Want to apply for USA visa in 2024? - Updated step by step guide for using the NEW VISA PORTAL

[@ShachiMall]

IMPORTANT - Pls note you need to start the DS160 form for it to remain valid - which means you need to enter the security answer, surname and dob, go to the first page of the form and enter some details. Post this you can stop the form here and go to appointment booking. Pls refer to the video at 2.44 for this Some of you seem to have just started the form and taken the DS160 confirmation number. Pls DO NOT DO THIS. You form will expire and not be valid if you do not enter the security question and go to the first page of the form.

[@nihitpatel8133]

The Email of Interview appointment mentions this “When booking your visa appointment, you must ensure that you, or your representative, submit a properly completed DS-160 form (online visa application). If you book an appointment on or after November 15, 2023, with an improperly filled DS-160, you will not be allowed to attend the Visa Application Center (VAC) appointment or submit your application documents and will need to reschedule your appointment. If you booked your appointment before November 15, 2023, with an improperly filled DS-160 OR you have made minor corrections to your DS-160, you must bring the confirmation page from the original DS-160 AND the corrected DS-160 to your VAC or document drop-off appointment. If you do not appear with both confirmation pages, you will be required to reschedule your appointment.” Can you please update if it’s fine to book appointments first and submit the DS 160 form later..

[@travelandfood28]

@ShachiMall Good evening! I submit my DS160 and payment using old portal. I signed up in the new portal and my email had been verified but I can not log in and error pop up Please advise for this case so I could make appointment. Thank you for sharing this video ❤️

[@ArgoSocial]

This is such a great video. Thank you for sharing!

[@ShachiMall]

Glad it was helpful!

[@avidreader100]

19:35 for date fields I generally use the calender box at the end of the box. But for the expiry date of my pass port I had to change to click on month advance button many times. mercifully the free date entry is possible on this field. That makes entering dates with a year far from the current easy. Only thing we need to take care is the first number is for the month and the second number is for the date and the third number is for the year. The calender selection process ensures the right sequence of entry for date and month. Only that for the year, it is a problem.

[@avidreader100]

10:37 email id. I did not enter the same email id as the one for creating the profile. For the profile I had to use a secondary email id because the primary id kept raising problems. I am watching this video to get better clarity on payment process. I am going to double check on the email id, before submitting. Thanks for the specific mention. On the physical mailing id, we need to be very careful about mentioning the PIN code. Anoher acquaintence apparently could not enter a six digit code, as US ZIP codes have only 5 digits. A communication to the customer support did not get a workable answer. This was some 8 months back. At the time of visiting the drop box location, a request was made to them to correct the PIn code. They also refused. He was finally asked to come and pick up the passport with new visa from the drop box location, as the physical address was not 'accessible'. I should add, I could enter the six digit PIN and the form accepted it.

[@avidreader100]

Your advise to use incognito mode was very apt. The burden for filling the form is indicated by them as 90 minutes. But it more like 90 hours otherwise. I go kicked out very frequently and logged in again and again. Later based on a web suggestion I used incognito mode and had better progress.

[@drshikha]

Great Information !Thanks for sharing!!

[@pratikshah5347]

All information available at one place, super video, found after lots of search. Thank you Madam.

[@ShachiMall]

Welcome 😊

[@avidreader100]

I have added many comments to possibly complement information presented in the video. These observatons are as of end Jan 2025. I wanted to appreciate Shachi for the excellent presentation.

[@AcuHealerAKumar]

Good morning I am retired person applying for VISA for me and my wife. I completed DS-160 for both and submitted. At video location 8:55, there are 5 options. which option I have choose ? option 1 start application or option 2 Create group request.

[@avidreader100]

At 3:08 just below the D160 number there is a expiration date. On the day I filled the form, this date was already 3 months old. I spent time wondering why I am filling a form that has apparently expired. It transpires that date is for he format and not for the filed form. Ideally we should not be asked to file with a format that has expired. It is perhaaps a date for the issuers to review the relevance / valdity of a form priodically.

[@avidreader100]

11:49 The selection of consulate location was a problem for me for hours, before i discovered the need to use incognito mode. The drop down menu optons for the location appeared only in the incognito mode.

[@rishi_uppal]

Best video!! Comprehensive information.

[@ShachiMall]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dilipkumarupadhyaya4836]

Amongst all others yours is most perfect guide for US visa application and appointment. Step by step with perfect details. Thank you.

[@avidreader100]

At 4:30 the page did not let me register a new user when the user name and email id were already in their system. Even after I changed user name, the feedback was that the email id used already existed in their system. I am confused as to why a new user name with my email id is not acceptable. Luckily i had another mail id and over came he roblem. However in future, if I were to apply again, under the same constraints, I may have to create a new email id with some servce provider too.

[@immehtabh]

Excellent Information! Exactly what is needed for renewal of B1/B2 with dependents. Thanks a ton Shachi!

[@MultiHarsh111]

Great job! I searched many videos and yours is the best. It should be bumped up by YT algo.

[@sam030982]

Very informative video with step by step instructions. Utterly professional. Great job!

[@randomtalk4061]

very informative and nice explanations.. Thanks for sharing

[@Samairakhan-v7z]

Thanks so much for explaining this clearly Shachi!

[@ShachiMall]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jenipatel364]

Thank u so much… u r explaining very well and give us every details

[@keithbrowne4061]

Great video! Very clear. The US Visa scheduling helpline should learn from you Shachi

[@cooldude1201c]

Great job done. Necessary to go through such videos to make it easier in filling the form.

[@priteshtechark4380]

It shows No slots vailable. No calendar is showing.

[@nabilbeg9906]

Thanks for the help. Can you kindly explain the procedure to reschedule appointments?

[@adas975]

To the point, pretty helpful, thanks!

[@ShachiMall]

Glad it helped!

[@adas975]

@@ShachiMall Absolutely

[@archnajain6080]

1) I have applied for renewal of B1/B2 visa and got the appointment date for drop off >My email id by oversight is different in DS160 form and visa log in portal although i have access to both the email IDs. what do i do . I have received confirmation mail on my Visa login portal email

[@chrispaes775]

Place of issue of your passport please actually refer your PP and write what appears there against place of issue

[@ranganathagm8412]

Madam, Greate video with detailed description. I have one question. My daughter completing her MS in USA. My self, my wife and my son intents to attend my daughter graduation ceremony. Can have one login and create DS-160 for all of 3 ? Or need to have separate logins for me, my wife and my son. Your reply helps me lot. Waiting for your reply.

[@brbrvarun]

Initially thought the video is long, but realised every bit was important. Thank you so much for this.

[@ShachiMall]

Glad it was helpful!

[@zayanabbas-s5n]

hi ma'am, can u fix this error Your personal details match a profile which already exists in our database. If you created this profile in the past and forgot the password, please use the 'Forgot your password?' function on the login screen. If this user name isn't familiar to you, please contact our helpline through the Provide Feedback option in the left menu or by sending an E-mail to our helpline. Please don't forget to attach the scanned copy of your passport's data page to your feedback message/E-mail.

[@ranjulgelda8581]

@Shachi.Mall thanks for useful video. Quick question : Passport place of issue question ? I have an Indian passport which was renewed by Indian consulate in USA. In my passport it shows place of issue California. so in this case would it be India or California ?

[@themeatvillage]

thanks a lot for giving us your time and knowledge

[@VenkateshPR-ux2ne]

Nice to know all the info in 1 video thanks for that but need to know how to reset the security question while login into the New visa portal thanks in advance

[@harinupadhyay1490]

Hello! You are doing a great work. I had a quick question What if any applicant travels for leisure in between the DS160 form submission date and the interview date, and as it was not told in DS 160 about that recent travel, do I need to update the form?

[@ShachiMall]

Hello, yes since there will be an immigration stamp on your passport, questions may arise with regards to the recent travel. You can fill out a new form and take the both old and the new DS160 form confirmation page with you and submit it at the counter.

[@lakshmirajareddy1275]

Hi Sachi, that was fantastic explanation. You made my day Thank you so much

[@adityamishra-nh6mw]

Really good video with all details. Thanks for making this.

[@ambitiousneeraj]

It is not showing me payment screen, always sending me back to home page after delivery location update, any idea why? Support people are waste they copy paste the templete and I am fed up with them.

[@zayanabbas-s5n]

hello ma'am, my us visa profile name got wrong spelling but DS-160 has correct name n all information .thing is when i am scheduling appointment my profile name is not matching with my passport .should i schedule appointment with wrong name or need to change profile name first then how can i change my profile name?

[@TheYroberts]

if my name is not updated correctly on the Applicant details, my middle name is missing, is that ok, reached out to the US visa service desk and they said its ok, the name on the DS 160 needs to be correct, pls reconfirm from your experience. TIA!

[@shovnagupta]

If three applicants are traveling from a family, then will we use group application while adding the files for payment??

[@emmanueltuyisenge918]

I recently completed the photo confirmation for my DS-160 F-1 visa application and received two pages of documents to print. However, both pages state, "Do not bring this to your interview" at the top and bottom. Could you kindly clarify what I should do in this situation? And please advise whether it would be possible to secure an appointment for my F-1 visa interview within this short timeframe? Thank you for your guidance.

[@ekanshsaxena18]

extremely helpful video, great work👏🏻

[@MercyVN]

I only got a confirmation for the interview but not biometrics I am in Vietnam

[@Mon_2212]

There are multiple Open Applications for ContactID i am getting this error

[@Shine12888]

Yess mere ko bhi error aa rha hai site khul hi nhi rhi btana bhai aap ne kya kiya please

[@musicfactory4241]

I can fill DS160 form and i can fill visa application form but in visa application form i can fill all letters in lower case instead of uppercase so any problem with this condition ? And my name in visa application form is also in lowercase letter and it can’t change now so any problem ?

[@aswathyrnair8917]

If am applying for my child(4 yrs old) do I need to add my name as dependent ... I already have a US visa

[@chrispaes775]

It is important to use an exclusive email address that has not been used by any other applicant even in the past. If you use same email address as another applicant it will automatically log into that persons profile and you will not be able to fill your profile details

[@AcuHealerAKumar]

In this video, before starting DS-160, you went to sign up page. How to go that page and what is the link

[@sainandankesari5938]

Hi, After the details at 25:54. The payment page opens up what should be the Shipping Address. Should it be the Address in India or USA and what should be the recipient name. Thanks.

[@saurabhshukla2622]

After selecting the Visa Category for business/tourism, do I have to select B1, B1/B2, or B2?

[@meeneshwermadhu7859]

This was helpful !! Thanks a tone !!

[@khalidakhan2679]

Hi, thank you for such an informative video. I have doubt in the payment process. It is allowing me to the payment but the page is asking for card details. However I have been told that the payments are done at the VFS only. And the second query is where can I get the link to book the appointment? Please help !

[@TransGlobal-f5t]

ITS NOT SHOWING ANY THIING AFTER SUMBIT CONTACT AND MAILING DETAILS. YEAH IT TAKES TIME ? PLEASE CONFIRM

[@rekhajyani8636]

Same question as above ...

[@swarajyadav3486]

crystal clear explanation....thank you so much.

[@ashutoshkelkar8001]

Extremely helpful video,thanks for that. I filled the DS160 form for myself & proceeded to fill in new form for my wife without going for the family option(by mistake) Now we are waiting to create profiles,pay the visa fee(for B type),book the appointments etc,how yo club both our applications to try for same dates appointment for biometrics & interview?🙏

[@subhambanerjee6334]

Hi a clarification questions during DS-160 I have given Kolkata as location so now for slot schedule can I give any other cities?

[@brar95]

Hello Thanks for such a detailed video. It was really easy to follow. I have some questions. On ky passport i have my full name like (Ajaypal Singh) in the Given Name section on the passport and the Surname section is empty. So when i start filling the US visa D160 form what should i fill in First Name and Last Name sections. Also when i create my account for payments and scheduling there also is First Name and Last Name fields and both of them are mandatory. So what to fill in those sections. Please help me clear these doubts.

[@rajendherredde]

Write LNU in surname LNU- Last name unknown

[@-ManavPatel]

is there any way to find out weather DS-160 is active or not ?

[@devarshiraval3113]

There is no need of separate DS160 for dependents?

[@SirishaJ-sr3qw]

Hi, Very informative Vedio , but I do still have on question as it happened to my brother's parents and their interview is in 2 days. The DOB of one of the applicant is entered wrong in ds 160 form and DS 160 number also needs to be updated, how can we update new ds 160 number at this point as the interview is scheduled in 2 days. Can we update the new ds 160 number near the finger prints location ?

[@vijendersingh9662]

I want to visit in USA to meet my daughter . What type of visa is have to apply

[@adrikaguha]

Hey thanks for the info. However I'm not able to schedule appointment for 1st time only...The date drop down doesn't show at all

[@rachitkohli4678]

I have the same problem. Were you able to book?

[@VinodhKumar-f7j]

Hope you can help me with my query: I’ve scheduled my US B1/B2 Visa appointments for March 2025 in New Delhi. The OFC appointment for photos and biometrics is on March 13, and the consular meeting is on March 21. Is it an issue to have these appointments scheduled with a one-week gap? Also, is there an option to expedite the process to get earlier appointments?

[@ashishsampath3221]

So do we need to pay fees before selecting visa slot?

[@chiru679]

Thanks for the informative video but have few questions: 1. I am currently living in the USA and while filling D160, what should we answer to this question - 'From which country/location you are applying from?' 2. I am not seeing Bangalore as a option for H4 Drop-Box appointment. Can you guide me here? Thank you in advance.

[@ARMY_MOA_136]

Hello Ma'am, Thank you for this detailed video. I have 2 questions though - 1. Regarding dependents - if my husband and I are both working and are planning travel to US together, do we need to add dependents or should we book appointments separately? 2. On the VFS Global payment page, we are unable to add our last names as it contains a space. Could you please tell us what should be done in this scenario Many thanks in advance

[@rajkanagala6289]

Hi mam,I got visa year 2019,I applied for my wife and two children 2020,march 15 2020 bio metric process completed, March 19 interview date, But March 16,US Consulate was Closed and later lockdown March 23 2020,now present what is our suitition we don't know, please kindly help us, meanwhile mailed to US Consulate about our Suitition but No response, wheather our Amount is active or not, please kindly help us🙏

[@madatmenever]

In scheduling appointments page. It comes with message no slots available. And under the location Dropbox. The calender just doesn't open.

[@vinothkumar7271]

Wonderful information... Thank you so much for your efforts

[@ShachiMall]

It's my pleasure

[@poulamibhattacharjee4635]

Medical test is required for us tourist visa

[@boghararahul]

Can H1b and h4 visa appointments be taken together on the same date and time

[@maheshtoluchuri6681]

Hi All, Who will be the H-4 dependent petitioner, me or my employer?

[@shabnammohammad2176]

Hi Shachi, thank you soo much for the most informative video. I hope you could help me with my query! I already have a visa fees paid for F1 but haven't used it, not even scheduled appointment once, can I use that visa fees receipt in a new visa scheduling account for H1B and H4 visa fees for me and my husband, If yes? should I close the application in my previous account or not? Please reply, I couldn't find answer anywhere.

[@dvijenjagirdar9841]

i had applied from canada,for my parents who are in india.So,in that case i am not able to do the payement,what should i do in that case?

[@Parthasarathi.235]

Explanation is so gooood 🙃😊

[@ShachiMall]

Thank you!

[@MangalaVaidya-v8m]

can we choose any location even if we have mentioned mumbaiwhile filling application in CGI portal ?

[@manishpathak1032]

hello Mam, i have booked the visa appintments in 2023 and got slot for Jan 2025. Now, new portal have come up where i need to udpate few details like new passport number..How should do that ? Kindly advise.

[@SATWINDERKAUR-wf7zv]

Hlo mam , iam facing problem while adding dependent i.e. object reference not set to an instance of an object, plz help

[@amarmali357]

I am trying to book appointment for H4 visa and H1b drop box, but I cannot see Calander at all. I can see names on left side and locations only. Is that a techical issue?

[@maritesstronco8733]

very helpful video. As I have checked, the interview is not required anymore, after filling up DS 160, do I still need to create an account in new visa portal for schedule?

[@palashnaphade8163]

One Question @SachiMall I have selected intended date of travel as feb 2025 in ds160 But now i am not able to book appointment before that Will it be a problem to issue visa? Can I change it after payment??

[@mukullakra5571]

Hi Ma'am, I was looking for H1B visa slots for New Delhi but couldn't find any. Shall I book it for some other location in India? Do I need to edit DS160 or anything from my side?

[@kikukcreator9737]

i do common eror that i wrong input at my passport issued date , i get it wrong at month so how too fix it? keep continue my intvw ? or if i close and start new one? how abaou the payment? pay it again? coz i already pay the one ?

[@UcheEziagu]

Thank you very much for this excellent video; it's indeed a great resource for me! God bless you! 👍❤

[@ShachiMall]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AditiDhote]

How to go from Payment Page to get Continue to Confirm Receipt Option. Please guide.

[@ayodeleismail3964]

We will be very greatful if you can do a vídeo about main applicant and dependant on Ds 160 form, the problem is when creating account for the payment

[@ShachiMall]

Will do.

[@bkaur92]

​@@ShachiMallhi sister i need your help please.

[@bkaur92]

​@@ShachiMallhow can I contact you?

[@kalikinkarpanda3101]

The DS 160 number for dependent will be different or the initial one of primary applicant.

[@k.maheshmahesh1237]

Different for primary and depend

[@k.maheshmahesh1237]

If u need to update ds 160 without cancelling existing appointment.. I will help you..

[@siddusiddharth1798]

I am applying for a visit visa for my sister and mother, and I have a few questions regarding the DS-160 form and scheduling the visa appointment: In my mother's DS-160, can I mention my sister as her travel companion? I’ve heard that applying together may raise concerns with the officer, especially since my sister is a working professional and unmarried, which could increase the likelihood of rejection. Should I be concerned about this? While scheduling the visa appointment on the new portal, is it possible to add my sister (who is over 21 years old) as a dependent on my mother's application? I’ve encountered a payment issue, as it asks me to pay for both together when I try to do this, but I read somewhere that the visa payment should be separate. Is it okay to pay together, or should the payments be handled separately? If I pay separately for each application, will I still be able to schedule the interview together? It would be easier for both my mother and sister if they attend the interview together, as my mother might get nervous without my sister by her side. Is it possible to schedule their interviews at the same time despite separate payments?

[@sharmiladevi5207]

Hi..have you attended together??

[@siddusiddharth1798]

@sharmiladevi5207 no am in usa now and I am looking for slots

[@lostrookie3986]

How much time does it take after payment for the portal to activate for booking slots?

[@satishshah6823]

Thank you for sharing.

[@kritikamalhotra2288]

Hi Sachi even if the spouse is working and earns, can they be added in the dependent section? Otherwise what's the way to schedule an appointment for interview with spouse.?

[@sanofarbeawarwala5032]

if i want to edit new passport details then how & what to do

[@LiezaAnnBalneg]

Hi! I have come across your video which is really helpful by the way. Actually, we are in a bit of situation where we applied for b1/b2 visa as family for a supposed holiday and we were waiting for our appointment which is on September of this year. However recently my husband got an internal promotion from his company which will relocate us in the US and we are now required to apply for L1 visa for him and L2 for me and my daughter. My question is can we still use the fees that we paid previously for our b1/b2 visa for applying our new visa appointment.

[@konjengbamibotomba2402]

What to fill in Adding Dependents part regarding Relation to applicant question in case of minor child son , is it Father or Son. I am confused in this regard. You have added Spouse in your demo so what to add in my case for my Dependant son

[@sureshramakrishnan1158]

Hi. I am applying for B2 visa for myself and my daughter. Daughter is 21. Can she be added as dependent. When we first select the biometric on a early appointment, but later find that the interview slot is not available quickly, can we abort that appoinment. In my case will I be able to book only where there are minimum two slots available as I have a dependent in my application. Please answer these three questions.

[@kawalkaur2803]

Hello mam could you please tell me the refusal answer like why you refused previously and what changes you have made this time

[@ShachiMall]

Hey, to answer better I need to know the reason of your refusal. You can go for a 1:1 consultation with me here shachimall.com/1-1/

[@ashwindatta2969]

Hi, ma'am, I have an H1b visa. Now that I'm applying for an F1 visa, do I need to do biometrics all over again?

[@ShachiMall]

you wil be eligible for interview waiver, so only dropbox. No biometrics or interview

[@anithasridharvasireddy9737]

Thank u so much.. very helpful video

[@ShachiMall]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DivyaRaghunathan-k2x]

@ShachiMall Informative video. On the page where I need to make payment, it's asking for Recipient Name and Address. I'm filling B1/B2 visa for my parents. Should I put their name and address or Card holder's name and address or VFS name and address. Please let me know. Thanks in advance!