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With embassies running on reduced capacity, many students who have already received their fall admit are struggling to secure a visa appointment slot in time. The good news is that student visas are being given priority, and the US Embassy has made it clear that students are permitted to request emergency appointments when normal slots are not available. Here is exactly what you need to know before you request one — and the step-by-step process to follow.
Four things to know before you request an emergency appointment
Before you go ahead and submit your emergency request, make sure you understand these four key points. Getting any one of them wrong could cost you your only chance.
1. Your appointment must fall within the 60-day window
The emergency appointment date you are requesting needs to be within 60 days of your course start date. For example, if your university starts in the first week of August, you should be booking your emergency appointment by the first week of June so that you fall inside that window.
2. You only get one emergency appointment — ever
This is the most important thing I want you to hear: emergency appointments are granted only once. There is no second chance. That means before you request one, your DS-160 must be complete, all your documents must be in order, and your interview preparation must be done. Do not book your emergency appointment and then scramble to prepare. Go in ready.
3. You must already have a normal visa appointment booked
You cannot request an emergency appointment unless you already have a regular visa appointment on the books. It does not matter if that slot is in 2021 or 2022 — you just need one in place first. Go ahead and book whatever date is available, then use that as the basis for your emergency request.
4. The emergency appointment will be at the same embassy as your regular slot
Whatever city your normal visa appointment is in, your emergency appointment will be at the same location. If your regular slot is at the Delhi embassy, your emergency appointment will also be in Delhi. You cannot change this.
Step-by-step: how to request your emergency appointment
Step 1: Log into your account and find the emergency request tab
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Book a Mock InterviewLog into your US visa appointment account. On the left-hand side, you will see a list of options. One of them is the option to request an emergency appointment. Click on that tab and it will open a new page with the emergency request form.
Step 2: Fill out the emergency request form
The form has two to three questions. You will need to provide your tentative travel date, select your reason for the emergency (in your case, select that you are a student or Exchange Visitor), and then fill in a box explaining your emergency situation.
My strong advice for that explanation box: do not write it as a paragraph. Use two to three bullet points instead. Here is how I suggest you structure them:
• First bullet: Name the university you have been admitted to and the course you are enrolled in.
• Second bullet: State the start date of your course.
• Third bullet: Briefly explain the urgency — for example, that your course begins in the first week of August and you need to arrive on campus approximately two weeks before that in order to self-quarantine and follow all required regulations. Therefore, you are requesting an emergency appointment.
Step 3: Attach supporting documents (optional but recommended)
The form gives you the option to attach documents. This is not compulsory, but I recommend using it. You can attach your I-20, your admission letter, and any email correspondence you have had with your university. These attachments strengthen your case. Once everything is filled in, click Submit.
What happens after you submit your emergency request
After you submit, wait for an email from the US Embassy. This typically comes within two to three working days. If your emergency request is approved, you will receive an email from US Travel Docs.
There are two critical things to pay attention to in that email. First, it will instruct you to reschedule your visa appointment to an earlier date. Second, it will give you a deadline — a validity window within which you must complete that reschedule. Please read this carefully and act before that expiry date. Missing it means losing your emergency appointment entirely.
One more important detail: just as you only get one emergency appointment, you also only get one chance to reschedule your visa appointment date. So be deliberate and careful when you choose your new slot. Once you have completed the reschedule, you will receive a new confirmation email. Print that out and carry it with you to your visa interview.
Prepare thoroughly before you book — not after
I cannot stress this enough: getting an appointment slot right now is genuinely difficult. Once you have a slot — emergency or otherwise — you need to walk in prepared and give that interview everything you have. There is no room to wing it.
Before you book your emergency appointment, make sure your DS-160 is complete, your documents are ready, and your interview preparation is solid. If you want my help with any of this, you can book a one-on-one consultation with me or take a mock interview session. A lot of students have gone through this process with me and found it made a real difference to how confident and prepared they felt on the day.
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