The Interview Process

On a typical day the Embassy schedules between 400 and 600 interviews.  Our goal is to interview everyone within one hour of their appointment time.  In order to expedite the interview process, applicants are asked to present themselves outside the Embassy no earlier than 30 minutes before their scheduled interview appointment in accordance with the Consular Section Access Policy.  Please take note of prohibited items that are not allowed inside the Consular Section.

The only applicants not required to appear for an interview are visa renewal applicants age 80 and over, minor children under 7 years old, and diplomats and foreign government officials. 

The Intake Process

Each applicant must present their passport and printed confirmation page at the intake window in the Consular Section Patio and will receive a ticket with a group number.  Some applicants may be required to submit a new photograph if the one provided on their application does not meet the photograph requirements.  A photographer is available in the Consular Section Patio for a fee.

Applicants will then be asked to wait until their group number is called, at which point they will enter the Consular Waiting Room to be fingerprinted.  Children under 14 and adults over 80 are not required to be fingerprinted.  Additional exceptions apply to the fingerprint requirement.

After fingerprinting, each group will be asked to wait in the Consular Waiting Room until their group number is called for their interview.  Applicants will then be directed to the next available Consular Officer.

The Interview

The average interview will last 3-5 minutes, but can vary depending on the complexity of the case.  A Consular Officer will review your application and ask clarifying questions.  All interviewing officers are American citizens and commissioned Foreign Service Officers of the United States. 

During the interview the Consular Officer may ask for additional documentation beyond the required documentation.  Please note that the U.S. visa application is interview-based rather than document-based and the Consular Officers typically do not review additional documentation that is provided, including letters of invitation.

Visa Approvals and Denials

If an applicant qualifies for a visa to the United States, their passport will be returned via DHL courier service to the address that they selected when they scheduled their appointment.  If an applicant does not qualify for a visa according to the immigration law of the United States, they will be informed at the end of the interview.  For more information regarding visa denials, please see visa denials and ineligibilities.

Please note that some applications may require additional administrative processing.

Reminder:  We always recommend that individuals apply for visas well in advance of their proposed date of travel.  No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance.  Therefore, final travel plans or the purchase of non-refundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued and you have received your passport via DHL.