How to Check Your AIS US Visa Appointment Status and Reschedule

What AIS does and where your appointment information lives

AIS (American Immigrant Services) is the system that manages visa appointment scheduling for the U.S. State Department. If you applied for a U.S. visa at a consulate or embassy outside the United States, your appointment details — date, time, location, and any status updates — are stored in AIS. You do not go to a separate government website; AIS is the official system the consulate uses.

When you submitted your visa application, you received a receipt or confirmation with a reference number or case number. That number is what you use to log into AIS and see your appointment. The system shows you whether your appointment is confirmed, whether documents are missing, and whether the consulate has requested additional information from you.

AIS is not the same as the visa interview scheduling system used for U.S. visitor visas (B1/B2, tourist visas). If you are scheduling a tourist or business visa interview, you use the State Department's own scheduling portal, not AIS. AIS handles immigrant visas — green card cases, family-based sponsorships, employment-based visas, and diversity visa winners.

Key Takeaways

• AIS stores your appointment date, time, and location once the consulate schedules you, and you check it using your case number and passport number.
• You can reschedule your appointment through AIS if the consulate's system allows it, but some consulates require you to contact them by email or phone instead.
• If AIS shows your appointment is cancelled or missing, contact the consulate directly — the system does not always update in real time.
• Bring your AIS confirmation and all requested documents to your appointment; the consulate will check that you have everything before the interview.
• Wait times between scheduling and your appointment vary widely by consulate and visa type, from weeks to many months.

How to log into AIS and find your appointment details

Go to the consulate's website for the country where you are having your interview. Most consulates have a link to AIS on their visa page, or you can search "[city] consulate AIS login" to find the portal. You will need your case number (also called a reference number or receipt number) and your passport number.

Once you log in, the system displays your appointment date, time, and the consulate's address. It also shows whether any documents are missing or whether the consulate has sent you a request for additional information. Read this section carefully — if it says "documents required" or "further information requested," you must respond before your appointment or the consulate may cancel it.

If you cannot find your case number, check your email for the receipt the consulate sent when you submitted your application. If you never received a receipt or cannot locate it, contact the consulate's visa section directly. They can look up your case using your name and passport number.

Rescheduling your appointment through AIS

Some consulates allow you to reschedule directly in AIS; others do not. Log into your account and look for a "Reschedule" or "Change Appointment" button. If the button is there and active, you can select a new date and time from the available slots. The system will send you a confirmation email with your new appointment details.

If there is no reschedule option in AIS, or if the button is greyed out, you must contact the consulate by email or phone. Check the consulate's website for the visa section's contact information and the process they use for rescheduling. Some consulates require you to send an email with your case number and the reason for the change; others have a phone line for appointment changes. Do not assume you can reschedule — confirm the method first.

Rescheduling is usually free, but some consulates limit how many times you can reschedule or charge a fee after the first change. Check the consulate's policy before you request a change. If you miss your appointment without rescheduling or notifying the consulate, they may cancel your case, and you will have to start the application process over.

What to do if AIS shows your appointment is cancelled or missing

If you log into AIS and see that your appointment has been cancelled, or if you cannot find any appointment listed, do not wait. Contact the consulate immediately by phone or email. Cancellations happen for several reasons: the consulate may have cancelled it because documents were missing, because you did not respond to a request for information, or because of a system error.

When you contact the consulate, have your case number and passport number ready. Ask them why the appointment was cancelled and what you need to do to reschedule. If documents were missing, find out exactly which ones and submit them as soon as possible. If the cancellation was a mistake, the consulate can usually reschedule you within a few days.

Do not assume the consulate will contact you again if your appointment is cancelled. You are responsible for checking AIS regularly and reaching out if something changes. Set a reminder to log in once a week if your appointment is still weeks or months away.

Documents to bring to your AIS appointment

Bring your passport, your AIS confirmation (print it or have it on your phone), and every document the consulate requested in AIS. This usually includes your medical examination results, police clearance, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), employment letters, financial documents, and any other papers listed in your case.

Bring originals and copies of everything unless the consulate specifically said "copy only." The consulate will tell you at the interview which documents they are keeping and which they are returning. Do not assume you know what they want — check AIS one more time the day before your appointment to make sure you have not missed any updates.

Arrive at least 15 minutes early. The consulate will check that you have all required documents before you go into the interview room. If something is missing, they may reschedule you or, in some cases, allow you to submit it later.

Understanding wait times between scheduling and your appointment

The time between when the consulate schedules you in AIS and when your appointment actually happens varies enormously. Some consulates schedule appointments weeks in advance; others schedule months ahead. This depends on how many visa cases the consulate is processing, staffing levels, and the type of visa you are seeking.

Immigrant visa cases (green card cases) typically have longer wait times than other visa types because they require more thorough review. Employment-based cases may move faster than family-based cases at some consulates. Diversity visa winners often have compressed timelines because their cases must be completed by the end of the fiscal year.

You can see your scheduled appointment date in AIS once it is set. If the date seems far away, that is normal — the consulate is working through cases in the order they received them. Do not contact the consulate to ask them to move your appointment up unless you have a genuine emergency (serious illness, death in the family, job loss that affects your visa status).

What happens if you cannot make your scheduled appointment

If you have a legitimate reason to miss your appointment — illness, family emergency, travel conflict — reschedule as soon as possible through AIS or by contacting the consulate. The earlier you notify them, the better. If you reschedule before your appointment date, the consulate will usually accommodate you without penalty.

If you miss your appointment without rescheduling or notifying the consulate, they will likely cancel your case. You will then have to restart the visa application process, pay the fees again, and wait for a new appointment. This can add months to your timeline. If you are sick on the day of your appointment, contact the consulate that morning and explain; many will reschedule you if you provide a medical note.

If your circumstances change — you get a new job, move to a different country, or no longer want to pursue the visa — contact the consulate and ask them to withdraw your case. This is cleaner than simply not showing up, and it keeps your record clear if you want to apply again later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my AIS appointment status without my case number?

No, you need either your case number or your passport number to log in. If you lost your case number, check your email for the receipt the consulate sent, or contact the consulate's visa section and they can look it up using your name and passport.

What if AIS says my appointment is confirmed but I never received an email?

Check your spam and junk folders first. If the appointment is showing in AIS, it is real — the email may have been delayed or filtered. Write down the date, time, and location from AIS and plan to attend. If you want confirmation, you can contact the consulate to verify, but the AIS record is official.

Can I reschedule my appointment multiple times?

Most consulates allow at least one or two rescheduling without penalty. After that, some charge a fee or require you to contact them directly. Check your consulate's policy on their website or in AIS before you reschedule a second time.

What if I need to reschedule but AIS is not working?

Contact the consulate by email or phone. Provide your case number, passport number, current appointment date, and your requested new date. The consulate's visa section can reschedule you manually if the system is down.

Do I need to print my AIS confirmation before my appointment?

It is a good idea to print it or save it to your phone. Bring it with you to the appointment along with your passport. The consulate will check it against their records, and having a copy prevents confusion if there is a discrepancy.