Nonimmigrant Visas

Please use our Visa Services Navigator for more information on nonimmigrant visa services at U.S. Embassy Cairo. The navigator will ask a series of simple questions to direct you to online information on the most common topics OR provide instructions on how to contact us by email for less common questions and direct assistance.

To apply for a nonimmigrant visa (of any category), please visit USTravelDocs.com.  

Passport Processing Times: Applicants who are approved for a nonimmigrant visa at the interview window should plan to be without their passports for approximately two weeks. Applicants who are renewing their nonimmigrant visa through the interview waiver program should plan to be without their passports for up to six weeks. While most passports are processed in less time, there is a large demand for U.S. visas, and we cannot guarantee your passport will be returned before then.

Interview Waiver Eligibility:  If your current visa expired within 48 months, an interview may not be necessary. Please click here to learn more about the Interview Waiver Program. 

Children under the Age of 14 are Not Admitted to the Embassy:
All minor applicants under the age of 14 are exempt from interviews. If you are a parent attending a nonimmigrant visa interview, please make alternative arrangements for childcare as children will not be allowed inside the visa waiting room.

Limited Expedited Appointment Availability:
If you have unforeseen travel plans and require an expedited interview appointment for a nonimmigrant visa, please visit the USTravelDocs.com , and select “Apply for an Expedited Appointment” to submit your request.  We have limited capacity for handling such cases and not everyone who requests an expedited visa appointment will receive one.  Please plan accordingly.

Travel:

The CDC’s Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States will end at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. Starting May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States.

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Egypt is responsible for providing visa services to those seeking to enter the United States for a temporary period and for those wishing to take up indefinite or permanent residence in the United States.

To apply for a nonimmigrant visa, please visit USTravelDocs.com for complete information on applying for a nonimmigrant U.S. visa, including a directory of nonimmigrant visa categories.

Access to the Visa Section is by appointment only. The Visa Section does not provide visa services or information on a walk-in basis.

All visitors must be screened prior to entering the Embassy and are subject to inspection via a walk-through metal detector and a hand-held metal detector. In order to expedite your interview and required security checks, please keep in mind the following policies:

  • All Consular visitors seeking access to the Embassy must present valid government-issued photo identification.
  • Cell phones are prohibited beyond the security check entrance. There are no exceptions.
  • Laptops, recording equipment, computers, cameras, electronics, backpacks, large bags, luggage, large purses, oversized strollers, and other cumbersome items are prohibited and cannot be deposited at the security entrance. There are no exceptions. Please leave these items at home.
  • Please follow all instructions given by the guards.
  • Due to space limitations, please do not arrive until your scheduled appointment time.
  • If you, or a member of your immediate household, tests positive for COVID-19, do not attend your scheduled appointment at the embassy. Instead, please use our  online contact form to notify us that the reason you are unable to attend your appointment is due to COVID-19. Upon completion of your required 14-day quarantine or a negative PCR COVID-19 test, please notify us and we will promptly reschedule your appointment.
  • Mask wearing is encouraged within the embassy but not required.
  • Please be courteous to all staff. This will avoid delays. Please note that security regulations apply to all visitors. If you fail to follow these security requirements, you may face delays or the cancellation of your visit. For more information in English, please click here (PDF 319 KB). For more information in Arabic, please click here (PDF 228 KB).

Children under the Age of 14 are Not Admitted to the Embassy: All minor applicants under the age of 14 are exempt from interviews. If you are a parent attending a nonimmigrant visa interview, please make alternative arrangements for childcare as children will not be allowed inside the visa waiting room.

Special Needs Visitors: Applicants who have special needs due to a physical disability may be accompanied by ONE person.

If you have additional questions about nonimmigrant visa services, please use our online contact form to contact the U.S. Embassy.

Our Cairo call center handles general questions, responds to case-specific inquiries, and schedules appointments for certain services (but not visa interviews). The number is 0900-70600. You may only call from a land line in Egypt to reach this number, and you will be charged a small fee. You may also call 2100 from a call center mobile in Egypt.