Months of planning, a few minutes at the window. This is where you prepare for those minutes.
US Visa at the Consulate: Appointment and Interview
Almost every visa for entrepreneurs ends at a window behind bulletproof glass. Where you go, what you need to do first, what it costs and what happens after the interview: it is all here, with the authorities' own rules and their sources.
If you need a US visa, you will almost always end up at a consulate. That goes for the business traveler on a B-1, for the executive whose L-1 USCIS approved long ago, and for the investor on an E-2, whose case is only decided at the consulate in the first place. For many visas, the USCIS petition is just part one. The stamp in your passport only comes after the interview at the window.
This guide walks you through everything that happens before, during and after: which post handles your case, which forms you file in advance, what the visa costs, how to get an appointment, what is allowed and what is banned on interview day, and how a refusal under 221(g) differs from one under 214(b). Each topic has its own guide. The rules come from the posts themselves, from the State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual and from the fee schedule in the Code of Federal Regulations.
One thing up front, because it outweighs everything else: the consular officer alone decides on your visa. Nobody can promise you an outcome, not even an attorney. What you control is your preparation. And that matters more than many people think.
2Residence or nationality: who may apply where
US embassies and consulates put the same rule at the top of their visa pages: nonimmigrant visa applicants should book their interview at the embassy or consulate in the country where they live or whose nationality they hold. So a Norwegian living in London can choose between London and Oslo.
In visa law, residence does not mean your registered address but the place where you actually live. The Foreign Affairs Manual takes its definition from immigration law: your place of general abode, your actual principal dwelling place, regardless of your intent. If you have lived in Spain for years but still have an address at your parents' home in Stockholm, you live in Spain.
Within a country, you have a choice. The Manual makes clear that applicants may apply at any visa-issuing post in their country of residence. Where a country has several such posts, many people pick the one with the earliest appointment, others the one closest to home. Both are allowed.
Switzerland has a special rule. The embassy in Bern gives priority to citizens and residents of Switzerland and Liechtenstein and states explicitly that applicants not resident there should expect significant wait times. If you live in Basel, you are a resident of Switzerland and get priority. A Swiss citizen living elsewhere in Europe can apply in Bern, but just as well in their country of residence.
Important for dual nationals: since 1 January 2026, entry and visa restrictions under Proclamation 10998 apply to nationals of 39 countries. Those affected may still apply and attend the interview, but may still be unable to receive a visa. More on this in our article on the travel ban for 39 countries.
3Getting to your appointment: DS-160, fee and booking
The Foreign Affairs Manual defines exactly when you have applied for a visa. It takes three things: a completed, electronically signed Form DS-160, the paid application fee and your biometrics, meaning a photo and, if required, fingerprints. Only once all three are in place is there an application the consular officer must decide on.
You fill in the DS-160 online in the State Department's Consular Electronic Application Center. It must be completed in English. Enter your names exactly as they appear in your passport, plus every name you have ever used, such as a birth name. The form also asks for your social media accounts, phone numbers and email addresses from the last five years. The State Department estimates it takes ninety minutes on average. Allow more time if you have traveled a lot or had several employers.
E visas add a second form, the DS-156E. Something has changed here that many guides still get wrong: the principal investor on an E-2 no longer files a DS-156E, because its questions are now built into the DS-160. The DS-156E is still required for the principal applicant on an E-1 and for all employees coming as executives or specialists on an E-1 or E-2. Spouses and children never need it.
Once you submit, you get a confirmation with a barcode starting with AA. You use this number to book your appointment. US posts warn explicitly: if the number on the form you bring does not match the number in your appointment profile, you will not be admitted to the interview. The embassy in Vienna, for example, also asks that you submit the DS-160 at least two business days before the interview.
You pay the fee online through the service provider before you book your appointment. Every applicant needs their own application and pays their own fee, babies included. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. If you start in one country and then decide to apply in another, you pay again there.
4What the visa costs
The application fee, officially the MRV fee, depends on the visa class. For visas without a prior petition, such as the B-1 for business travel, you pay $185. For the petition-based H, L, O, P, Q and R visas, where USCIS has approved a petition first, it is $205. For E visas it is $315, per applicant, so spouses and children pay too.
Depending on your nationality, an issuance fee may apply on top, the reciprocity fee. The US charges it on a reciprocal basis, meaning the amount your home country charges Americans. It only becomes due once the visa is approved. The embassy in Vienna, for example, explains that staff will go over it at the interview and that it must be paid online before the interview can be completed.
Companies with an L blanket petition also pay the $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee at the consulate, for the principal applicant only. With an individual petition, the employer has already paid this fee to USCIS.
For a limited time, there is a $750 fee for an expedited appointment. It applies only to B-1/B-2 visas, only at selected posts published by the State Department, and only from July 1 to December 31, 2026. If you pay, you get an appointment within ten business days, provided one is available. The fee speeds up nothing but the appointment (not any later review either), and it does not guarantee a visa. Cancel the paid appointment or fail to show up, and you lose it.
| Fee | Amount | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee (MRV), non-petition visas except E | $185 | for example B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2 |
| Application fee (MRV), petition-based visas | $205 | H, L, O, P, Q and R |
| Application fee (MRV), E visas | $315 | E-1 and E-2, including spouses and children |
| Issuance fee (reciprocity fee) | based on reciprocity | depends on nationality and visa class; only due once the visa is approved |
| Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee | $500 | principal applicants under an L blanket petition only |
| Expedited appointment fee | $750 | B-1/B-2 only, selected posts only, from July 1 to December 31, 2026 |
Source: 22 CFR 22.1, Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, items 21, 23, 25 and 26 (eCFR, as of October 1, 2026); Federal Register 2026-11513 of June 9, 2026; US Embassy Vienna, Important Visa Information. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
In writing: which visa fits you and your family, prepared with the immigration attorney on the firm's team.
5Interview or application by mail
For a long time, many applicants could renew their visa by mail without attending an interview. Since September 2, 2025, a strict rule applies: all nonimmigrant visa applicants generally need an in-person interview, whatever their age. The main exceptions are diplomats and representatives of international organizations, and applicants renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visa within twelve months of its expiry who were at least eighteen when it was previously issued.
This interview-free renewal comes with further conditions: you apply in your country of nationality or residence, you have never been refused a visa (unless the refusal was overcome), and there is no apparent ground of ineligibility. Even then, the consular officer may require an interview in an individual case. According to the embassy in Vienna, anyone who applies by mail without meeting the conditions gets their package sent back.
For entrepreneurs, this means: renewing an L-1, E-2 or O-1 puts you back in the interview chair, even with three visas already in your passport. So plan your appointment as early as you would for a first application. US missions strongly recommend the mail-in process if you qualify, because it takes only a few weeks. Whether you qualify is stated on the service provider's website.
If you want to extend your stay without leaving the USA, you don't need a consulate but USCIS. That isn't a visa, it's an extension of your status. The guide Change of Status or Consular Processing explains the difference.
6Appointment, wait times and emergency appointments
You book your appointment through the same profile in which you paid the fee. How long you wait depends on the post and the visa class. The State Department publishes estimated wait times for every post worldwide, and the missions themselves point to this tool. The embassy in Vienna advises applying well before your planned trip, even if your plans aren't final, and not booking travel until the visa is issued. You don't need a plane ticket to apply.
If no suitable appointment is available, first take any available slot, then request an expedited appointment. Vienna stresses that only genuine emergencies are considered. Poor planning, such as a last-minute ESTA application, doesn't count. Separately from the new B visa fee, missions can still expedite free of charge on humanitarian grounds or for urgent travel in the US national interest, for example urgent medical treatment.
7The day at the consulate: security check and interview
Your appointment starts not at the window but at security. The US missions in Germany, for example, ban mobile phones and other electronic devices, explicitly including smartwatches, fitness trackers, tablets, laptops, headphones, cameras and Bluetooth trackers. Also banned: sharp objects, cigarettes and lighters, sealed envelopes and packages, drinks and food (except small amounts for babies or for medical reasons), and bags other than a small handbag. There is no storage. Show up with a banned item and you'll be turned away and have to book a new appointment.
Arrive at least fifteen minutes before your appointment, the German missions recommend; if you're late, you risk being rescheduled. For Frankfurt, the consulate estimates about one to three hours on site. In Switzerland, mobile phones are allowed at the consular agencies, while the embassy's rules apply at the visa section in Bern; check them on the embassy's website before your appointment.
Bring your passport, the DS-160 confirmation page with the correct barcode, your appointment confirmation and the documents for your visa: for petition-based visas, the USCIS approval; for the E-2, your documents on the company and the investment; for the B-1, evidence of the purpose of your trip. The embassy in Vienna lists the DS-160 confirmation and supporting documents as the minimum.
The interview itself is often short. The consular officer has your DS-160 in front of them and asks about the purpose, length and background of your trip. Answer briefly and honestly, and in line with your documents. Contradictions between the form and the conversation are more dangerous than an answer you don't know.
8When the case stays open: 221(g) and administrative processing
The interview ends with one of three answers: approved, refused under Section 214(b) or refused under Section 221(g). The third causes the most confusion. The consular officer refuses the visa because documents are missing or further review is needed, and often calls this administrative processing.
The Foreign Affairs Manual is clear on this. The letter you receive must state the legal basis and may not describe the decision as provisional or suspended. It must also state that, for visa purposes including ESTA, the decision is a refusal. If you plan to simply fly on ESTA after a 221(g), you need to know this.
The good news is in the Manual too: if you submit the requested documents within a year, or the review is completed, the case continues without a new DS-160 and without a new fee. After a year, you have to reapply and pay again, unless the delay was on the US authorities' side.
| Result | What it means legally | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | Visa is issued | Collect your passport or have it delivered via your chosen return option |
| Refusal under Section 221(g) | a refusal, including for ESTA; the case can continue within a year without a new form or new fee | submit the requested documents or wait for the review to finish |
| Refusal under Section 214(b) | you did not convince the officer that you meet the requirements of the class; no waiver possible, but no permanent bar either | reapply once your situation has changed |
Source: State Department, 9 FAM 403.10 (NIV Refusals), sections 403.10-2(B), 403.10-3(A) and 403.10-4 (accessed October 24, 2026).
9If your visa is refused
A refusal under Section 214(b) means you did not convince the consular officer that you meet the requirements of the visa class you applied for. For visitor visas, the question is usually whether you'll return after your trip; for E and L visas, it can just as well be about the company. There is no waiver and no formal appeal for 214(b). No nonimmigrant visa refusal can be appealed; as the embassy in Vienna puts it, all decisions are final.
But final doesn't mean forever. The Manual makes clear that 214(b) is not a permanent ground of ineligibility. You can reapply at any time, under the same rules as the first time, with a new form and a new fee. It makes sense when something has changed: your situation, your company or the quality of your evidence. Submit the same file again and you'll usually get the same answer.
A refusal can also affect future travel on ESTA. Before you apply for anything after a refusal, ESTA included, have your case reviewed.
Find the right path to the USA for you in one conversation.
14The Embassy in Bern and the Consular Agency in Zurich
In Switzerland, only the embassy in Bern issues visas, covering both Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The consular agencies in Zurich and Geneva serve US citizens and offer no visa services. Bern gives priority to citizens and residents of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Your passport is sent by post to an address in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, to a Swiss Post pickup point, or free of charge to a pickup location in Bern, where it is held for thirty calendar days. After that it goes back to the embassy. The embassy does not deliver abroad.
15Entrepreneurs at the consulate: E, L and O visas
Entrepreneurs and investors go through the same steps at the consulate as everyone else, but the decision rests on more paperwork. For the L-1 and the O-1, USCIS has usually already approved the petition before you go to the consulate; the consular officer then decides on the visa. For an L-1 under a blanket petition, the officer reviews the core questions personally: whether the US position is with an approved company, whether it is a managerial or specialist role, and whether you worked for the company abroad for one year within the three years before applying. Our guides Applying for the L-1 and Blanket L explain how this works.
For the E-1 and E-2 there is no petition. The whole case is decided at the consulate: nationality, company, trade or investment. Germany has been a treaty country for both E visas since 1956, Austria since 1931, Switzerland since 1855. Here the interview is not a formality; it is the real examination. You prepare the documents for it months in advance. Find out more in our guides to applying for the E-2 and applying for the E-1.
One point many people miss: according to the missions' guidance, the requirement to set social media accounts to public applies to a list of classes such as H-1B, F, M, J and others. E, L and O are not on that list (as of October 2026). You still have to list your accounts on the DS-160.
And for the trip itself: a visa allows you to ask for entry at the border. The border officer decides whether you get in. If you travel on a visa for the wrong reason, for example on an E-2 for a holiday, read our article on ESTA or a work visa.
In writing: which visa fits you and your family, prepared with the immigration attorney on the firm's team.
- In Germany, visas are issued only in Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich, in Austria in Vienna and in Switzerland in Bern; Hamburg, Leipzig, Düsseldorf, Zurich and Geneva do not issue them.
- You apply in your country of residence or nationality, with the DS-160, the fee paid and your biometrics.
- The application fee is $185 for visitor visas, $205 for L, O and H, and $315 for E visas; it is non-refundable.
- Almost all applicants must attend an in-person interview; skipping it is now possible almost only when renewing a B visa.
- A refusal under 221(g) can be continued within one year without a new fee; one under 214(b) only with a new application.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a visa in Hamburg, Düsseldorf or Zurich?
No. The US consulates in Hamburg, Leipzig and Düsseldorf offer no visa services, and neither do the consular agencies in Zurich and Geneva. Visas are issued in Germany in Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich, in Austria in Vienna and in Switzerland in Bern.
How much does a US visa cost at the consulate?
The application fee per person is $185 for visitor visas such as the B-1, $205 for petition-based visas such as L, O and H, and $315 for E visas. Depending on your nationality, an issuance fee may be added after approval. Fees are non-refundable, even after a refusal.
Do I always need an in-person interview for the visa?
As a rule, yes. Since September 2, 2025, almost all applicants must appear in person, regardless of age. Exceptions exist mainly for diplomats and for renewing a fully valid B-1/B-2 visa within twelve months of expiry, if further conditions are met. Even then, the consular officer may require an interview.
What does it mean if my case goes into administrative processing after the interview?
The consular officer has refused the application under Section 221(g) because documents are missing or further review is needed. Legally this is a refusal, including for ESTA purposes. If you submit what was requested within one year, or the review is completed, the case continues without a new form and without a new fee.
Can I appeal a visa refusal?
No. There is no formal appeal against the refusal of a nonimmigrant visa. You can reapply at any time. That makes sense if something has changed in your situation or your evidence.
How we help you
- Visa and Green Card ConsultationWhich route to the USA fits you, settled in one conversation.
- Visa RoadmapIn writing: which visa fits you and your family, prepared with the immigration attorney on the firm's team.
- Visa Roadmap for Company FormationFormation and visa in one plan, so the company carries the visa.
All guides on this topic
My Day in Fortress America Read more → 
221(g) and administrative processing: a no that is still open Read more → 
US Embassy Bern: the visa for Swiss residents, Zurich included Read more → 
Completing the DS-160: the form the consular officer reads before meeting you Read more → 
The visa interview: process, documents and the questions behind the questions Read more → 
US visa refused: what the section says and which route is open Read more → 
