Non-Immigrant Visas
How do I request an earlier appointment?
The Non-Immigrant Visa Unit considers expedited appointment requests in limited non-referral cases:
1. Emergency Medical Travel
2. Student (F1) and Exchange (J1) Visa Applicants
After first applying on-line to obtain an appointment, applicants who wish to travel urgently should then send an email to responseamman@state.gov entitled, "Urgent Travel Request". All applicants should include their name, passport number, and the date of the appointment s/he received on-line.
If the applicant is applying for emergency medical travel, they should also include an explanation of the medical issue and include any appropriate documentation. If the applicant is applying for a student or exchange visa, they should also include the name of their school/program and start date. Appointments are given on a case-by-case basis. Should the request be approved, the applicant will be contacted via email.
Please note that all applicants are still subject to section 214(b) of the Immigration & Nationality Act. In other words, they must prove to the satisfaction of the interviewing consular officer that they have sufficient ties that would compel them to return to their country after a short-term visit. Receiving an expedited appointment and visa eligibility/receipt are two distinctly different and separate issues.