US Visa Appointment

Key Highlights

US visa procedure can be daunting for many people, especially first-time US visa applicants. Depending on the Take a look at some quick facts related to the US appointment process:

How to Book an Appointment for US Visa

After applying for a non-immigrant or immigrant visa for the US, applicants must schedule an appointment at the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC) to submit their documents and appear for the visa interview. They also need to submit the completed printed version of the US visa application and visit the consulate for biometrics.

The steps to book a US visa appointment are fairly easy and have been listed below:

Step 1: Go to the official website.

Step 2: Existing users can log in using ID and password. New users can register and proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Select the option ‘New Application/Schedule an Appointment’ at the top left part of the home page.

Step 4: There will be an option to select between ‘Immigrant’ and ‘Non-immigrant’ Visa. Click on the applicable visa. Select the State of Residence you are applying from. This will determine your Post of Interview automatically.

Step 5: You will be asked to select the language of the interview. Pick the language you prefer among the available options.

Step 6: Select the appropriate visa category. The following options are available:

• Business/Tourism and all other visas
• Crew
• Students
• J-exchange visa
• L1 (Blanket)
• Employment-based visas

Step 7: Choose the applicable visa class, such as B1/B2/F1/J1 and so on.

Step 8: Verify all the answers that you have provided, as no changes are allowed later. After verification, click on the ‘Continue’ button.

Step 9: You will see a list of terms and conditions. Read them carefully and click on the ‘I accept Terms and Conditions’ button.

Step 10: You will be directed to an online form requiring your personal data. Fill in the correct personal information. After filling in the correct information, click on ‘Continue’. The following information needs to be provided to proceed with the US appointment booking:

• Passport number
• Passport issuance date
• Passport issuance place
• Passport expiration date in MM/DD/YY
• Nationality
• Name
• Country of birth
• Gender
• DS-160 Confirmation Number
• Phone/mobile number
• Email ID
• Mailing address
• Program details (University/Company name, University Zip code. Etc. related to your university or place of work)

Step 11: If you have any dependents, then add them by clicking on the ‘Add by Name’ button. Then click on ‘Continue’

Step 12: There will be some personal questions related to your previous visa, any visa cancellations, any visa theft, US visa refusal etc. Answer them and click on next.

Step 13: Once the questions end, you will be directed to ‘Drop-off’ or ‘Interview’. Click on interview.

Step 14: Select the mode of delivery. You can choose between ‘Pick-up’ and ‘Premium Delivery’. You will need to mention the Mailing address along with the mailing postal code.

Step 12: You will be directed to the US Visa application fee portal. Depending on the type of visa, your fee amount will vary. You will see a pop-up regarding an important note for the US visa fee. Read it carefully before heading to the US visa fee payment. Click on ‘Confirm’.

Step 13: Choose your preferred mode of payment between NEFT/IMPS/Over the counter for the banks assigned.

Step 14: Print the receipt or applicable form and note down important information such as IFSC code, Unique Beneficiary Account Number, etc. You will also get a receipt number, which you must note down, for booking your US Visa appointment slot.

Step 15: On clicking next, provide the receipt number and proceed to the ‘Schedule OFC appointment’. Select the earliest available day and slot, depending on your availability.

Important US Visa Scheduling Tips

• Slot booking is for the city designated earlier while filling the form, also known as the post of interview.
• Appointment wait time for US Visa will differ with different embassy/consulate in India. For example, the waiting time for B1/B2 US Visa at Delhi Embassy is 247 days whereas it is 680 in Chennai.
• If scheduling for US visa appointment at a location different from your state of residence, make sure to check the non-resident wait times.
• US Visa wait time is very long so apply for your visa well in advance.

Documents Required for US Visa Appointment

These are the supporting documents for scheduling the non-immigrant US visa appointment:

• Indian passport valid for over 6 months beyond the intended date of departure from the US. If going with dependents, then each person must submit a separate set of documents.
• If your photo upload has failed while completing the online DS-160, then bring a photo along.
• MRV (Non-immigration visa application) fee payment receipt
• DS-160 confirmation page

Additional Documents for US Visa Appointment

• Documents related to the visa class (as applicable), for example, SEVIS fee receipt if applying for a F-1 US visa for students.
• Trip itinerary to state the purpose of your trip
• Financial ability to visit and stay in the US

The list of required documents will vary with visa category. For example, some students may need to buy travel insurance for students as per their university requirements. Make sure to go through the official website and prepare the documents accordingly.

How to Book Expedited US Visa Appointment

US Visa applicants can also request an expedited visa appointment in case of urgent travel through the official online appointment system. However, they must already have a confirmed interview appointment date so that they can request an expedited appointment.

Since the USCICS considers expedited requests on a case-to-case basis, you should meet their eligibility criteria. There are a few things to keep in mind:

• The USCIS may need additional documents proving your urgency
• The decision is solely based on the USCIS’s discretion
• Urgent criteria include severe financial loss, urgent humanitarian reasons, death in a family, critical medical treatment etc.
• Expedited US Appointment requests are not granted for graduation ceremonies, attending weddings, academic conferences, last-minute tourism etc.

Like other US visa appointments, you can apply for an expedited appointment after paying the visa fee. If your request is approved, you will get instructions via email. It’s strongly recommended that you don’t cancel your existing appointment date and slot unless your request has been granted and you receive a confirmation of the approval. If there are no updates about approval or denial, then it means that your request is under consideration.

As expedited appointments for US visas have limited slots, there is a high volume of requests. Not all travellers can be accommodated even if their purpose of travel is urgent or time-sensitive.

Tips to Prepare for Visa Appointment (2024)

It can be overwhelming to appear for an interview that will lead to the US visa decision after waiting for months. Here are some tips to help prepare for the visa appointment for the United States: