NONIMMIGRANT VISAS

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Emergency Appointments

A limited number of visa applicants may qualify for emergency visa interview appointments. To obtain an emergency appointment you must satisfy one or more of the criteria listed below.

The criteria:

For applicants from all consular districts

• You need to obtain emergency medical care or accompany a relative or employer for emergency medical care
• You need to attend the funeral of an immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister, child, grandparent or grandchild)
• You need to attend to an urgent business matter where the need to travel to the U.S. could not be predicted in advance
• You are a student or exchange visitor who is within 90 days of the start date of your valid program and who was not denied a visa within the last six months
• You are a temporary worker (H & L visas only) whose visa has expired and who wants to renew your visa and return to your employment in the U.S.
• You need to make an appearance in a U.S. court

For applicants from the New Delhi and Kolkata consular districts

• One or more of the criteria above; and/or
• You are a parent, sibling or grandparent who needs to attend the marriage ceremony or graduation of an immediate family member (son, daughter, brother, sister or grandchild).

What you need to consider

If you believe you qualify for an emergency appointment, please read the following points very carefully before you try to obtain an emergency appointment.

• You must ensure that you have documentary evidence to prove that you satisfy one or more of the criteria for an emergency appointment. (See above.)
• You cannot obtain an emergency appointment if denied a U.S. visa within the last year
• You cannot attend an emergency appointment outside your consular district if you are an Indian or Bhutanese citizen resident in your own country; if you do, your visa application will not be accepted
• If you obtain an emergency appointment you are treated as a normal visa applicant; you must qualify for a U.S. visa in every respect
• It is unwise to make travel arrangements or pay the Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge without first checking the availability of emergency appointments using the VFS website
• The Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge are nonrefundable
• If the consular officer determines you do not have a genuine emergency, as defined by the criteria above, the officer will postpone your interview 120 days from the date you appeared under the emergency provision
• If the consular officer finds you misrepresented your reason for travel to the U.S., a record of the misrepresentation goes in your case file and may adversely influence the outcome of your current and future visa applications
• Travel to the U.S. to assist a pregnant daughter or daughter-in-law does not qualify you for an emergency appointment. For such travel, book an ordinary visa interview appointment well in advance

How can I obtain an Emergency Appointment?

Based on your level of urgency for an emergency appointment and the type of emergency, you should select one of the options shown below. Please read the texts very carefully.

Option 1: The 'Walk-In' Emergency Appointment

If you have an emergency due to a death in your family or an urgent medical emergency, you can try for a 'walk-in' emergency appointment. You should come to the U.S Embassy, New Delhi, U.S. Consulate, Chennai,  or U.S. Consulate, Mumbai between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and bring with you the following items:

• Documentary evidence that proves that you satisfy one or more of the criteria for an emergency appointment. (See above.)
• A valid passport
• A signed and completed E-Visa Application Form (DS-156 Form)
• A completed DS-157 Form if you are 15 to 55 years of age
• A demand draft for the Visa Application Fee and Visa Issuance Fee that favors the "U.S. Embassy, New Delhi", "U.S. Consulate General, Chennai" or "U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai"
• A recent 2" X 2" (5 cm x 5 cm) photo of yourself that meets the photo requirements
• Other supporting documents that may support your application for a visa

Option 2: E-mail Emergency Appointment (U.S. Consulate, Kolkata only)

If you live in the Kolkata consular district and have an emergency due to a death in your family or an urgent medical emergency, you can request an emergency appointment from the U.S. Consulate, Kolkata by e-mail.

Pay the Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge at a designated branch of the HDFC bank and obtain a two-page Visa Fee Receipt. (Note: the Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge are nonrefundable.) Then send an e-mail to the consulate using the following e-mail address: consularkolkata@state.gov. In the e-mail you must clearly state the reasons why you need an emergency appointment.

The consulate will then decide if you are eligible for an emergency appointment and contact you by e-mail with a decision. If you are eligible, the consulate will give you a date(s) for an emergency appointment.

Please bring the following items to an emergency appointment:

• Documentary evidence that proves that you satisfy one or more of the criteria for an emergency appointment. (See above)
• A valid passport
• A signed and completed E-Visa Application Form (DS-156 Form)
• A completed DS-157 Form if you are 15 to 55 years of age
• Original HDFC Bank Receipt with two yellow barcode stickers
• A recent 2" X 2" (5 cm x 5 cm) photo of yourself that meets the photo requirements
• Other supporting documents that may support your application for a visa
  

Option 3: Obtain an Emergency Appointment Online

Follow the steps under the situation applicable to you:

Situation 1: You need to book an emergency appointment from the beginning

1. Pay the Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge at a designated branch of HDFC bank and obtain a two page Visa Fee Receipt. Note: the Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge are nonrefundable

2. Check the availability of emergency appointments using the VFS website. (Use the link near the bottom of their web page that has the text 'Click here for an estimate of current availability of visa interview appointments'.) When you see the 'Emergency Appointment' link in the appointments calendar, click on it and follow the instructions. Be sure to note down the date(s) shown in the emergency appointments calendar.  If you do not find an emergency appointment date(s) available, you should check the same calendar regularly as the U.S. Embassy and Consulates make additional emergency appointments available as resources permit

3. If an emergency appointment date(s) is available, click on the 'Apply for a Non-immigrant Visa' link in any VFS web page and follow the instructions. When you see the 'Emergency Appointment' link in the appointments calendar, click on it and follow the instructions. Have your Visa Fee Receipt on hand, as you need it to book your appointment. You will also be asked to complete and print forms DS-156, DS-157 (if applicable), and DS-158 (if applicable) so have all your details ready to complete this task

Situation 2: You have already booked a normal visa interview appointment but now require an emergency appointment

1. Go to the VFS website

2. Click on 'Reschedule/Cancel Appointment' and follow the instructions. When you see the 'Emergency Appointment' link in the appointments calendar, click on it and follow the instructions. Note: You do not need to cancel your current appointment before taking a emergency appointment

Situation 3: You have already booked an emergency visa interview appointment but now require an earlier emergency appointment

1. Go to the VFS website

2. Click on 'Reschedule/Cancel Appointment' and follow the instructions. When you see the 'Emergency Appointment' link in the appointments calendar, click on it and follow the instructions. Note: You do not need to cancel your current emergency appointment before taking another emergency appointment

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