US Visa Interview Checklist — What to Bring
Everything you need on interview day for a US visa application: the four documents everyone must have, plus the supporting documents by visa type. Print this and tick it off. Verified September 2026 — rules change, always confirm on travel.state.gov and your embassy's page before you go.
The four documents everyone brings
- DS-160 confirmation page — printed, with the CEAC barcode legible. This is the online application you filed; the barcode is scanned at the entrance.
- MRV fee receipt — proof you paid the application fee. In most countries payment confirmation shows automatically on your appointment system; bring a printout anyway.
- Passport — valid for at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the US (some nationality-specific exceptions exist). Bring every current passport, including old ones with previous US visas.
- Appointment confirmation — the letter or screen showing your interview date, time and location.
The photo: usually digital, sometimes printed
Since the DS-160 moved online, most applicants upload the photo digitally (2 × 2 in / 51 × 51 mm, white or off-white background, taken within the last six months) and never show a print at the interview. But bring one printed copy anyway: if your upload failed quality checks, or the consulate still wants a physical photo for your nationality, you'll need it — 2 × 2 in, no glasses, white background. Full specification and a free tool: US visa photo requirements →
Supporting documents by visa type
| Visa | Bring with you |
|---|---|
| B1/B2 business & tourism | Evidence of the purpose of your trip (invitation letter, conference registration, tour bookings); proof of ties to home: employment letter or business licence, property, family; financial evidence that you can fund the trip (bank statements, payslips, 3–6 months); previous travel history. |
| F / M students | I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility) signed by you; SEVIS fee receipt; university admission letter; academic transcripts and diplomas; proof of funding (scholarship letters, sponsor's bank statement + affidavit of support); evidence you intend to return home after study. |
| J exchange visitors | DS-2019 form issued by your program; SEVIS fee receipt; program invitation or research plan; funding evidence; home-residence ties. |
| H / L / O work visas | I-797 approval notice (original or copy per your embassy's instruction); employment offer or contract; detailed job description or letter from employer; relevant diplomas and CV. |
| K fiancé(e) | Notice of petition approval; evidence of relationship (photos, correspondence, joint documents); medical exam completion as instructed by your panel physician. |
Small things that matter on the day
- Arrive 15 minutes early — security screening takes longer than you think; electronics are usually not allowed inside the consulate at all, so leave laptops and large bags at home or with a companion.
- Bring originals + one photocopy set. Officers rarely keep copies, but the scanning desk sometimes does.
- Order your folder: passport, DS-160, appointment letter on top; supporting documents behind by topic. Fumbling costs confidence.
- Don't present documents unless asked — answer questions first; offer the relevant paper when the officer asks for it.
Before you leave home — 60-second check
- ✅ DS-160 barcode printed and legible
- ✅ Fee receipt + appointment letter printed
- ✅ Passport (old passports too) — 6-month validity
- ✅ One printed 2 × 2 in photo, white background, ≤ 6 months old (spec + free tool)
- ✅ Supporting documents for your visa type, originals + copies
- ✅ No electronics in your bag
Consulate procedures vary by country and change without notice — your appointment confirmation email and your local embassy website are the authoritative word. Photo rejected or not uploaded? Fix it here.