Apply for an Expedited Appointment

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Overview

Please read this page in its entirety to ensure your expedite request has the best chance of being approved. Expedite requests that do not comply to the below guidance will be denied.

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 Embassy. It is important to ensure you meet all the criteria, because applicants are only allowed to create one expedited appointment request.

Note: Travel for the purpose of attending weddings, graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant or sick relatives, English language learning programs, participating in an annual business/academic/professional conference, or enjoying last-minute tourism DO NOT qualify for expedited appointments. Your request will be denied.

For such travel, please schedule regular visa appointment well in advance. We strongly recommend you check daily, Monday through Friday, for newly-opened appointments on this website if your travel is truly urgent.

Finally, if you already have an appointment scheduled before your intended travel, please DO NOT request an expedited appointment to move your appointment forward. Your request will be denied. Please check this website daily, Monday through Friday, for newly-opened appointments.

Qualifications for Expedited Appointment

U.S. Embassy Consular section considers expedited non-immigrant visa appointment requests only in cases of emergency. Please note that we are not able to accommodate every request for an expedited appointment. To be considered for an emergency or expedited appointment you must satisfy one or more of the criteria listed below.

IF YOU DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BELOW CATEGORIES, PLEASE DON’T SUBMIT AN EXPEDITE REQUEST – IT WILL NOT BE APPROVED.

WE ARE NOT EXPEDITING GROUPS OR MOST BUSINESS-BASED TRAVEL AT THIS TIME. If you are a member of a group, please check this website for newly-opened appointments daily, Monday through Friday, and register individually when new appointments are opened. We strongly recommend all groups plan far in advance of required travel.

  • You need to obtain emergency medical care or accompany a relative who is unable to travel alone for emergency medical care. This only applies if you yourself, the visa applicant, needs emergency medical care or you are accompanying someone to the United States as a caregiver. This is not to visit or care for someone already in the United States who needs emergency care.
  • You need to attend the funeral of an immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister, child, grandparent or grandchild).
  • You need to make an appearance in a U.S. court.
  • You are a student or exchange visitor (F, M, or J visa holders only) who (1) is pursuing a degree program that starts in the next 60 days, and (2) were not denied a visa within the last six months,. English language programs do not qualify for expedites.
  • Please note that expedited appointment requests not meeting one of the criteria above, but based on tickets being purchased in advance of visa interview or based on the applicant not scheduling an interview early despite the trip being known about in advance, will not be granted.

    Before you apply for an expedited appointment, you must ensure that you have documentary evidence to prove the urgency. If it appears during your visa interview that you misrepresented the reasons for urgent travel, such facts will be noted on your case file and may adversely influence the outcome of your visa application. 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 or change the date of the original appointment when new appointments are opened.

    Note: Travel for the purpose of attending weddings and graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant relatives, participating in an annual business/academic/professional conference, or enjoying last-minute tourism does not qualify for expedited appointments. For such travel, please schedule regular visa appointment well in advance.

    Medical Needs

    Purpose of travel is to obtain urgent medical care, or to accompany a relative or employer for urgent medical care.

    Essential documentation:

    1. A letter from your doctor in Georgia describing the medical condition and why you are seeking medical care in the United States.
    2. A letter from the physician or hospital in the United States indicating that they are prepared to treat the case and providing the approximate cost of the treatment.
    3. Evidence of how you will pay for the cost of the treatment.

    Funeral/Death

    Purpose of travel is to attend the funeral of or make arrangements for repatriating the body of an immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister, child, grandparent, or grandchild) in the United States.

    Essential documentation:

    1. A letter from the funeral director stating the contact information, the details of the deceased, and the date of the funeral.
    2. You must also present evidence that the deceased is an immediate relative.

    Students or exchange visitors

    Purpose of travel is to begin or resume a valid degree program of study in the United States within 60 days when no regular visa appointments are available. This option is limited only to students and exchange visitors who are within 60 days of their start date. It is also limited only to applicants who have not been refused a visa within the last six months at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

    Essential documentation:

    1. Original Form I-20 or DS-2019 indicating start date of program within 60 days.
    2. Evidence that you have paid the SEVIS fee (when applicable).

     

     

    Applying for an Expedited Appointment

    Step 1

    Pay the visa application fee.

    Step 2

    Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

    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 or contact the Request Form 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 Embassy, which will arrive via email

    Step 4

    If the 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. After your emergency request has been approved you will need to cancel your current appointment and reschedule for a new emergency slot. Should the 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 the original visa fee payment receipt. Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.