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Update 1: Your DS-160 form must be correctly filled and submitted before your biometric appointment
This is the update that has caused the most confusion, so let me be as clear as possible. The official announcement from the US Embassy states that if your appointment was booked on or after November 15th, 2023, your DS-160 form must be accurately filled and submitted before you arrive for biometrics. No changes will be made to your DS-160 at the biometric centre — and if there are errors in your form, you may not be allowed to proceed with the visa process.
Why did this change happen? For years, many applicants were showing up for biometrics with DS-160 forms that were a year or even two years old, or with forms that were only partially filled. The biometric staff were spending significant time helping people fill new forms on the spot, which was slowing down the entire process and driving up appointment wait times. The Embassy introduced this rule to fix that.
What if you realise there are errors in your DS-160 after you have already submitted it?
Here is the part that most people miss. The update says you cannot fill or edit your form at the biometric centre — but it does not say that a new confirmation number from a freshly submitted form cannot be updated in their system. What this means in practice: if you spot errors in your DS-160, you can fill a brand new form, make sure all details are correct, submit it, and carry the new confirmation page to your biometric appointment. You can then ask the staff to update your new confirmation number in their records. I know this works because I have clients going for biometrics every single day who are getting their new DS-160 numbers updated without any issue.
The bottom line: treat your DS-160 as the most important document in your visa application. Review every single answer carefully before you hit submit. If you need help, I have a DS-160 toolkit — a video guide that walks you through every question in the form and helps you fill it accurately in about 45 minutes to an hour. You can find the link below.
Update 2: F, M, and J visa applicants must use their own passport details when booking appointments
From November 27th, 2023, if you are an F, M, or J student visa applicant, you must use your own passport information when scheduling your visa appointment. If you book an appointment using someone else's passport details or a dummy profile, the appointment will be cancelled and your MRV fee will be forfeited.
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Book a Mock InterviewThis rule exists because ever since COVID, there has been a severe shortage of visa appointment slots. That shortage created a rise in fake accounts, dummy profiles, and bulk bookings by third parties — and it was getting out of hand. The new system ties one person to one account through their passport number, since a passport number is unique to every individual. When you log in to the visa appointment portal, make sure your name, your passport number, and your email address are all accurately entered.
I know many of you seek help from agents or consultants to schedule your appointment — that is fine. Just make sure the person helping you is genuine, verified, and has a track record you can check. Also worth knowing: the new US visa portal has technical glitches that can prevent you from moving forward or making payments. If you run into any of these issues, reach out and I can help you resolve them.
Update 3: What is happening with spring 2024 appointment slots?
There are two groups of students waiting for spring 2024 slots: first-time applicants (freshers) and students who have previously been refused. The situation is different for each group.
If this is your first attempt
The Embassy has put out repeated communications confirming that more fresher slots will be released. There is not too much to worry about here. Make sure your account is set up, your visa fee is paid, and you are checking the system regularly. Based on the information available, fresher slots were expected to be released somewhere around December 10th to 15th.
If you have a previous refusal
There are a lot of rumours circulating right now — that slots for refused students will not be released this year, that there is a 360-day ban, that you will be required to defer to the next intake. I want to be direct with you: as of this writing, there is no official announcement from the Embassy supporting any of these claims. Historically, every intake has seen slots released for refused students towards the end of that intake cycle. So stay prepared, stay hopeful, and do not let rumours push you into a panic decision.
If you do have a previous refusal, use this waiting time well. A refusal is not the end — but your next attempt needs to be stronger. That means identifying exactly what went wrong last time, correcting those mistakes, updating your DS-160 if needed, and going into your next interview fully prepared. If you have a refused application, a complicated profile, or you simply want to give yourself the best chance on the first attempt, my 7-day preparation programme covers everything: understanding your profile, filling your DS-160, framing your answers, and running multiple mock interviews.
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