Emergency US Visa Appointment

Expedited visa process is a privilege, not a right.

For health, professional, or other personal necessities, there might be unpredictable circumstances where one will need to request for emergency visa interview appointments. The applicants are not guaranteed to receive the approvals for their desired expedited appointment time and date.  This will depend on the validity of the exceptional case presented and depend on the allotted time and interview slots available at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate where the appointment will take place.

There are a few categories of emergency circumstances for which the applicants could possibly apply. The applicants must ensure that they have proper documentary evidence to prove the urgency requested. If it appears during the visa interview that the applicant misrepresented the reasons for emergency travel, such facts will be noted on the application’s case file and may adversely influence the outcome of the visa application.

Most importantly, it is very critical to note that travel for the purpose of attending weddings and graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant relatives, participating in an annual business/academic/professional conference, or enjoying last-minute tourism does not qualify for expedited appointments. The Embassy/Consulate also does not expedite appointments simply for travelers’ convenience or advance booking of airplane tickets. For such travel, it is recommended to schedule a regular visa appointment well in advance.

Some sample of “reasonable” cases that one might be able to pursue the expedited visa appointment proposals include:

• personal medical or illness emergency
• attending very close relatives’ funeral activities
• participating in an urgent business trip that affects the Thai/U.S. bilateral relationship and
• returning back to schools or to ongoing educational programs in the U.S.

The purpose of travel for the medical emergency can be to personally obtain emergency medical care, accompany a relative or employer for emergency medical care, or visit relative suffering from an immediate, life-threatening medical condition. To prove the urgency of the medical urgency case, the applicant must provide a statement letter issued by the registered physician in Thailand describing the medical condition that must be treated in the U.S. The letter should also include the financial statement showing the total expense or cost of the treatment and how the applicant plans to cover the cost.

To attend funeral events of closed or immediate family members, the applicant must show the letter from the funeral director of the event’s details (i.e. name of the deceased, date and place of the funeral).  The immediate family members can be the mother, father, brother, sister, child, grandparent, or grandchildren.  The applicant must also show evidence that the deceased is indeed an immediate relative.

To qualify for an urgent business travel, the type of travel has to be one that affects the benefits of either the U.S. or Thai/local company.  The applicant must provide a letter of invitation from the corresponding company in the United States.  The statement in the letter must attest to the urgency of the planned visit, describing the nature of the business and that either the U.S. or local company will suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an expedited appointment is not available.

For F (students) and J (exchange visitors) visas, the Embassy expects students and temporary workers to make every effort to schedule regular interview appointments.  However, in limited cases, the Embassy will consider emergency appointments for them.  The applicant will have to show proof of the original form I-20 or DS-2019 indicating the start date of the program within 60 days.

Altogether, the expedited visa appointment interview is not particularly easy to obtain.  It is suggested for the applicants to apply very well in advance with the proper visa categories for travel purposes.

Siam Legal International is ready to provide you with further consultation on the US visa processes, please feel free to contact us.

Category: US Visa