How to Schedule a US Visa Interview: Step-by-Step Guide 2026

The scheduling of a US non-immigrant visa is centralized on a single online platform operated by the US Department of State in partnership with local providers. The process is virtually identical for applicants from India, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, Nigeria, Colombia, and dozens of other countries that use the USTravelDocs infrastructure. Skipping a step or entering data that doesn’t match your passport can block the appointment or prevent you from being served at the biometric center. This guide explains the complete step-by-step process, from document preparation to final confirmation of the consulate interview.

Before You Start the Session

Gather all digital documentation before even opening the scheduling portal. The registration session expects you to already have four essential items on hand.

• DS-160 already submitted, with the 10-character confirmation number (starts with AA) saved. Without this number the system will not allow you to proceed.
• Valid passport for at least six months beyond the intended travel date, with number, issuing country, and expiration date visible.
• International credit card accepted by the local platform or, in countries where the option is available, domestic payment instruments such as PIX, OXXO, bank transfer, or equivalent.
• Active email address, since all scheduling communications — confirmations, reminders, and pickup instructions — go through that inbox.

The DS-160 must be completed and submitted before creating the account. There is no route to schedule the interview without the form’s confirmation number.

The Official Scheduling Portal

All scheduling takes place at the domain ais.usvisa-info.com, with the full URL specific to the country of application (for example, suffixes such as /en-in, /pt-br, /es-mx, /es-co, /en-ng). This is the official channel authorized by the Department of State in markets that outsource biometric operations to the USTravelDocs consortium. In other countries, the equivalent platform is operated by CGI Federal or the consulate itself — always verify the link from the official United States consulate page in your location.

Any other website promising “fast scheduling” is a commercial intermediary and charges additional fees not authorized by the US government.

Complete Scheduling Sequence

Step 1: Create Your Account

On the home page, select “Create account.” The system asks for your full name identical to your passport, email address (which becomes your login), password, country of birth, and passport-issuing country. Confirm the email by clicking the link sent to your inbox before proceeding.

Step 2: Register the Applicant

Once authenticated, add the applicant to the profile. Required information includes full name as it appears on the passport, date of birth, passport number and issuing country, DS-160 confirmation number, and intended visa category (B1/B2 for tourism and business, F-1 for study, J-1 for exchange, among others).

Families and groups can be registered together in the same profile. This configuration increases the chances that the system will suggest matching dates for all members, both at the biometric center and at the consulate interview.

Step 3: Choose Passport Delivery

The platform asks how the approved passport should be returned to the applicant. Options vary by country, but typically include free pickup at a local network delivery point or residential delivery with an additional fee. This choice can be adjusted before the deadline set in your jurisdiction. If in doubt, choose free pickup and change it later if necessary.

Step 4: Pay the MRV Fee

The MRV (Machine Readable Visa) fee is the non-refundable contribution required for most non-immigrant categories. The Department of State’s current rates for 2026 are:

• US$ 185 for B1/B2 (tourism and business), F (student), J (exchange), M (vocational), and C-1/D (transit and crew) visas.
• US$ 205 for H, L, O, P, Q, and R visas (petition-based visas such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1, R-1).
• US$ 315 for E (treaty investor and trader) visas.
• US$ 100 additional for K (fiancé/fiancée) visas.

Payment methods depend on the local market: international card, bank transfer, digital instruments (PIX, OXXO, UPI), or equivalent. Bank transfer payments only unlock the calendar after clearing, which typically takes one to five business days.

Keep your receipt. The scheduling calendar is only unlocked after the transaction is confirmed in the system.

Step 5: Schedule the Consulate Interview

This step confuses most first-time applicants: the system requires the consulate interview to be scheduled before the biometric center visit, even though chronologically the biometric appointment happens first. Biometric dates are only shown after the consulate interview date has been selected.

Select the consulate or consular section where you will complete the process. Availability varies dramatically: at high-demand consulates, wait times can exceed 12 months, while other posts offer dates within a few weeks. The Department of State maintains updated visa appointment wait times at travel.state.gov for consultation before deciding.

Step 6: Schedule the Biometric Center

With the consulate interview set, the system unlocks the calendar for the biometric collection center — called ASC (Application Support Center) in the United States, OFC (Offsite Facilitation Center) in some markets, or equivalent local names. Choose a date before the interview, ideally with at least 24 hours of margin to ensure the biometrics are synchronized in the consular system.

In jurisdictions where the biometric center and consulate operate in the same building or integrated locations, it may be possible to schedule both on the same day.

Step 7: Confirm and Print

After confirming the complete appointment, the system generates a confirmation page containing the biometric center and consulate interview details. This printed page is required at both appointments. Without it, service may be refused.

Common Issues to Watch Out For

Passport-matching data: any discrepancy between the name or passport number registered and the physical document presented at the biometric center prevents service. Verify character by character.

DS-160 linkage: the portal limits the number of times the DS-160 linked to the account can be replaced. Confirm that the submitted form is the correct one before registration.

Biometric-consulate chronological order: the system does not accept a biometric appointment on a date after the consulate interview. If you need to reschedule either one, the new window must respect this sequence.

MRV payment validity: the MRV fee is valid for 365 days from the payment receipt issuance date. If the interview falls outside this period, a new full fee will be required.

How to Reschedule If You Need to Change the Date

Rescheduling is done on the same portal, within the appointment management profile. Log in with your original credentials, select the active appointment, and use the reschedule option. Availability depends on the slot inventory at the time of inquiry.

Cancellations by other applicants free up slots frequently, especially on nearby dates. For those looking to move their interview earlier, it is worth accessing the system multiple times a day during high-demand periods.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scheduling

Where is the official scheduling portal? The domain is ais.usvisa-info.com in countries served by the USTravelDocs consortium, with a jurisdiction-specific suffix. In other regions the platform is operated by CGI Federal or the consulate itself — the authorized link is always available on the United States consulate page in your country.

Are the biometric center and consulate scheduled separately? They are two separate appointments, but both are booked in the same portal session. First the consulate interview, then the biometric center on an earlier date.

Can families be served together? Yes. By registering all members in the same scheduling group, the system looks for common windows at the biometric center and consulate.

What happens if I don’t show up for the biometric appointment? The no-show automatically cancels the linked consulate interview. You will need to schedule everything again, with no MRV fee refund.

How long does the MRV payment remain valid? The receipt is valid for 365 days from the issuance date. The interview must take place within this period; otherwise a new fee will be required.

The Scheduling Itself Is the Quick Part

With the DS-160 ready and the MRV fee paid, the scheduling session takes between 15 and 30 minutes. The real challenge lies in date availability: at consulates in high-volume jurisdictions, finding a nearby slot may require patience and continuous monitoring. Those who pay the fee early and access the calendar the moment it opens have the best chance of securing an interview in a short window.

Victoria Harper

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