Getting the US visa interview date needs a lot of hassle! 

To begin with, there are very limited slots available for the interview and if by chance you get any slot available, it can get filled in a few seconds. Another issue is that there is limited slot availability. Well, this makes it a lot more difficult to get assured interview dates.

However, if you act right at the right time, booking the US visa interview date is no big deal. Therefore, to help you grab the appointment slot, we have come up with some tips and tricks for you. But before that, let’s understand the expected waiting time you may have to wait for the interview.

Estimated Waiting Time For US Visa Interview Date

According to the US Department of State, if you are applying from major cities, you may have to wait for the following time:

• Mumbai: 459 days for the student visa and 596 for the visitor visa.
• Kolkata: 465 days for a student visa and 592 for a visitor visa.
• Hyderabad: 458 days for a student visa and 609 days for a visitor visa
• New Delhi: 458 days for a student visa and 629 days for a visitor visa.

However, with increasing applicants, this waiting time is more likely to increase and in case of workload and staffing issues, the embassy may decide to change this waiting period. This is why before planning your trips, it is always a better idea to confirm from the embassy. 

Get US Visa Interview Dates With These Three Tips

Get an I-20 by applying to a university

Look for the universities which release the i-20 sooner than others. This is because by the time other people will wait for their I-20, you will be the one booking your visa date. This will increase your probability of securing the date. Moreover, when you secure the US visa interview date, you will still have a chance to modify the university a week prior to your interview.

All you need to do is to update the DS 160. However, if you are not sure which university will release the I-20 sooner and what your options are, you can consult experienced consultants at Work Permitz. The team will help you find the best option available for you.

Avoid Rescheduling Interviews

Rescheduling your US visa interview dates is a big NO! Though the fees you pay at the time of your US visa application are valid for a whole year, you can reschedule the date only twice. If you choose to reschedule your interview date more than twice, you will have to pay the penalty fee.

But there’s a catch!

In case you have rescheduled your date for the first time and it gets cancelled then you won’t be able to reschedule the date for the next 90 days. So, there is always the underlying risk of your appointment being cancelled. Therefore, it is advised to stick to the schedule and avoid rescheduling your visa interview date. But if there is no way you can make it to the interview on the scheduled date, taking the risk of rescheduling is all you can do.

Be Patient

Patience is the key to getting US visa interview dates! With limited attempts to book an interview, it is important to be patient. This is because if you book a date and fail to do so because of any reason, one attempt will be reduced.

To book your date, you will get 12 attempts in total and when you will be booking your dates for the 12th time, you may come across warnings. In case you choose to ignore those warnings, you will be blocked from logging in for the next 72 hours. Therefore, to avoid this situation, make sure that you do not exhaust your attempts and book your appointments patiently.

Documents Required For US Visa

You will have to carry certain documents when you apply for the US visa interview or while you are going for an interview. Make sure that you carry copies and originals of the following documents on the day of your interview.

• Passport: Make sure that your passport is valid for 3 months minimum after coming back from the US and must have 2 blank pages.
• DS-160 form: Carry the original completely filled application form.
• Financial Documents: Make sure to carry the documents to support your financial status and ensure the officials that you have enough funds to manage your living expenses or studies. This includes your income tax returns, property documents, bank statements and pay slips.
• Photograph: Carry 2 coloured recent passport photographs.
• Retirement proof: In case you are retired from your job, make sure to carry your pension book to the US consulate.
• Trip Itinerary: keep a detailed itinerary of the trip including the places you will visit, tourist attractions, scheduled hours, travel dates, meeting agendas and more.
• Proof of Employment: Submit a leave application from your company as well as your pay slips.
• Education Proof: carry your school, college ID or degree to provide proof of your education.
• Business proof: Submit documents related to your business including partnership deed, business license and company bank statements.
• Minor Traveler: In the case of a minor traveller, you will have to submit your birth certificate and NOC to the parents along with their ID proofs.
• Invitation letter: In case you are invited by a friend or family member, you will have to submit the invitation letter along with the passport of the inviter.
• Letter of Sponsorship: in case you are being sponsored, carry the financial documents and passport ID of the sponsor.

Take Expert Help

With lakhs of candidates fighting to book their interview dates, getting US visa interview dates has become a lot more difficult. However, consulting an experienced immigration consultant can make the process easier for you. So, take the right step right now and consult Work Permitz to get assured US visa interview dates. The team will help you find the best available options for you and will guide you through the complete interview process.