Guide to the U.S. Visa Appointment

If you are applying for a U.S. visa, one of the important steps in the application process is your U.S. visa appointment. What is it, and what should you expect? Take a look below to make sure you are prepared for your U.S. visa appointment. We’ll also give you tips on how to schedule (and reschedule) your appointment as needed.

What is a Visa Appointment? 

A visa appointment is one of the steps in your visa application process. This is also known as your visa interview. Not everyone is required to attend a visa appointment, but if you are, make sure you go prepared! 

Let’s take a look at some of the details. 

Who Needs to Attend a U.S. Visa Appointment? 

As a rule, if you are applying for a U.S. visa, you have to attend a U.S. visa appointment unless you can obtain a visa appointment waiver. You will be able to get a waiver if you meet any one of the following criteria:

• You are under 14 years or over 79 years old 
• You are applying for an A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 visa, or
• You are applying to renew your BCC, B-1/B-2, C-1/D, F, J, M, or O visa within the same classification.

In the above cases, you will be able to either waive your visa interview or the biometrics collection. You won’t be able to waive both. You will still need to schedule an appointment for the one not being waived. 

In some cases, you will never be allowed a visa appointment waiver. This will be where you are applying for an E-3, T, U, H-1, or blanket L-1 visa. If this is you, you will have to attend a visa interview – even if you are only applying for a visa renewal. 

How to Obtain a U.S. Visa Appointment Waiver

If you want to apply for a visa waiver, you have two options. You can either call the Visa Appointment Center (VAC) where you are applying, or you choose the visa waiver option online. If you are unsure, your VAC will be able to confirm whether you are eligible for a visa appointment waiver and whether you need to schedule an appointment or not. 

If you aren’t eligible for a visa appointment waiver, take a look below on how to go about your U.S. visa appointment. 

How to Schedule a U.S. Visa Interview Appointment

The first step is to complete your visa application form. For nonimmigrant visas, this would be the Form DS-160. You can submit your form together with the supporting documents online, and your VAC will process it. You will get a confirmation once they’ve processed your application and thereafter you can schedule your visa appointment. 

If you are required to have your fingerprints or photographs taken, you must remember to schedule these appointments on different days. First, schedule your fingerprints or photograph appointment and then schedule your U.S. visa interview appointment. 

Scheduling Online

You can schedule your visa appointment online. The website where you can schedule your visa appointment on will depend on the country you are applying from:

On the website, you must create an online profile and fill in all the required information. You will also need to select the location where the courier company can pick up your passport if your visa is approved. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services no longer allows passports to be picked up from the consulate, so you will have to select a private address. 

Scheduling Over the Phone

You can call the call National Visa Center and schedule your visa appointment over the phone if you don’t have easy access to the internet. 

The National Visa Center details are:

Phone Number: (603) 334 700
7:00 am to 12:00 midnight (EST)
Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Documents Needed for Your Visa Appointment

When you make your visa appointment (online or over the phone) keep the following information close by as you will probably need it:

• Your DS-160 barcode (confirmation number)
• The receipt number for your application fee payment
• Your passport number
• Your e-mail address
• Any information that is specific to the category of visa you are applying for. This would, for example, be your SEVIS number if you are an F, M, or J visa applicant.

U.S. Visa Appointment Medical Exam

All visa applicants must complete a medical exam by an approved physician in the country you will attend your interview. This is a physician that the U.S. embassy in your country has approved. 

Remember to take the following documents along:

• Your passport
• A copy of your visa interview letter
• Passport sized color photographs
• Copy of your immunization record
• Copies of any documents relevant to your medical history.

The medical examination doesn’t need to concern you, it’s just standard procedure. But to make you feel more comfortable, we’ll break down what you can expect at your immigration medical exam. 

What Happens at the Medical Exam?

Not every U.S. immigration medical exam will be exactly the same. You can, however, expect the physician to review medical history, do some blood tests, and possibly take chest X-rays. The physician will also conduct a physical exam. This can include examining anything from eyes, ears, nose, and throat, heart, lungs, lymph nodes, skin, abdomen, extremities, and external genitalia.

What Happens After the Medical Exam?

After the medical exam, your results will form part of your visa application. The physician could send it directly to the U.S. embassy or consulate, or they can give you the results in a sealed envelope. Don’t open the envelope! Take the sealed envelope with you to your U.S. visa appointment. 

The U.S. Visa Interview Appointment

Now we are finally at the actual appointment. You don’t have to worry or fret about your visa appointment. The trick is in preparing as well as you can beforehand.  Then you’ll know what to expect and can be confident as you go through the process. 

Part 1: Arriving

It is crucial to arrive on time for your interview. Even if there is a line and you have to wait for an hour or two, make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes earlier than your scheduled time.

Part 2: Fingerprint Verification

You will go through security when you arrive at the embassy. This could be various forms of body metal detection. Once you move through security, you will receive a token for your interview, and they will take your fingerprints. Once your fingerprints have been scanned, the officer assisting you will give you further instructions.

Part 3: The Interview

You can wait in the lounge area for your name to be called. When it is your turn, you will meet with an officer who can ask you a variety of visa interview questions. The exact questions will depend on what visa you are applying for. Here are some resources that can help you prepare for your visa interview.

Rescheduling the Visa Appointment

If you are late for your appointment or you can’t attend the scheduled time anymore, you can reschedule your visa appointment. You can simply call the Visa Application Center where you are applying to find a time and date that works for you. It is best to try and avoid rescheduling, though, as this will only cause further delays in your visa application process.

If you have any detailed or more complex questions, you can contact the USCIS directly.

Conclusion

Your U.S. visa appointment is important to get right, but not really complicated. As far as you can make sure you are on time and attend the date and time given to you to prevent unnecessary delays. Once you’ve ticked the visa interview off your list, you can leave the rest in the USCIS hands. Hopefully, you will soon be receiving your U.S. visa! 

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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