DS-160 Must Be Submitted At Least Two Business Days Before NIV Interview Date

By: Diya Mathews

In March 2025, the U.S. Embassy in London announced via email that, beginning March 24, 2025, employee “E” visa applicants attending an appointment must have signed and submitted their DS-160 forms at least 48 business hours before their interview date.

The notice also advises applicants to account for weekends and holidays that could affect the timing of their submission and appointments. If the DS-160 form is not reflected in the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) system in time, the office will not be able to accommodate late submissions, and such applicants will be turned away. 

As of April 15, 2025, this requirement has been extended to all nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants in London. It is expected that the policy will soon apply to all NIV categories worldwide, as locations such as Lisbon, Nassau, and Paris have already implemented this rule.

To avoid being turned away at interviews, NIV applicants are strongly encouraged to review, sign, and submit their DS-160 forms at least two business days before their scheduled appointments.

The Chugh LLP immigration team will continue to provide updates on submission requirements as they become available. For case-specific questions, please contact your trusted Chugh LLP attorney.