The United States Embassy in Accra has issued new instructions for non‑immigrant visa applicants who need an earlier interview due to an unexpected emergency. Applicants must first complete the DS‑160 form, pay the visa fee and book the earliest regular interview through the official portal, usvisaappt.com.
Only after these steps can they request an emergency appointment. To do so, sign into the portal, select “My Dashboard” and choose “Create Emergency Request”. An Emergency Request Form must then be filled out, detailing the nature of the emergency, the intended travel date and why an earlier interview is necessary. Supporting documents—such as medical records or funeral notices—must be uploaded to substantiate the claim.
The embassy cautions that expedited slots are scarce and that submitting a request does not guarantee an earlier interview or a visa before the planned travel date. Approved requests are notified by email and the applicant must then select a new interview date from the available slots. Declined requests are also emailed, and the applicant retains the original appointment.
Eligible emergencies include urgent medical care, bereavement, or unforeseen business needs. Requests for weddings, graduations, tourism or routine conferences are generally not considered emergency cases. Even if an expedited appointment is granted, applicants must still meet all visa category requirements; the final visa decision rests with a consular officer.
Applicants are urged to plan ahead, review the embassy’s security instructions, and keep their passports ready for collection once the visa is issued. The embassy does not allow passport pickup on its premises.
