Security Regulations For Visiting the Embassy or Consulate

On this page:

Overview

The Embassy/Consulate does not store prohibited items for visa applicants. There is no facility at the Embassy/Consulate to store such items, so you must make arrangements to store these items elsewhere before you enter.  If you arrive with a prohibited item, you will be turned away and asked to make a new appointment.

You are allowed to bring the following items to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate:

  • One cellphone
  • One small purse or bag that can be carried by hand (no larger than 10” x 10”)
  • Plastic folders containing visa application-related papers
  • Umbrella (which must be stored in the umbrella rack outside the security gate)
  • Baby products (milk, diapers, hot water etc.)
  • Baby strollers (must leave at a specific location outside the waiting room)

You are NOT allowed to enter the U.S. Embassy/Consulate while carrying any of the following items:

  • Battery-operated or electronic devices such as laptops, iPads, thumb drives, digital diaries, smart watches, pagers, cameras, audio/video cassettes, compact discs, MP3s, floppy disks, or portable music players
  • Any luggage or bags larger than the size noted above (10″x10″) such as backpacks, briefcases, travel bags, suitcases
  • Food items
  • Cigarettes, cigars, match boxes, lighters
  • Sharp objects such as scissors, pen knives or nail files
  • Weapons or explosive materials of any kind

This list is not exhaustive. Other items may be prohibited at the discretion of security staff. Embassy/Consulate guards will not be held responsible for prohibited items that are lost or returned damaged. In order to keep you from a long wait outside, and to speed up your time at the Embassy, we are restricting the items that our customers can bring to the Embassy.  We believe the overall increase in the speed and efficiency of our screening and the shorter time you will be at the Embassy/Consulate for visa interview, will be worth it.

Due to security considerations, there is no information window for walk-in visitors at the Embassy or Consulate. Only visa applicants with scheduled interviews will be admitted.  We are introducing these measures to reduce the amount of time applicants wait in line outside the Embassy or Consulate.

For procedures on the day of your interview, please see the video: http://www.youtube.com//watch?v=bImDRrBDxnU.