Updated: May 23, 2023

The Immigrant Visa Unit is interviewing all categories of immigrant visas at this time.  Additionally, the Immigrant Visa Unit offers limited services to Lawful Permanent Residents.

Applicants are responsible for monitoring the email addresses they have provided to NVC and/or the Immigrant Visa Unit for updates and scheduling purposes.  Applicants who fail to attend their scheduled interview should expect extended delays before an interview can be rescheduled.

Immigrant visa applicants seeking an emergency appointment can submit a request as follows:

If your immigrant visa petition is currently at the National Visa Center (NVC), you must submit your request, together with supporting documentation, directly to NVC for consideration. https://nvc.state.gov/ask.

If you have received notification from the National Visa Center that your petition has been transferred to the Immigrant Visa Unit, or you have previously interviewed at the Embassy and were refused, please contact us, summarizing the nature of your emergency and providing supporting documentation.

For Nonimmigrant Visa applicants

The U.S. Embassy has resumed in-person interviews for nonimmigrant visa applicants.  Please note that due to the backlog of visa appointment requests applicants should expect to experience delays in appointment availability and plan accordingly.  

The U.S. Department of State has increased certain nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application processing fees.  These fee increases are effective as of  June 17, 2023.  The application fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s), and other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, has increased from $160 to $185.  The application fee for certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) has increased from $190 to $205.  The application fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicant in a specialty occupation (E category) has increased from $205 to $315.  Other consular fees remain the same, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors.  Applicants who have already paid a visa application fee that is currently valid and non-expired, but who have not yet appeared for their visa interview or are waiting for their case to be processed, will not be charged any additional fees.  

Change to U.S. Travel Policy Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for nonimmigrant travel: Starting May 12, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. More information can be found here:   Update on Change to U.S. Travel Policy Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for nonimmigrant travel (state.gov)

Applicants applying in the same visa class and whose previous visa expired within the last 48 months may be eligible for interview waiver.  Applicants may schedule a renewal appointment here: Renewal.

Expedited/Emergency Appointments: If applicants have an urgent need for travel, they may request an emergency appointment by following the guidance found here: Expedited Appointment.

All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee.  Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period.  Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period.  There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period.  All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date.

The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.

See our Directory of Visa Categories on usvisas.state.gov to determine which visa category might be appropriate for your purpose of travel to the United States.