Follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.

If you do not complete each step before your visa interview, the consular section may require you to reschedule.

All applicants must follow the instructions below before going to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Step 1: Register your address online

Before your visa interview appointment, register online. Registering lets us return your passport and documents to you after your visa interview.  These will be sent to an SLS office of your choice at no additional charge. Click the “Register” button below and print two copies of the confirmation page once you are done

You must bring two copies of the confirmation page to your visa interview. If you fail to bring the confirmation page(s) of all travelling applicants to the interview, or do not include information related to all applicant passports, your interview will be rescheduled.

Register >>

Step 2: Get a medical exam in Egypt

As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam in Egypt. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” link below for a list of designated doctors’ offices in Egypt. Schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 3: Complete your pre-interview checklist

It is important that you bring all required original documents to your interview. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Print the checklist below and bring it to your interview along with the listed documents.

You must bring the exact same document that you submitted to NVC to the Interview Failure to do so will require your interview to be rescheduled, which will result in significant delays in the processing of your case.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 4: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.

Interview Guidelines >>

Medical Exam Instructions

You must undergo the medical exam at least ten days before your scheduled appointment at the embassy. Failure to do so may result in processing delays. We recommend you schedule your medical exams at least 3 weeks before your visa interview.

Bring the exam results to your visa interview. Do NOT open your results.

The medical examination should be done by one of the physicians listed below. Physicians will refer you to a syphilis testing laboratory.

Visa validity and your medical exam

The validity of your visa will be limited to the length of validity of your medical report.

Applicants who do not travel within the clearance period will need to restart the whole process. Any applicant diagnosed with pulmonary or laryngeal tuberculosis (TB) needing treatment is not cleared to travel until they’re successfully treated, regardless of the criteria below.

• Class B2 or B3 TB: Travel clearances are valid for 6 months from the time the evaluation is complete.
• Class B1 pulmonary/extrapulmonary TB: Travel clearances are valid for 3 months from the time the evaluation is complete.

All applicants aged 18 to 44 years must also be tested for evidence of syphilis. Contact the panel physician for further information.

Blood tests and X-rays

Blood tests and X-rays are generally not required of people under the age of 15, but they are required for everyone else.

• Applicants aged less than 18 years or greater than 24 years must be tested if there is a reason to suspect infection with gonorrhea.
• Effective October 1, 2016, All applicants aged 18 to 24 years must be tested for evidence of gonorrhea.

Medical exam and vaccination fee

Vaccination Fees: Varies according to age and vaccines required

All fees are the responsibility of the applicant

Contact one of the following physicians for an appointment:

Dr. Peter Elia
Dr. Eman Nakhla

Address:
Anglo-American Hospital
El Borg St., Gezera, Cairo

Telephone numbers:
27356608
01287929929
01224463734

Working hours:
Saturday through Thursday
09:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Dr. Hesham El Boraolossy
Dr. Eman Roshdy

Address:
Al Sherouk Hospital
5, Bahr El Gazal Street
Ahmed Orabi, Cairo

Telephone numbers:
33044901
33044892
01001775572

Working hours:
Saturday through Thursday
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Dr. Peter Elia Alexandria Clinic

Address:
22 Amin Fekry Street,
ElRaml Station
Fourth floor, Apt #14
Alexandria, Egypt

Telephone numbers:
01226948638
01286000909

Working hours
Saturday through Thursday
09:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Items to bring to your medical examination

Every person scheduled for a medical appointment must bring the following items to their exam:

• Visa interview letter
• Medical appointment confirmation
• Valid passport or travel document
• Three (3) recently taken passport-sized color photographs,
• A copy of your immunization records
• Medical records, including prescription information, for any medical conditions you currently have.
• DS-260 confirmation page

You must pay all medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, directly to the examining physician. Current fees are posted on our website.

During the medical exam

The medical exam will include:

• A medical history review,
• A physical exam,
• A Chest X-ray,
• Blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older),
• Gonorrhea testing (for applicants 18–24 years of age, or as needed)
• Tuberculosis testing (for applicants two years of age and older).

Your physician may request other tests as needed. Be prepared to discuss your medical history, the medications you are taking, and the current treatments you are receiving. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website.

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to get certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant visa vaccination requirements are available on CDC.Gov. There you can find information on what vaccines you need based on your age. You can also read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about our medical exam requirements at Travel.State.Gov.

After the medical exam

When your examination is completed, the doctor will either provide you with exam results in a sealed envelope or send them directly to the U.S. Embassy.

IF GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO CARRY TO YOUR INTERVIEW, DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE. Instead, bring it to your visa interview.

Any x-rays taken will be given to you. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB). However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time. The medical report must be less than six months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

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Pre-Interview Checklist

Use the list below to determine the items that every applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview.

Any documents that are not in either English or Arabic must be accompanied by a certified English translation.  If your case is electronic, upload into CEAC the exact document you intend to bring to your appointment.

A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).

Unexpired passport valid for six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located). This should also be uploded into the CEAC for those with elecronic cases.

Two (2) color photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm). Please review our online photo requirements.

Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv.

Register your address online (see Step 1) confirming passport information.

Your original birth certificate, English translation, and a photocopy. Egyptian applicants must provide an original bilingual Arabic/English birth certificate, and a photocopy. These should also be uploaded into the CEAC for those with electronic cases.

Medical examination results in a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results). If your medical is electronic, you will receive a summary sheet to bring to the interview instead of a sealed envelope. 

Printed confirmation of your online registration of a delivery address for returning your passport and documents (see Step 1) after the interview. Every immigrant visa applicant must register at US Travel docs before their interview.

Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying). These should all be uploaded into each applicant's CEAC for those with electronic cases.

Applicants who fall into any category listed in italics below should bring these additional documents:

For family-based visa applications:

• The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return with any relevant W-2s. If you are using a joint sponsor, who filed a joint tax return with his or her spouse, the spouse must also complete Form I-864A. If you have obtained updated tax documents, please ensure they are uploaded into the CEAC prior to your appointment if you have an electronic case.
  
• Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card).
  
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (such as photographs, letters, or emails).

If you are married: Your original marriage certificate, English translation, and a photocopy. Egyptian applicants must provide an original bilingual Arabic/English marriage certificate, and a photocopy. This must also be uploaded into the CEAC prior to your appointment if you have an electronic case.

If you were previously married: Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, English translation, and a photocopy. These must be uploaded into the CEAC prior to your appointment if you have an electronic case.

If you are older than 16 years of age: The original police certificate from your country of current residence and countries of previous residence. Please upload a scanned copy of the police certificate you intend to bring to the appointment if you have an electronic case. If these three items are all true, you must bring a more recent police certificate to the interview:

1. You are older than 16 years;
2. You obtained a police certificate and submitted it to NVC more than two years ago; and 
3. You still live in the country that issued the police certificate.

For employment-based visa applications: Letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.

If you have ever been convicted of a crime: Court and criminal records, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you have served in any country’s military: Military records, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you are adopted: Adoption papers or custody documents, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you are the petitioner’s stepchild: The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, English translation, and a photocopy, as well as divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.

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Interview Guidelines

Sending documents to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo

If the U.S. Embassy requests additional information or documentation from you, please visit our online Visa Customer Service and ask for information on courier services.

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

If you are unable to attend your appointment, contact our online Visa Customer Service. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so attempt to attend the date already assigned.

There’s no guarantee that a visa will still be available if you reschedule your appointment. Check the Visa Bulletin carefully before you reschedule your interview. If you’re applying for a Diversity Visa (DV), remember that visas are limited in number and must be issued by September 30 of the program year.

Note: You must register your interview appointment online before you can reschedule it. Rescheduling is only possible on a date after your assigned appointment. Register online here.

Security screening procedures

All visitors to the U.S. Embassy must follow certain security procedures. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Embassy security personnel will be unable to enter the embassy. To avoid delaying your entry and that of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview. Cell phones, electronics, large bags, and oversize items are not allowed into the embassy. Due to space limitations, do not arrive before your scheduled appointment.

Accompanying people

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview. The following people may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English or Arabic well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Immigrant visa fees

If you have not paid all required fees to either the National Visa Center or via the appointment website, please be prepared to pay these fees on the day of your interview. All fees may be paid in either U.S. dollars or the Egyptian dollar equivalent. We accept cash and credit cards only. Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded. A complete list of fees can be found Travel.State.Gov.

Do not make travel plans outside of Egypt

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport to you only via a free courier service to an Aramex office of your choice (see Step 1). If you have to travel within Egypt while your passport is still with us, please make sure you have a valid picture ID other than your passport.

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After Your Visa Interview

A consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa.

If more information is needed

Sometimes a consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents or the case requires further administrative processing. When additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the embassy.

Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after your interview.

What happens after visa approval

Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We will also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities. However, if your visa has an annotation that reads, “Docs in CCD” you case is electronic, and you will not receive an envelope.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are: children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a K visa.

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six months from the date of printing. Your visa generally cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. Do not travel outside of the United States until you receive your Permanent Resident Card. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custodial papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication "Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.

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Diversity Visa Applicants - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your visa interview; enroll in the required courier service; and gather the required documents.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants.

Bring to your interview

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:

• Appointment information printed from the “Entrant Status Check” on the E-DV website.
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR have two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available online).
• Payment in cash or a credit card for the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee.

Review your DV Lottery entry

Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status. If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).

Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country.

Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application. You can review the eligibility requirements online.

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