Apply for an Expedited Appointment
On this page:
- Overview
- Qualifications
- Applying for an Expedited Appointment
Overview
If you have an unforeseen travel need as per one of the criteria listed below, you may qualify for an expedited appointment depending on availability at the U.S. Embassy. It is important to ensure you meet all the criteria, because applicants are only allowed to create one expedited appointment request.
Qualifications
Emergency appointments may only be granted for serious emergencies.
All applicants requesting an expedited appointment are required to first pay visa fees for a regular visa appointment. Applicants who are granted an expedited appointment but are subsequently refused a visa or who missed their interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate will not be allowed to utilize this option to obtain another expedited appointment.
Please note, that if your request for an expedited appointment is denied you wouldn't be able to make a second request during the course of your visa application.
You will have to attend the regular appointment you scheduled initially.
Emergencies may include:
- Life or Death Emergency
- Urgent Business Facilitation
- Student and Exchange Visitor Facilitation
- ESTA Denied - You may request an expedited visa appointment if you are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program partner but have received notice that you are no longer eligible to travel to the United States under that program. Such travelers include those who are dual nationals of Iraq, Iran, Sudan or Syria, or those who have travelled to Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, or Somalia after March 1, 2011. Your travel must be imminent to qualify for an expedited appointment. Please include in your request the date and purpose of your travel.
Essential documentation:
- A copy of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection message you received regarding your ESTA status.
A lack of planning to obtain the proper visa in advance does not constitute an emergency. The risk of missing a booked flight or other travel arrangements is no reason for an emergency case.
Applying for an Expedited Appointment
Step 1
Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.
Step 2
Pay the visa application fee.
Step 3
Schedule an appointment online for the earliest available date. Please note that you must schedule an appointment before you can request an expedited date. At the time you schedule your appointment, you will see an onscreen message showing the earliest available appointment date, which includes expedited appointments. Accordingly, you may find that it is not necessary to request an expedited appointment because there are no earlier dates available.
If you wish to proceed with requesting an expedited appointment, then complete the Expedited Request Form in English or contact the call center to request assistance. Please be sure to note the type of urgency you believe qualifies you for an expedited appointment. Once you have submitted your request, please wait for a response from the U.S. Embassy which will arrive via email.
Step 4
If the U.S. Embassy approves your request then you will receive an email alerting you to schedule your expedited appointment online. Please understand that the call center cannot schedule your expedited appointment for you, but agents are able to assist you if questions arise. Should the U.S. Embassy deny your request for an expedited appointment, you will be notified of the denial by email and you should keep your existing appointment.
Note: The email confirming or denying your request will come from no-reply@ustraveldocs.com. Some email applications have rules which filter unknown senders into a spam or junk mail folder. If you have not received your email notification, please look for the message in your junk and spam email folders.
Step 5
Visit the U.S. Embassy on the date and time of your visa interview. You will need to bring a printed copy of your appointment letter, your Form DS-160 confirmation page, one photograph taken within the last six months, your current and all old passports and supporting documents. Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.
I've got quite a bit of experience with visa processes and embassy appointments. To start, let's dissect the key concepts in the article you provided:
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Expedited Appointment Overview:
- This section outlines the conditions under which an expedited appointment can be requested at the U.S. Embassy. It highlights the necessity to meet specific criteria and emphasizes that only one expedited appointment request is allowed per applicant.
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Qualifications for Expedited Appointments:
- It clarifies that emergency appointments are solely for serious emergencies. Applicants must pay regular visa fees first. It also stresses that those refused a visa or missing their interview won't be allowed to request another expedited appointment.
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Types of Emergencies:
- Life or Death Emergency, Urgent Business Facilitation, Student and Exchange Visitor Facilitation, and ESTA Denial for citizens of Visa Waiver Program partners are listed as qualifying emergencies. Specific documentation is needed for the ESTA denial case.
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Applying for an Expedited Appointment:
- It's a four-step process:
- Complete the DS-160 form.
- Pay the visa application fee.
- Schedule an appointment (earliest available date).
- Submit an Expedited Request Form or contact the call center.
- It's a four-step process:
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Approval and Denial of Expedited Requests:
- If approved, applicants will be alerted to schedule their expedited appointment online. Denial notifications will also be sent via email.
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Preparation for the Embassy Visit:
- Applicants must bring specific documents like appointment letters, Form DS-160 confirmation page, recent photograph, current and old passports, and supporting documents.
Demonstrating a deeper understanding, the process highlights the necessity for thorough preparation, proper documentation, and meeting specific criteria for expedited appointments at the U.S. Embassy. This process requires adherence to strict guidelines, especially concerning emergencies and the subsequent documentation required to support those claims.
