US Embassy Interviews

No. They are totally separate. Even though your SEVIS fee has been paid you still need to pay the embassy MRV fee ($185 US dollars at the time of writing).

In many cases when the embassy is busy, they may ask you to send your paperwork in for initial processing before allowing you to book an interview.

If this is the case, please follow their instructions on submitting your paperwork via the Embassy courier system.

They will then review these and send them back to you

You will then be allowed to book your interview

*There have been some cases where a participant has received an email informing them their visa has been denied after submitting documents to the embassy - this is not correct. The embassy systems are automated and this message is normally meant to imply you are not eligible for an interview waiver and must now book your in person interview.

You may need to email the embassy after receiving your paperwork back to request your account be unlocked. You can then move forward with the booking process.

At all times please make sure you follow their instructions carefully - failure to do so may delay the process.

In almost every case the answer is YES. The only time you will not automatically be required to go for an interview is if you extending a current J1 visa - this is where your DS-2019/ SEVIS ID number remains the same. For all new J1 visas an interview is required.

No.
In order to book your interview you need to complete the DS-160 and to do this you need your DS-2019 Number (also known as your SEVIS ID).
This number can only be generated once your application for the programme has been approved in the USA.

In line with US Government guidelines, we recommend you do not book flights or make travel arrangements prior to receiving your visa.

While we understand many applicants wish to do this, please understand that if for any reason your visa process is delayed or denied, neither IST Plus, the US Government or CIEE can be held responsible for any costs associated with changes or cancellations to your travel plans

No.

The wait times are published here You may get lucky and get a quicker appointment by checking in on your account daily to see if any free up.

There is also an option within the online booking system to request an expedited appointment - HOWEVER please note this is normally reserved for emergencies so do not expect to be successful in gaining an expedited appointment.

You can't speed up the processing at the embassy however - this takes 3-5 working days AFTER your interview before you will get your passport (with J1 Visa printed inside) and DS-2019 Certificate returned to you.

Normally YES.
In some cases however your application may be put forward for more checks and administrative processing - which can take longer.

We completely understand how confusing and disappointing this can be.

The first thing you should do is contact our team, and provide as much explanation as possible.

In some cases, the embassy officer will have decided you have not been able to show strong ties to your home country - or that you were unable to persuade them that you intended to depart the US at the end of your programme (ie:, you were hoping to use this programme as a way to remain in the US long term).

In other cases, they may feel that your training plan does not align with your studies - or that your plan was not detailed enough to qualify for your visa.

Sometimes, this will have been based on a misunderstanding your your intended programme and you may well choose to re-apply for another visa interview.

If your training plan needs to be revised, the teams in the US can work with your US Host Company on this.

If you are a university student, we would also recommend getting a letter of support on headed paper from your university explaining the link to your studies and why this is important for your academic career (especially if the placement is credit bearing as part of a course).

You will need to complete a new DS-160 in order to apply for another interview, and if required to disclose a previous visa rejection, you should tick yes. In the Explainer box, provide information and what has been done to address these concerns (ie that you have further supporting documentation from your uni etc).

The most important thing is to keep us informed so we can help you!

By contacting our team (info@istplus.com) as soon as possible, we can help and advise on the process - including revision of training plans, liaising with your university, booking another interview - as well as going through the training plan and interview preparation.

No. You can choose to have your passport sent back to one of the pick up locations around the UK - or for an additional fee you can choose to have it delivered to an address of your choosing.
These options are made clear when you book the interview using the online system.

We recommend allowing at least one week from the day of interview to allow for your passport and visa to be returned to you. In addition, if you are currently on a programme in the US the embassy recommends you be in the UK for at least 2 weeks prior to your interview. You may choose to be in the UK for less time than this but please note this is at your own risk.

Your visa will normally show an issue date of on or around the date you attended your visa interview.

This does not mean you can travel to the US on this date - it just shows when you were approved by the embassy!

You can only enter the US on or after the date listed as PROGRAM\ Date of Departure to US on your online training plan within your CIEE account.

The END date of your visa relates purely to the last date you are allowed to undertake your Internship, Traineeship or Work and Travel Program with your US Host Company/ Employer.

It does not mean you have to leave the US on this date.

Please check your PROGRAM/ Date of Return to Home Country in your online training plan for the last date you are allowed to be in the USA

If applying for an interview in the UK You will need additional documents such as an ACRO certificate and VCU1. Details can be found at https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/ineligibilities-and-waivers-2/arrest-caution-conviction/

If you are applying for an interview in another country please check the requirements for your local embassy or consulate - you can find the links for world-wide embassies at the top of this page