The State Department recently ceased using the 20-day hold that had been placed on certain nonimmigrant visa applications. While no list was ever made public, it was widely believed that it included more than 20 countries, either with large Arabic or Muslim populations. The hold period was designed to allow for information sharing between agencies, and now that better technology is in place, a set aside 20-day period is no longer necessary for the completion of all checks.
The elimination of this 20-day hold does not mean that any of the security measures in place are being changed. Since the grounds upon which a person will be subject to enhanced security procedures remain largely secret, travelers, especially those required to complete Form DS-157 (all male applicants aged 16 to 45 and anyone else the consular officer determines should provide the additional information) should be prepared for substantial delays at consular posts.
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