US visa appointment scams: use embassy instructions

The official sequence

Submit DS-160 electronically and keep its barcode confirmation page. The State Department says the embassy does not schedule the appointment for you ¹.

Next, open the embassy or consulate website for country-specific scheduling and fee instructions ¹. Applicants should normally schedule in their country of nationality or residence under guidance updated on 15 July 2026 ⁴.

Official fees

A B1/B2 visitor visa application costs US$185. The same non-petition fee covers several other categories ².

Some nationalities may owe a separate issuance fee after approval. Check the State Department reciprocity table rather than a private fee list ⁵.

Warning signs

• A promise that payment guarantees approval.
• A booking link that does not come from the embassy or consulate instructions ¹.
• A demand for a fee that cannot be matched to the State Department schedule ².
• A claim that an agent can alter the DS-160 after submission without your review.
• A refusal to give you the DS-160 confirmation page or appointment record.

If you paid a seller

Check the appointment through the official country-specific system and keep the DS-160 barcode page. Do not create duplicate bookings until you know whether the first is valid.

The Department of State accepts reports about people falsely claiming to offer visa services or represent the US government ³. Contact your bank if the service or charge was misrepresented.