US Embassy Announces New Visa Application Portal
The United States Embassy in Accra says it is migrating from its existing visa service provider’s website (ustraveldocs.com) designated for paying visa application fees, scheduling appointments, and contacting customer service to a new platform effective August 26.
From mid-August, the Embassy noted that applicants won’t be able to access the existing portal any longer for a new visa appointment, cancel or reschedule an existing appointment, or access customer service.
However, it pointed out that all current nonimmigrant visa interview appointments within that period will remain valid.
“The U.S. Embassy in Accra is moving to a new visa services provider on August 26, 2024. Access to the old visa service provider’s website and services will cease on August 16, 2024.”
On August 26, it states that a new visa appointment website will go live where fee payments, appointment scheduling, and customer service will be available with new document drop-off and pickup locations all available.
Scheduled Appointments
Applicants with interviews scheduled on or before August 16 may continue to access their account at ustraveldocs.com to review their appointment details and contact customer service as necessary.
That notwithstanding, applicants with interviews scheduled between August 16 and August 26 will no longer have access to their ustraveldocs.com account after August 16.
This means they will not be able to cancel or reschedule their appointment from August 16 to August 26 and will have no access to customer service and therefore need to print their appointment confirmation letter before August 16 and stick to their scheduled interview.
They will, however, receive new directives if they miss the interview after August 26 for rescheduling.
Instructions
It further instructed, “If you have paid the visa application fee but have not scheduled an interview: We strongly encourage you to schedule a visa appointment as soon as possible, and read the information provided above based on your interview date.
“If you have not paid the visa application fee and are planning to travel to the United States in August or September: We strongly encourage you to pay the visa application fee and schedule your visa appointment as soon as possible, and read the information provided above based on your interview date. Please note that visa appointment slots in August and September are very limited, and you may not be able to schedule your appointment before your travel date. If so, you may wish to wait until after August 26 to begin the nonimmigrant visa process.
“If you have not paid the MRV fee and are planning to travel to the United States after August or September: We recommend that you wait until after August 26 to begin the nonimmigrant visa process.”
