If your UAE visa application has been sitting at “under process” for days and then weeks, you are not alone. For many Pakistani applicants, this long wait does not mean rejection. It often means a security clearance check is still running in the background, and until that check finishes, nobody — not your agent, not the typing centre, and not the airline — can move the file forward.
This is frustrating, especially if you have a flight booked or a job waiting. Understanding why these checks happen and what you can sensibly do while you wait will save you money and stress.
What “Under Process” Actually Means
When a visa is submitted, it passes through several stages. The documents are entered into the system, the fee is recorded, and the application is checked against immigration and security databases. For Dubai-issued visas this runs through GDRFA Dubai and its Amer centres. For visas issued by Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain, it runs through the federal ICP system.
“Under process” simply means a decision has not been issued yet. It is not a hidden code for rejection. Some applications clear in a short time, while others are selected for a deeper check. That deeper check is often called security clearance. Officers may be confirming your identity, checking whether your name matches a watch list, reviewing a previous UAE record, or verifying details with another department. None of this is visible to your agent, which is why agents often give vague answers during this stage.
Why Pakistani Applications Are Often Checked More Closely
Extra checks are not applied to every Pakistani applicant, but certain patterns make a longer check more likely. A very common name, shared by thousands of people, can trigger a name match that must be cleared manually. A previous visit to the UAE, especially with an overstay, a fine, or a changed visa status, also invites a second look.
Other common triggers include:
- A first-time application with a brand new passport and no travel history
- A profession listed as labourer, driver, or another category that has historically seen high overstay numbers
- Applying soon after a previous rejection or a cancelled visa
- Small differences in name spelling or date of birth between documents
- Applying through a new agent or a channel you have not used before
None of these factors means you have done something wrong. They simply mean an officer needs to be satisfied that you are the person in the documents, and that there is no unresolved record attached to your name or passport number.
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What You Can Do While You Wait
The most useful step is to confirm, once, that your application was actually submitted correctly. Ask your agent for the application or transaction number and a screenshot or receipt showing your name, passport number and date of submission. Check every spelling carefully. If the passport number was entered incorrectly, tell the agent immediately, because a wrong number can stall or misdirect the whole check.
After that, agree on a single point of contact and a sensible checking rhythm, such as one update request every few working days. Calling many agents and typing centres does not speed up a security check and often produces conflicting stories.
Protect your travel plans while you wait. Avoid paying in full for non-refundable flights or hotels until the visa is approved, and ask about date-change options early if you already have a booking.
When a Long Wait Becomes a Problem to Act On
A wait of a few extra days is common. When the delay stretches into several weeks, ask your agent, in writing, whether the file is still active, whether any additional document has been requested, and whether a follow-up has been lodged through the proper channel. Sometimes a request for a clearer passport copy, a better photograph, or an additional document sits unanswered because the message never reached you.
Be careful with anyone who offers to “clear” your security check for an extra payment. No agent in Pakistan or the UAE can pay to remove a genuine security hold. Money handed over for that promise is usually lost, and a parallel application submitted elsewhere at the same time can create a duplicate file that complicates matters further. If the application is finally refused after the long wait, follow the normal steps after a rejection: get the refusal in writing, ask what reason was recorded, and fix that specific issue before you apply again.
Mistakes People Make During the Wait
The biggest mistake is submitting a second application through another agent while the first is still under process. The systems can flag duplicate applications, and the second file does not jump the queue. Another common error is cancelling in anger and reapplying the next day with slightly different details, which can look inconsistent and trigger a fresh, longer check.
People also lose money trusting posts that claim an insider can release the visa in 24 hours. If a solution sounds secret and expensive, it is almost certainly a scam.
UAE visa procedures change regularly. Before you apply again or rebook travel, check the current requirements yourself on the official portals — ICP at icp.gov.ae for federal services, and GDRFA Dubai at gdrfad.gov.ae if your visa is Dubai-issued — so you are working from today’s rules, not an agent’s old habit.
