score:2
"My application is under administrative processing but I need my passport returned to me by mail"
is the third option on this contact form:
https://fr.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-section-contact-form/
It doesn't give a time frame, but you might find comfort in the fact that the occurrence is common enough to warrant its own option on a contact form, which means they must already have a process in place for dealing with this. I apologize for the other poster who disparaged your situation as "low frequency" and "unusual."
Upvote:-2
I wanted to know how long it would take to get passport back if I request such a thing under βadministrative processingβ option.
There are no known publicly available statistics for such low frequency unusual events.
Is cancelling the visa process faster than requesting passport back while keeping visa process going in the background?
Primarily opinion based. Your best option is to call the embassy.