When you apply for a US visa, you will be required to appear in person for two different appointments. One appointment will be at the Visa Application Center (VAC), and the other will be a visa interview at a US Embassy or Consulate.
All appointments can be scheduled online here. You may want to check visa appointment wait times in your area before choosing a US Embassy or Consulate to schedule your appointment with, because some facilities may have longer wait times than others.
Setting Up a Visa Appointment
Your first visa appointment will be for biometrics, which includes fingerprinting and digital photographing. This appointment takes place at the Visa Application Center, or VAC.
The second appointment is your US visa interview, which will be held at the US Embassy or Consulate at which your interview is scheduled.
Key points to remember:
- You must schedule your VAC appointment at least one day before your visa interview appointment date.
- You can schedule both appointments online using through the Visa Appointment Scheduling website.
- Do not wait until the last minute to book your interview – you may not get your preferred date and time, and interviews can be hard to come by in today’s times.
- Before setting up appointment, determine which US Embassy or Consulate you need/want to visit. See the list of US Consulates In India.
- Check for the earliest available interview date and book it. You can always change or move up your appointment later on if an earlier option becomes available, or if you need to reschedule.
- Check the visa wait times at your local US Embassy or Consulates before scheduling your appointment.
Documents Required to Schedule Visa Interview Appointment
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended period of stay
- Visa application fee payment receipt
- DS-160 Form confirmation page
- E-mail address
Emergency Appointments
Emergency appointments can be granted on a limited basis for medical or humanitarian basis emergencies only. Emergency appointment is for 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 effect on your visa interview.
Making Changes to Your Appointment
To make changes to a current appointment, please log in to the USTravelDocs.com website and you can make changes while signed into your profile. You may also call the call center for assistance.
Cancel an Appointment
You may cancel your visa interview appointment if you are unable to attend. Please see the US visa appointment website for more details. If you are a no-show for your appointment, here is what you can expect.
