US visa appointments 2026: how to check the next available slot for B1/B2 and O-1 yourself

US visas O1 / EB1 talent visas
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Visa Appointment Scheduling / Запись на визу

Related articles / Связанные статьи O-1 Petitioner / Петиционер O-1 Interview / Интервью Consulates / Консульства 221(g) Visa Suspensions / Приостановка виз
O-1 / B1/B2 DS-160 MRV fee AIS / USTravelDocs Third-country rule

Contents

Scheduling a U.S. visa in 2026 is not a lottery: you can check the nearest interview slot yourself and find the closest consulate appointment date without paying agents or subscribing to dubious Telegram bots. This works for tourist B1/B2 and for employment O-1 (the talent visa): the basic scheduling logic and country-of-residence rules are the same, but the specific portal depends on the country (it may be AIS, USTravelDocs, USVisaScheduling, or another local system). Below is a step-by-step guide on how to view available visa slots in Warsaw, Belgrade, Astana, Vilnius and other locations popular among Russian-speaking applicants, plus a list of countries where interview scheduling was fastest as of April 2026.

IN SHORT (in 30 seconds):

  1. First check which of the four portals your country uses. Most Central Asian and Latin American countries use ais.usvisa-info.com, much of Europe and many Asian countries use ustraveldocs.com, and a separate new platform usvisascheduling.com was launched in 2023 for some cases. The exact country-to-portal assignment changes — verify on the U.S. embassy website for the country you need.
  2. Fill out the DS-160 on the State Department site at ceac.state.gov and save the application ID.
  3. On the portal site click “Apply”, create an account, choose the visa type (B1/B2 or O), and enter the DS-160.
  4. On some portals (especially AIS) you can see the nearest dates before paying the MRV: progress to the Payment step, and a sidebar will show “First Available Appointments”. This depends on country and platform; officially DOS follows the sequence DS-160 → fee → appointment.
  5. If dates are visible before payment, view them and close the tab. You don’t need to pay anything.

What you need to understand before opening the portal

Since autumn 2025 the scheduling logic changed. Previously many people would pick any U.S. consulate in the world with a short wait and schedule there. Under current State Department rules, it is recommended to apply for nonimmigrant visas in the country of citizenship or lawful residence.

The exact wording matters: applying in a third country is formally possible, but the applicant may find it harder to proceed, and once the MRV fee is paid it is non-refundable and non-transferable. The State Department notes that applicants outside their nationality/residence “might find it more difficult to qualify.”

Timeline:

  • August 28, 2025: the State Department announced a similar rule for immigrant visas (effective November 1, 2025). This was the first signal.
  • September 6, 2025: the State Department extended the rule to nonimmigrant visas (B1/B2, F-1, H-1B, O-1, J-1, L-1). The official announcement took effect immediately.
  • December 12, 2025: the State Department clarified that residence must be provable with documents.

Morgan Lewis, September 2025, on the scale of the changes: “The Department of State’s policy changes significantly impact consular nonimmigrant visa processing by requiring applicants to schedule visa interviews in their country of nationality or country of residence. Applicants who schedule interviews outside these locations may be denied processing or face greater scrutiny.”

What this means: major law firm Morgan Lewis explains: the rule is not just a “recommendation,” it changes the approach to scheduling. You can apply outside your country, but the officer will require additional explanation and there is a high chance the application will not be processed.

Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL), August 28, 2025: according to the firm, from November 1, 2025 NVC requires immigrant visa applicants to schedule interviews in the consular district of residence or in the country of nationality if requested. This was a significant departure from the prior practice of choosing nearly any consulate.

What this means: BAL, one of the largest corporate immigration firms in the U.S., described the rule for immigrant visas in August 2025. A week later the State Department applied the same logic to nonimmigrant visas.

Which consulate you can apply at

This section refers only to nonimmigrant visas: tourist B1/B2 and employment O-1. Immigrant visas (employment- or family-based green cards, DV lottery) follow different rules. If you need an immigrant visa, follow your case number via the National Visa Center.

The rule is the same for B1/B2 and O-1: O-1, despite being petition-based, is tied to the country of residence just like H-1B and L-1.

Fragomen on third-country applications: Fragomen lawyers state the State Department has made the process noticeably harder for those who schedule interviews outside their country of citizenship or residence. The rule applies to all nonimmigrant categories, including petition-based employment categories like H-1B, L-1 and O-1.

What this means: before September 2025 it was assumed that with an approved I-129 petition one could apply at almost any consulate for a quick slot. Now O-1 follows the same rules as B1/B2. Source: Fragomen.

Russian passport, residing in Russia (B1/B2 and O-1)

Where: Designated posts for nonimmigrant visas: Warsaw (Poland) and Astana (Kazakhstan). The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has not provided non-diplomatic services since May 2021, as reported by The Moscow Times.

What you need: an internal Russian passport. For scheduling an appointment in Warsaw you first need a Schengen visa to travel there. Wait times at both posts are lengthening — check dates in advance.

Russian passport, residency permit in another country (B1/B2 and O-1)

Where: For nonimmigrant visas you apply in your country of residence: Turkey (Ankara or Istanbul via ustraveldocs.com, portal changed in May 2025), UAE (Abu Dhabi or Dubai, AIS for the UAE is currently not in operation — check the embassy site), Serbia (Belgrade), Georgia (Tbilisi), Armenia (Yerevan), Kazakhstan (Astana or Almaty), Cyprus (Nicosia), Thailand (Bangkok), Indonesia (Jakarta).

Proof of residence: residence permit card plus at least 6 months of residence evidence (lease or property deed, utility bills, bank statements, employment contract, tax documents). For Turkey this is ikamet and e-Devlet printout, for the UAE Emirates ID and Ejari, for Serbia boravišna dozvola.

Belarusian passport, residing in Belarus (B1/B2 and O-1)

Where: Designated post for nonimmigrant visas: Vilnius (Lithuania). For immigrant visas Belarusians are usually assigned Warsaw. The U.S. Embassy in Minsk has been closed since February 2022.

What you need: Belarusian passport or a residency permit from another country.

Ukrainian passport (B1/B2 and O-1)

Where: In the State Department’s list of designated NIV posts for Ukrainians, Krakow and Warsaw are indicated. Check the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine’s site for current in-country application possibilities: ua.usembassy.gov. If you have temporary protection or an EU residence permit, apply in the country of residence.

Ogletree Deakins on Ukrainians applying abroad: “Ukrainian nationals residing outside of Ukraine may apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of residence. Applicants should be prepared to provide evidence of lawful residence, such as a residence permit or temporary protection documentation.”

What this means: if you have a Ukrainian passport and are in Poland, Germany, or the Czech Republic, you apply there, not in Kyiv. Bring proof of lawful stay: temporary protection (“Pobyt czasowy” in Poland, “Aufenthaltstitel” in Germany) or a residence permit. Source: Ogletree Deakins.

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan passports (B1/B2 and O-1)

Where: For nonimmigrant visas you apply at home: ais.usvisa-info.com (Kazakhstan), Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.

What you need: internal passport.

Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan passports (B1/B2 and O-1)

Where: For nonimmigrant visas you apply at home: Tbilisi, Yerevan, Baku.

What you need: internal passport.

EU passports (Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia) (B1/B2 and O-1)

Where: For tourism up to 90 days a B1/B2 is generally not needed — use the Visa Waiver via ESTA at ESTA. If you still need B1/B2 (long visit, business) or an O-1, apply in the country of citizenship: Warsaw, Frankfurt or Berlin, Prague, Vilnius, Riga.

What you need: EU ID or passport.

Israel passport (B1/B2 and O-1)

Where: Israel joined the Visa Waiver Program on November 30, 2023, so for tourism up to 90 days B1/B2 is not needed. For an O-1 or a long B1/B2 apply at Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.

What you need: Teudat Zehut.

If none of the combinations above fit you, look up your designated post on the State Department page about the residence rule at travel.state.gov or consult an immigration attorney. The old “fly anywhere” scheme is now sharply limited and less predictable.

What you need to check dates

  • A completed DS-160 form and its Application ID (format AA + 8 characters, e.g. AA00ABCDE1, per the CEAC description at CEAC).
  • A valid passport whose details were entered into the DS-160.
  • For O-1, additionally the approved petition number I-129 (USCIS Receipt Notice, format EAC, WAC, LIN or SRC plus 10 digits).
  • 15 minutes of time.

DS-160 Barcode Match rule. Since 2025 this has become common practice at many U.S. embassies, not only Turkey. Similar announcements in 2025 were published by embassies in Lithuania, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Brazil, Canada and others. The essence: the DS-160 number (starts with “AA”) entered during scheduling must exactly match the DS-160 you bring to the interview. If it doesn’t match, you will be denied entry to the interview and will need to reschedule. A sample wording can be seen in the U.S. Embassy in Turkey press release from April 25, 2025. Fill out the DS-160 with your actual passport details — don’t use a draft for the sake of a draft: the officer checks the barcode, full name and passport at the interview.

Step 0. Find out which portal your country uses

The U.S. State Department has not created a single unified scheduling portal. Today there are four different systems, and each country is tied to one of them. Below is an overview of each system with practical pros and cons, based on analysis by New York immigration lawyers Daryanani Law Group (September 2024).

1. AIS (Yatri), ais.usvisa-info.com

A cloud portal developed by GDIT (General Dynamics Information Technology). Used in Canada, Mexico, South America, parts of Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. Immigration lawyers consider it the most convenient of the four: clean interface, no strict login limits, easy to monitor dates, simple to change email and log in from multiple devices.

Pros:

  • No lockout for “too frequent” logins within a day
  • Can log in from phone, tablet, laptop simultaneously
  • Email can be changed easily
  • Convenient search for earlier dates after initial scheduling

Cons:

  • You cannot attach documents to an expedite request, only up to 500 words of text
  • Only one expedite attempt; if denied you cannot reapply even with new evidence

Tip: if you can choose between countries on different portals, choose the one on AIS.

2. “Old” CGI / US Travel Docs, ustraveldocs.com

Portal by CGI (global IT consulting). Covers much of Europe, China, Japan, Korea, UAE, Israel, Serbia, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine.

Pros:

  • You can attach supporting documents to an expedite request

Cons:

  • 24–72 hour lockout for “too frequent” logins. The exact threshold is undisclosed
  • Account cannot be automatically transferred between countries on this portal
  • MRV fee often must be paid via a local bank rather than online
  • Hard to change email, correct errors, or make group appointments

James Hollis (Consular Intelligence) on working with old CGI: “After fighting with a number of other countries’ CGI portals, I once booked a client based in Korea for an appointment in London to avoid all of the issues with this scheduling portal.”

What this means: immigration attorney James Hollis admits that before the September 6, 2025 rule, it sometimes made sense to pick a country on AIS instead of “Old” CGI. That strategy is now limited by the residency rule.

3. “New” CGI, usvisascheduling.com

Launched summer 2023 by CGI. Initially piloted for select cases in India and gradually expanded. The country map changes quickly: for example, Turkey moved in May 2025 from AIS to ustraveldocs.com, not to the “New” CGI. Always verify the embassy’s website.

The new system aims to block bots and third parties who mass-buy slots and resell them in India. The problem is that real applicants and their lawyers sometimes get blocked as well.

Main problems:

  • Only the person who created the account can log in, and only from the device used to create it. VPN doesn’t help
  • You are often placed in a virtual waiting room
  • CAPTCHA can be so difficult that login takes an absurd amount of time
  • Cloudflare anti-bot checks erase entered data and block expedite requests
  • Uploaded files may be rejected without explanation

Tip: avoid countries on the “New” CGI if you can.

4. E Visa Forms

An older portal used mainly in African countries. Simple logic: fill DS-160, enter the 10-digit barcode, pass a CAPTCHA, and schedule. MRV fee is not required before scheduling.

Pros: simpler than both CGI portals, no major issues reported.
Cons: outdated interface, but it works.

Summary table

Reddy Neumann Brown on migration to the new platform: “Starting in September 2024, the Department of State began transitioning select U.S. consular posts to a new online visa appointment scheduling platform, usvisascheduling.com. Applicants in affected countries must create a new account on the new platform; existing accounts on the old system will not transfer.”

What this means: Since 2023 the State Department has been rolling out usvisascheduling.com and gradually moving some cases to it. The country map changes quickly: e.g., Turkey moved in May 2025 from AIS to ustraveldocs.com instead of usvisascheduling. The only reliable way to know your portal is to check the U.S. embassy website for your country. Source on migration logic: Reddy Neumann Brown.

Portal Typical coverage (as of April 2026)
ais.usvisa-info.com (Yatri / GDIT) Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Canada, countries of South & Central America, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, UK, several African countries. The AIS page for UAE is currently Not In Operation — verify at ae.usembassy.gov
ustraveldocs.com (CGI Federal) India, Turkey (since May 2025), Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Israel, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Serbia, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and most of Europe
usvisascheduling.com (new platform) Launched in 2023, serves some cases in select countries. The country map changes — check the embassy site
Local embassy site Russia (Moscow closed; applicants directed to pl.usembassy.gov or kz.usembassy.gov), Belarus (by.usembassy.gov), Iran

Platform assignments change quickly. Always check the embassy/consulate page in the Nonimmigrant Visas section (format XX.usembassy.gov/visas/, e.g. pl.usembassy.gov/visas/). Summary tables like this become outdated within months.

Attention for Russians. The URL ais.usvisa-info.com/en-pl/niv returns 404; Poland is served through ustraveldocs.com, not AIS. For Warsaw go via pl.usembassy.gov. For Astana AIS works: ais.usvisa-info.com/en-kz/niv.

Step-by-step instruction (using AIS portal, ais.usvisa-info.com, as example)

AIS stands for Appointment Information Service, one of the four official scheduling portals run by GDIT under contract with the State Department. The logic of the three main portals is similar, so we’ll detail AIS and note differences for usvisascheduling.com and ustraveldocs.com where relevant.

Step 1. Open your country’s portal

For Kazakhstan the URL is: ais.usvisa-info.com/en-kz/niv

You will see two large buttons:

  • “Apply” for first-time users. Click this.
  • “Continue” to return to an existing account.

Step 2. Create an account

After clicking “Apply” the site will ask you to choose a language (English, Russian or Kazakh for KZ) and agree to terms. Registration requires:

  • Email and password
  • Full name in Latin letters (as in passport)
  • A security question for recovery

A confirmation email will arrive. Verify the email and log in.

Step 3. Click “Schedule a New Appointment” in the left menu

After logging in a navigation panel appears on the left. Click “Schedule a New Appointment”. The main dashboard also has a green “Continue” button next to the “Pay Visa Fee” status block.

Step 4. Choose the visa type

You will go through several screens:

  1. Visa Category: “Nonimmigrant Visa”.
  2. Post Selection: pick the consulate (e.g. Astana or Almaty).
  3. Visa Class: for tourists choose B1/B2, for O-1 choose O.
  4. Visa Priority: for B1/B2 select “Visitors for Business or Pleasure”, for O-1 select “Aliens of Extraordinary Ability”.

Step 5. Enter passport and DS-160 details

The next screen, “Personal Information” and “Application Details”, requests:

  • Full name, date of birth, gender, citizenship
  • Passport number, country of issuance, expiration date
  • DS-160 application ID (format AA00ABCDE1, must match the one you submitted on ceac.state.gov)
  • For O-1: the I-129 petition receipt number (format EAC, WAC, LIN or SRC + 10 digits)

The DS-160 barcode (starts with “AA”) you enter must match the DS-160 you bring to the interview (DS-160 Barcode Match rule). On some portals a mismatched or fake number won’t pass at registration; on others you’ll be turned away at the interview.

Step 6. Complete the “Address & Phone” and “Courier” steps

The site will ask for your address in the country of application and the passport return courier address (choose the nearest courier office from the list).

Step 7. Reach the “Payment” screen and do not click “Pay”

This is the final screen before paying the MRV fee. At the top you’ll see the sequence: Applicant Information → Courier → Payment → Schedule → Instructions. You’re on the Payment step. Left are payment details (USD 185 for many B1/B2 categories, USD 205 for O-1). Right in the sidebar is the header “First Available Appointments” and a list of posts with dates.

This is the information you need. Save or screenshot it and close the tab. No payment is necessary.

Step 8. If you want to check another country, repeat on that portal

Create a separate account on the other country’s portal (you cannot use one account across different countries). For example, to compare Almaty and Warsaw you must register separately on ais.usvisa-info.com (Kazakhstan) and ustraveldocs.com (Poland).

Action limits. AIS and CGI portals may temporarily block accounts for “too frequent” checks (the exact number isn’t published), and may show errors when using VPN or browser extensions. Don’t crash the system — use one device without VPN.

Where to find “First Available Appointments” on other portals

  • ais.usvisa-info.com (AIS): right column on the Payment step.
  • ustraveldocs.com (CGI): after login and Visa Type selection you’ll see the “Schedule Appointment” screen with a calendar — the first available active date is the nearest slot.
  • usvisascheduling.com: similar calendar after registration; on the “Appointment” page the bottom shows “Next available date”.

The logic is the same everywhere: create an account, reach the scheduling step, and you can view dates before paying.

DOS official benchmarks as of April 2026 (not a guarantee of actual slot)

Disclaimer. The State Department’s Global Visa Wait Times table (travel.state.gov) explicitly states: “The information provided is an estimate and does not guarantee the availability of an appointment.” This is a guideline, not a promise. The actual earliest slot on a portal may be earlier or later. DOS updates these monthly and adds slots regularly.

Below is a selection of posts popular with Russian-speaking applicants as of April 15, 2026. DOS provides five columns; in the table below two main columns are shown: B1/B2 and Petition-based (for O-1).

Consulate B1/B2 next available Petition-based (H/L/O/P/Q) Comment
Warsaw under 0.5 mo under 0.5 mo Designated post for RF, BY, UA
Astana 3 mo 1 mo Designated post for RF
Almaty 1.5 mo 1 mo
Vilnius under 0.5 mo under 0.5 mo Designated post for Belarus
Krakow under 0.5 mo under 0.5 mo
Yerevan 1 mo under 0.5 mo Only for residents of Armenia
Tbilisi under 0.5 mo under 0.5 mo
Belgrade 2 mo 1 mo Only for residents of Serbia
Tashkent 2 mo under 0.5 mo
Bishkek under 0.5 mo under 0.5 mo
Tel Aviv 2 mo 2 mo Visa Waiver works for tourism up to 90 days
Frankfurt 1 mo 1 mo For EU residents
Berlin under 0.5 mo under 0.5 mo
Prague under 0.5 mo under 0.5 mo
Bangkok 1.5 mo 1 mo
Istanbul / Ankara under 0.5 mo under 0.5 mo Portal: ustraveldocs.com (since May 2025)
Nicosia (Cyprus) under 0.5 mo under 0.5 mo
London 2 mo under 0.5 mo
Dubai 12.5 mo 2 mo Check ae.usembassy.gov
Abu Dhabi 14.5 mo 14.5 mo
Mumbai 7.5 mo 1 mo Portal: ustraveldocs.com
New Delhi 7 mo 1 mo
Toronto 14.5 mo 1.5 mo
Vancouver 12.5 mo 4.5 mo
Sydney 15 mo 2 mo Portal: ustraveldocs.com
Mexico City 1.5 mo 1.5 mo

A few observations on this table:

  • Designated posts for Russians (Warsaw and Astana) currently show surprisingly short slots: under 0.5 month in Warsaw and 3 months in Astana. This is April 2026 — the situation can change.
  • Petition-based waits are shorter than B1/B2 almost everywhere (especially Mumbai, Delhi, Dubai, Toronto). That’s good news for O-1 applicants.
  • Longest waits for B1/B2 are in Sydney, Abu Dhabi, Toronto, Vancouver, Dubai.
  • Shortest waits are in Warsaw, Krakow, Berlin, Prague, Vilnius, Tbilisi, Istanbul, Nicosia, Bishkek.

A full table with all ~190 posts is updated monthly on the State Department’s Global Visa Wait Times page: travel.state.gov/wait-times. For real-time slot assessment check the scheduling portals themselves. Independent aggregators like checkvisaslots.com can provide additional perspective but are not official.

If you’re interested not in the “next available slot” but in actual administrative processing times (221(g)) at specific consulates, we have a separate article: 221(g) timing: real statistics by consulate.

If you’re renewing a visa and qualify for interview waiver (dropbox), the wait times above may be irrelevant. The State Department notes: “Embassies and consulates may waive the in-person interview requirement for eligible applicants. Wait times for these appointments are not reflected in the table.”

What this date check DOES NOT show

The portal date is a snapshot. It can change in an hour, a day, or after the next slot release. Specifically it does not show:

  • It doesn’t guarantee the slot will remain available through payment. While you pay, another applicant could take the slot.
  • It doesn’t guarantee the slot is available for your subcategory (e.g., O-1 requires an approved I-129).
  • It doesn’t replace checking the specific embassy’s rules.
  • It doesn’t mean you will be approved if you are a third-country applicant and don’t meet the State Department’s residence criteria from September 6, 2025.

Specifics for O-1

The O-1 visa (the talent visa) is for individuals with extraordinary ability: this can include a programmer, designer, product manager, artist, musician, athlete, blogger, or scientist. For detailed criteria see our forum EB-1A section: EB-1A / O-1 discussions.

  • Typically the O-1 interview is scheduled after approval of the USCIS petition I-129, and you should have the Approval Notice (I-797) on hand. Without I-797 the portal often won’t accept a receipt number.
  • On the AIS portal the category is labeled “O”, and you need to enter the petition receipt number (format EAC, WAC, LIN or SRC + 10 digits).
  • For O-1 consult the petition-based (H/L/O/P/Q) column in the DOS wait times table rather than B1/B2. In many posts this column is notably shorter than B1/B2 (e.g., April 2026: Frankfurt under 0.5 mo, Astana 1 mo, Dubai 2 mo), but this isn’t universal.
  • At the interview bring: passport, DS-160 confirmation, I-797, a copy of I-129, the petition letter, and your evidence portfolio. Prepare separately for the interview: see Interview at the consulate: 10+ real stories and Interview questions: wait time depends on consulate.

Pitfalls rarely written about

MRV fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. The visa application fee (USD 185 for many B1/B2, F, J, M categories; USD 205 for O, per the State Department fee schedule at travel.state.gov) is non-refundable under any circumstances. It is also non-transferable:

  • between countries (you paid in Serbia and later decide to apply in Poland: you must pay again);
  • between visa categories (you paid for B1/B2 and later switch to O-1: you must pay again);
  • between people (you cannot “transfer” a paid fee to a family member).
Under current rules an MRV receipt is valid for 365 days from payment for the same country and visa category.

State Department on MRV fee: “Visa fees are non-refundable. The fees you paid will not be refunded, regardless of whether your visa is approved or denied. The fees are also non-transferable to other persons or to other types of visas.”

What this means: the fee is tied to a specific applicant and visa type and won’t be returned or transferred. If you change your mind after payment there’s no second chance — you pay again.

Visa shopping increases risk of denial under 214(b). “Visa shopping” means applying at another consulate after a denial at home or trying to find a more lenient officer. The consular officer can see your application history in the Consular Consolidated Database (CCD), and a pattern that looks like “I’m looking for a friendlier officer” is a red flag. Changing consulates by itself is not considered “new circumstances.”

Why reapplying in another post often fails is explained by Lunel Law in their guide “How to Overcome a 214(b) Visa Rejection” (Nov 2025).

Lunel Law, 1, reapplying without changes: lawyers state reapplying immediately without addressing original issues is a common mistake that almost always leads to a second denial. If nothing has changed since the first application, the officer will reach the same conclusion.

What this means: simply flying to another country and applying again without changed employment, income, or family circumstances usually results in the same denial. The officer in the second post will see your history and draw the same conclusion.

Lunel Law, 2, officers look for “new and compelling circumstances”: “Consular officers look for ‘new and compelling circumstances’ that were not present at the time of the first application.”

What this means: reapplying only makes sense if you truly have new facts: new job, new contract, marriage, property purchase, graduation. Changing the city alone doesn’t count.

Lunel Law, 3, 214(b) vs 221(g): lawyers explain that 221(g) is not a final denial but an administrative hold: the applicant typically has up to a year to provide the requested information. 214(b) is a final decision for that application: you cannot reverse it by supplying documents; you must apply again, pay a new MRV, and have a new interview.

What this means: 221(g) is a pause; you can submit additional documents within a year. 214(b) is final: new application, new fee, new DS-160, new interview. See our piece on administrative processing: Administrative processing 221(g).

The residency rule from September 6, 2025 formalized the practice: even an initial application outside the country of residence now requires explanation as to why you are not in your country (State Department announcement: travel.state.gov).

Portal action limits and account lockout. In practice users often face temporary access restrictions after frequent checks. According to Daryanani Law Group:

  • Old CGI / US Travel Docs locks users out for 24–72 hours after an undetermined number of “too frequent” logins.
  • New CGI / usvisascheduling.com restricts account access to the device used to create the account.
  • AIS / ais.usvisa-info.com is the most lenient, but using VPN or extensions can trigger an “Access Limitation” error.
Practical tip: check dates at most 1–2 times per day, without VPN, from a single device.

Daryanani Law Group on “Old” CGI: “If users log into US Travel Docs ‘too many’ times, and their definition of ‘too many’ is not known, the system will lock out users for up to seventy-two hours.”

What this means: the lockout threshold on CGI is intentionally opaque to prevent bots calibrating attempts. If your lawyer, family member and you log in simultaneously, you might trigger a three-day lockout.

Daryanani Law Group on “New” CGI: “Only the person who initially creates the account can re-login… the account was restricted to the device of the user who first created the account. No amount of VPN usage could change this.”

What this means: if your country uses the new usvisascheduling.com, create the account on the device you will use throughout. If an assistant or attorney creates it on their computer and you try to log in from another device, the system may block you.

Proclamation 10998: visa suspensions from January 1, 2026. Proclamation 10998 (travel.state.gov) restricts or limits visa issuance for nationals of certain countries. Officially: “Visa applicants who are subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998 may still submit visa applications and schedule interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.” In short: you can apply and schedule, but visa issuance or entry may be denied. The proclamation did not affect those whose visas were valid as of January 1, 2026.



At the same time another restriction suspends immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries — this concerns green cards, not B1/B2 or O-1. Detailed review: Visa suspension for 75 countries.

For Russian and Belarusian citizens with approved O-1. See our separate forum article: O-1 visa for RF and BY citizens 2026 — how many years are granted, next steps after approval, and how to enter the U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay to see the date?

No. The “First Available Appointments” block is displayed before MRV payment. Simply reach the Payment step to view the date. You cannot reserve a slot without payment, but you can see the date.

Can I just close the tab after the Payment screen?

Yes. This creates no obligation. Your account stays active and the application remains in “Pay Visa Fee” status; the MRV is not charged. You can return later or delete the account.

Will my DS-160 be invalidated if I only logged in to look?

No. DS-160 is stored on ceac.state.gov and is independent of actions on the scheduling portal.

I’m a Russian citizen — can I schedule in Serbia or Armenia?

Since September 6, 2025 generally no (except narrow exceptions: diplomatic visas, medical and humanitarian cases). Designated posts for Russian citizens are Warsaw and Astana.

What if I have residency in Serbia or Turkey?

Then you apply in your country of residence. You must document residence: residency card plus evidence covering 6+ months (lease, utility bills, bank, employment contract). Without proof consular posts may refuse scheduling.

How long does it really take to fill out DS-160?

CEAC estimates 75 minutes. In practice the first completion takes 60–90 minutes; with complex travel and employment histories it can take up to 2 hours (Boundless DS-160 guide). Sessions time out after 20 minutes of inactivity. Common field questions: Distance learning and U.S. visa: do you need to declare it in DS-160.

How long is DS-160 valid after submission?

There is no official expiry, but if data changes after submission you should fill a new form. The State Department recommends submitting no earlier than 12 months before the interview.

Can I use the same DS-160 in different countries?

Yes. Travel.State.Gov confirms that a new form is not required when changing location.

Are dates in the First Available block accurate?

They are official system data but may lag. For a more exact picture also check checkvisaslots.com or DOS wait times at travel.state.gov/wait-times.

What if I was denied a U.S. visa under 214(b)?

214(b) is a final decision for that application: you cannot submit additional documents to reverse it. You must apply again (new MRV, new DS-160, new interview). Applying at another consulate “to find a different officer” (visa shopping) almost always leads to a second denial. Before reapplying, circumstances must have changed: new job, new contract, marital status, property. See our analysis: 221(g) vs 214(b).

How does scheduling B1/B2 differ from scheduling O-1?

For B1/B2 you need only DS-160, passport and MRV payment. For O-1 you additionally need an approved I-129 petition (I-797). Without I-797 you typically cannot book an O-1 slot. O-1 scheduling times are usually shorter than B1/B2 because DOS publishes a separate petition-based column (H/L/O/P/Q).

Is scheduling B1/B2 or O-1 connected to green cards and immigrant visas?

No. These are separate processes. B1/B2 and O-1 are nonimmigrant visas scheduled via AIS / USTravelDocs / USVisaScheduling. Green cards (EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, EB-3, DV) go through the National Visa Center and follow visa bulletin rules. For employment-based green card guidance see our EB-2 NIW and EB-1A forum threads.

Also read on the forum

Application and interview

Processing times, queues and administrative processing

O-1 and EB-1A (talent visas)

Immigrant visas (green card) and 2025–2026 policy

Need help with O-1, EB-1A or EB-2 NIW? Free initial consultation on talent visas from Egor Akimov: consultation page. We will assemble the case, prepare you for the interview, and support you until the visa is in the passport. If you need a U.S. immigration attorney for filings, we can recommend vetted lawyers.

База знаний O-1, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW Начните Тут
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That’s handy, I signed up on my own too, without any agents)

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On travel.state.gov they say the appointment wait time for O is about 10 days — hope that’s the case. I had about the same when I booked my appointment, so don’t worry that it’ll take longer )

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