Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.
You need to register your address online. This provides us with the information we need to return your passport and documents after your 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 on the day of your visa interview. If you fail to bring the confirmation page(s) on the day of the interview or do not include information related to all of the people and passports, your interview will be rescheduled.
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. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview.
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. Please 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.
Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.
The Immigration and Nationality Act requires that all immigrant visa applicants and certain nonimmigrant visa applicants undergo a medical examination prior to receiving a visa. The medical examination should be done by one of the authorized physicians listed below. Physicians will refer you to a syphilis testing laboratory. Applicants are advised to schedule their medical examinations 3 weeks prior to the date of the visa interview. Please bring the results to your visa interview. Please do NOT open your results!
IMPORTANT NOTE
The validity of your visa will be limited to the length of validity of your medical report. Travel clearances are valid for 6 months from the time the evaluation is complete for applicants who have no Tuberculosis Classification or Class B2 TB or Class B3 TB. Travel clearances are valid for 3 months from the time the evaluation is complete for applicants who are Class B1 TB, Pulmonary or Class B1 TB, Extrapulmonary. All applicants aged 18 to 44 years must be tested for evidence of syphilis.
Applicants who do not travel within the clearance period will need to restart the whole process. Any applicant diagnosed with pulmonary or laryngeal tuberculosis who needs treatment is not cleared to travel until completion of successful treatment, regardless of the diagnostic criteria. Please contact the panel physician for further information.
Requirements:
You must have your CEAC confirmation page in addition to your appointment confirmation and your valid travel document (passport/s) along with three passport-size photographs of each person to be medically examined, in order to complete the medical exam.
If you suffer from a chronic illness, have been treated for any disease, or are under psychiatric care, you should present your medical file during examination.
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS:
United States immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations (listed below) prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. Instructions and procedural guides direct panel physicians who conduct immigrant visa medical examinations to verify that applicants have met the vaccination requirement, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations:
Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Polio, Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids, Pertussis, Influenza Type B (HIB), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Pneumococcal, Influenza, Rotavirus.
To assist the panel physician, and to avoid delays in the processing of an immigrant visa, all immigrant visa applicants should have their vaccination records available for the panel physician’s review at the time of the immigrant medical examination. If you do not have a vaccination record, the panel physician will work with you to determine which vaccinations you may need to meet the requirement. Certain waivers of the vaccination requirement are available upon the recommendation of the panel physician. Only a physician can determine which of the listed vaccinations are medically appropriate for you, given your age, medical history and current medical condition.
Blood test and X-ray:
The blood test and X-ray are generally not required of persons under the age of 15, but they are required, under existing United States law, of all other persons. You must undergo the medical examination at least ten days prior to your scheduled appointment at the Consulate. Failure to do so may result in processing delays.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND VACCINATION FEE
Physical Examination: L.E. 1100
Serologic test for syphilis: L.E. 400
Chest X-ray: L.E. 700
Gonorrhea test L.E. 4500
Vaccination Fees: Varies according to age and vaccines required
All fees are the responsibility of the applicant
Please 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
Bring the following items to your medical exam:
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 examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, and chest X-ray, gonorrhea test, and blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older). The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants two years of age and older. Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available from the Centers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant visa vaccination requirements are available on CDC's website. You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements on 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.
Please 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, please also upload into the CEAC the exactly 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:
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:
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.
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, please contact our online Visa Customer Service. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please attempt to attend the date already assigned. For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, a visa became available within the month you have been scheduled by NVC. DV applicants should be aware that visas are numerically limited and must be issued by September 30 of the program year. There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview. Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you decide to reschedule your interview.
Please note: You need to register your original NVC/KCC appointment online before you can reschedule it. Rescheduling is only possible on a date after your assigned appointment.
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 persons
Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview. The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:
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.
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.
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:
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.
Last Updated: 1/11/2024
Consular Section, IV Unit
5Tawfik Diab Street
Garden City, Cairo
Egypt
