How to Reschedule Your US Visa Appointment

You can reschedule most US visa appointments online through the same portal where you booked it, usually within a few weeks of your current date

The process depends on which US embassy or consulate you booked with and what type of visa you are seeking. Most locations let you log into your account on the State Department's visa appointment system, find your current appointment, and move it to a different date and time. Some consulates have limited availability, so your options may be narrow — you might see only a few open slots in the next month or two. A few posts still require you to call or email to reschedule rather than do it online.

Rescheduling is free and does not reset your place in the queue or require you to pay the visa fee again. However, if you miss your rescheduled appointment without canceling first, many consulates will cancel your entire case and you will have to pay the fee and book a new appointment from the start.

Key Takeaways

• Log into your account on the State Department visa portal using your confirmation number and passport number to see your current appointment and available dates.
• You can usually reschedule up to a few times, but each consulate sets its own rules — check the instructions on your confirmation email or the consulate website.
• If no dates appear available online, the consulate may be fully booked; check back in a few days or contact them directly to ask when the next batch of slots opens.
• Missing a rescheduled appointment without canceling will close your case, and you will need to pay the visa fee again and start over.
• Some consulates in countries with high demand may have wait times of several months even after you reschedule, so plan accordingly.

How to reschedule through the online portal

Go to the visa appointment website for your specific country and consulate. You will find the link on the State Department's travel.state.gov site under the consulate's page. Log in using your confirmation number (from your appointment confirmation email) and your passport number.

Once you are logged in, you should see your current appointment listed with the date, time, and location. Look for a button or link that says "Reschedule" or "Change Appointment." Click it and the system will show you available dates and times. Select the new date and time you want, then confirm. You will receive a new confirmation email with your updated appointment details. Print or save this email — you will need it when you arrive for your appointment.

If the system does not show a reschedule option, or if you cannot log in, check your confirmation email for instructions specific to your consulate. Some posts include a phone number or email address to contact if you need to reschedule manually.

What to do if no dates are available

If you log in and see no open appointment slots, the consulate is temporarily fully booked. This is common at busy posts, especially in countries with high visa demand. Do not assume the dates will never open — consulates regularly release new slots as cancellations come in or as they process cases.

Check back every few days, particularly early in the morning your local time. Some consulates release new slots on specific days of the week. If you have been checking for more than a week with no luck, contact the consulate directly. Call the number on their website or send an email asking when the next batch of appointments is expected to open. They cannot move you to the front of the queue, but they can tell you whether slots are coming soon or whether you should expect a longer wait.

If you are in a time-sensitive situation — for example, you have a job start date or school enrollment deadline — explain that to the consulate when you contact them. Some posts have procedures for expedited appointments in cases of genuine hardship, though these are not may provide.

Rescheduling rules that vary by consulate

Each US embassy and consulate sets its own policies on how many times you can reschedule and how far in advance you must do it. Most allow you to reschedule at least once or twice without penalty. Some require you to reschedule at least 48 hours before your appointment; others give you more time.

Check your confirmation email or the consulate's website for their specific rules. If the rules are not clear, email or call the consulate before your appointment date to ask. It is better to know the rules now than to find out you have violated them when you try to reschedule.

A few consulates in smaller countries or with lower visa volume do not offer online rescheduling at all. If that is your situation, your confirmation email will include instructions on how to reschedule by phone or email. Follow those instructions exactly, because the consulate may not accept rescheduling requests that come through other channels.

What happens if you miss your rescheduled appointment

If you do not show up for your appointment and do not cancel it beforehand, the consulate will mark your case as "no-show" and close it. You will have to start the entire process over: pay the visa fee again, fill out the application form again, and book a new appointment. This can add weeks or months to your timeline, depending on how busy the consulate is.

If you know you cannot make your rescheduled appointment, cancel it as soon as possible through the online portal or by contacting the consulate directly. Canceling frees up the slot for someone else and keeps your case open so you can reschedule again later without paying the fee twice.

Rescheduling when you are already in the country

If you are already in the United States on a different visa and need to reschedule a visa appointment at a consulate abroad, you can still reschedule online using the same portal. However, you will need to travel to the consulate for your appointment — you cannot do a visa interview by phone or video from inside the US.

Some visa categories allow you to change your status while you are in the US instead of going to a consulate. If that applies to your situation, contact USCIS or speak with an immigration attorney about whether rescheduling a consulate appointment is necessary at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reschedule my appointment the day before?

Most consulates require at least 48 hours notice, but some allow same-day or next-day rescheduling if slots are available. Check your confirmation email or the consulate website for their specific policy. If you are in an emergency, call the consulate directly and explain your situation — they may make an exception, but do not count on it.

Do I have to pay the visa fee again if I reschedule?

No. Rescheduling is free and does not reset your fee or your application. The fee you paid when you first booked the appointment covers the entire process, including any rescheduling. You only pay again if your case is closed because you missed an appointment without canceling.

What if the consulate website is down and I cannot log in to reschedule?

Try again in a few hours — the site may be temporarily offline for maintenance. If it stays down for more than a day, contact the consulate by phone or email and ask how to reschedule. Keep your confirmation number and passport number handy when you call.

Can I reschedule to a date more than a year away?

No. The online system typically shows only appointments within the next few months. If you need to reschedule to a much later date, contact the consulate directly and explain why. They may be able to help, but standard rescheduling through the portal will not let you book that far ahead.

What if I reschedule and then need to reschedule again?

You can usually reschedule multiple times as long as you follow the consulate's rules and do not miss appointments. However, if you reschedule more than two or three times, the consulate may ask why or may require you to contact them directly instead of using the online system. Be honest about your reasons if they ask.