When Will You Have Your J-1 Visa Interview?

If you want to make sure that your visa is approved in time to begin your exchange visitor program as scheduled, we recommend making an appointment for the interview as soon as you have sent in your J-1 visa application. You can schedule an appointment by contacting the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live.

Almost every J-1 visa applicant will be required to undergo an interview before their visa can be approved. If an applicant is older than 13 but younger than 80, it will be mandatory. Canadian citizens are not required to schedule an interview.

The waiting time to get an appointment can vary greatly according to demand. That is why we recommend scheduling the interview as soon as you can after applying for your visa. To find out how long the wait time is for an interview appointment at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate, you can visit the Visa Appointment Wait Times page.

Before the interview, make sure you have paid your non-refundable visa application processing fee unless your program doesn’t require you to pay it. Check with your sponsor first to know if it’s required. If your program requires you to pay the fee, you will need to bring the original receipt as proof of payment to the visa interview.

What Should You Do to Prepare for Your J-1 Visa Interview?

You will need to gather several documents you must bring with you to the interview. Getting these documents together and choosing an appropriate outfit for your interview will help you feel confident and organized.

Next, think about the questions you will most likely be answering at your visa application interview and practice providing the answers with a friend or family member. This may feel a little strange to you, but thinking about the questions and answers ahead of time will help keep you from being caught off guard during the actual interview.

Finally, make any travel arrangements you will need to get to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate on time for your interview. Remember to take traffic into account and give yourself enough time so that you won’t be rushed. Taking care of these details will make you more relaxed, allowing you to focus on completing your interview and making a good impression with your interviewer.

Do’s & Don’ts Before you Get at the Embassy

• Get a good rest the night before. Many students travel the whole night by train or bus which is cheaper, but very exhausting.
• Don’t take big backpacks with you. You are allowed to get in the Embassy only with your documents. Everything else will be placed in the security room. (phone, wallet, keys)
• You will be scanned just like at the airport. Don’t wear belts or watches.
• Expect big queues and even if you are scheduled at 8:00 am, try to be there earlier. There is no guarantee about the hour you will actually get in.
• Wear a casual outfit and comfortable shoes. Girls, think twice if you wear heels because there’s a lot of standing…

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