Important Information Regarding Visas
Non-Immigrant Visa Operating Status: The U.S. Consulates General in South Africa are accepting and processing non-immigrant visa applications from individuals physically present in South Africa, including third country nationals. To protect the health and safety of our applicants and staff we have limited appointments available. Applicants should expect a longer-than-normal wait time for scheduling an appointment and visa processing, and plan accordingly.
Please follow the instructions at https://ais.usvisa-info.com to schedule an appointment or to submit your visa application via courier. Approximate wait times for appointments can be found by visiting https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html. For questions regarding scheduling an appointment online, requesting an expedited appointment, or renewing your U.S. visa via courier, please call +27 87 550 2160. Customer service center agents are available Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm local time.
Non-Immigrant Interview Waivers: Applicants renewing a B, C, D, F, H, I, J, M, O, P, Q or R visa in the same visa class whose previous visa expired within the last 48 months may be eligible for an interview waiver. Eligibility is determined based on the answers provided by the applicant to questions during the online appointment scheduling process. Criteria include:
- Your most recent visa was issued in South Africa in a South African passport and is still valid or expired no more than 48 months ago;
- You provided 10 fingerprints at your last visa interview;
- Your previously issued U.S. visa was a full-validity visa;
- Your last visa has not been lost, stolen, or revoked;
- Your visa was not annotated with “Clearance Received;” and
- You have the same SEVIS number (for student visas).
Applicants may also qualify to apply for their U.S. visas without appearing for an interview if the applicants are under the age of 14 (with at least one parent holding a valid visa in the same category), are over the age of 80.
Additional interview waiver possibilities exist through the end of 2022 for first time H2A and other visa categories. Visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-announcement-on-waivers-of-the-interview-requirement-for-certain-nonimmigrant-visas.html to see if you qualify.
If you believe you are eligible to apply for or renew your visa under the interview waiver program, we strongly encourage you to call +27 87 550 2160. Customer service center agents are available Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm local time to assist you in making your first time application, or changing your existing appointment to an interview waiver.
COVID Requirements: Effective at midnight on May 11, 2023 COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international air travelers to the United States have been lifted. You can find more information here: The Biden-Harris Administration Will End COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Federal Employees, Contractors, International Travelers, Head Start Educators, and CMS-Certified Facilities | The White House. There is currently no requirement to provide a negative test prior to travel. Please see the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.
Immigrant and Fiancé(e) Visas: All U.S. immigrant and fiancé(e) visas for citizens and residents of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Mauritius, Lesotho and Swaziland are processed through the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg. If your petition is still pending with USCIS, please contact USCIS Customer Service at https://www.uscis.gov/contactcenter. After USCIS approves the petition, you can contact the Department of State’s National Visa Center (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center.html) regarding scheduling. If your case has been scheduled and forwarded to the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg, you may direct all inquiries to JohannesburgIV@state.gov.
