USA Visitor Visa Interview Appointment

Setting up a visa appointment

• Visa interview appointment is required for those planning to obtain a visitor visa to USA.
• You can take a visa interview appointment online at VFS online appointment system.
• You can also walk in to a VFS center to set up your appointment.
• Do not wait until the last minute to book your interview — you may not get your preferred date and time.
• Before setting up appointment, determine which US consulate you need to apply to.
• See the list of US Consulates in India.
• Check earliest available interview date.
• Check the visa wait times at a specific US consulate.

Emergency appointments

Emergency appointments can be granted on a limited basis for medical or humanitarian basis emergencies only. Emergency appointment is for a real emergencies only. If it is found that you misrepresented the reasons for travel, such facts will be noted on your case file and it may have adverse affect on your visa interview.

How to obtain an emergency visa interview appointment?

To request an emergency appointment, please email your consular location specifying the purpose and urgency of travel. If your request for an emergency appointment is approved by the consular section, you will be sent a return email with details on further procedure to be followed.

Move visa appointment to a later date

You can move your appointment to a later date only once. To move your appointment to later date a second time, first cancel your current appointment and then book a new appointment.

Move appointment to an earlier date

To move your appointment to an earlier date, cancel your current appointment and then book a new appointment.

Cancel an appointment

• You can cancel your visa interview appointment up to two business days before your appointment unless your interview appointment is scheduled at the US Consulate in Mumbai. If your appointment is at the US Consulate in Mumbai, you can cancel your appointment up to four business days before the appointment.
• You can cancel your appointment only two times. After the second cancellation, your HDFC visa fee receipt is deactivated for 90 calendar days. You will not be able to book another appointment until the 90 days have passed.
• There is no fee for cancelling an appointment.
• You will not get a refund if you cancel your appointment.

Unable to attend visa interview?

Applicants who fail to appear for their visa interview appointment are considered "No-Show" applicants.

If you are a No-Show, your VFS service charge receipt is deactivated. You are required to reactivate your fee receipt prior to scheduling a new interview appointment.

Applicants scheduled at the US Consulate in Mumbai who fail to submit their documents a minimum of 3 days prior to their interview are not allowed to appear for their interview appointment. These applicants are also considered as No-Show and must reactivate their fee receipt prior to scheduling a new interview appointment.

Note that your visa application fee ( paid at HDFC) receipt is valid for a period of 1 year (365 days) from the date of purchase and entitles you to one appearance at the Embassy / Consulate General. So the same visa application fee can be used , as long as you reschedule your interview within 365 days.

Steps for a No-Show applicant to schedule a new appointment

• Contact VFS. You may have to pay the required fee for VFS service charge of Rs 180/- inclusive of service tax @ 10% and education fee @ 0.30% per applicant to reactivate your receipt.
• If something substantial in your situation has changed (e.g. travel plans, employment), a new DS-160 is required. Use the saved version to update your information and submit the new form. This will create a new CEAC barcode. If nothing in your situation has changed, use your original CEAC barcode while taking your appointment.
• Take a new appointment using VFS online appointment system.