When a loved one falls seriously ill or when there is a sudden death in the family, the last thing on your mind is paperwork and governmental concerns.

Unfortunately, if the calamity occurs in a foreign country, you cannot just hop on a plane and zoom off to your destination. First, you must secure an emergency visa.

Yesterday, we discussed eligibility for US emergency visas from India. Today, let's look at how to schedule an emergency US visa interview.

Based on your level of urgency and the type of emergency, select one of the options below:

Option A: The 'walk-in' emergency appointment

If there has been a death in your family or if there is an urgent medical emergency, you can try for a 'walk-in' emergency appointment. You should come to the US embassy in New Delhi, US consulate in Chennai or US Consulate in Mumbai between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm 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 yesterday's article)
• 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 favours the 'US embassy, New Delhi', 'US consulate general, Chennai' or 'US 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 B: E-mail emergency appointment (US consulate in 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 US 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 non-refundable).  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 [Get Quote] 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 C: 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. Again, these fees are non-refundable.

2. Check the availability of emergency appointments using the VFS web site. (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 US 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 web site

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 web site

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.


Chat today with Dr Arun Vakil at 4 pm: Visa Facilitation Service and US immigration

Part I: 'VFS: Make your dream US visa a reality'
Part II: 'Do you qualify for an emergency US visa?'