What is the Visa Application Center (VAC)?

The Visa Application Center (VAC) is a center authorized by a U.S. consulate or embassy to collect biometric data from visa applicants, such as fingerprints and a photograph, and to receive supporting documents when required.

It serves as an intermediary point in the process: part of the identity and security checks takes place there, before or separately from the consular interview. In the case of the H-1B, the petition involves several steps, and the visit to the VAC is one of them when required, since not every visa type or situation calls for this step.

• Collects biometrics (fingerprints and photo) and receives documents.
• Supports the identity verification and security standards of the process.
• Not mandatory in all cases: it depends on the visa type and individual circumstances.

Since the rules about who must appear and what to bring vary by post, it is worth confirming the official instructions from the consulate or embassy handling your case before scheduling an appointment.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.