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The two portals you need — and the order that now matters
The entire process works across two separate portals. The first is for filling and submitting your DS-160 form. The second is the visa scheduling portal at usvisascheduling.com, where you actually book your appointment. From April 1st 2026, a new rule means you must submit your DS-160 form first before you can proceed with booking. The portal will block you if your DS-160 is not yet submitted — I tested this myself and got an error message the moment I tried to move forward with an unsubmitted form. So complete and submit the DS-160 before you even open the scheduling portal.
There is some flexibility though. If you submit your DS-160 and later realise something needs correcting, you can fill a fresh DS-160 form and bring both the old and the new confirmation pages to your biometric appointment. The consulate in India will update it there. So if you filled the form in a rush, do not panic — you still have a window to fix it.
Filling and submitting your DS-160 form
The DS-160 is the only document the visa officer will have in front of them during your interview. That alone tells you how important it is to fill it carefully. The form runs across six to seven tabs and roughly seven to eight pages, covering your personal details, travel history, US travel information, education, and work background. Start early so you have enough time to review everything properly.
Saving your progress and logging back in
When you first start your DS-160 application, you will land on a page that shows your application ID — an alphanumeric code — along with a security question you set. Take a screenshot of this page immediately. If you pause mid-way and come back later, you will need this application ID to retrieve your form. To log back in, go to the same DS-160 portal link, select the same consulate location you originally chose, and click retrieve application instead of start a new one. Enter your application ID, surname, date of birth, and the security question answer, and you will be taken straight back to where you left off.
Submitting and getting your confirmation page
Once you have completed every section, use the review tab at the top to go through the entire form one more time. Double-check that every detail is accurate. When you are satisfied, submit the form. You will receive a confirmation page — save this carefully because you will need it at both your biometric appointment and your visa interview.
Creating your account on the visa scheduling portal
Once your DS-160 is submitted, head to usvisascheduling.com. If you do not have an account yet, click don't have an account, sign up now. Before you start, make sure you have three things ready: your DS-160 confirmation number, your passport, and a valid email address you actively use. That email is where your OTP will arrive, so it needs to be one you can access in real time.
When creating your username and password, keep both something you will genuinely remember. Your password must contain a capital letter, a number, and a special character. Choose security questions with answers you will not forget years from now — simple ones like a favourite food work well. Enter your given name and surname exactly as they appear in your passport, not a nickname or a shortened version.
I recommend using a single email ID for the entire visa process. If you ever need to go through the process again in the future, having one consistent email prevents confusion. Once your account is created, log in, answer your security questions, accept the terms and conditions, and your account is live.
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Book a Mock InterviewCompleting your application inside the portal
Applicant details and contact information
After logging in, go to start application on the left-hand menu. The applicant details section will be partially pre-filled from what you entered during sign-up. You will also need to add your country of birth, two working phone numbers, your current mailing address, and your passport details. Provide phone numbers where you can genuinely be reached — the embassy may contact you on these if they need additional information or need to update you on your case.
The passport section requires your absolute attention. Once you submit your passport number and proceed to pay the visa fee and schedule an appointment, the passport number cannot be edited by you. If it is wrong, you have to contact customer support to fix it, and that takes considerable time. Keep your passport open beside you, enter the number carefully, and double-check it before you click submit.
Selecting your visa category
On the visa option page, first select non-immigrant — both H and L visas fall under this category. Then choose the consulate or embassy closest to where you live. Finally, select your specific visa type. Employment-based visas like H-1B and H-4 are listed under their respective category. L-1 blanket, L-1 individual, L-2 blanket, and L-2 individual are listed separately, as are O-1 visas. Pick the one that applies to your petition. The process steps that follow are the same regardless of which visa category you select.
Adding a dependent to your application
If your spouse or child is applying alongside you for an H-4 or L-2 visa, you do not need a separate portal account for them. You can add them as a dependent within your own application using the manage dependents section. However, your dependent does need their own submitted DS-160 form with a unique confirmation number, their own passport, a unique email address, and contact details. The steps for entering their information mirror exactly what you did for yourself in the applicant details section.
Entering your DS-160 number and petition details
You will be asked to enter your DS-160 confirmation number at this stage — this is where the portal verifies that the form is actually submitted. After that, you enter your petition information: the petitioner name (usually your employer), the petition receipt number, and the start and end dates of your petition. All of this information is on your I-797 and I-129 documents. Have those open when you fill this section.
Practical tips for navigating the portal without losing your mind
The US visa portal can be slow. Some days it moves faster than others. From what I have seen, the portal tends to perform better during off-peak hours — early mornings or late evenings work well, though late at night it sometimes goes into maintenance. Pick a window that is quiet for you and where you have no interruptions, and the process will feel much smoother.
Keep your account credentials — your username, password, and security question answers — somewhere safe that only you can access. I have seen too many cases where applicants handed their portal login to a third-party agent for slot booking help, and then found themselves locked out because the agent changed the security details and would not return them. If you do get help with slot booking, make sure it is from a credible and trustworthy source. Your visa portal account is not something to share lightly.
One final thing worth repeating: booking a US visa appointment requires patience. The portal has multiple steps, things can load slowly, and timing matters — especially for work visas where delays can affect your start date. Give yourself enough time to do this properly rather than rushing through it.
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