The US Department of State has implemented a new policy requiring nonimmigrant visa applicants to submit their DS-160 forms at least 48 working hours before their scheduled interview appointments.
New Deadline for Form DS-160 Submission
The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa application form that collects personal, travel and employment information from applicants. After completing and submitting the online form, applicants receive a confirmation page with a barcode, which the applicant needs to be able to schedule a visa interview.
Previously, applicants could schedule interview appointments before submitting the DS-160 form, using the confirmation number generated upon starting the application. However, the new policy mandates that the DS-160 form be completed and submitted before scheduling an interview.
Under the new policy, nonimmigrant visa applicants now need to submit their DS-160 forms at least 48 working hours before their scheduled interview appointments.
Failure to meet this deadline could result in the applicant being turned away at the consulate.
The 48 working hour requirement excludes weekends and US federal holidays. For example, if an applicant has an interview scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m., the DS-160 form must be submitted by the preceding Thursday at 8:59 a.m.
The barcode number on the DS-160 confirmation page also has to match the number used to schedule the interview appointment. If there is a mismatch, applicants may be denied entry to the interview and required to reschedule.
The new requirements applies to most nonimmigrant visa categories, such as B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas, F-1 student visas and H-1B work visas.
The policy has already been adopted by several US consulates, including those in London, Lisbon, Nassau and Paris, and is expected to be implemented globally.
According to the DoS, the change is being brought in to streamline internal processing and allow consular officers access to complete and accurate information ahead of interviews. Consular offers will therefore be afforded sufficient time to review application materials and conduct necessary security checks prior to interviews.
Implications for Visa Applicants
The 48-hour rule for submitting the DS-160 form has introduced a new timing risk that applicants cannot afford to overlook.
While previously it was possible to submit or even revise the DS-160 close to the interview date, consulates are now enforcing a cutoff. Any delay beyond the 48 working hour window, excluding weekends and US federal holidays, may lead to denial of entry at the interview and require rescheduling, which could take weeks or months depending on post availability.
Many applicants have historically modified their DS-160s after scheduling, especially to correct mistakes. Under the new system, that approach can now result in significant delays. DS-160 preparation and review should now be treated as a fixed deadline task, not a flexible part of the process. Applicants should therefore no longer rely on being able to complete or amend their DS-160 at the last minute. Once the form is submitted, its confirmation barcode is locked in, and the same barcode must be linked to the scheduled appointment. If the DS-160 is edited or resubmitted after the appointment is booked, and the barcode numbers do not match, the appointment may become invalid.
As such, applicants are advised to allow extra time to complete and submit the DS-160 form well in advance of their intended interview dates. Employers and HR teams sponsoring foreign employees should also adjust their internal timelines to accommodate this new requirement.
For interviews on a Monday, the form must be submitted no later than Thursday morning of the previous week. Applicants need to do the math carefully and factor in any US holidays that might reduce the available processing days.
Importantly, the deadline is calculated based on working hours in the consular time zone, not the applicant’s local time.
Another issue to be aware of is variation between consulates. Not all posts may enforce the rule identically at the outset. However, it is safest to assume that any US consulate could apply the 48-hour rule without notice. Applicants attending interviews in consulates already enforcing the requirement, such as London, Lisbon, Paris, and Nassau, should treat the timing rule as non-negotiable.
Lastly, the system offers no grace period. If a form is submitted even a minute after the deadline, the applicant is at risk of being turned away. There is no option to override the rule on the day of the appointment, even if the applicant has traveled or taken time off work.
In practical terms, applicants must finalize, review and submit the DS-160 well in advance, ideally at least four to five business days before the interview to avoid unnecessary risk.
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Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.
