Visa Scheduling Guide · India · 2026
The US Travel Docs portal, decoded.
Every year, thousands of Indian applicants lose weeks (and sometimes their entire interview window) to scheduling mistakes on ustraveldocs.com. This is the no-fluff walkthrough we wish every student had before they started.
What is the US Travel Docs portal?
ustraveldocs.com is the official US Department of State scheduling portal for non-immigrant visa applicants in India. It's where you pay the MRV fee, book your OFC biometrics appointment, schedule your consular interview, and (for renewals) check Dropbox eligibility.
It is not the place where you fill the DS-160 - that lives at ceac.state.gov. The DS-160 confirmation number is what links your application to this scheduling portal.
MRV fee, currency, and validity
Fees are quoted in USD and collected in INR at the portal's exchange rate. Always confirm the current amount on the portal before paying - this guide is a reference, not a substitute for the official site.
The 4-phase scheduling timeline
Tap a phase to expandA clean, linear sequence - skip a phase and the next one quietly fails. Click any phase to open its full checklist.
- Checklist
- Use the correct consular post - the one closest to your permanent address.
- Match SEVIS ID, university name, and program dates exactly to the I-20.
- Disclose every previous US visa, refusal, and US relative - non-negotiable.
- Save the Application ID before submitting - recovery is painful without it.
- Print the confirmation page with the barcode; this is the document the officer wants.
Common mistakes to avoid
Paying the MRV fee before finalising your visa class
Each fee receipt is locked to one visa class. If you pay for B1/B2 and later realise you need F1, you'll pay again.
Booking the consular interview before the DS-160 is final
Your DS-160 confirmation number is what binds the appointment to you. Submitting a fresh DS-160 after booking can desync the records.
Choosing an OFC city different from your consular city without planning travel
Many applicants don't realise OFC and consular can be in different cities - and then scramble for flights at the last minute.
Refreshing too aggressively and getting IP-blocked
US Travel Docs has a rate limiter. Use the portal at a sensible pace - getting locked out for 24 hours during slot season is painful.
Dropbox vs in-person interview
The portal will ask a short screening questionnaire to determine if you qualify for the Interview Waiver (Dropbox). You're typically eligible if you previously held the same visa class and it expired within the lookback window, and you have no prior refusals.
If you qualify, you drop documents at a VAC instead of attending an interview. If not, the portal routes you to the standard OFC + consular flow.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I start the scheduling process?+
Start the moment you know your travel window. For F1 students aiming for a Fall semester, payment and DS-160 should be ready by March; for B1/B2 visitors, 3–4 months ahead is comfortable.
Can I share an MRV fee receipt with a family member?+
No. Each receipt is bound to one applicant (CGI reference number) and one visa class. Family members each need their own.
What if no slots are available in my city?+
Check the other 4 consular posts and consider travelling. Slots are released in waves - try midnight, 8 AM, and 2 PM IST. Don't trust unofficial 'slot bot' services.
Does WeLivdIt help with scheduling?+
Scheduling itself you do on the official portal. Our coaching plans handle everything that comes after - DS-160 review, document checklists, mocks, and refusal analysis.
Slot booked. What's next?
Now the real work begins - DS-160 review, mocks, document checklist, and your interview story. That's what we do.