The United States (U.S.) Embassy in Ghana has outlined the process for individuals seeking to travel to the United States urgently who may qualify for an expedited visa appointment, providing a step-by-step guide for applicants facing unforeseen emergencies.
According to the Embassy, applicants may qualify if their intended travel is for emergency medical care, bereavement following the death of a family member, or for urgent, unanticipated business.
However, the Embassy emphasised that there is a very limited number of expedited appointments available and that it cannot guarantee an interview prior to the planned travel date.
To be considered for an expedited interview, applicants must first complete a nonimmigrant visa application, pay the visa application fees, and schedule a standard visa interview appointment through the official appointment portal at usvisaappt.com. Only after these steps have been completed will a consular section consider a request for an expedited appointment.
Once a regular appointment is scheduled, applicants can submit an expedited request by logging into the portal, selecting "My Dashboard," and choosing "Create Emergency Request."
The applicant must then complete the Emergency Request Form, providing the reason for the emergency, the date of travel, a description of the emergency, and supporting documents.
The Embassy noted that it is essential for applicants to provide a detailed justification explaining their circumstances, as well as all relevant documents.
If the request is approved, the applicant will receive an email notification and must reschedule their appointment to a new date and time via the calendar in the portal.
If the request is denied, the applicant will be notified by email but will still be able to keep their originally scheduled appointment.
Applicants are advised to bring all required documents to their interview and to review the list of prohibited items and security information before attending.
Once the passport and/or documents have been released by the Embassy, applicants will be notified and provided with instructions on how to register for passport and document pickup, as personal pickup at the Embassy is not possible.
