How to schedule a USA visa appointment in South Africa: Complete guide

Do South Africans need a visa for the USA? Yes, ZA citizens must obtain a visa to travel to the United States, whether for tourism, business, education, or other short-term visits. These visas can be obtained from the US consulates located in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.

Read this article to find out how to get a visa for the USA from South Africa and how to streamline the process by taking the perfect visa photo from the comfort of your own home.

Table of contents

• Types of US visas available for South African citizens
• Steps to make an appointment for a US visa interview from South Africa
• How to pay a US visa fee in South Africa?
• Is it necessary to provide a photo when applying for a US visa in South Africa?
• Online USA Visa Photo Editor
• USA Visa Photo App
• Average US visa approval time in South Africa
• Tips for finding available interview slots
• How to renew a US visa without an interview?

Types of US visas available for South African citizens

Depending on their reasons for traveling or working in the US, South African citizens can choose from various types of U.S. visas. These are generally categorized into two main types:

• Non-immigrant visas. These are for visitors, business individuals, students, or workers who intend to be in the US for a limited period with no plans to settle permanently. To successfully obtain this visa, you must demonstrate your intention to return to South Africa by showing strong ties to your home country.
• Immigrant visas. These are for those aiming to move to the US permanently. Options include diversity visas (for those who win the Green Card Lottery), K-1 and K-2 visas (for fiancées), and more.

In any case, the US visa application process typically involves completing necessary forms, collecting your supporting documents, and attending interviews at the embassy or consulate.

Steps to make an appointment for a US visa interview from South Africa

For a US visa appointment booking in South Africa, you need to follow a series of online steps, pay the necessary fees, and choose an appointment date at a US consulate, either in Johannesburg, Cape Town, or Durban:

1. Complete the visa application form:
   • For most nonimmigrant visas, fill out the DS-160 form online and print the confirmation page. Completion of Form DS-160 is explained in detail in this article.
   • For immigrant visas, if applicable, use the DS-260 form.
2. Visit the official website of the US Embassy in South Africa for a visa appointment.
3. Follow instructions on the portal to pay the fee online or at designated banks, as per the system's guidance.
4. After filling out the form and making the payment, log back into the portal to select an interview date and location. New slots open every Thursday for all South African consulates, and interview wait times are updated regularly on the portal.
5. Arrive with all the necessary documents on the day of your interview.

US visa interview waivers in South Africa and expedited appointments:

• Some applicants, such as those renewing their visas, children under 14, and adults over 79, might be eligible to skip the interview, as determined during scheduling.
• Requests for expedited appointments must be submitted online with valid reasons; routine tourist and business travel do not qualify for these faster appointments.

Note: Due to high demand, the U.S. Embassy recommends South African residents apply for nonimmigrant visas at least three months before their intended departure date.

How to pay a US visa fee in South Africa?

How much is a visa from South Africa to the US in rands? The US visa application fee in South Africa is USD 180 for the most common visas (B1/B2 tourist/business, F student, J exchange visitor, etc.), which is approximately ZAR 3218.

Here you can find detailed information on US visa fees for different categories

When applying for a US visa in South Africa, you'll need to follow specific steps to pay the visa fee:

1. Start by creating an account on the official US visa appointment portal.
2. Choose one of the following payment methods:
   • Cash payment: download the cash payment instruction sheet from the portal, print it, and make your payment in cash at one of the designated local banks. Ensure you use the specific payment slip generated for your transaction - it is valid for a single use only.
   • Credit card payment: you can pay directly with a credit card through the online portal.
3. Once you've paid, especially for cash transactions, it may take up to two business days for the payment to be processed before you can book your interview. Be sure to keep all payment receipts and confirmation pages safe, as you'll need them for your visa interview.

The MRV fee is non-refundable and cannot be transferred. It remains valid for 365 days from the purchase date in the same country.

Is it necessary to provide a photo when applying for a US visa in South Africa?

Yes, submitting a photo is mandatory when applying for a US visa in South Africa. This applies whether you're filling out your application online or attending an in-person interview.

• For most non-immigrant visas, such as a US tourist visa for South Africans, you must upload a digital photo when completing the DS-160 form online. If the upload fails, you must bring a printed photo to your interview.
• For immigrant visas (such as Green Cards) and certain other visa categories, two printed color photos measuring 2 inches by 2 inches (or 51mm x 51mm) are required for each applicant, regardless of their age.

Online USA Visa Photo Editor

US visa photos need to meet specific criteria to be accepted. To ensure your picture meets these standards without wasting time or effort, consider using a professional photo-editing tool such as Visafoto, which guarantees compliance with embassy or consulate requirements.

Since 2013, Visafoto has been specializing in processing US visa images. You can simply upload a photo with suitable lighting, proper attire, and a neutral expression while looking directly at the camera. The service will automatically adjust the background, resolution, and color, resizing the photo to fit all necessary standards. If you're not satisfied with the results, we offer a free redo. In case the photo is rejected by officials, a full refund is provided.

Take your picture using natural light with either a smartphone or a digital camera and upload it to Visafoto.com.

Your original photo can look like this:

You'll receive both a digital version for online applications and a print-ready file.

USA Visa Photo App

If you're more comfortable using your phone, try the 7ID app from Visafoto.com. This user-friendly app makes it easy to create ID, passport, and visa photos directly from your smartphone. It’s available for both iPhones and Android devices.

Simply upload your picture to the 7ID App, select the USA as your country, and choose a visa as your document type. The app will automatically adjust your photo to meet all official requirements, resizing it, changing the format, and ensuring the background color is correct, while perfectly centering your face and eye line. You'll get a digital copy and a print template that matches standard paper sizes like 4×6, A4, A5, or B5.

For any questions or assistance, our support team is available 24/7 to help you out.

Average US visa approval time in South Africa

The overall time to get a US visa in South Africa involves two parts: the wait for an interview appointment and the processing time after the interview.

Interview appointment wait time
As of September 2025, scheduling an interview for a non-immigrant US visa (such as a US tourist visa) from South Africa can take over 100 days, especially in busy consulates like Johannesburg. Appointment availability can change weekly, so it's a good idea for applicants to regularly check the appointment portal for newly opened slots.

Post-interview processing time
Once you've completed your interview, most non-immigrant visas are processed and issued within approximately 15 days. However, if further administrative processing is needed, it might take longer. For immigrant visas or cases requiring additional checks, expect processing to last up to 60 days after the interview. It's recommended to wait this period before inquiring about your application's status.

Tips for finding available interview slots

If you're looking to secure an interview for a US visitor visa for South Africans, consider these tips:

• Check the appointment portal on Thursdays. New interview slots at the consulates in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg are typically released every Thursday afternoon (South African time). Checking frequently on these days increases your chance of finding an earlier slot.
• Complete preliminary steps early. Ensure you've finished filling out your DS-160 form and paid the visa fee before the scheduling window opens. Only those who have paid can book an interview.
• Stay flexible with consulate and date options. Look for US visa appointment dates in South Africa at all three consulates (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban) to increase your chances of getting an earlier date or finding cancellations.
• Regularly monitor for opening slots. Even after securing a date, regularly log into the online system to check for any earlier appointment slots that may have opened up.
• Use the official appointment website. Always schedule through the official US visa appointment website to ensure you receive accurate information and avoid scams.
• Consider eligibility for an interview waiver. Some repeat applicants or those in specific age groups may qualify for an interview waiver, which eliminates the need for an appointment and speeds up the process.
• Contact customer support. For any technical issues or scheduling questions, call the help line at +27 87 550 2160 during business hours for assistance.
• Don’t rely on expedited appointments for tourism. Expedited slots are rare and typically reserved for urgent situations such as medical emergencies or funerals, not for regular travel purposes.

How to renew a US visa without an interview?

You might be able to renew your US visa without an interview by qualifying for the U.S. Interview Waiver Program (IWP). Here are the key criteria you need to meet:

• You're renewing a visa in the same category as your previous one.
• Your last visa expired less than 12 months ago (this period can be up to 48 months in some consulates).
• You’re applying in your home country or country of residence.
• You have not had any previous visa refusals, or any past refusals have been resolved.
• You have no known ineligibilities or violations, such as overstaying in the US.
• This option generally applies to B-1/B-2 (tourist/business) visas and other nonimmigrant categories, depending on each consulate's policy.

Steps to renew your US visa without an interview:

1. Fill out the online DS-160 form and gather the usual supporting documents.
2. Pay the visa renewal fee.
3. As you proceed through the official visa portal, answer the questions related to interview waiver eligibility.
4. If you qualify, follow the instructions to submit your passport along with your application materials via mail or courier service to the consulate.
5. Wait for your application to be processed, which typically takes 2–4 weeks.
6. If a consular officer decides that an interview is necessary, you will be informed of details on how to schedule it.

Best of luck with your US visa application!