background checks
Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, there has been an increase in the number of criminal background checks done for all visa applicants. State Department consular posts use a computer program called the Consular Lookout and Support System (CLASS) to check names and visa eligibility of all visa and passport applicants.
Before September 11, 2001, CLASS had 6.1 million records from various government agencies. Since then, the State Department has added over 7.3 million new records, primarily FBI criminal history data, to its CLASS computer system. If you have ever been arrested, or if you have a name that is similar to someone who has been arrested, the record will need to be cleared before a visa can be issued. This process can take as long as six to eight weeks.
