10 Easy Steps to Raise Group Scheduling Requests

Thrilled to land in the USA with your friends and pursue your academic visions together in the universities of your dreams? That picture is certainly a sight for our sore eyes. Towards this end, let us review an important feature of applying for US visa - Group Scheduling. The benefits of this feature are amazing and saves you loads of time, allowing your group to travel together. Are you ready to get a sneak peek into this?

 

 

What is Group Scheduling?

 

True to its name, this feature allows you to request a group visa appointment for a group of ten or more applicants (maximum 50). This makes the entire process of visa application much simpler and convenient. Instead of scheduling the appointment individually, you can just book the slots for your entire group in one go! Isn't that amazing?

P.S. Examples of groups include but are not limited to performing arts, school trips, professional trainees and tour groups. However, families and relatives travelling together DO NOT qualify as a group and must book individual appointments.

If you are thinking - okay, but I know WHAT group scheduling is. I am here to learn about HOW to apply for it. Hold on and keep reading!

 

 

How to raise the Group Scheduling request?

 

Raising a group scheduling request is not as difficult as it sounds. Following this step-by-step guide will allow you to understand the entire process comprehensively and successfully book a slot for yourself devoid of any hassle. Without further ado, let us begin!

 

 

Step 1.

 

The very first step is filling out the Online Non-Immigrant Visa Application (DS-160) form. Let us assume you are the group coordinator in charge of scheduling a slot for the entire team. Ensure that each member fills their own DS-160 form and prints the confirmation page. Keep the confirmation number with you corresponding to each teammate.

 

 

Also, keep the passport of each applicant handy for filling out relevant information later.

 

Not sure how to fill this complicated form? Watch this step-by-step video with special instructions, tip and tricks for assured success!

 

 

Step 2.

 

 

Now make an account on the US Travel Docs website. It is mandatory for the group coordinator. The other members may skip this part, however, it is highly recommended to make the process easier for the coordinator.

Since this process requires payment, make sure you note down the email id and password given so you don't have to repeat the process all over again.

 

 

Step 3.

 

 

The next step is paying the visa (MRV) fees according to your visa type. If you are on this blog, chances are you are applying for the student visa of type F or M. Log in to your account and scroll down to find the 'fee payment' option as shown. In case you are making bulk payments, you will receive only one receipt number per transaction. After paying the fees, collect every group member's receipt number as the group coordinator. 

 

 

Step 4.

 

 

With the passport, DS-160 confirmation number, and the receipt number corresponding to the visa application fee of each group member, you are now ready for the next step. After logging in to your account, navigate to the 'Schedule Group Appointment' option. Click on that.

 

 

Step 5.

 

 

You will find a Group Scheduling Request form. In this application, you will be required to fill in details like the date of travel and the preferred interview date. Do propose a date on which every member of the group is available for an interview. After filling in the relevant details, submit the form and wait for the confirmation email. If the request is denied by the US Embassy, you will have no other choice but to book individual appointments. However, if the request is approved, you are ready for the next step!

Please note that a representative from the Embassy will call you to finalize the group scheduling request. Do provide accurate contact details when filling in the form.

 

 

Step 6.

 

 

If the request is approved, you, as the group coordinator, will receive an email invitation to return to the website and book the slots for the group. This is when you log in again. Note that the approval remains valid only for seven days (or as mentioned in the approval mail), so hurry up! From the left-hand menu, click on the 'Schedule Group Appointment' option. Now select the relevant 'Approved Group Appointment Requests' and proceed to Continue.

 

 

Step 7.

 

A screen will appear, giving you two options - 'Add by name' and 'Add by UID'. Here, as the coordinator, you add each member of the group as a dependent. You can either add each one by their name, which means keeping their passports handy and filling in each detail. However, if each applicant already has an account on the website, you can conveniently add each one by just entering the UID, and the details will fill up automatically. After adding each applicant click the save button, and once you are at the end of the list, click continue.

 

 

If you are adding by name, make sure you enter the details exactly as they appear on their passport. Pay special attention while entering the phone numbers and emails in case the applicant needs to be contacted.

 

 

Step 8.

 

 

After listing all the applicants and clicking continue, you will be required to select a location to collect the passports. Every group member must use the same location. Hit continue.

 

 

Step 9.

 

 

Enter the visa fee receipt number for each applicant to confirm the payment. And now the final step!

 

 

Step 10.

 

 

Choose an agreed interview date and time. Congratulations! Your group appointments have now been scheduled! Print the confirmation page as proof and take it along for the interview. That's it! It was easy, wasn't it?!

 

 

 

 

Summing Up!

 

With this easy 10 step guide, we are sure you will successfully book your appointments. Now what is left is just the interview, and then you are off! All the best for your new journey ahead. Just a final but very important piece of information, for the interview, do carry along the appointment letters, current passports, all the older passports, 2x2 inch color passport photo taken on a white background with no glasses on taken within last six months and the DS-160 confirmation page. You and your group are all set now! Hope this article was helpful. Good luck with the interview and your prosperous life ahead :)