Last reviewed:
Booking a U.S. Visa Appointment in Australia
Applicants in Australia book through USTravelDocs, not AIS. The appointment service lists three consulates for visa interviews — and, notably, not the embassy in Canberra.
Nothing can be booked until the DS-160 is submitted and the visa fee has activated. The general sequence is on how to book a U.S. visa appointment; this page covers what Australia publishes.
We read the Australia USTravelDocs pages on 17 September 2026.
Three consulates
| Post | City |
|---|---|
| U.S. Consulate | Melbourne |
| U.S. Consulate | Perth |
| U.S. Consulate | Sydney |
Each has its own calendar. The embassy in Canberra is not among the interview locations the appointment service lists — your own appointment confirmation is authoritative, but do not assume Canberra is an option because it is the embassy.
The page says smartwatches are banned, and also that they may be allowed
Australia is worth reading slowly, because two of its own bullets disagree.
The prohibited list includes "digital diaries, smart watches, smart glasses, airtags, pagers, cameras…".
The very next paragraph says:
Personal Electronic Devices such as mobile phones and smart watches may be allowed; this can change at any time pending heightened security requirements. All other electronic devices, including laptops and iPads, are not permitted.
So a smartwatch appears on the ban list and in the "may be allowed" sentence. We are not going to resolve that for you. The safe reading is the strict one — leave the watch behind — because the page also warns that "changes to this can be enforced by security at any time, without notice." If you need the answer, ask your consulate before the day.
AirTags are named outright, which few posts do — Germany reaches them through "Bluetooth tracking devices". If one lives in your bag or wallet, take it out.
If a phone is admitted, the instruction is explicit: silence it, and do not make or take calls. Any photography, audio or video recording is strictly prohibited.
What is refused
- Bags larger than 12 × 10 × 6 inches (30 × 25 × 15 cm) — only bags carried by hand, and in practice a plastic bag of application papers. Travel bags, backpacks, briefcases, suitcases and zip folders are out.
- Laptops and iPads — flatly, with no "may be allowed" qualifier.
- Food and beverage items
- Sealed envelopes or packages
- Cigarettes, cigars, matches, lighters and e-cigarettes/vapes
- Sharp objects, weapons and explosives
That 12 × 10 × 6 figure is Australia's own. Japan allows 10 × 10, Hong Kong 12 × 10 × 3 and Taiwan 18 × 14 × 8 — four countries, four numbers. Do not carry one abroad.
Why no slots appear
- The fee has not activated. Check the method you used on the Australia fee guide.
- That post has no availability. Australia has three — check Melbourne and Perth as well as Sydney.
- You created a profile on AIS instead of USTravelDocs. It will never show Australian appointments — see which appointment site is yours.
- The DS-160 was saved but never submitted, so no confirmation number exists.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my smartwatch into the consulate?
The page lists smart watches as prohibited and says personal electronic devices such as smart watches may be allowed. Treat the strict reading as safe and ask your consulate if it matters — security changes can be enforced without notice.
Are AirTags a problem?
Yes, they are named on the prohibited list.
Is there an interview location in Canberra?
The appointment service lists Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Read your appointment confirmation rather than assuming the embassy takes interviews.
How big a bag can I bring?
Smaller than 12 × 10 × 6 inches (30 × 25 × 15 cm), carried by hand.
Can I bring a drink?
No. Food and beverage items are both prohibited.
Official sources
- USTravelDocs Australia — interview and security pages, read 17 September 2026
- U.S. Mission to Australia