Expediting Visas – In which situations can my visa be expedited?

Fri, Dec 20. 2011

Ask the Consul

Bridgetown, Barbados, Thursday, December 15, 2011: We are pleased to report that the U.S. Embassy in Barbados currently has no wait for visa appointments, which are available generally on a next day basis. However,{{more}} even during times when there is a waiting period, a visa appointment can be expedited under certain emergency circumstances. Please note that there is no special visa for medical treatment or other emergencies and that all applicants must still overcome the presumption in section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that they are intending immigrants and therefore ineligible to receive a visa. We recognize that emergencies do occur and will try to accommodate requests for expedited visa pick-up in the following situations:

• You need to obtain urgent medical care in the U.S.

• You have to attend the funeral of an immediate relative (e.g., mother, father, brother, sister, or child).

• You need to attend to an unforeseen and urgent business matter.

On the day of the appointment, the applicant must be able to present proof of a genuine emergency. For medical emergencies, the applicant must present a letter from the treating physician confirming a medical condition that must be treated in the U.S., plus a letter from the doctor or hospital in the United States that will provide the treatment, including the projected cost of the treatment and how much time the treatment will require. You should also bring financial or other documentation regarding how you propose to pay for the treatment.

In the case of a death in the family, acceptable proof would include a death certificate or letter from a funeral director, plus proof of relationship to the deceased (birth or marriage certificate).

For urgent business travel, a letter from the applicant’s employer and/or the company organizing the event in the United States is required. The applicant will not be interviewed unless proof of a genuine emergency is presented.

Please note that due to security clearances, we cannot guarantee that your visa will be ready in time for your travel.

For more information about expedited visas, please visit the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown website: http://barbados.usembassy.gov/visa-emergency.html.

More information is available as “Frequently Asked Questions” on the U.S. State Department’s web page: http://travel.state.gov/visa/forms/forms_4401.html Additional information on the visa application process is available on U.S. Embassy Bridgetown’s website at http://barbados.usembassy.gov/.