U.S. Embassy in Zambia

Appointments & Locations

All visa interviews are conducted in the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka.  Interviews for nonimmigrant visas are typically held on Mondays through Thursdays.  As appointment slots for nonimmigrant visas fill up quickly, we advise applicants to begin the application process at least several weeks prior to the intended date of travel.  You may find estimated wait times on this website.  Nonimmigrant visa applicants will need to follow the below steps to schedule their appointment.

For immigrant visa appointments, the National Visa Center will schedule an interview date and time.  However, the Consular Section may reach out to the beneficiary or petitioner by email to reschedule the appointment.

To contact the consular section, please review our visas assistance contact information.

Other Information

Official Visa Requests:

Visa Class A, G or C3 applications should be submitted to the Embassy on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 11:00 and 12:00, at least 2 weeks prior to the intended travel departure date.

Expedite Appointments:

Applicants may request an expedited visa appointment for emergency travel purposes, but it is necessary to make the request online. Emergency appointments are granted at the discretion of the Consular Section.  Applicants may only request an expedited appointment once.

Please note, at this time expedite requests are only available for Zambian passport holders or Third Country Nationals residing full-time in Zambia who have a Zambian residency card/permit.  The Embassy is not able to grant every request; at this time, students, temporary workers, some business travelers, and applicants with exceptional humanitarian need will be given greatest consideration for expedited interview appointments.  Expedited appointment requests for travel purposes such as professional conferences, tourism, weddings, funerals, or to assist a U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative are not currently being prioritized.

If your request for an expedited appointment is denied, your existing appointment at the earliest available date will remain as scheduled. Please regularly check the online scheduling system to see if additional appointments become available.

1) Complete steps 1 and 2 under “Application Steps” to schedule a regular visa appointment on the closest available date (even if it is different or later than what you would prefer).

2) Sign back into your personal visa account, click ‘Continue,’ select ‘Request Expedite,’ and follow the instructions. In your request, include the date and purpose of your intended travel.

Interview Waiver for Individuals Under 14 and Over 79:
The embassy is processing visa applications for applicants less than 14 years old whose parents have a valid U.S. visa or who can travel to the United States through ESTA, and applicants over 79 years of age.  Applicants should follow the steps above to schedule a visa appointment.  If the application qualifies for an age-based interview waiver, the system will allow the individual to use that option.  However, an interview may be requested at the Consular Section’s discretion.

Government Sponsored Exchange:  

J-1 visa applicants, along with their dependents, for a U.S. government sponsored exchange program, whose Form DS-2019 has a program serial number of G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7 are not required to pay the visa application fee (MRV fee) or SEVIS fee.   Please contact your exchange program coordinator for information on scheduling an interview.

Citizens and Residents of Countries Outside Zambia Applying in Lusaka:

Visa applicants from any consular district are free to apply in Lusaka.  However, applicants must be present in Lusaka to pay the visa fee and attend an interview.  This fee is not transferrable or refundable. Due to staffing and workload issues, appointment capacity for non-residents is limited.    NOTE: to interview in Lusaka, applicants’ Form DS-160 must list Lusaka as the interview location.