Apply for an Expedited Appointment

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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. Your planned travel date must be within the next 60 days. Requests submitted for travel that is more than 60 days away will be denied.

You may request an emergency appointment by following the below instructions carefully. If your request does not provide sufficient information, your request will be denied.  It is important to ensure you meet all the criteria and provide all necessary information because applicants are only allowed to create one expedited appointment request. You will be notified of the Embassy’s decision by email.

Qualifications

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 must first pay the required visa fees. Applicants who are granted an expedited appointment but subsequently refused a visa at the U.S. Embassy will not be allowed to utilize this option to obtain another expedited appointment.

Note: Travel for the purpose of attending weddings and graduation ceremonies, as well as other routine tourism, does not qualify as a reason for an expedited appointment. For such travel, please schedule a regular visa appointment when appointments become available.

Medical Need

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

Essential documentation:

  • A letter from your doctor describing the medical condition and why you are seeking medical care in the United States.
  • 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.
  • 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) in the United States.

Essential documentation:

  • Evidence that the deceased is an immediate relative.

Urgent Business Travel

Purpose of travel is to attend to an urgent business matter or medical clerkship in the United States.

Essential documentation:

  • A letter from your company or the corresponding company in the United States attesting to the urgency of the planned visit, describing the nature of the business and that either the U.S. or local company will suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an expedited appointment is not available.

 

or

  • Evidence of a necessary training program in the United States including a detailed explanation of the training and explain why either the U.S. or local company will suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an expedited appointment is not available.

 

or

 

  • A letter of invitation from the medical provider or clinic describing the medical clerkship/observership that you will complete in the United States.

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 the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Iraq, Iran, Sudan, or Syria, or those who have travelled to DPRK, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and/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.

Students or exchange visitors

Purpose of travel is to begin or resume a valid 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 students who are within 60 days of their start date.

Essential documentation:

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

Applying for an Expedited Appointment

Step 1

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

Step 2

Create an account on U.S. Travel Docs (Jordan) and pay the visa application fee.

Step 3

After logging into your account on U.S. Travel Docs, click the button “Emergency Request” on the left side of the screen. You must select the visa category and class you are seeking, and you will then be routed to a page describing the necessary qualifications for an emergency request. At the bottom of this section, there will be a link to begin the emergency request. Please be sure to note the type of urgency in the “Brief Explanation of Emergency” section that you believe qualifies you for an expedited appointment. Upload all required attachments associated with your request. Please note that missing documentation will lead to your request being denied, and you cannot submit a second request. After submitting your request, please wait for an emailed response from the U.S. Embassy.

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 DS-160 confirmation page with barcode, one photograph taken within the last six months, your current and prior passport, and any supporting documents. Applications without all of these items will not be accepted and will delay your visa processing time.