Interviews at the U.S. consulate can take up to three weeks depending on which visa category they apply for, where the consulate is located, and what season. Below are some circumstances that could delay scheduling interviews for visa applicants. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the current scheduling situation.
Request an interview at the U.S. consulate
Interviews are mandatory for applicants aged between 14 and 79. Visa applications with exceptions will not be accepted without an interview. The discussion is usually held in the country where the applicant resides.
Online appointments can be made via a visa profile. The available appointments at U.S consulates can all be viewed online after payment of the visa fee.
Notice: U.S. consulates close on holidays (= U.S holidays and holidays in the applicant’s home country).
What are the available appointments?
Many factors affect the availability of visa interview slots at U.S. consulates worldwide. In some cases, there may be significant fluctuations. The wait time for interview appointments may be longer during peak travel times and before holidays (including holidays in the U.S.) It is advisable to schedule an interview as soon as possible.
Public holidays and popular travel times can have different effects on visa categories. Sometimes, it’s student visas. Other times, it’s visitor visas. Or work visas where the volume is high and waiting times are long.
The waiting times for interviews at U.S. consulates in Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt / Main, Munich) can vary between a few days and several weeks, depending on when they are open. Under normal circumstances, the average waiting time for an appointment is two to three weeks.
Actual and estimated appointment availability
The official U.S. Department of State website has an online tool that estimates visa interview wait times (Visa Appointment WAIT Times). This query indicates that many countries offer emergency appointments, or they are unavailable for booking again for nonimmigrant visas (Visa Appointment Wait Times). You can access this online tool on the official U.S. Department of State (DOS) website. There is no appointment available in this case, and only emergency cases will be processed. The vast majority of U.S. Consulates worldwide have resumed regular visa issuance. However, there are some cases where the wait time for an appointment is long.
However, appointment availability may vary depending on visa category and the U.S consulate.
The only way to verify availability at the U.S consulate in the relevant category is by looking at the appointment calendar on the applicant’s online profile.
Current appointment situation under COVID-19
Since the Corona crisis, interview scheduling at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide has become more complex. Temporary closures of visa services or restrictions, staff reductions, and public access have contributed to this.
The visa interview backlog can vary depending on the country’s COVID protection protocols and pandemic events on the ground.
U.S. consulates and embassies have issued additional visa appointments in the wake of recent changes to U.S. travel restrictions that began November 8, 2021.
Nearly all interviews at the German U.S. consulates in Frankfurt/Main, Berlin, and Munich for the next week have been canceled due to the panic, the tensions among staff, and the pandemic. Many categories have dates unavailable until June 2022 or mid-May (2022 for some).
These categories are particularly affected currently:
B-1/B-2 visas are for business travelers/tourists. E-1/E-2 work visas can also be obtained. There are only a handful of appointments for I-F- and J-visas, sometimes with weeks of waiting.
Please be aware that the appointment status in each US consulate worldwide is constantly changing. While it is possible for additional appointments to be made at some consulates, it is also possible that wait times may continue to worsen.
While the postal submission process for visa extensions or specific categories of visas allows applicants to skip the interview, it does mean that processing times may be longer. It can take 2-4 weeks to receive the visa receipt once the documents have been sent to the U.S consulate. Due to the increased access rate for this procedure, there are longer waiting times.
The following is our recommendation:
- If you cannot use the postal submission process, check beforehand.
- You can check the visa profile for any available interview slots.
- For the most current status of your application, check the website for the U.S. consulate or embassy in your country.
Expedited processing under certain circumstances
You can request an urgent interview appointment if you have a pressing need. There are also emergency appointments available for U.S. travel during a pandemic. It is essential to make a regular appointment first. Only then can an emergency appointment be requested.
There are many reasons why an expedited appointment may be possible, including but not limited to
- Medical needs (e.g., urgent medical care)
- Attendance at a funeral or memorial
- Travel for business purposes that is urgent and unanticipated.
Visa applicants must show that they need to expedite visa processing. Note that urgent appointment requests are typically scrutinized very carefully and often rejected. This is particularly true for those who need urgent business travel.
Only one emergency appointment request can be made. This can be done online via the “Emergency Request” navigation button. If an appointment has been granted but is not kept, then there is no way to request another emergency appointment. Submitting your request as soon as possible is essential, as emergency appointments are also available at short notice.
Notice: Note that if the consular officers find out during the interview that you misrepresented your need for urgent U.S. travel, this could adversely impact the outcome. An emergency appointment approval is not the same as automatic visa approval.
Wait times for passport delivery.
Please be ready for different delivery times depending on the volume and time of your visa interview appointment.
After the interview at the German U.S consulates, passport delivery is done by UPS. Depending on the volume of orders, this might take a little longer. There can be a delay of up to two weeks for passport delivery, depending on the importance of orders.
You can also pick up your application at the designated locations, but it does not expedite the process.
Our recommendation
It is best to apply for a visa to the U.S.A. as soon as possible. Candidates should allow more time for interview appointments, especially before the holidays.
Keep in mind, however, that entry to the U.S. may take longer if there is a high travel volume.
There is hope that the pandemic threat will recede and global travel can resume as standard with each successive vaccination. Foreign nationals must accept that visa dates may be short and plan accordingly.
If you hire us to handle your Visa, our US Visa Team will promptly coordinate and arrange your interview at the U.S consulate.