from the same or new employer, but your last visa foil in your passport has this annotation, you are NOT eligible for the Dropbox facility.

The same holds for all visa types like B1/B2, L1/L2, H4, etc.

Why “Clearance received” is written on Visa?

When your visa stamp is issued after 221(g) admin processing, you will find “Clearance Received” or “Department Authorization” written on your visa which means that the US embassy contacted USCIS or another security agency to check on your name for more details.

There is nothing to worry about this text on a visa as it simply means that the US embassy did some extra background checks on your name. It can happen to anyone.

The Annotation section is blank on my visa.

You are good if there is nothing mentioned below the word ‘Annotation’ on your USA visa stamp.



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Written by AM22Tech Team
  AM22Tech Team