Group Appointments

On this page:

Overview

Examples of groups include, but are not limited to, sports teams, cultural groups, professional trainees and tour groups of at least ten (10) members. Group appointments are at the discretion of the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy and are not guaranteed.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: These requests CANNOT be made through travel coordinator profiles. For more information on travel coordinators, go to http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/pa/pa-svc-travelcoordinator.asp

How to Apply

IMPORTANT NOTICE: PLEASE read the following instructions to avoid delays or complications. DO NOT start adding people to the group coordinator profile before sending the group request and getting the approval from the Embassy. 

 

Step 1
A designated group coordinator uses the online appointment system to click on

 

Group Scheduling Request English

 

and to request a group appointment. It is not possible to submit a request through an agent. Once the request is submitted, wait for a response from the Embassy which will come via email.

Step 2
If the Embassy approves the request, the group leader will receive an email inviting him or her to return to his or her profile to schedule appointments for each member of the group. An call center agent cannot schedule group appointments, but they are able to assist with questions. Should the Embassy deny the request for a group appointment, a notification will also be sent by email. In this case, each group member must schedule an individual appointment.

Note: The email confirming or denying your request comes 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 3
A separate visa application fee must be paid for each group member.

Step 4
Each group member must complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form and print the confirmation page.

Step 5
The group coordinator returns to his or her profile at the online appointment system and clicks on the

 

Schedule Group Appointment English

 

button 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. Click here for help locating this number.
      • The 10-digit barcode number from the group member's 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:

 

Select Appointment Request English

 

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.

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 recevied 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 elegible to be a group member. He or she must attend the visa interview alone.
    • If the group's applicants are applying under an approved I-797 petition, such as H2A or H2B visa applicants, in Step One the group coordinator must upload a legible copy of the approved I-797 as part of the request.