How to Find and Book Your U.S. Embassy Appointment

Where embassy appointment dates come from and how they work

U.S. embassies and consulates do not publish a master calendar of available appointment dates. Instead, each location manages its own schedule through the Consular Appointment System (CAS), which is the official platform where you book visa interviews, passport services, and notarial work. When you log in to CAS for your specific embassy or consulate, the system shows you only the dates that location has opened — and those dates change based on staffing, holidays, and how many appointments have already been booked.

The dates you see are real openings, not predictions. If an embassy shows no available dates when you check, it means appointments are full or that location has not yet released future dates. This is different from a wait list — you cannot reserve a spot for a future date that has not opened yet. You have to check back periodically until new dates appear.

Key Takeaways

• Each U.S. embassy and consulate manages its own appointment calendar through the Consular Appointment System, and available dates vary by location and service type.
• You must log into CAS with your case number or passport information to see real openings at your specific location — no public calendar exists.
• If no dates are available, check back in a few days or weeks, as new dates are released regularly as the embassy schedules staff and processes cancellations.
• Appointment availability depends on the type of service (visa interview, passport renewal, notarial), the time of year, and how many people have already booked.
• Some embassies in high-demand countries may have wait times of several months even after you book, so the appointment date you get may not be your interview date.

How to check available dates at your embassy

Go to the U.S. Department of State's Consular Appointment System website (travel.state.gov/cas). You will need to select your country and then your specific embassy or consulate. The system will ask you to log in or create an account using your passport number or case number, depending on the service you need.

Once logged in, you will see a calendar showing only the dates that location has made available. The calendar is real-time — if a date disappears between the time you check and the time you try to book, someone else booked it. If you see a date that works for you, book it immediately. Do not wait to think about it.

If you see no available dates, the embassy has not released them yet or all current dates are full. Write down the embassy's contact information (usually on the location's main page) and check back in three to seven days. Many embassies release new dates in batches, and cancellations also open up slots.

Why dates disappear and how long you might wait

Available appointment dates fill quickly in popular countries and cities. In some locations — particularly in India, Mexico, and the Philippines — visa interview appointments can be booked months in advance, and new dates disappear within hours of being released. This is not a system failure; it reflects genuine demand.

The wait time between booking your appointment and actually having your interview is separate from the appointment availability issue. Once you book a date, you have secured a slot. However, some embassies have such high volume that they schedule interviews many months after the appointment date you booked. You will receive a separate notice telling you the actual interview date, which may be later than your appointment slot.

Staffing changes, visa policy shifts, and holidays all affect when new dates are released. During summer months and around major holidays, many embassies reduce hours or close entirely, which shrinks the available calendar. After holidays, new dates usually appear as the embassy resumes normal operations.

What to do if your embassy has no available dates

First, confirm you are looking at the right location. Some countries have multiple embassies or consulates, and each manages its own schedule. If you are a U.S. citizen abroad needing passport services, you may have options at more than one post.

Check the embassy's website or call their main line to ask when they typically release new appointment dates. Some locations release dates on specific days of the week or month. If you know the pattern, you can check at the right time rather than randomly.

If you are a visa applicant and no dates are available, you have limited options. You cannot request a specific date or jump a queue. You can only check back regularly. Some people set phone reminders or check multiple times per week. If your situation is urgent (you have a job offer with a start date, for example), contact the embassy's visa section directly to explain your circumstances — they may be able to advise whether expedited processing is possible, though this is rare.

Different services have different appointment calendars

A U.S. embassy typically manages separate calendars for different services: immigrant visa interviews, nonimmigrant visa interviews, passport renewals, notarial services, and citizenship services. The calendar you see depends on which service you select when you log into CAS. A date might be available for passport services but not for visa interviews at the same location.

Make sure you are looking at the right service category. If you are applying for a work visa, select the nonimmigrant visa option. If you are immigrating permanently, select immigrant visa. The system will not let you book the wrong service, but it will show you different available dates depending on which one you choose.

How to prepare once you have booked your appointment

After you book, you will receive a confirmation email with your appointment number and date. Save this email and the appointment number — you will need it to reschedule if something changes, and the embassy may ask for it if you contact them.

Check your email regularly for updates from the embassy. Some locations send reminders a few days before your appointment. Others send notices about required documents or changes to their procedures. If your appointment is a visa interview, the embassy will also send you a separate notice with the actual interview date (which may be different from your appointment slot date) and instructions on what to bring.

If you need to reschedule, log back into CAS with your appointment number and look for a reschedule or cancel option. Do not simply miss your appointment — canceling frees up the slot for someone else and keeps your record clean with the embassy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book an appointment at a different embassy if my local one has no dates?

For visa interviews, you must interview at the embassy or consulate that covers your place of residence. You cannot choose a different location to get an earlier date. For passport services, you may have more flexibility depending on your situation — contact the State Department's passport office to ask if you can use a different post.

What if I see a date available but I am not ready to book yet?

Book it anyway if you think you might need it. You can reschedule through CAS if your plans change, and it is easier to move an appointment than to find an open date later. Holding a date keeps your options open.

How often should I check for new dates if none are available?

Check every few days at minimum, or daily if your situation is time-sensitive. Some embassies release dates on predictable schedules — call the embassy's main line and ask when they typically open new slots. This saves you from checking randomly.

Will the appointment date I book be my actual interview date?

Not necessarily. The date you book through CAS is your appointment slot. The embassy will send you a separate notice with your actual interview date, which may be weeks or months later depending on the location's workload. The appointment slot secures your place in the queue.

What happens if I miss my appointment?

Missing an appointment without canceling can result in a fee and may affect your ability to reschedule quickly. If you cannot make it, cancel through CAS as soon as possible so the slot opens for someone else. Contact the embassy immediately if something unexpected prevents you from canceling online.