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Q: Who may accompany a nonimmigrant visa applicant to his/her interview?
The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown enforces a strict policy regarding who may accompany a nonimmigrant visa applicant to his/her interview. This policy is necessary due to the limited space available in the consular waiting area. In exceptional circumstances, a family member or care taker may accompany you during your interview.
The following are examples of persons who may accompany nonimmigrant visa applicants:
• Parents or legal guardians of applicants under 18 years old
• One individual accompanying an elderly applicant
• One individual accompanying a disabled applicant in need of physical assistance
• One individual accompanying an applicant who does not speak English in order to provide translation assistance
Any other friends or relatives (including spouses) are not permitted to accompany a nonimmigrant visa applicant to his/her interview. Instead, an applicant may wish to bring such person’s passport to present at the interview if it is deemed helpful to the applicant’s case.
Q: Can an American citizen (friend or family member) accompany a nonimmigrant visa applicant to his/her interview?
Generally speaking, American citizens are permitted entry into the Embassy during business hours as a right derived from their citizenship. Therefore, if an American citizen wishes to accompany an applicant, he or she is welcome to sit in the consular waiting room with the applicant. However, it is at the discretion of the interviewing officer as to whether or not the U.S. citizen may appear with you at the time of your interview. There is a separate section in the Embassy for American citizens, where they may address any pertinent issues or concerns. The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit is open from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Q: Can a lawyer accompany a nonimmigrant visa applicant to his/her interview?
The Embassy does not grant access to attorneys to the Non Immigrant Visa and Immigrant Visa waiting areas. Your legal representative is welcome to submit questions or address concerns on your behalf, before or after your visa interview, by email or letter. The consular section will do its best respond to your lawyer in a timely manner.
Attorneys may contact the visa inquiries unit (email visageorge@state.gov or call 225-7965 between 8 am- 12 pm and 1 pm- 4 pm Monday through Friday) to address questions about a specific case.
Letters may be submitted to the following address:
Embassy of the United States of America
Consular Section
99-100 Young and Duke Streets
Kingston, Georgetown
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