If you are planning to visit family or friends in the United States, and you don’t qualify for the visa waiver program, you should start the visa process well in advance of your trip. The twin necessities of visa and visitor insurance shouldn’t be left to the last minute. While you are looking into the visa application process it’s also wise to shop around for visitor insurance.

You should find out about the typical wait time for an interview appointment at the US Embassy you are applying to. Sometimes the wait for an interview can be a long one. If you are traveling for an emergency, you can request a fast-track interview.

You then need to wait for your visa to be processed following the interview, and after the officials have made the decision to issue the visa. You will be told of the estimated times for visa procession by the Embassy.

Keep in mind that certain visa applications require different procedures. You should check well in advance what these procedures are, to make sure you don’t run out of time.