As the appointments for non-immigrant visa are very hard to get and involves several months of delay, everyone is anxious to know whether it is possible to get emergency visa appointments. In fact, there are many circumstances that require immediate travel to the US and either waiting for a long period is not feasible or would cause great harm. US consulates in India have established certain criteria for giving emergency visa appointments to certain categories of people.

Notes:
You must have a genuine emergency as described below and you must have the appropriate paperwork (documentary evidence) with you before scheduling emergency visa appointment.

If your visa was rejected within last 1 year, you can't apply for an emergency appointment. You can NOT attend an emergency appointment outside your consular district if you are an Indian or Bhutanese citizen resident in your own country. Your visa application will not be accepted if you attempt that.

Even if you obtain an emergency appointment, you are treated as a normal visa applicant. You must qualify for a US visa in every respect and provide all relevant documents.

It is not recommended to make travel arrangement or pay visa application fee and service charge, without first checking the availability of emergency appointments, as those fees are not refundable.

Caution: If the consulate officer finds out during the interview that you misrepresented the reasons for emergency travel, the same will be noted in your file and you may not get the visa altogether. Also, your interview may be postponed by another 120 days from the original date if they find out that you didn't have a genuine reason to get emergency visa appointment.

Based on your level of urgency, you can obtain an emergency appointment either online or in person.
Application details

Emergency appointment may be available for the following categories of people:

• Returning H/L worker:
  H/L visa stamping for an applicant already working in the U.S. whose visa has expired and who wants to renew the visa and who is returning to his/her job.
  
  Requirements:
  • Evidence such as a previous visa (in the same category), Form I-797 (Notice of Action - Approval notice) or I-129 (H/L petition) to demonstrate that the person is returning to his/her previously authorized employment in the US.
  
  Returning workers qualify for emergency appointments which is determined during the course of making the appointment itself, in which case if a person is to visit India from US amid if he/she tries to make the appointment as soon as they arrive in India after paying the requisite fee at HDFC, they will get an appointment within a time frame of 7 to 8 days, and they also qualify to attend any of the consulates in India. And all the documents have to be physically carried to the Visa Office on the date of interview. One need not send them to the consulate after making the appointment.
  
  
• Death/Funeral:
  To attend the funeral of an immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister, child, spouse, grandparent, or grandchild) in the US.
  
  Requirements:
  • evidence that the deceased is an immediate relative
  
  
  
  • a letter from the funeral director stating the contact information, details of the deceased, and date of the funeral
  
  
• Medical treatment:
  To obtain emergency medical treatment, or to accompany a relative or employer for emergency medical treatment.
  
  Requirements:
  • a letter from the doctor/hospital in India that describes the medical condition, urgency of the need to travel and justification that such care is not available in India
    
    
  • a letter from the doctor/hospital in the US that indicates that they are prepared to treat the patient and also provide the approximate cost of the treatment
    
    
  • evidence of availability of enough funds to pay for the entire cost of the treatment
    
    
  One person can travel as an escort if the patient is unable to handle himself/herself due to ill health.
  
  More details about these requirements at Medical treatment evidence.
  
  
• Student/Exchange visitor:
  Applicants who have not been refused a visa within the last 6 months and need appointment within 90 days of the start date of a valid student (F, M) or exchange visitor (J) program.
  
  Requirements:
  • Form I-20 (F, M visa) or DS-2019 (J visa) that indicates the start date of the program within 90 days
    
    
  • Proof of the date on which I-20 arrived. If I-20 itself arrived late, student can't take an appointment before receiving it.
  
  
• Court appearance:
  You need to make an appearance in a U.S. court.
  
  Requirements:
  • any document that proves that you need to make an appearance in a U.S. court. Generally, summons would be the most appropriate document.
    
    
• Business:
  To attend a business matter in cases the requirement to travel could not be predicted sufficiently in advance.
  
  Requirements:
  • an invitation letter from the corresponding company in the US, certifying the urgency of the upcoming visit, describing the nature of the business and that either the US or Indian company will suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an emergency appointment is not available
    
    
  • evidence of a necessary training program in the US of 3 months duration or less, to include letters from both the Indian employer and US company providing the training
    
    
  • contracts, letters of credit, and/or other documents demonstrating a business relationship and a need to travel urgently
  
  
• Marriage/Graduation ceremony:
  To attend the marriage ceremony or graduation ceremony of an immediate family member (son, daughter, brother, sister or grandchild).
  
  This reason is acceptable only if you belong to New Delhi or Kolkata consular districts. It is not available to those that belong to Mumbai or Chennai consular districts.
  
  Requirements:
  • Marriage Ceremony: Marriage invitation card, proof of marriage taking place on a given date and at a given place.
    
    
  • Graduation Ceremony: Appropriate proof of ceremony occurring on a given date at a given place.

Depending upon the level and the type of your urgency for an emergency appointment, you may consider one of the several options shown below:

• 'Walk-in' or 'Email' emergency appointment:
  If you have an emergency due to a death in your family or an urgent medical emergency,
  • New Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai consular districts:
    you can try for a 'walk-in' emergency appointment at the appropriate embassy/consulate you belong to.
    
    You have to go to the embassy/consulate between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
    
    
  • Kolkata consular district:
    you will have to schedule an appointment via email.
    
    Pay the visa application fee and VFS service charge (non-refundable) at a designated branch of the HDFC bank and obtain a two-page visa fee receipt. Then send an email to the consulate at consularkolkata@state.gov. You must clearly state the reasons in the email why you need an emergency appointment.
    
    After receiving your email, the consulate will decide whether you are eligible for an emergency appointment and contact you by email with their decision. If you are eligible, the consulate 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.
    
    
  • A valid passport
    
    
  • Form DS-156
    
    
  • Form DS-157, if applicable
    
    
  • 2 photographs
    
    
  • A demand draft for the visa application fee that favors the "U.S. Embassy, New Delhi", "U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai" or "U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai".
    
    If you are in Kolkata consular district, instead provide the original HDFC bank receipt with two yellow barcode stickers.
    
    
  • Other supporting documents that may support your application for a visa.
    Exact documents depends upon the type of visa you are applying for.
    
    
• Online emergency appointment:
  
  Depending upon your exact situation, please follow the steps below.
  
  General procedure for an online appointment.
  
  
  1. You need to book an emergency appointment from the beginning
     • Pay the visa application fee and VFS service charge (non-refundable) at a designated branch of the HDFC bank and obtain a two-page visa fee receipt.
       
       
     • Check availability of emergency appointments at the VFS web site. Click 'Emergency Appointments' link in the appointment calendar and follow the instructions. Make sure to note down the date(s) shown in the emergency appointments calendar.
       
       
     • If you do not find an emergency appointment date(s) available, keep checking the calendar regularly as the U.S. embassy/consulates make additional emergency appointments available as resources permit.
       
       
     • If an emergency appointment date(s) is available, click on 'Apply for a Non-immigrant Visa' and follow the instructions. Choose 'Emergency Appointment' appropriately when asked for. You must have your visa fee receipt with you while booking an appointment. You will also be asked to complete and print forms DS-156, DS-157 (if applicable) and DS-158 (if applicable). Therefore, make sure to keep all the details ready in advance.
       
       
  2. You have already booked a regular visa interview appointment but now require an emergency appointment
     Or
     You have already booked an emergency appointment but not require an earlier emergency appointment
     
     Visit Reschedule/Cancel Appointment and follow the instructions. Click 'Emergency Appointment' in the calendar and follow the instructions.
     
     Note: Before taking an emergency appointment, you do not need to cancel your current appointment.