After completing your DS-160, the next step in your visa application is to schedule US visa appointment. This requires paying the visa fee, picking the location and date of your visa interview. Some countries require an additional appointment for fingerprints and photo.
The US visa appointment available dates vary from country to country and location to location. You can check the current wait times for visa appointments at the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
You can schedule US visa appointment anywhere in the world. If you are traveling and would need to schedule your US visa interview appointment in a third country, you can very well do so.
It is not mandatory to schedule your appointment in the same location as in your DS-160. You are expected to schedule your appointment in the same location. But if you have to attend your visa interview at a different location, you are still allowed to do so.
How to use this step-by-step guide?
The procedure to schedule US visa appointment is slightly different in Asia compared to the rest of the world. Therefore, this guide is divided into 2 parts. Part 1 walks you through the procedure to schedule US visa appointment in Asia and Part 2 in rest of the world.
- PART 1: Schedule US visa appointment in Asia
- PART 2: Schedule US visa appointment in Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa
I have listed out all sections and questions in this guide. For each question, there is a comment explaining what exactly needs to be entered.
***
PART 1: Schedule US visa appointment in Asia
The following are the steps to schedule US visa appointment in Asia
- New User Registration
- Visa Type
- Location
- Language
- Visa Category
- Visa Class
- Review
- Personal Data
- Dependents
- Age
- Previous Visas
- Documentation Delivery
- Payment Options
- Schedule Fingerprints and Photo Appointment (applicable only in some countries)
- Schedule Visa Interview Appointment
US Travel Docs Homepage
Before you jump into creating your profile and filling your appointment application, you must first read through the instructions thoroughly. Below are the steps to get to the instructions.
- Head over the US Travel Docs website
- Select the country from the map where you would like to schedule your appointment
- Select “Yes” to the question “Is this your first time applying for a visa and/or visiting our site?”
- Select “Nonimmigrant” to the question “Are you applying for a nonimmigrant or immigrant visa?”
- Nonimmigrant visa information and instructions will be displayed
- Read through the instructions to familiarize yourself with the application, the steps and the payment options
01. New User Registration
US Travel Docs Login page
After you read through the instructions, follow the below steps to register a new profile.
- Head over the US Travel Docs website
- Select the country from the map where you would like to schedule your appointment
- Select “No” to the question “Is this your first time applying for a visa and/or visiting our site?”
- Click on “Create Account” button under “APPLY FOR A U.S. VISA”
- You will be taken to “New User Registration” section
New User Registration page
Enter the following information in “New User Registration” section
- Select Country For Visa [Comment: Country will automatically be displayed. This field is not editable]
- Email [Comment: Enter your email where you would like to receive communication]
- First Name [Comment: Enter your given name from the passport]
- Last Name [Comment: Enter your last name or surname from the passport]
- Password [Comment: Enter a new password for your profile]
- Confirm Password [Comment: Enter the same password as you entered above]
- I have read and understood the Privacy Policy [Comment: Check this box]
- Type in the characters displayed in the box below [Comment: Enter the captcha]
Click on the “Submit” button to register a new profile. Make a note of your username (your email) and password. You will need these credentials to save and come back to your application later.
Dashboard
Click on “New Application/Schedule Appointment” from the left side menu to start scheduling your appointment. When you click on “New Application/Schedule Appointment”, you will be taken to “Visa Type” section.
02. Visa Type
Visa Type page
Enter the following information
- Select whether you are applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa or an Immigrant Visa [Comment: Select “Nonimmigrant Visa” for B1/B2. If you are scheduling an appointment for other types of visas such as H1B, L1, etc, select the appropriate type]
- Immigrant Visa
- Nonimmigrant visa
Click on “Continue” to go to the “Location” section.
03. Location
Location page
Enter the following information
- Please Select Your Country or State of Residence [Comment: Select the location where you want to schedule your visa appointment]
Click on “Continue” to go to the “Language” section.
04. Language
Language page
Enter the following information
- Language Of Interview [Comment: Enter the language in which you want to give your visa interview. You will be asked questions in this language]
Click on “Continue” to go to “Visa Category” section.
05. Visa Category
Visa Category
Enter the following information
- Please select a visa category that applies to you [Comment: Select “Business/Tourism, Crew and All Other Visas” from the options]
- Business/Tourism, Crew and All Other Visas
- Students and Exchange Visitors
- L1 (Blanket)
- H&L visas
Click on “Continue” to go to “Visa Class” section.
06. Visa Class
Visa Class page
Enter the following information
- Select Visa Class: [Comment: Select “B1/B2 – VISITOR FOR BUSINESS AND PLEASURE” from the options]
- B1 – VISITOR FOR BUSINESS
- B1/B2 – VISITOR FOR BUSINESS AND PLEASURE
- B2 – VISITOR FOR PLEASURE OR MEDICAL TREATMENT
Click on “Continue” to go to “Review” section.
07. Review
Review page
Enter the following information
- Please make sure all selected information is correct before continuing [Comment: Review the information and make sure everything you have entered is correct so far]
Click on “Continue” to go to “Personal Data” section.
08. Personal Data
Personal Data page
Enter the following information
- PASSPORT DETAILS
- Passport Number [Comment: Enter you passport number as in your passport and DS-160]
- Passport Issuance Date [Comment: Enter your passport issue date]
- Passport Issuance Place [Comment: Enter your passport place of issue]
- Passport Expiration Date [Comment: Enter your passport expiration date]
- Date of Birth [Comment: Enter your date of birth as shown in your passport]
- Nationality [Comment: Enter your nationality]
- First Name [Comment: Enter your given name from your passport]
- Last Name [Comment: Enter your last name or surname from your passport]
- Country of Birth [Comment: Enter your country of birth]
- Gender [Comment: Enter your gender]
- DS-160 Confirmation Number [Comment: Enter your DS-160 confirmation number]
- CONTACT INFORMATION
- Phone Number [Comment: Enter your phone number]
- Mobile Phone [Comment: Enter your mobile number]
- Email [Comment: Enter your email]
- MAILING ADDRESS
- Address Line 1 [Comment: Enter your address]
- City [Comment: Enter your city]
- State [Comment: Enter your state]
- Postal Code [Comment: Enter your postal/zip code]
Click on “Continue” to go to “Dependents” section.
09. Dependents
Dependents page
Enter the following information
- Please click “Add by Name” or “Add Existing Applicant” if you have a group/family member (including a child) who needs to apply for a visa with you. [Comment: Click on the “Add by Name” button to add the dependents that need to attend the visa interview with you]
Add/Edit Dependent page
If you would need to add your dependents, click on “Add by Name” button and enter the following information.
- Relationship [Comment: Select your relationship with your dependent from the options]
- Spouse
- Child
- Father
- Mother
- Daughter
- Son
- Other
- DS-160 Confirmation # [Comment: Enter your dependent’s DS-160 confirmation number]
- First Name [Comment: Enter your dependent’s given name from the passport]
- Last Name [Comment: Enter your dependent’s last name or surname from the passport]
- Gender [Comment: Select your dependent’s gender]
- Date of Birth [Comment: Enter your dependent’s date of birth as shown on the passport]
- Country of Birth [Comment: Enter your dependent’s country of birth]
- Nationality [Comment: Enter your dependent’s nationality
- Passport Number [Comment: Enter your dependent’s passport number]
- Passport Issuance Date [Comment: Enter your dependent’s passport date of issue]
- Passport Issuance Place [Comment: Enter your dependent’s passport place of issue]
- Passport Expiration Date [Comment: Enter your dependent’s passport date of expiration]
- Primary Phone # [Comment: Enter your dependent’s primary phone number]
- Alternative Phone # [Comment: Enter your dependent’s alternative phone number]
- Email [Comment: Enter your dependent’s email]
Click on “Save” to save your dependent’s information.
If you have more than one dependent that needs to attend the visa interview with you, click on “Add by Name” to add more dependents.
When finished adding all your dependents, click on “Continue” to go to “Age” section.
10. Age
Age page
Enter the following information
- Are you (the visa applicant) under 14 years or age? [Comment: Click “No” to continue]
- Are you (the visa applicant) 80 years of age or older? [Comment: Click “No” to continue]
11. Previous Visas
Previous Visas page
Enter the following information
- Do you have a previous B-1/B-2 visa (visitor visa)? [Comment: Click “No” to continue. Click “Yes” if you had a previous B1/B2 visa]
NOTE
If you select “Yes” to the above question, you will be asked a few questions to determine if you qualify for the visa renewal and interview waiver.
12. Documentation Delivery
Documentation Delivery page
Enter the following information
- Specify Documentation Delivery [Comment: Select “Pick Up” or “Delivery” from the options]
- Pick Up [Comment: Select this option if you would like to pick up your passport from visa application center or courier head office]
- Delivery [Comment: Select this option if you would like to receive your passport by mail to your home]
Click on “Continue” to go to the “Payment Options” section.
13. Payment Options
Payment Options page
On this screen, you will see different payment options. Click on each option to see the instructions on how to make the visa fee payment.
At this point, the visa application is already saved. Familiarize yourself with the payment options and pick the payment method that works best for you.
Available Payment Methods
- Electronic fund transfer (ETF) from a local bank account
- Cash payment at a designated local bank
- Country-specific local payment options (mobile payments, wallets, etc)
a. Electronic fund transfer (ETF) from a local bank account
Follow the below steps to pay your visa fee by electronic fund transfer
- On this screen, select Electronic Fund Transfer
- A unique account number will be displayed
- Make a note of this unique account number as you will need this to make your visa appointment
- Make an electronic fund transfer to this unique account number from your local bank account
You will be able to schedule your appointment on the next business day after the visa fee payment is made.
NOTE
If more details such as bank name, bank address, etc are required to make an electronic fund transfer, those details will also be displayed along with the unique account number.
NOTE
You must transfer the correct amount. Incorrect amounts can lead to delays.
b. Cash payment at a designated local bank
Follow the below steps to pay your visa fee by cash at a designated local bank
- On this screen, select Cash at Bank
- A link to download/print the visa application deposit/collection slip will be displayed
- Print the visa application deposit/collection slip
- Fill all the necessary details on the deposit/collection slip
- Take the deposit slip with you to the bank and make the visa fee payment
- You will be given a receipt, save the deposit slip and receipt
You will be able to schedule your appointment on the next business day after the visa fee payment is made.
c. Country-specific local payment options (mobile payments, wallets, etc)
Follow the below steps to pay your visa fee by a local payment option such as mobile payment, wallet, etc. These options differ from country to country.
- On the payment screen, select your country specific local payment option (such as mobile, wallet, etc)
- Instructions on how to make the payment will be displayed
- Make the visa fee payment and make a note of the receipt or transaction number
You will be able to schedule your appointment the next business day after the visa fee payment is made.
After the payment, come back to the website and login with your credentials. You will see a “Continue” option on the left side menu. When you click this “Continue” option, you will be taken directly to the “Payment” screen.
Payment page
Enter the following information on the “Payment” screen
- Receipt Number [Comment: Enter the receipt number of your visa fee payment]
Click “Continue” to schedule your visa appointment.
NOTE
If your receipt has become active, you will be taken to the schedule appointment screen. If not, you will be shown an error saying that the receipt number is not valid. In that case, try again after some time. Remember that the receipt number becomes active on the next working day of your payment.
14. Schedule Fingerprints and Photo Appointment (applicable only in some countries)
On this screen, pick the date and time for your fingerprints and photo appointment.
Click on “Continue”.
Print your fingerprints and photo appointment confirmation. You will need a copy of this appointment confirmation for your fingerprints and photo.
NOTE
Appointment for fingerprints and photo is ONLY REQUIRED in certain countries such as India, etc. The appointment for fingerprints and photo must be scheduled at least 1 day ahead of your actual visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.
15. Schedule US Visa Interview Appointment
On this screen, pick the date and time for your visa interview appointment.
Click on “Continue”.
Appointment Confirmation
Print your US visa interview appointment confirmation. You will need a copy of your appointment confirmation for your visa interview.
NOTE
The appointment for visa interview must be scheduled at least 1 day after your fingerprint and photo appointment.
NOTE
The US visa appointment available dates can vary greatly from location to location. There may be several days wait in certain countries and cities. Before you book US visa appointment, I recommend checking the current wait times at the Bureau of Consular Affairs website to get an idea on when you can find an available slot.
***
PART 2: Schedule US visa appointment in Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa
The following are the steps to schedule US visa appointment in Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Profile Creation
- Signup
- Activate Your Account
- Applicant Information
- New Applicant
- Confirm Applicant and Visa Information
- Special Conditions
- Dependents
- Courier Details
- Payment
- Schedule
- Instructions
01. Profile Creation
US Visa Appointment Homepage
To schedule US visa interview head over to the Visa Information and Appointment System for the Embassy of the United States website. Select the country where you would like to schedule US visa appointment.
Sign Up page
Click on “Apply” to create a new profile. Enter the following information on the next screen.
- Please select the condition that best applies to you: [Comment: Select “I have completed U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa application (DS-160) form and I need to apply for a visa” from the options]
- I am a diplomat, other government official, Fulbright Scholar, or participant in another U.S. Government sponsored program.
- I have completed U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa application (DS-160) form and I need to apply for a visa.
- I am a Company, Travel Agent, or Other Organization that needs to schedule appointments for a group of people.
- I need to apply for a K (Fiancé(e)/Spouse/Child) visa.
- None of the above applies to me.
Click on “Continue” to go to the next step.
New Profile page
Enter the following information on the next screen.
- Given Name [Comment: Enter your given name from your passport]
- Surname [Comment: Enter your surname from your passport]
- Email [Comment: Enter your email]
- Email Confirmation [Comment: Reenter your email]
- Password [Comment: Enter a password for your profile]
- Password Confirmation [Comment: Reenter the password]
- Text Alerts [Comment: Select the check boxes to the terms of service and privacy policy]
IMPORTANT
It is very important that the information you enter must match with your passport and DS-160.
Click on “Create Account” to create a new profile. You will be taken to “Activate Your Account” screen.
Activate Your Account page
Account Acitivation email
Account Activated page
Check your email for an activation email from the US visa info website. Click on the activation link in the email. You will be taken to the activation success screen.
Click on “Continue” to go to the next step. You will be taken to the “New Applicant” Screen.
02. Applicant Information
a. New Applicant
New Applicant page
Enter the following information
- Given Name [Comment: Enter or review your given name from your passport]
- Surname [Comment: Enter or review your surname from your passport]
- Country/Authority that issued Passport [Comment: Enter the country of your passport]
- Country of Birth [Comment: Enter your country of birth]
- Passport Number [Comment: Enter your passport number]
- DS-160 Number [Comment: Enter your DS-160 number]
- Visa Class [Comment: Select “B1/B2 Business & Tourism (Temporary visitor)” from options]
- B1 Business/Conference
- B1/B2 Business & Tourism (Temporary visitor)
- B2 Tourism/Medical Treatment
- C1 Transit
- C1/D Crewmember in transit
- D1 Crewmember
- E1 Treaty Trader / Child of an E1 / Spouse of an E1
- E2 Treaty Investor / Child of E2 / Spouse of an E2
- E3 Australian Spec. Worker
- E3D Spouse or Child of an E3
- F1 Student
- F2 Spouse or Child of an F1
- F3 Commuter Student
- H1B Speciality Occupation
- H1B1 Chilean or Singaporean Spec. Occupation
- H1C Nurse in shortage area
- H2A Agricultural Worker
- H2B Nonagricultural Worker
- H3 Trainee
- H4 Spouse / Child of H1B
- H4 Spouse / Child of H1B1
- H4 Spouse / Child of H1C
- H4 Spouse / Child of H2A
- H4 Spouse / Child of H2B
- H4 Spouse / Child of H3
- I Foreign Media Representative / Spouse or Child of an I
- J1 Exchange Visitor
- J2 Spouse or Child of a J1
- L1 Intra-company Transferee
- L2 Spouse or Child of an L1
- M1 Student
- M2 Spouse or Child of an M1
- M3 Commuter Student
- O1 Extraordinary Ability
- O2 Alien Accompanying/Assisting
- O3 Spouse or Child of an O1 or O2
- P1 Internationally Recognized Alien
- P2 Artist/Entertainer Exchange Program
- P3 Artist / Entertainer in Cultural Program
- P4 Spouse or Child of a P1, P2, or P3
- Q1 Cultural Exchange Visitor
- R1 Religious Worker
- R2 Spouse or Child of an R1
- T1 Victim of Trafficking
- T2 Spouse of a T1
- T3 Child of a T1
- T4 Parent of a T1
- T5 Sibling of a T1
- TD Spouse or Child of a TN
- TN NAFTA Professional
- U1 Victim of Crime
- U2 Spouse of a U1
- U3 Child of a U1
- U4 Parent of a U1
- U5 Sibling of a U1
- Date of Birth [Comment: Enter your date of birth]
- Gender [Comment: Enter your gender]
- Primary Phone [Comment: Enter your primary phone number]
- Text Alerts [Comment: Agree to terms of service]/li>
- Email Address [Comment: Enter your email address]
- Were you previously issued a visa to enter the United States? [Comment: Select “No” | Select “Yes” if you were issued a visa to the US before]
- Is the applicant traveling from another country to apply for a visa in
[Comment: Select “No” | Select “Yes” if you reside in a different country but will be traveling to this country for interview]
Click on “Create Applicant”. You will be taken to “Confirm Applicant and Visa Information” section
b. Confirm Applicant and Visa Information
Confirm Applicant and Visa Information page
Enter the following information
- Does this Visa Type match your travel? [Comment: Review information and select “Yes” | Select “No” if you see any discrepancy]
c. Special Conditions
Special Conditions page
Enter the following information
- Select the Conditions That Apply To This Applicant [Comment: Select the appropriate option]
Click on “Confirm” to go to “Dependents” section.
d. Dependents
Dependents page
Enter the following information
- Do you want to add another applicant? [Comment: Click “No” to continue to the next step | Click “Yes” if you have dependents that need to attend the interview along with you]
New Dependent page
If you clicked “Yes”, enter the following details
- Given Name [Comment: Enter or review your given name from your passport]
- Surname [Comment: Enter or review your surname from your passport]
- Country/Authority that issued Passport [Comment: Enter the country of your passport]
- Country of Birth [Comment: Enter your country of birth]
- Passport Number [Comment: Enter your passport number]
- DS-160 Number [Comment: Enter your DS-160 number]
- Visa Class [Comment: Select “B1/B2 Business & Tourism (Temporary visitor)” from options]
- B1/B2 Business & Tourism (Temporary visitor)
- Date of Birth [Comment: Enter your date of birth]
- Gender [Comment: Enter your gender]
- Primary Phone [Comment: Enter your primary phone number]
- Text Alerts [Comment: Agree to terms of service]
- Email Address [Comment: Enter your email address]
- Were you previously issued a visa to enter the United States? [Comment: Select “No” | Select “Yes” if you were issued a visa to the US before]
- Is the applicant traveling from another country to apply for a visa in
[Comment: Select “No” | Select “Yes” if you reside in a different country but will be traveling to this country for interview]
Click on “Create Applicant” to add the dependent. Repeat this step if you need to add more dependents.
03. Courier Details
Courier Details page
Enter the following information
- Document courier pick up location (no extra fee) [Comment: Select the location where you would like to pick up your passport from]
Click on “Continue” to go to the “Payment” section.
04. Payment
Payment Options page
On this screen, you will see different payment options. At this point, the visa application is already saved. Familiarize yourself with the payment options and pick the payment method that works best for you.
Available Payment Methods
- Pay by Cash
- Pay by Credit Card
a. Pay by Cash
Cash Payment page
Follow the below steps to pay your visa fee by cash at a designated local bank
- On this screen, select Pay by Cash
- The screen to download the instructions will be displayed
- Download and print the bank cash payment instructions
- The PIN and bank account numbers are unique to your visa payment
- Remit the exact amount shown in the instructions at the specified bank
Cash Payment not Confirmed page
Cash payments are automatically confirmed and updated in your application within 2 business days. Go back into your application and check the status of your payment. If you see a “still not confirmed” message, just wait for sometime and check again.
b. Pay by Credit Card
Credit Card Payment page
Follow the below steps to pay your visa fee by credit card
- On this screen, select Pay by Credit Card
- Enter your Billing Address
- Enter your Credit Card details
Click on “Make Payment”. Your payment will be confirmed and taken to “Schedule” screen.
05. Schedule
On this screen, pick the date and time for your fingerprints and photo appointment.
Click on “Continue”.
Pick the date and time for your visa interview appointment.
Click on “Continue”.
NOTE
Appointment for fingerprints and photo is ONLY REQUIRED in certain countries such as Mexico, etc.
06. Instructions
Appointment Confirmation
On this screen, your fingerprints/photo appointment confirmation, US visa interview appointment confirmation and instructions, will be displayed
Print your confirmations. You will need a copy of your confirmations for your fingerprints/photo and US visa interview.
***
That’s it, folks! Follow this step-by-step guide to schedule US visa appointment. If you have any questions or stuck at any step, feel free to comment here or email me.
***
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Hi thirumal
I applied for the visa and it got rejected. Now i m going to apply for the 2nd time and i completed my DS 160 form. Now i want to schedule my appointment. Before paying my visa fee, i need to get the deposit slip. Interestingly, i have seen that the CGI reference number in deposit slip does remain same like the previous one ( the one which was used to apply for 1st time) . Isn’t need to be different CGI number?
Hi Shahriar! No, the receipt number is unique for your current appointment. When you pay the fee, the bank sends the receipt number to the visa appointment system. Then your receipt number becomes active so you can continue scheduling your appointment.
hi thirumal,
But every time we apply, an unique CGI reference number generates which is shown in deposit slip. my payment has been made against that cgi number. but it must not be showing as same as before. i have found that the case was the new ds 160 number wasn’t updated in this website. it remains like as before. thats why same cgi reference number generated perhaps. problem is when i updated my profile with new ds 160 application id, following the next steps, it’s showing same cgi reference id. it has to be a unique number. i think in this case i have to wait 4 days to get expired so that i re apply with new id, but i m unable to wait for that long.
what if i create a new profile even if they discourage us to open a new profile ?
Hi Shahriar! Since you have scheduled an appointment before, you have an existing account. That is fine. Here are a few things to follow –
– When you log into your account, click on “New Application/Schedule Appointment”.
– On the “Personal Data” page, you may see your “OLD DS-160” number. You would need to update that with your “NEW DS-160” number. You can do that after paying the fee as well.
– On the “Payment Options” screen, if you are seeing the “old receipt number” on your “notification slip”, then clear your cookies and use a new browser window. Try again.
Note: If you still think the receipt number is same, then create a “new account” with a “new email”.
HI Thirumal ,
Thanks for the suggestion.
If i open a new profile with another email address, will it be a problem? since they advised not to open a new account.
Who advised you not to open a new account? I haven’t seen that anywhere. Can you send me a link?
Hello. I just got a b1b2 visa refusal 1st of April 2019. Here are my questions;
1. How long should I wait before reapplying?
2. Is it a good idea to choose a different location for the interview? I chose Lagos, Nigeria for the last one. I’m considering choosing Abuja, Nigeria for the next one if I’m reapplying.
3. Also, do I have to open an entirely new application this time or just edit the previous application and make the necessary changes?
I’m sorry for the lenghty write up. Thanks in advance.
Hi Adedamola! Sorry to hear that!
1. You can apply as soon as you can. There is no waiting period. But I suggest first looking into your situation and refusal reasons. Fixing those and reapplying will improve your chances. If your reapply without any changes in your circumstances, you will likely be denied again.
2. It doesn’t matter. The US visa offices will have all your previous records. I suggest avoiding a crowded consulate through.
3. Yes. You have to create a new DS-160, pay the fee again and schedule a new appointment.
Thank you Thirumal. Here’s another question. I’m considering applying for Canadian tourist visa. I heard the US and the Canadian embassies both share data about visa applicants. Do I have to fill the same info exactly as the ones on my DS-160? Thank you.
Hi Adedamola! Yes, I believe the US and Canada embassies share visa and travel data. Canada visa application is different and has a few different questions. You must fill both DS-160 and Canada visa applications honestly to the best of your knowledge.
1.How long would it take a for a receipt number to be activated if I paid at an axis bank counter . I tried after 4 hrs it didnt work .
2. Would I receive an email regd the receipt number from ustravel docs?
Hi Mahesh!
1. Usually, the receipt number will be active on the next working day. 4 hours is not enough. You would need to wait a bit longer.
2. No. You will NOT receive an email when the receipt number becomes active. You will have to just try your receipt number to schedule your interview. If the US Travel Docs site won’t let you schedule the interview, then your receipt number is still not active.
Hi Thirumal, I have applied for a US visa, my appointment date is June. I want to ask can I change the location of the interview to a less crowded consulate or is it too late for that?
Also, I have a letter of invitation from my uncle who is also my sponsor and I am a student(though I’m finishing this year) and I have a son though we are both dependent on my parents right now. My question is that enough reason to tell them I will be returning (that is school and my son)?
I will be taking along my school id card, school fees payment receipt, course form, my son’s birth certificate and pictures. What else can I take along and what are my chances as I’m not currently employed and don’t have any source of income.
Thank you
Hi Teefah! Unfortunately, you cannot change your location. You can only change the date once you already scheduled your interview.
US visa officers do not ask for any documentation or letters. They believe that documents and letters can easily be created/faked and therefore they don’t ask for any. Therefore, sponsorships don’t really work unless the sponsor is your spouse, parents or children.
You have strong family ties which is a good thing. But not having a source of income of your own can make the visa officer assume that you may involve in remuneration activity (work) in the US. Therefore, your chances of visa approval are somewhat weak. But, give it a try and see. Good luck!
Hi Thirumal,
I am from Hyderabad. Now working in Bangalore. I have completed filling DS-160 form
I have selected option INDIA, HYDERABAD for “select location where you will be applying for visa” in DS-160 form. As Bangalore option was not present. Now while I’m about to fill visa application, Bangalore(Karnataka) option is available along with Hyderabad.
What is the difference, I am a little confused? What should I select now in Visa application?
Hi Abhilash! When you select the “location” in DS-160, the consulate in that location will be notified of your application. But it’s not mandatory to attend the interview in that location. Visa officers in all locations will have access to your DS-160, so attending your interview in Bangalore is not an issue.
Even if you are asked during the interview why you are attending your in Bangalore, you can always explain. It will not impact your visa decision.
Hi Thirumal,
First of all, thank you for your guide! I have completed the DS-160. Would be okay to change or update the submitted DS-160 third time? Thank you!
Hi Mosatttt! If you haven’t submitted your DS-160 yet, you can change/update the entered data as many times as you want. But, if you have already submitted your DS-160, you cannot change or update it. You have to complete a NEW DS-160 in that case.
Good day! I already filled up a DS-160 form I am just wondering if this really usual or not. I didn’t see any questions regarding my previous work, countries that I traveĺled and so on and so forth. But with my husband’s DS-160 application those questions are there. I’m a bit confused.
Hi Joney! That is quite normal. Previous work, travel history, etc are only needed for (1) all male applicants and (2) all applicants (male and female) from countries considered as questionable. Therefore, it’s perfectly normal to not see those in DS-160 for some applicants.
Hi Thirumal,
I just made an application for a B1/B2 Tourist Visa and have paid the MRV fee. The issue is that I cannot arrange an appointment and say it is not available and have to try later.
MRV fee is valid for one year. What if there is none available in the next year? I know it is non-refundable but it is very annoying that I cannot get an appointment at the London embassy.
Any Advice as to how I can get an appointment? I completed this during the weekend.
Many Thanks,
Hamza
Hi Hamza! You are supposed to check the current wait times before paying the MRV fee. That way, you can get an idea whether you want to apply at a particular consulate/embassy or pick a different one.
You can check the current wait times at any US consulate/embassy on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. It shows that the current wait times for tourist visas at London consulate is only 3 calendar days. You must see open spots. If you don’t see any at all then it could be a browser issue on your side or a technical issue on their side.
Applied for US visa and completed DS-160 form a month ago. Got the confirmation as well. However, due to various reasons, I have not paid the fees and also not scheduled any interview for the visa. Meanwhile, I will be traveling on summer vacation for a few months. Can I allow the submitted DS-160 form to expire and re-apply a new DS-160 application form later after few months? Are there any issues in re-applying the application form without attending the interview?
Hi Venkat! Yes, you can discard your existing DS-160 and fill a new one. Not sure how long it takes to expire your current DS-160, but you can always fill a new one. There are no issues in filling a new DS-160.
The DS-160 number that you specify while scheduling your visa interview is the one that will be used/reviewed during your visa interview. All other DS-160s that you filled will not be used and won’t be relevant.
Hi Thirumal,
Thank you for your response. Yeah, I submitted the DS-160 afterward I released I did a mistake. Then I submitted a new DS-160 with new Application ID by retrieving the previous DS-160 form. So my question is
1) Is it okay to complete new DS-160 again for the third times?
2) I am applying for 86 years old grandpa to visit his child and grand-kids. I selected the purpose of travel both B1/B2, but he is coming for visit only. Should I select just B2 or its okay both B1/B2?
If you respond to me as soon as you can that would be great. Thank you so much for all your help Thirumal.
Hi Mosatttt!
1) Yes. You can complete a new DS-160 form for the third time. Actually, you can fill as many DS-160s as you want but only the one that you specify while scheduling the visa appointment will be used for the interview.
2) B2 is fine since the applicant will only be traveling for tourism (family visit) most of the times.
Hi Thirumal, I have paid the Visa fees on 15th Apr at 10 30 PM. How long will it usually take for receipt number to get active? It is still not active till today 17th Apr 7 AM. Is there any way we can find the status/reason for it taking this long.
There are RRN and Receipt No in the payment slip. Which one should be considered? Thnx.
Hi Vishal! The receipt number becomes active on the next working day. But if you paid your fee at 10.30pm (night), you would need to wait till afternoon or evening the next working day. If not, try the next day.
You have to use the Receipt No.
Ok, I guess this for the tourist visa but I am asking regarding immigrant visa. I got a case number from immigrant visa section at embassy case activated but when scheduling an appointment for visa interview I get the error case id entered not found. I contacted them and they tell me it’s uploaded. Now they say wait for further guidance. This has been going for 11 days do you know what sort of problem that causes this? I am in Jordan a
Hi Amal! Unfortunately, my experience and knowledge are only in tourist (non-immigrant) visas. I’m not really aware of scheduling appointments for immigrant visas. Sorry!
Hi, My issue is quite complex. I have an important conference to attend at the University of Virginia, USA from June 17-21, 2019. However, the nearest available interview appointment time is August 22, 2019. I requested for an expedited interview process and was denied. However, I will be travelling to Japan on a tourist visa from May 23-June 7:
1) Can I schedule my visa interview at the US Embassy in Tokyo instead (their nearest available date is April 18, 2019)?
2) Can I cancel my previous appointment (the one I created just so I can activate the Request an Expedited interview button) on my US Embassy in Nigeria portal and use the same MRV receipt number to schedule an interview in Tokyo during my visit dates (I have to create a new account on the Embassy in Japan’s website)?
3) Can I use the same DS-160 form that I previously used to apply for a US visa in Nigeria to schedule my new interview date in Tokyo?
4) Does my visiting Japan on a tourist visa affect my interview decision?
5) What is your honest opinion on my case?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Esther!
1) Yes. You can schedule to attend your US visa interview in Tokyo. It’s allowed.
2) You can cancel your previous appointment in Nigeria. But you cannot use the same MRV to schedule the appointment in Tokyo. The fee payment options and procedure varies from country to country. Check the US embassy in Tokyo website for information and instructions.
3) Yes. You can use the same DS-160 for your appointment in Tokyo.
4) No. You visiting Japan has no effect on your US visa interview.
5) I think you should attend your interview in Tokyo. It is not mandatory to schedule the US visa interview in your home country. This provision exists for situations like these, so you can schedule the interview wherever it’s convenient for you.
Hi Thirumal, I canceled my DS-160 application and did another afresh. Please note that I already paid and scheduled an appointment. From the comments here, you said the one used in scheduling will be used for the interview. My problem now is the two DS-160 forms hold different information and would very much like the first one to be disregarded. My question is will the detail on the application be retained or just the application id?
Hi Bisi! All information on the DS-160 will be retained until it is expired (I think 6 months). In order to have the visa officers use your second DS-160 for the interview, you have to schedule a new interview. That means you have to pay the fee again.
The other option is to somehow convince the visa officer to use the second DS-160 during your already scheduled visa interview. I don’t know if they will consider your request, but you can try.
I helped my mom prepare for her appointment. After I scheduled her appointment she noticed there was a mistake on her place of birth. What we did was cancel the scheduled appointment. Then change the old DS-160 to a new one and then chose another schedule. We did not pay again just canceled the schedule and input the new D-S160 before picking another schedule.
Hi Grace! Thanks! Good to know. I learned how to do this later.
Also, I found out that you can also take a print of the new DS-160 confirmation to the appointment. Then the VO will scan the barcode on the new DS-160 and will use that for the interview. It is just a workaround for those fearing that they may be able to get the schedule they want if they cancel the existing one.
Hi Thirumal! I recently scheduled an appointment for J-1 exchange visitor visa but I picked the wrong visa category of M-1 rather than F-1 or J-1 in the appointment portal. Please how can I correct this, and what are the implications if not corrected? Thank you!
Hi Babashola! You cannot change your visa category after you have scheduled your visa appointment. The only option for you is to clear it up with the visa officer during the visa interview so there won’t any confusion.
Hi, Thirumal! Thanks for your response. However, I was able to change my Visa category from M1 to J1 last night, simply by canceling my appointment and booking a new one. I was advised to do so by the US embassy. I also did not pay a new visa fee because both F1 and M1 visas are the same price.
Thank you and have a nice day.
Hi Babashola! That’s great! Thanks for sharing the information! It’s definitely useful to other readers.
I have a quick question for you. What other fields were editable? Was “DS-160 Confirmation Number” field editable as well? I get asked a lot if they can update their DS-160 confirmation number after they have scheduled the appointment. It may be possible if they cancel the appointment and rebook it (just like you did). But I have never tried it myself and have no personal experience in doing so. Any information on that will be appreciated.
Dear Thirumal,
YES, the DS-160 Confirmation Number is editable as many times as possible, provided its not within 72 hours to the interview date. It is only the First name(s), Surname and Passport numbers that are locked-in and not editable in my visa appointment profile portal. If the profile is to be updated within 72 hours to the interview date, then it is advisable to inform the US embassy customer service.
I hope this helps.
Hi Babashola! This information will definitely help others. Thanks for taking the time to share the information!
Does anybody know when is the right time for visa slots? I see a wait time of 55 days for every consulate. Is there like a good time like evening or night or weekends when to look for, where people cancel or new slots available so that I can block one? This is for a B2 visa for parents to the USA.
Hi Chethan! Unfortunately, I don’t know the best times to look for available slots. We will wait and see if any other readers have similar experiences.
You are welcome Thirumal
Hi Thirumal,
Thanks a lot for the useful post! I have applied for a US travel visa through an agent in Hyderabad. He has chosen the language as Telugu while scheduling the appointment. However, I want to change it to English now. Do you know if this can be done?
Hi Kartik! Yes, you can change it. But you would need to first cancel your existing visa appointment. Then you can change any detail (including language) and re-schedule your appointment. The only drawback with it is you may not be able to get the appointment on the desired date and time as the wait times vary.
Hi, I am in the process of applying for a visitor visa and added two dependents. The payment receipt with one CGI ref no is generated and includes the fee for all 3. I have yet not paid. The next screen in the background displays enter receipt number showing each member name. Will the bank give 3 receipt numbers? or I will have to enter the same number in all 3 names?
Secondly, while adding dependents there was a question on the relationship with the name being added. While adding the name of my child I wrote “father” is it correct or it should have been “child”? If it is incorrect, can it be changed now before paying fees? How?
Hi Som Patel! You have to enter the same CGI ref no for all 3 names. If you have dependents, the payment receipt generated will include the fee of all (primary applicant and dependents). After the payment is made and the CGI ref no is activated, you can enter the same CGI ref number for all 3 applicants. Sometimes, the CGI number will be auto-populated in your application on payment activation.
It should be “child” (I have it the other way in the guide, which is wrong. I will fix it. Sorry about that!). It’s the relationship of the dependent to you.
Yes, you can change any detail (including dependents) before scheduling the appointment. When you log into the website, you see a blue bar on the top with “Visa Type”, “Post”, “Visa Category”, etc. You can click on one of those options and it will take you back to those steps. From there you can edit your dependent details.
Pleasant day,
I want to know if after completing and submitting my DS-160 application and make fee payment on April 22, 2019, will I be able to select an interview date all the way in October of this year?
Hi Anonymous! Honestly, I don’t know how far in advance you can schedule an appointment. That being said, it also depends on the consulates and their wait times. You may be able to schedule an appointment in October if it’s a busy consulate.
Dear Thirumal,
Pleasant day! How do I reschedule an appointment to an earlier date? I filled my purpose of travel for a wedding in the US for July 6 but the earliest available date I saw was July 31st so I picked it but now how can I reschedule to a date before July 6th because the dates keep moving further away.
Hi TP2! Keep an eye on the current wait times on the US Bureau of Consular Affairs website. If you see the wait times drop then cancel your existing appointment and book a new one. If it is a busy consulate, there is a slight chance that you may not get an earlier appointment.
I am traveling with a group that is dependent on me. Do I need to choose another date for them for interview apart from the date have been given already?
Hi Orikemi! You can have you and your entire group attend the interview at the same time. Group appointment scheduling is different from individual appointment scheduling. Look up the instructions on the US Travel Docs website.
Thirumal thanks a lot for your comment, I really do appreciate. I have an appointment already that indicates the entire number of persons going with me. I was hoping that should be all we need, or there are is anything more to be done?
Hi Orikemi! That is all you need. Make sure everyone in the group carry their DS-160 confirmations, original passport (old and new) and an additional Id. Cell phones and bags (backpacks and handbags) will not be allowed inside the consulate.
Hello,
I scheduled my appointment and paid the visa fee for both me and my spouse. Does she need to schedule her own appointment or is she already included? When she tries to schedule a new one, it says the receipt ID is not valid.
Thank you!
Kirsti
Hi Kirsti! Your spouse must be already included in the appointment. It must be a family appointment for both of you. If you are not certain, answer the below questions to figure if your spouse is included in the appointment.
– Can you check the appointment confirmation to see if both of your names are included?
– Did you add your spouse details in “Dependents” section while scheduling your appointment?
– When you entered the receipt number while scheduling your appointment, did you see “two” fields? One for “your” receipt number and one for your “spouse’s” receipt number? (you will enter the same receipt number for both if you have paid the visa fee for both)?
Hi, I want to reschedule my appointment but the appointment was book with another person email and I try to change it to my own email by selecting new user, I have filled all the pages but I was taking to a page to upload my passport of which I did but I am receiving mail that my account change was denied because of the passport upload does not match. Is my appointment date still intact because I am confused?
Hi Omotola! I’m not aware of the procedure to change email addresses on the account. There may be additional security measures to confirm the change was in fact requested by the correct person. If the passport number on the account doesn’t match with the passport you uploaded, the account change may not be processed.
I made a spelling error on one of my dependents while filling the visa appointment profile. How do I correct it?
Hi Kaycee! You may have to cancel the appointment first to fix the error with your dependent.
I suggest first to see if you can edit it without canceling the appointment. If not, then you have no choice but to cancel the appointment first and then make the correction.
Hi, thanks for your blogs. Really they are very useful. One more confusion. I have already filled the form. Now on payment, I choose the payment by card but I’m confused. What I’ll write on billing address? What does that mean? I will write the company name address?
Hi Sunita! Billing address is the address that’s on file for your account with the bank. This is the address where you receive new cards (after the current expires), bank statements, etc. This is to make sure that you are the rightful owner of the card. If you don’t remember the billing address for your card, you have to contact your bank.
While getting student USA visa interview scheduled, my daughter’s new profile could not be activated. What can we do?
Hi Dipali! Check your email for the activation link. If you don’t see the email in the inbox, check the spam folder. Without the email, you cannot activate her account. You will have to create a new account with another email.
Hi
I am trying to schedule an appointment for H-1B stamping in India and in the process, I accessed the CGI Apply for US Visa website. I was trying to skim through the dropbox waiver questions multiple times only to find out that I am not eligible for dropbox. I left the window open and looks like it timed out.
I finished my DS160 form and with my bank reference (CGI reference with my profile), I tried to login to book an appointment and my account failed with an error “Your login attempt has failed. Please check username and password”. I checked with USTravelDocs team via online chat and they informed that my account is frozen and that I will have to log back in 24-72 hours. This happened on Wednesday night. As I have an impending travel, I tried to login again now after 36 hours and it is still showing the same error.
How to overcome this and should I wait for 72 hours? Will creating a new profile help even though the bank reference number is for the CGI reference that I generated from my old profile? Any help?
Hi Karthik! Yes, there are limits on how many times you can log into CGI or refresh your dashboard. This is to avoid automated bots accessing the system. Usually, the account will be unlocked within 24 hours. 36 hours or even 72 hours seem to be too long for me.
I honestly don’t know if you can use your existing CGI reference number with another account. A lot of times, the CGI number is auto-populated on the payment screen once the CGI number is activated, which indicates that the CGI number is unique to that account. I suggest asking this question to the USTravelDocs team.
Thanks Thirumal! My issue is resolved. Looks like, we have to wait 72 hours for the account to unfreeze. In my case, I waited for a good 80 hours and then logged into the website and it was letting me schedule an appointment. I will be treading the pages carefully as I wasn’t sure which action of mine froze the account earlier. Meaning, I did not do a back/refresh on the pages. Just wanted to share this info.
Regards
Karthik
Thanks for sharing the info, Karthik! Definitely useful to other readers. Hope you were able to schedule your appointment.
Hi Thirumal
Yes. I was able to schedule an appointment. I have a question and will start a new thread question.
Thanks
Karthik
Hi Karthik/Thirumal,
I am facing a similar issue right now while trying to book an appointment for my parents. I was going back and forth between the OFC appointment dates and VI dates dashboards and I got the message “You are approaching the maximum number of times you may view this page. Please complete your transaction at this time.” after a few attempts.
I immediately logged out and tried logging in after some time only to find that the account had been partially frozen as I got the “There are currently no appointments available” on the OFC dates dashboard. After some deep research on the internet, figured out that retrying after 12 AM EDT would unfreeze the account.
Now, it is 1 AM EDT and when I try to login, I get the “Your login attempt has failed. Please check username and password” message like Karthik has posted in the original comment.
Do I have to wait for 72 hours from the time of last login attempt to be able to login again?
Karthik, did you attempt to login into the account during the ~ 80 hours or did you just let it be?
Any info on this will be really helpful as we are running out of time for my parents to be here for a crucial event.
Thanks
Vignesh
Hi Vignesh! I will let Karthik answer this for you.
Hi Vignesh
It is unfortunate that the accounts get frozen due to some actions that we perform on the scheduling website. In my case, I tried after 36 hours of my account freeze and I was still getting the same error. I called +1 703 520 2239 (an exclusive number for US callers) and I was told that it will unfreeze in 24-72 hours and the rep told me to wait for 72 hours. Since they mentioned 72 hours, I thought I will wait until the cutoff hour and then try. To be on the safe side, I waited 8 more hours and was then able to access my account.
Hope this helps.
Thanks
Karthik
Thanks for the help Thirumal and Karthik! I was able to login into the account again today after 72 hours and schedule an appointment. And I don’t understand why they have to mention 24-72 hours when it is 72 hours for literally everyone in this situation from what I have read on multiple forums.
Anyways, thanks again for the help!
Vignesh
Hi Vignesh! That’s good to know. Good luck with your interview!
Hi Thirumal,
Is there a possibility of requesting an interpreter or translator to assist during the interview?
Do you know if they provide one or can I take one with me to assist the process?
Many thanks
NP
Hi NP! Usually, there will be VOs that speak the local language. While scheduling your appointment, you can select the “local language” as your language for the interview. Then you will be interviewed by the VO in the local language.
Hi Thirumal,
I went through your step by step guide for scheduling an interview and can’t see anywhere the choice of choosing the local language.
Do you mean when I arrive at the interview to ask for someone at that point?
Regards
NP
Hi NP! If you are scheduling your interview in Asia (using USTravelDos website), you can select the language for your interview in “04. Language”. If you are scheduling your interview in the rest of the world (not in Asia), then you have to ask at the consulate. There is no way to choose language while scheduling.
Hi! I filled the forms to apply for my USA visa but unfortunately I only received the information email. How can I pay for my visa while I never received the email with the instructions to pay at the bank? Is there any way I can pay using my information paper?
Do I need to apply again for me to get the payment instructions paper? Thank you!
Hi Florah! Your email should have a PIN and a unique account number. If not, check the email attachment. You need the PIN and account number to remit your payment in the bank.
If you don’t have the PIN and account number in your email, go back to the payment screen and select “pay by cash. This will take you to the next screen and it will automatically download the instructions on to your computer.
If for some reason, it didn’t download the instructions, then just click on the GREEN button “Download Instructions” (sometimes the button just says “Please Wait”).
Hi Thirumal
I have a follow-up question. Due to my account freeze, I could not get the desired date in US Chennai Consulate. Here is what I did:
1. Scheduled OFC appointment in Chennai (for fingerprinting/biometrics)
2. 5 days later, scheduled visa interview in New Delhi US consulate (I got a date that I wanted)
When I created the DS160 form, I selected US Chennai Consulate and filled the form in entirety. Do I have to modify anything now by retrieving the application? I am worried that this will involve changing the DS160 form as the alphanumeric number will change. Let me know your comments as it allowed me to select any consulate on the last page.
Thanks
Karthik
Hi Karthik! You don’t have to do anything to your existing DS-160. Just leave it that way. Bring a print of your DS-160 confirmation page with you to the interview.
It is not mandatory to schedule your visa appointment at the same consulate as your DS-160. The visa appointment system will allow you to select any consulate that works for you. This is to accommodate incidents like your’s (cannot get a desired date), unforeseen travels, etc.
Awesome. Thanks Thirumal!
Hi Thirumal
1. I want to reschedule my appointment to check for a sooner time. Will clicking on reschedule cancel my current appointment?
2. I want to change the location of my consulate as well within the same country, is this possible?
Hi Jag!
1. Yes. Rescheduling will first cancel your current appointment and then show you the availability.
2. Yes, you can change your location. Most fields will become editable once you cancel your current appointment. You may be able to select a different consulate this time.
I paid the visa fees more than a week back but cannot see the receipt no. reflecting anywhere on the dashboard, so unable to schedule an appointment. What could have gone wrong?
Hi Rina! In some instances, the receipt number will be auto-populated on your payment screen (not on the dashboard). If not, you just enter the receipt number yourself and continue scheduling your visa appointment. You can find the receipt number on the payment slip that you printed and used to make the cash payment in the bank.
Hi, can you schedule an appointment for a visa interview before filling in the personal profile since applicants are waiting to renew passport which is about 5-7day? Just trying to get the earliest appt. available. The form needs passport no and expiration. Thanks!
HI Marilyn! You cannot. DS-160 confirmation number is a mandatory field. You won’t be able to schedule your appointment without entering your DS-160 confirmation number.
There are some workarounds such as entering random DS-160 number and passport number, but I’m not sure if the system will accept those and can be edited later.
My CGI account got frozen for the 2nd time. Is it possible to remove the freeze on my account (they say it is by the system and require 24-72hrs)? Please provide a solution for the same. Thank you.
Hi Chetan! Unfortunately, the algorithm to determine when to freeze an account is built into the system. There is no solution or workaround. You may have to wait 72 hours. Refer to the comment from Karthik. He had to wait a good 80 hours for the account to unfreeze.
Hi! Dear Thirumal, What is visa priority? What should I select “no show” or “regular”?
Hi Fadila! Those are country specific options. Could you please explain (or copy paste) what is underneath those 2 options? So I can understand the options better.
Hi Thirumal,
I have just completed my DS 160 form for B1/B2 visa but have not yet submitted or paid any fees.
My question is – 1) Once I submit, can I select the date of interview of my choice? What is the maximum duration it allows a candidate for scheduling? For example, if I submit the form in May, does it allow me to schedule an interview in August (consider the same DS 160 form)?
2) In case I do not pay or schedule my appointment after DS 160 form submission, does the application expire after a certain amount of time? Do I have to refill that?
Hi Avipsa!
1) You are allowed to schedule an appointment as far in the future as you can. That means, if you go into the system today and see that there are appointments available in August, you can very well select the dates in August. Also, the MRV fee receipt will be valid for 1 year, so you will have at least a year to schedule your appointment.
2) DS-160 form will not expire but you are advised to fill a new form if you haven’t used your old one for about 6 months. Information such as US travel plans won’t be current if you haven’t used your DS-160 form for a while.
Hey there, terrific blog! Does running a blog like this require a massive amount work? I have very little understanding of coding but I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyhow, if you have any suggestions or techniques for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off topic nevertheless I just needed to ask.
Thanks!
Hi Abadicash! Yes, it does require a lot of work. As the blog grows, it requires even more work. It’s a commitment. Your readers expect you to respond, help and guide them. But I get a great pleasure seeing my readers secure their visas and travel the world.
I have been meaning to write an article on that topic as well. I have been running this blog for over 3 years and I learned a lot. I would like to put all my knowledge and experience in running a blog into one article. Hope to get it out soon.
Hello, I’m Ade. Please, I would like to change my interview date but the only available one is in September. How do I go about getting/buying an earlier date?
Hi Ade! If the appointments are not available, then try after some time or the next day. Schedules open up as other applicants cancel or reschedule their appointments. Also, you can try scheduling your appointment at a less busy consulate.
I was trying to schedule a new appointment but I don’t understand what they mean by select Visa Priority:
1. Previously Refused – If you have been interviewed and/or refused within the last 6 months, please select “previously refused”. Applicants will be denied visas for false misrepresentation.
2. Regular
And I choose 1. Previously Refused because I was refused B1/B2 visitor last year 16th of October, 2018 at Abuja, Nigeria consulate, but this time I want my interview to be in Lagos, Nigeria consulate and all I got is “THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE”
Please, what do you think I can do now should I choose “2. REGULAR”?
Thanks
Hi Olu! Certain options are country specific. Those options may be are specific to Nigeria. Either way, the appropriate option for you is the option “1. Previous Refused in the last 6 months”. If the appointments are not available, try after some time or the next day. But selecting “2. Regular” would be a misinterpretation.
Do we have to take payment confirmation page for Europe visa appointment?
Hi AAS! Yes, along with your visa appointment confirmation and DS-160 confirmation, you must also carry your payment receipt.
Hi Thirumal,
I overlooked and was not able to change the default country which is Algeria when I created a profile. I’m from the Philippines. Is there any way to edit the country? I cannot see any section there that I can edit to change the country from Algeria to the Philippines. I tried to create a new profile but the system already saved my profile and would not allow me to create a new one.
Or can I just still continue to use my profile with the wrong country and schedule my interview?
Thanks in advance for helping a lot of people here :).
Hi Reggie! You cannot change the country as the account you created is specific to that country. Even if you go ahead with that account, you will only be able to select the consulates in Algeria.
You have two options –
1. Contact US Travel Docs customer assistance and see if they can either change the country for you or at least delete the account, so you can use the same email to create a new account for the Philippines.
2. Create a new account for the Philippines with a new/different email id.
Hi, do you know how long it takes to get USA visits visa after a successful interview at London consulate?
Hi TJ! Usually, you will be able to pick your passport or receive by email within 5-10 working days. In my opinion, pick up is the fastest option.
Hi,
I got a question about dependent / adding.
What we did was, my sister created an account and filled out the details to schedule an interview. When we reached on the page – dependents, – Do you want to add another applicant? she added to me since we want to be scheduled at the same time and we’re planning to visit our sister’s family. Is that okay? I do have a separate account but we decided to have it under hers.
Now I try logging in on my account, I do not see anywhere the information or that it was linked to my sister’s. Will this be an issue? I tried putting my DS-160 file number and it just says already taken.
thanks in advance
Hi Erwin! Your sister should add you as a “dependent/another applicant” in her account while scheduling her interview. That way, you both can attend the interview together at the same time. Therefore, what your sister has done is the correct procedure.
Your account is separate from your sisters, so it won’t show that you have an appointment. Only your DS-160 is required and it was already entered/linked in your sister’s account. That is all you need and you are all set.
Thanks Thirumal. I did the option 2 which I created new profile using different email but they detected I already got the same personal/profile information in their system. I will go ahead and contact the US Docs.
Hi Reggie! That’s interesting. Anyway, let me/readers know how it went after you talk to the US Docs.
Hi there,
So I’ve completed the DS-160 form and paid the MRV fee but I’m currently unable to schedule an appointment at the London embassy. This might be a silly question, but I’m a little confused about the appointment wait time. The appointment wait time is currently listed as 15 days. Does that mean that I’ll have to wait 15 days just to schedule the appointment or that there may be an appointment slot available in 15 days? Thanks in advance!
Hi Adena! It means that there may be an appointment slot available in 15 days.
Hi Thirumal,
I just sent an email to support@ustraveldocs.com and they corrected my set country within 24hrs.
Now I’m trying to schedule an appointment for an interview for the whole family but they cannot found the MRV receipt nos yet. I will try again tonight maybe their system is not yet updated.
One more question Thirumal, if I add my four kids that going with me on visa interview, do I still need to schedule them one by one? I created a profile for all of them though.
Or does the schedule I made and them under my dependent should be enough for all of us?
Appreciate your help. Thanks!
Hi Reggie! The MRV receipt number takes about 24 hours to become active. After that, you will be able to schedule an appointment.
Only the primary applicant needs to create a profile and add all his/her dependents. Then the applicant can schedule one single appointment for the entire family. In your case, you just have to add your four kids as dependents (or persons attending the interview along with you) in your profile. That way, when you schedule the interview, it will be for all 5 of you. All of you have to go to the embassy on the specific date/time and will be interviewed together.
Good day,
How do I add family members if I had clicked “no” to the “add dependents” option then my family members later decided to apply with me?
Hi Sher! If you have already scheduled your interview, then you must contact US Travel Docs. The procedure is complicated as it depends on when your interview is scheduled. They will be able to answer your question.
Note: If you haven’t scheduled your interview yet, then you can add your dependents by going back to the “Dependents” screen. You can then continue as usual where you will be given the receipt number to make the MRV fee payment, etc.
At what point in the application process would I know if I qualify for an interview waiver?
Hi Leela! If you are applying from Asia, after you enter your dependents and your age, you will be asked a series of questions on your previous US visas. That’s when you will be told if you qualify for the interview waiver.
Look for section “11. Previous Visas” in this article. It explains it.
US embassy has put an appointment waiver on renewal of non-immigrant visas that are less than one year old. How do I fill the application if I am not applying for an appointment and how will I get the required documentation to pay the fees at the bank? I forgot to say this is Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies.
Hi Shirley! Just like a regular applicant, you have to create a profile and follow the steps. At step “11. Previous Visas”, a series of questions will be asked to determine if you qualify for the interivew waiver. If you do, then it will provide you with the information on fee payment and document submission.
I have booked and scheduled an appointment with the old passport details and then got my passport renewed. Is it possible to update the new passport number on the appointment confirmation page? Or would I have to cancel and book again?
Hi Ankita! Some fields are non-editable and passport number may be one of them. In order to edit those fields, you must first cancel the appointment.
Also, you must update your passport number in your DS-160 as well.
Please Sir,
I am trying to schedule my US Visa appointment and I noticed the First date of Appointment is September and I am planning to visit the US in July with my work Leave Approved for July.
What do I do and I have submitted my DS-160 form.
Hi Nwosu! You have two options
1. Go ahead and schedule an appointment for September. Then keep an eye on the wait times in that consulate. When the wait times drop, cancel and reschedule your appointment. You may be able to find an appointment in July but there is no guarantee.
2. Check the wait times in all the consulates in your country and schedule your appointment at the consulate where wait times are shorter.
You can check the current wait times at any consulate here.
Hello,
I fixed my appointment for visa interview yesterday on 14-May-2019 . I was trying to login on cgifederal today (15-May-2019) to reschedule my appointment and checked the available dates, few times but all of a sudden couldn’t login because i got an error saying that “Login attempt failed.Please check username and password”. I am sure i put in the correct credentials. I even tried clicking ‘Forgot Password’ and got a temporary password. I entered that as well and still got the error. Am I missing to do something here? Also how many times can i reschedule?
Hi Ambika! This is a common occurrence. When you go into the schedule appointment page too often, your account will be frozen for 72 hours. You will only be able to log back in after 72 hours. The account freeze is in place to avoid bots controlling appointment schedules.
If you read comments here, many have faced this problem and they had to wait a good 80 hours to log back into their accounts. Forgot passport will not help in this situation.
Hi Thirumal,
I paid for the Visa fees, but when I go to the next step of scheduling an appointment, I get an error saying “there are no available appointments at the selected location. please try again later.” The approximate wait time for my preferred location is 58 days. I have tried another browser but the message is same. How often should I try to schedule the appointment. It has already been a day that the error message is same. If the slots open up, will I get an update? Am I already in their queue list. Or a person who has submitted an application after me has an equal chance of getting an appointment.
Hi Reena! Everyone has an equal chance. Others may be able to book an appointment if it becomes available.
I suggest checking the available appointments often and when one becomes available, book it immediately. Keep in mind that there is a limit on how many times you can go into the schedule appointment page. If you go in there too often, your account will be frozen for 72 hours. You will lose access to your account for 72 hours in that case.
My advice is to check for the available slots right after midnight once a day.
Hello Thirumal,
I just want to appreciate your website. My account has been frozen and I had no clue of what went wrong. I searched through the internet and found your website which helped me greatly by reading the comments and understanding that I will have to wait for 72 hours to log back in. I do have a question here. I clicked on the forgot password button and got a mail with the new password. So after 72 hours, do I log in with my original password or the one I received in the mail?
Thanks and Regards,
Ambika
Hi Ambika! With the one that you received in the email. If you have received a new password in the email, then your password is already changed. You cannot use your changed password yet as your account is still frozen.
I am currently working and resident of Banglore. Is it mandatory to book interview appointment to nearest consulate or can I book anywhere in India? Will they ask why did I book in other place, though Chennai is near to me?
Hi Leena! The US consulates are located geographically to cater to the applicants from those regions. But it is not mandatory to select the one nearest to you. You are free to select any consulate for your interview. If asked, just tell them why you have selected a different consulate, whatever your reason for that is. It won’t affect your visa result.
Usually, applicants pick consulates based on factors such as
– Nearest to where they live
– Nearest to where they work
– Nearest to a place where they will be at a certain time, for instance, visiting family, conducting business, etc
– Availability of appointments for a desired date
Hi Thirumal/Karthik,
When I logged in today morning at around 8am to book my interview date, it said that “Currently no available appointments” so I logged out and logged in three times. After that, I was not able to log in as it said: “Please check username and password”. I guess my account has been frozen for 72 hours.
1) Is there anything that I can do to unfreeze it?
2) Why did it say that “Currently no available appointments”? Is it because I was too early?
Thanks,
Anuj Anand
Hi Anuj!
1. There isn’t much you can do. You may have to wait for 72 hours. If you read the comments from Karthik and others, they had to wait a good 80 hours to be able to log back in.
2. If it is a busy consulate, the appointments fill up quickly. The number of available appointments depends on the type of visa, the number of applicants and the available visa officers. If you see that there are no available appointments, you may have to check back later.
Hi, I submitted an application and also deposited H4 fees online to make a visa appointment date. It’s been two days and I haven’t received any response from the bank. There is no way I can track as well. What should I do now?
Thanks,
Shilpa.
Hi Shilpa! You will not receive any notification/response from the bank. You just have to use your receipt number to schedule your appointment. If the receipt number is still not active, the system will not let you schedule the appointment. If your receipt number is active, the system will let you schedule the appointment.
In some instances, as soon as the receipt number becomes active, it will be auto-populated in your payment screen.
Hi,
My name is Chandana. I have been trying to schedule my visa appointment and looks like my account got frozen. Now I am not able to login at all. When i called the customer support, they mentioned that it would take 24 to 72 hrs to unfreeze. So we should not check in between if the account got unfreeze or not? Can you please let me know on this?
Thank you
Chandana
Hi Chandana! Though they say 24-72 hours, it usually takes 72 hours. If you login within that time, you will not be able to get in. I suggest waiting for 72 hours since the time your account froze. If you read the comments here, many of the readers had to wait a good 80 hours to get back into their accounts.
Note: If you go into the schedule screen too frequently, your account gets frozen.
Hi, I am already scheduling my US Visa appointment and I noticed that the First date of Appointment is June and I am planning to visit the US at the end of May with my work Leave Approved. What should I do? When I tried to find an appointment date can I pay the visa fee again?
Hi Rufael! If there are no available interview dates before your intended travel date, you have a few options
– Delay your travel to June or later
– Keep checking the waiting times in that consulate. When the wait times become less, you may be able to find an appointment earlier than June.
– Check the wait times at consulates in other locations. If you see a consulate with much shorter wait times, book an appointment there.
Hello I am Amy,
I already have a US visa, but I want to travel with my kids, so I applied for them and filled out the DS-160. But it shows no appointments are available. The fees were paid 2 days ago but I only just put in the receipt number and saw no appointments. What do you suggest I do?
Also, will I be interviewed again for applying for my kids? My visa is still valid.
Hi Amy! If the appointments are not available, check back after some time. If it’s a busy consulate, the appointments fill out pretty fast. I suggest logging into your account once a day to check for any available appointments.
No. Your visa will not be affected. But you may be asked questions such as why do you want to take your kids to the US, etc. Your answers may affect the visa result of your kids.
Hello! I am applying for a B1/B2 visa along with my husband. In payment options, I have chosen over the counter at CITI Bank. I got one payment slip with a single CGI reference nos and having amount 320$.
I just want to confirm that we can use same CGI reference/receipt nos for our both visa applications? It’s not something like unique nos for every visa application. Please confirm. Thanks in advance.
Hi Kriti! It will be just one payment slip and one CGI reference number for both of you. When the receipt number becomes active, you will enter the same receipt number for both of you to schedule the visa appointment.
I am applying for my family. My kids will pay the same amount as adults $160? How can I apply for the appointment?
Hi Alex! Yes, your kids will also have to pay the same amount as adults ($160). While scheduling the appointment, add your kids as dependents. Then in the payment screen, you will be able to print the payment slip for the total fee (you plus your kids). Pay the fee and then you will be able to schedule a single appointment for everyone (you and your kids).
Hi
I have started an application for student visa F1 for the united states and selected the city Mumbai and also paid the fee but the receipt number is yet not generated as I did an NEFT.
However, after paying I wanted to check the first date availability so I went to the first page of the application and changed the center.
My query is that as I know the receipt number comes directly on the box to be filled after one business day but as I went back and made changes after the payment will I have to make the payment again?
Hi Sushreeta! You can make as many changes as you want. It won’t affect your payment. And, you won’t need to make a payment again.
How F-1 visa differs from J-1 visa when it comes to validity?
Hi Asad! The visa validity depends on nationality. Here is the link to check visa validity by country.