To request an expedited/emergency appointment, an applicant must first pay their MRV fee and schedule an appointment. Only after an appointment is scheduled can they request that the Consular Section grant an earlier appointment date based on emergency circumstances.

Please note that you do NOT qualify for an expedited appointment if:

• The U.S. Visa was recently denied or cancelled.
• You missed your visa interview.

Step 1: Schedule an Appointment

The applicant must have already scheduled a regular appointment at a U.S. Consular Section in Quito or Guayaquil. This must be done even if the appointment scheduled does not fit the need of the applicant.

Step 2: Request an Expedited Appointment

The applicant must send an e-mail requesting an emergency appointment to the appropriate Consular Section

Quito: ConsularQuito@state.gov or
Guayaquil: NIVGuayaquil@state.gov

The request must contain:

• Full name of the applicant requesting the emergency appointment
• Date of the previously scheduled appointment
• A description of the emergency travel

Emergency Appointments will only be granted at the Consular Section’s discretion. The following is a list of typical circumstances that may merit favorable consideration. Please note that the list is not all-encompassing.

1. An immediate relative's death, grave illness or life threatening accident taking place in the United States, with the name, relationship, place and description of the matter, and attending physician or funeral home's contact information.
2. An unexpected need to travel to the United States for urgent business purposes.
3. An applicant for a student or exchange visitor (F/M/J) visa whose I-20 or DS-2019 shows a start date that is earlier than the first available visa appointment.
4. A recently stolen visa and imminent travel (must provide documentation regarding the theft).
5. An unexpected visit that is of significant cultural, political, journalistic or economic importance.
6. Applicants applying for a C1/D Crew member visa and their travel is earlier than the first available visa appointment.
7. Temporary Worker visa whose job starts earlier than the first available visa appointment.

In all cases, the applicant will be expected to bring to the interview documentation which substantiates the emergency in addition to those forms and supporting documents normally required.

Step 3: Consular Determination to Expedite

The Consular Section will strive to respond to the request as expeditiously as possible, generally within three business days by scheduling a new appointment. If the applicant's request for an expedited appointment is accepted, the applicant will receive a new confirmation e-mail with a new date and time to appear at the Consular Section. If the request is not approved, the applicant should attend the original appointment.

Please be advised that the granting of an expedited appointment in no way guarantees visa issuance. U.S. law places the burden of qualifying for any visa solely on the applicant.