Group Appointments

Overview

A minimum of ten or more individuals applying for the same purpose of travel who will follow the same travel itinerary (destination(s), departure, and arrival dates) qualify to apply together as a group. Examples of groups include, but are not limited to, sports team, school trips, performing artists, skilled workers, groups travelling for specific competitions or cultural events, and service organizations.

Travel agents and commercial tour groups are encouraged to create profiles as travel coordinators. Further information here.

Exception:

  • Family members traveling together do not qualify as a group.  A regular appointment should be scheduled following the regular scheduling appointment process, here. Add family members as dependents, when appropriate.

How to Apply

Step 1

A designated group coordinator must gather the following information and have the files available to upload them as attachments to the request:

  1. List of visa applicant’s name (as shown in passport) and passport numbers.
  2. A detailed itinerary of their travel in the U.S.
  3. Invitation letter (if applicable).
  4. A legible copy of an approved I-20 form, (F & M visa applicants, only).
  5. A legible copy of an approved DS-2019 form (J visa applicants, only).
  6. A legible copy of an approved I-797 petition (H1, H3, H4, L, O, P and Q visa applicants, only).
  7. A copy of guarantee letter and a copy of employment letter (for C1-D visa applicants, only).
  8. A copy of the employment letter (for B1-OCS visa applicants, only).

The designated group coordinator will log into his/her profile in the online appointment system, click on “Group Scheduling Request”, attach the files with the appropriate supporting documentation and submit the request. The request will be considered for approval when supporting documentation is attached and complete.

It is not possible to submit a request through Call Center agent. Once the request is submitted, wait for a response from the Embassy or Consulate.

Step 2

If the Embassy or Consulate approves the request then the Group Coordinator will receive an email alerting him/her to schedule appointments for each member of the group. The Call Center cannot schedule appointments but agents are able to assist if questions arise. Should the Embassy or Consulate deny the request for a group appointment, the Group Coordinator will be notified of the denial by email and each group member must schedule individual appointments.

Note: The email confirming or denying the group 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 the Group Coordinator has not received the email notification, look for the message in junk and spam email folders.

Step 3

Each group member must pay the visa application fee.

Step 4

Each group member must complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form and print the confirmation page

Step 5

Group Coordinator must schedule an appointment using the online appointment system and clicks on the button as example below to begin scheduling the group's appointments.

He or she should have at hand three pieces of information about each group member:

  • The group member's passport with the applicants full name, passport number, date of birth, passport expiration date and other important data located on the passport's biographical page
  • The group member's visa application fee receipt number.
  • The ten (10) digit barcode number from their DS-160 confirmation page

Step 6

The group coordinator selects the approved group appointment request corresponding to the correct group, as in the example below:

If the group coordinator frequently schedules group appointments, it is important to select the correct group request.

Step 7

Each group member is added as a "Dependent" to the group coordinator's profile. The group coordinator can choose to be a member of the group or not.

Step 8

The group goes to the U.S. Embassy on the date and time of their visa interviews. Each member must have a printed copy of the appointment letter, DS-160 confirmation page, one photograph taken within the last six months, a current passport and all old passports, and the original visa fee payment receipt. Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.

Note: If you have additional questions on group scheduling, please visit  Tutorial for Scheduling Group Appointments for more detailed instructions.

Important Points to Remember:

  • Once the group request has been approved, the group has a limited time to complete steps one through six. Typically, it is a timeframe of seven days, but the group coordinator should refer to the confirmation received by email. In case the request expires, the group coordinator must start over and submit a new request.
  • The group coordinator should perform steps 1, 2, 3 and 5 for group members. Each applicant must complete his or her own Form DS-160.
  • If a group member has already scheduled an appointment, he or she is no longer eligible to be a group member. He or she must attend the visa interview alone.