Home » Visas » USA » Apply US Visa » Change US Consulate interview location on DS-160 after Submission?

Change US Consulate interview location on DS-160 after Submission?

If you are applying for a nonimmigrant US Visa, you need to fill out an online nonimmigrant visa application(DS-160) online. As part of that process, you will need to select a location, where you plan to apply for the visa interview at a US Embassy or a US Consulate.

As part of the overall US Visa Application process, you will need to book an appointment at a US Consulate or Embassy. Sometimes, you may or may not find a visa interview appointment at the same location that you selected on DS-160. Now, the question is, should you update DS-160 with the new location? or is it not needed? We will discuss in detail all the common situations and US Dept of State and USTravelDocs guidance on updating the location on DS-160.

As a background, let’s first look at where you even select the US visa interview location, when you are filling out the DS-160 form.

DS-160 Form: Selecting US Visa Interview Location

When you visit the CEAC Website to create an online nonimmigrant visa application, you will see the option on the landing page itself that says “Select a location where you will be applying for this visa“. It will be on the left-hand side of the page just above the place you enter the captcha code. The option is a dropdown box with Country Name and Consulate/Embassy City name next to it.

See the below screenshot on how it looks online

Select US Consulate Location for Visa Interview on DS-160 Form
Select US Consulate Location for Visa Interview on DS-160 Form

How to Change Interview location in DS 160?

After the selection of the location on the initial landing page, you will not see the option to change the interview location, until you complete almost all parts of the DS-160 application and go to the final stages of submission of DS-160.

You will get the option to change the interview location after you review all the information, before the “Sign and Submit Option”. You would see the interview location you selected in the past listed as “Current Location”. If you want to change the current location, you need to click on the “Edit Location Information” link above the text that says “Location where you will be submitting your application”. See below screenshot on how it exactly looks

Edit Location Information on DS-160 Form
Edit Location Information on DS-160 Form

After you click on ‘Edit Location Information’, you will be navigagted to a page that says “Designate Location” and the location field will become editable. It will turn into a drop down with the same list of locations that you seen on the landing page.

You can select the relevant city that you plan to submit your application and give visa interview at this step and click on ‘Save’ to change the location. See below screenshots on how it looks.

Designate Location on DS-160 - Option to Update
Designate Location on DS-160 – Option to Update

You need to click on ‘Save’ button after you select the location from the dropdown.Below is the screenshot of the second step where you select the actual location by selecting the dropdown.

Change the Consulate Location on DS-160 Step 2
Change the Consulate Location on DS-160 Step 2

Change Location in DS 160 after Submission

After you electronically sign and submit your DS-160 application online, you will not get an option to change the interview location in DS 160 application. When you retrieve the DS-160 by entering the Application ID and your personal information, you only get the option to view and print confirmation. It looks like in below screenshot.

As you can see below, you only have two options ‘Print Confirmation’ and ‘Email Confirmation’. That’s all you can do. You cannot really change the location in DS 160 after submission of the same. But, what if you want to attend interview a different location, what should you do now? Let’s look at that now.

DS 160 Confirmation Page - No option to change interview location
DS 160 Confirmation Page – No option to change interview location

Guidance from US Department of State on DS 160 Location

It can happen that, when you submitted DS 160 you wanted to attend interview at a particular location, but during appointment booking you could not find a visa interview slot at that location. So, you end up booking an appointment at a different location than that is listed on DS 160 application form.

As per US Department of State, if you are in a situation like above, you are fine and do not have to do anything such as ‘updating the location on DS 160 form’. As per them, the US consulate or Embassy, where you plan to attend the interview, should be able to retrieve and get your information based on the bar code on the confirmation letter.

Example: Let’s say you selected “India, Chennai” when you initially filled up DS-160 and submitted it. But, when booking appointment, you selected interview at “India, Hyderabad”. As per US Dept. of State, you are fine and do not have to do anything as the US Consulate in Hyderabad can retrieve your DS 160 using the bar code on your DS-160.

If you look at the confirmation letter, it will have a bar code on the top and the bottom, that is what they are talking about. See below screenshot of DS-160 Confirmation letter showing ‘Bar code’, which is nothing but the ‘Application ID’

DS 160 Confirmation showing the Bar Code - Application ID
DS 160 Confirmation showing the Bar Code – Application ID

Below is the screenshot of the official reference from US Department of State Website, that confirms the above guidance. Look for the question on that page that says “What happens to my DS-160 if I select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate where I will be applying for my visa, but end up making an interview appointment instead at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate?”

DS 160 location different from interview appointment location - US Dept of State Guidance
DS 160 location different from interview appointment location – US Dept of State Guidance

Guidance from USTravelDocs India on Location in DS 160

If you are attending US Visa interview in India, you also have clarification and official guidance from USTravelDocs, which is your website for booking appointment. As per USTravelDocs India website, you do not have to change the interview location on DS 160, if you have booked interview at a different location than the one you originally selected on DS 160 when you submitted the form.

The only restriction is that the location you selected initially on DS 160 must be located within India. Let’s look at an example

Example on what works: Let’s say you selected location as “Chennai, India” when you filled out DS-160 and submitted it. Now, you book interview appointment at “Kolkata, India” or “Mumbai, India”, or any other city, then you are fine. You do not have to do anything. The other consulates/embassy would be able to retrieve and get your DS160 form.

Example on What does NOT work: Let’s say you selected location as “Berlin, Germany” or other city outside of India, when you filled out DS-160 and submitted it. Now, you book interview appointment at “Kolkata, India” or “Mumbai, India”, or any other city in India, then it will not work. Your DS-160 that you submitted with city selected as outside of India will not work, you will need to create a new DS-160 application form and submit it with Consulates locations in India.

Below is the screenshot of the guidance from the USTravelDocs India website. You need to scroll down to the bottom and look for section that says “Guidelines for completing the Form DS-160″

US Visa Appointment Location on DS-160 can be different from what you selected first

US Embassy India on DS 160 Location at Visa Fridays Q&A

In addition to the above official guidance on the US Dept of State website and USTravelDocs website, the US Embassy in India clarified the same question on DS 160 location in their responses during one of the Visa Friday’s Q &A Sessions as well. As per them as well, you do not have to do anything, as long as the initial selected location on DS 160 is within India, irrespective of where you have your visa interview appointment.

Example : Let’s say you selected ‘New Delhi’ as your interview location on DS 160, when you submitted the application online, but later got biometrics appointment at Delhi and Visa interview appointment at Mumbai. Then, you do not have to do anything such as changing the location in DS160 form. You are fine, just need to travel between cities. See below screenshot from US Embassy India answered on Visa Fridays Facebook Q &A

Guidance from US Embassy on Different Locations of DS 160 vs Interview Location
Guidance from US Embassy on Different Locations of DS 160 vs Interview Location

US Embassy Vietnam Guidance on DS-160 Location for Interview

As per US Embassy in Vietnam, they say that if your interview location changes from the one that you filled out on the DS-160 form, then you do not have to fill out a new form DS-160. The US Consulate or Embassy can access your DS-160 form using the bar code that is on the confirmation letter generated after filling out the DS-160 form.

The only thing they suggest is, it can take extra time and there can be significant delays, you can appear for the interview with a DS-160 that is submitted with a different location. See the below screenshot on the actual guidance and check their Website FAQs.

Note: One important thing to note from the below screenshot is, on Vietnam Embassy & Consulate websites, they say that there can be delays. But, it may or may not be applicable to other locations. So, always check with the country that you are interviewing in to get more clarity. For instance, in India, they do not say that there will be any delays, as long as the location is within India.

US Embassy Vietnam Guidance - Should you fill another DS-160 if location changes
US Embassy Vietnam Guidance – Should you fill another DS-160 if the location changes

Hope, it is clear now, that you do not have to worry about changing the DS 160 interview location if you are attending the visa interview in the same country as you selected in DS 160. If not, you need to create a new DS 160 form.

What was your experience with location changes in DS 160 ? Add your thoughts in comments section below.

   

Other Articles

39 Comments

  1. I am applying for L2 Visa.
    My DS160 has Chennai location

    Can I apply for OFC and interview appointment at different location (say Hyderabad)? Like filling up a new DS 160 form.

    Is there any change in the above as per the new rules that were applicable from November 15, 2023.

    Please let me know!!

    Reply
  2. I booked a date for H1b in Chennai. I was looking for a date in Mumbai. Can I change my location to Mumbai if I see Mumbai dates are open. I have paid the visa fee for booking a date in Chennai.

    Reply
  3. Hi All,
    I submitted DS-160 for Hyderabad. Later got to know, for L1B only Chennai Biometric i should choose and filled new DS-160 and booked appointment through new Website. For some reasons new Website taken my old DS-160 which is Hyderabad. Will it create any trouble?
    Please help me on this.

    Reply
  4. I got a VAC appointment for my H1 B visa stamping for October. However I am currently in the US and will only be in India in December. Any way to reschedule the appointment as no slots showing after October 2023.

    Reply
  5. Hi Kumar

    I alongwith my wife and daughter submitted DS160 form for B1/B2 USA visa in India and paid the visa fee as well. But unable to get counselor appointment though able to get VAC appointment… Please suggest what to do..

    Reply
  6. My initial Visa was issued from Chennai which is now expired. And I am planning to visit India this year and as obvious for reentry, I need to restamp my visa according to my new DS2019. So during the fill-up of the new DS160 do I need to select the same consulate location from where my initial visa was issued or I can select any consulate which is near my home state(?).

    Reply
  7. For someone in situation where, they have incorrect location selected in the DS160, and have already paid the fees and schedule an interview. To update the location in DS160.

    1. Create a new DS160 with the correct location.
    2. Update the DS160 confirmation number in the profile page of your appointment page, and re-generate the interview confirmation page. The interview confirmation page will reflect the DS160 number with the updated location.

    Reply
    • This is in case you still want to keep your appointment, but use the updated DS160
      Also, note you can not update the DS160 in the profile, if you have less then two day remaining for your interview.

      For updating the dependent DS160 form, you will have to call the US consulate helpline. The CGI website doesn’t allow updating the dependent DS160 information via the profile update of the primary applicant.

      NOTE: **IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS RELATED TO DS160 OR YOUR VISA APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL THE US CONSULATE HELPLINE. INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET CAN BE MISS LEADING AND CAUSE YOU TO SPEND UNNECESSARY FEE”

      Reply
  8. Hello,

    I am a Thai citizen and living in the UK. When applying for a visa, it does not give me the option to input the UK. What would I need to do?

    Reply
  9. Hello all,
    I have booked biometrics in Hyderabad and interview in Delhi
    While submitting ds-160 when it asks about location i thought of biometrics location/current location, so i entered Hyderabad and also I have completed my biometrics yesterday,what should I do ? Can I proceed with same ds-160 for interview or should I attend with new ds-160 for interview.

    Reply
    • Vamshi,
      You can proceed with the same DS-160, no need to change as it is same country. If any information changed, then create new DS-160

      Reply
    • HI , My parents Biometrics is in Hyd and visa interview is Chennai. Should I keep Chennai or Hyderabad in Location. Did you have any challenges when you went for interview?

      Reply
  10. Hi Kumar,

    I submitted my DS-160 last year in June 2022 and paid the MRV fees, but my Dropbox appointment date is on June 2023. Do I need to update my DS-160 form for my travel plans as I had mentioned my travel plans for the last year.

    Thanks

    Reply
  11. Hi. My case is this: I have submitted my DS-160 in Jeddah and also paid the visa processing fee. But I’m going exit this month of March. My question can I have my interview schedule in the Philippines?

    Reply
  12. My parents submitted DS-160 application for B2 Viza on November 2nd and chose Ankara, Turkey as their interview location. we’re trying to schedule an appointment and pay the fees since then, but the website is always showing there’s no appointment at this moment so try back in a few couple of days.
    Is that normal?

    Reply
  13. I fill ds-160 from in mumbai.appointment slot not avaliable in mumbai.can i change diffrenet location for interview and biomatrics.

    Reply
  14. I booked for my visa appointment in Dubai but could not find any appointment date in this 2023.
    Can I fill another DS 160 form and booked in Cameroon?

    Reply
  15. Sir, Please clarify once again, that it is good to drop documents at Hyderabad consulate on 30- 01-2023 and attend for personal interview, at New Delhi, when called for, as I chose New Delhi, while booking my Visa Slot. I am eligible for drop box appointment. Regards

    Reply
  16. I have question on DS 160 Form. I have started an application , in August 2022, and booked VISA SLOT, for H1B stamping, for January, 2023, end date. I did not submit the same till date, as I have been updating the form from time to time, and even on yesterday too. Now, it is almost complete and about to submit the same, in a day or two. However, I found, on the First Page : Personal Information 1, on the right hand corner, the following text : OMB CONTROL NUMBER: xxxx – xxxx , FORM NO: DS – 160, EXPIRATION DATE: 10/31/2022, ESTIMATED BURDEN: 90 MIN. I do not understand the expiration date, which is mentioned as 10/31/2022. What exactly is this? What I have to do, as my appointment date is fast approaching. please guide me in detail. Thanks

    Reply
    • JSRao,
      Usually, you have 30 days to complete it. So, that is the expiration date of the same. I am not sure, if that will have an impact. If you are in doubt, you can create new DS-160 and submit it. You can ask them to use the latest one.

      Reply
  17. I have filled MY DS-160 form at Guangzhou City but due to interview unavailability I booked the interview in Beijing so how DO I need to update this in DS-160 form? or I have to fill new DS-160 form. Please advise.

    Reply
    • Niranjan,
      Usually, if it is the same country, it should work. But, it may vary by country. So, email the US Consulate in Beijing to be sure.

      Reply
  18. How do I change the location during appointment date selection as when I have filled the New Delhi, India in DS160 form and changing the location during appointment date as the slots are not available, it is showing that it’s not applicable. Please suggest.

    Reply
    • Anchal,
      They are not related. If there are no slots, nothing will show. If you have any systems issue, reach out to USTravelDocs support.

      Reply

Leave a Comment