Embassy of the United States

Each applicant should be prepared to present his or her case clearly and concisely. The interview can be conducted in Vietnamese or in English, if preferred. The following tips aim to speed up your application process.

• Before the day of your interview
• On your interview day

Before the day of your interview

Prepare to bring the following - MUST HAVE - documents in the order specified.

Note

If you fail to submit the required papers in order, you will be asked to leave the line, rearrange the application and go back to the end of the line.

All supporting documents must be kept separately and be provided at the interviewing window at the American interviewing officer’s request only.

For all applicants

1. An Identification Document (ID). Your ID must include a picture and cannot be your passport.
2. Signed passport. Passport must have a validity date of at least six months beyond your intended stay in the U.S.
   Children must have a separate passport even if traveling with a parent.
   Please remove your passport from any extra cover (plastic, leather, etc.)
3. DS-160 confirmation page with barcode completed and submitted on-line. (There is no need to print out the full application form, just the confirmation page. The barcode works best when printed from a black and white laserjet printer; please do not use glossy photo-paper or color printing). 
4. Citibank receipt (both pink and yellow parts).
5. One passport size picture taken within the last 6 months on a white background, with your ears visible. Stapled it to the bottom left of DS-160 confirmation page. The picture must NOT be retouched. Please note: your time in line on the day of your interview will be significantly reduced if you’ve uploaded an appropriate photo into the Electronic application form.
6. On-line appointment confirmation page. (Note: if you make duplicate appointments in the system, all your appointments will be cancelled).
7. Any other specific document mentioned on the page concerning your visa type. 

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Official/Diplomatic passport holders must also submit

• A Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Note. When traveling in a group, the first applicant must submit the original. Each of the following applicants must submit a copy of the Diplomatic Note.

Student and exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa applicants

• Form I-20 or DS-2019 (signed by applicants at the bottom of the first page). If the F1 applicant is under 18 years old, a parent/guardian must also sign form I-20.

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On your interview day

Note

Minors under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to the interview.

Except for minors, only the persons who will have an interview are authorized to access our facility. You cannot come to the interview with a friend, a relative or any other person.

Before the security line

• You should arrive no earlier than 20 minutes before or later than your scheduled appointment.
• Please prepare to be at the Embassy for a couple of hours. The visa process involves several steps from application submission to interview.
• You are not allowed to bring electronic devices, including mobile telephones, into the U.S. Embassy. To save your time, please leave them at home or in your car/motorbike. Otherwise, you can leave them in a safe location with the guards during your interview appointment.
• The Embassy cannot provide parking spots for your car/motorbike. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your cooperation.

After the security line

• The guards will keep your ID until you leave the building.
• Your visitor badge must be visible at all times.
• Please go on the second floor to the Consular waiting room.

In the Consular Waiting Room

• Take a number (2 parts-each with same number) at the entrance. One part is for our staff and the other is for you to keep until the end of the process.
• Wait until your number is called to submit the required documents at the window. If you apply with your family, all family members should come to the window and submit documents at the same time.
• Take a seat, watch the TV for fingerprinting and biometric signature instructions.
• Wait until your number is called for fingerprinting.
• Return to your seat and wait to be called for interview (and possible fingerprinting verification).

Numbers are not always called in order. Please pay attention when numbers are called, in order to assist us in most efficiently processing everyone’s case.

At the end of your interview

• If your visa is approved, you will go to the EMS counter inside the waiting room to register for your passport and visa to be delivered (check the EMS fees).
• If your visa application is denied, your passport will be returned to you, along with all your documentation, right at the end of the interview.

We ask you to leave the waiting room as soon as you are done with the interview and EMS. Thank you for your cooperation.

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