Few tips to ensure a stress free day:
Now that the DS160 form is submitted, visa fees paid and the interview date and slot booked, nothing is going to change even if we freak out. So the best policy is keep the preparations only till 9PM the previous day. Have a hearty sleep, get up early in the morning with a positive attitude, have breakfast and get set go!!!
Book the earliest possible slot, not to ensure a visa but to ensure to keep the stress to a minimal level.
The earliest slot is 7.45AM and you are allowed near the gate just 15min prior.
First and foremost, DO NOT BE LATE.
Dress appropriately. Wearing Suits is not going overboard and neither mandatory. Whatever you wear, be presentable.
Do not forget any single document. Mandatory documents are
1. Passports (Current and Old)
2. DS160 Confirmation page
3. Appointment Letter
4. Visa Fee receipt
5. Passport Photo-1
Make sure to keep additional documents such as bank statements, employment records, payslips, sanctioned leave letter, property documents, IRAS/tax receipts, if being sponsored-sponsor documents including invitation letter and other supporting documents and all the other documents which would show your ties to the country. As an Expat, it is difficult to show major ties, so keep it simple and go with the employment records and rental agreement.
Coming to the US Embassy in Singapore, it is situated in 27 Napier Road. Stones throw away from the British Council and shares a common path with Australian Council. There is an Australian Embassy board visible from the main road, so once you take the left into that small path, on the left side you can see the American Embassy.
As soon as you reach there, you would be requested to be seated in line outside the gates. There is a small shelter with 3 rows of chairs. Once your appointment time reaches, you would be requested to go through the main gate in order. Outside the gate they will just check the appointment letter. So keep it handy.
Once inside the main gate you would go through security screening in a small guard room. You should leave all your belongings same as in an airport and then step to get scanned. Through the conveyer belt your items including files will be scanned and only the documents, file/holder, watches, wallets will be returned. Mobile phones and large bags are kept in the guards room and you would be provided with a token to claim them back while leaving.
Once the security check is done, you have to come out of the room and walk a few meters to reach a small entrance. There your identity and passport will be checked and you would be asked to take a token number from the machine (same as that in the banks).
You would then be directed into a small room with rows of chairs facing the cubicles are present.
This is where you interview would take place.
There are screens visible from every corner of the room which displays the token number called. Overall there are 7 or 8 cubicles. So on the screen, the token number along with cubicle number would be displayed. So whenever your no. is displayed, go to the respective cubicle.
After you are seated, the first time they call you for checking the documents. DS160 confirmation page, passport photo, visa fee receipt, current passport and appointment letter are the only documents requested at this stage. They take the documents, ask you the visa type you are applying for and ask the visa status in Singapore ( EP/DP/PR/Citizen/S Pass and so on..)
You would again be sent back to sit and wait.
After maybe 15 min they call you again. This time for ten-printing. First of all the finger printing machines are dirty and they are not wiped after every individual, so its difficult to get accurate prints so they repeatedly ask you to press harder.(I wish they provide any paper tissues or sanitizer). Ok, so they ask you first to give prints of the left hand 4 fingers and then the right hands and finally both the thumbs. After it is done they give you the documents they took from you in the first cubicle in a file and an instructions page (as to what next after visa is issued or not).
Keep the file which they gave separately and do not add any other documents nor remove any. Read the instructions page they provided and keep it safe inside wallet or anywhere but do not mix in the documents.
You are again waiting for another 15 min or even longer and finally the interview calls begin. Again your token number would be displayed.(do not fret, they do not necessarily call in order, they pick random numbers). Once you would be called, first and foremost GREET HIM/HER.
Hand over the file which they gave you which contains your passport and other documents.
Answer accordingly and to the point. Hand over additional documents only if requested. Do not be hyperactive or do not underplay. Do not exaggerate your answers, neither be taciturn. Be cool and answer truthfully.
Usually the interview lasts from 5-15mins according to your luck. Finally either he'll say, 'Congratulations, your visa has been approved' or 'Sorry, we are unable to issue a visa this time due to so and so reasons'. If visa is approved, he will keep the passport and you would get it after 2-3 days(read the instructions page they provided). If visa is not approved, they would give a sheet of paper with the reasons as to why you were denied.
Either ways, be happy. Its just a Visa just for a country and not your life, thank him for his time and get out.
On the way out, do not forget to take your belongings at the guard house.
Check these too: DS-160 Checklist & DS-160 Step by Step Instructions
Now that the DS160 form is submitted, visa fees paid and the interview date and slot booked, nothing is going to change even if we freak out. So the best policy is keep the preparations only till 9PM the previous day. Have a hearty sleep, get up early in the morning with a positive attitude, have breakfast and get set go!!!
Book the earliest possible slot, not to ensure a visa but to ensure to keep the stress to a minimal level.
The earliest slot is 7.45AM and you are allowed near the gate just 15min prior.
First and foremost, DO NOT BE LATE.
Dress appropriately. Wearing Suits is not going overboard and neither mandatory. Whatever you wear, be presentable.
Do not forget any single document. Mandatory documents are
1. Passports (Current and Old)
2. DS160 Confirmation page
3. Appointment Letter
4. Visa Fee receipt
5. Passport Photo-1
Make sure to keep additional documents such as bank statements, employment records, payslips, sanctioned leave letter, property documents, IRAS/tax receipts, if being sponsored-sponsor documents including invitation letter and other supporting documents and all the other documents which would show your ties to the country. As an Expat, it is difficult to show major ties, so keep it simple and go with the employment records and rental agreement.
Coming to the US Embassy in Singapore, it is situated in 27 Napier Road. Stones throw away from the British Council and shares a common path with Australian Council. There is an Australian Embassy board visible from the main road, so once you take the left into that small path, on the left side you can see the American Embassy.
As soon as you reach there, you would be requested to be seated in line outside the gates. There is a small shelter with 3 rows of chairs. Once your appointment time reaches, you would be requested to go through the main gate in order. Outside the gate they will just check the appointment letter. So keep it handy.
Once inside the main gate you would go through security screening in a small guard room. You should leave all your belongings same as in an airport and then step to get scanned. Through the conveyer belt your items including files will be scanned and only the documents, file/holder, watches, wallets will be returned. Mobile phones and large bags are kept in the guards room and you would be provided with a token to claim them back while leaving.
Once the security check is done, you have to come out of the room and walk a few meters to reach a small entrance. There your identity and passport will be checked and you would be asked to take a token number from the machine (same as that in the banks).
You would then be directed into a small room with rows of chairs facing the cubicles are present.
This is where you interview would take place.
There are screens visible from every corner of the room which displays the token number called. Overall there are 7 or 8 cubicles. So on the screen, the token number along with cubicle number would be displayed. So whenever your no. is displayed, go to the respective cubicle.
After you are seated, the first time they call you for checking the documents. DS160 confirmation page, passport photo, visa fee receipt, current passport and appointment letter are the only documents requested at this stage. They take the documents, ask you the visa type you are applying for and ask the visa status in Singapore ( EP/DP/PR/Citizen/S Pass and so on..)
You would again be sent back to sit and wait.
After maybe 15 min they call you again. This time for ten-printing. First of all the finger printing machines are dirty and they are not wiped after every individual, so its difficult to get accurate prints so they repeatedly ask you to press harder.(I wish they provide any paper tissues or sanitizer). Ok, so they ask you first to give prints of the left hand 4 fingers and then the right hands and finally both the thumbs. After it is done they give you the documents they took from you in the first cubicle in a file and an instructions page (as to what next after visa is issued or not).
Keep the file which they gave separately and do not add any other documents nor remove any. Read the instructions page they provided and keep it safe inside wallet or anywhere but do not mix in the documents.
You are again waiting for another 15 min or even longer and finally the interview calls begin. Again your token number would be displayed.(do not fret, they do not necessarily call in order, they pick random numbers). Once you would be called, first and foremost GREET HIM/HER.
Hand over the file which they gave you which contains your passport and other documents.
Answer accordingly and to the point. Hand over additional documents only if requested. Do not be hyperactive or do not underplay. Do not exaggerate your answers, neither be taciturn. Be cool and answer truthfully.
Usually the interview lasts from 5-15mins according to your luck. Finally either he'll say, 'Congratulations, your visa has been approved' or 'Sorry, we are unable to issue a visa this time due to so and so reasons'. If visa is approved, he will keep the passport and you would get it after 2-3 days(read the instructions page they provided). If visa is not approved, they would give a sheet of paper with the reasons as to why you were denied.
Either ways, be happy. Its just a Visa just for a country and not your life, thank him for his time and get out.
On the way out, do not forget to take your belongings at the guard house.
Check these too: DS-160 Checklist & DS-160 Step by Step Instructions
