Last reviewed:
Booking a U.S. Visa Appointment in the Philippines
Applicants in the Philippines book through ustraveldocs.com/ph, and interviews are held at the U.S. Embassy in Manila — the only consular post issuing nonimmigrant visas in the country. Most applicants attend two appointments: a short visa application centre visit for biometrics, then the interview itself.
Nothing appears on the booking screen until the DS-160 is submitted and the visa fee has activated. The general process is on how to book a U.S. visa appointment; this page covers what is specific to the Philippines.
Where interviews are held
| Post | City |
|---|---|
| Embassy | Manila |
One post serves the entire country, so there is no comparing waiting times between cities the way applicants in India or Mexico can. Everyone books into the same calendar.
The order that has to happen first
- Submit the DS-160 and keep the confirmation page — the number starts
AA. - Create a profile on
ustraveldocs.com/ph, with its own email and password. - Pay the MRV fee by the method your profile offers. See the Philippines fee guide.
- Wait for the receipt to activate — over-the-counter and bank payments commonly take one to two business days.
- Book the biometrics visit and the interview, and choose passport delivery.
Why the screen shows nothing
- The fee has not activated yet. This is the usual answer. Check the timing for your payment method on the Philippines fee guide.
- No availability at present. A single post for the whole country means slots can be months out — see visa wait times.
- The DS-160 was never actually submitted, so there is no confirmation number.
- Wrong country's platform. Profiles and fee receipts do not move between countries.
Slots freed by other applicants rescheduling appear throughout the day, so repeated checking is the only reliable approach.
Rescheduling
Rescheduling happens in the same profile. Posts commonly allow around three reschedules before the fee is at risk, and failing to appear without rescheduling first can void it, requiring the fee to be paid again.
The fee is generally usable for one year from payment, and is tied to your passport and receipt rather than to a particular DS-160.
Frequently asked questions
Is Manila the only place to interview?
Nonimmigrant visa interviews are conducted at the Embassy in Manila. Confirm against the embassy's own instructions, since arrangements can change.
I paid the fee but no slots appear. What now?
Almost always the receipt has not activated. Check the activation time for your payment method on the Philippines fee guide before contacting support, and do not pay a second time.
Do children need their own appointment?
Every applicant needs their own DS-160 and their own fee. Whether a child must appear in person depends on age and the post's rules; some are exempt from the interview.
Can I use my fee in another country?
No. Profiles and receipts are per country. Applying elsewhere means creating a profile in that country's system and paying again.