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OFC Appointment Guide for US Visa: Scheduling and Preparing for Your Visa Interview
Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on May 19, 2025 12:21 PM IST
One of the important aspects of the USA visa application process is the OFC appointment. The full form of the OFC is Offsite Facilitation Centre. The visa application process is time-consuming and tedious, as plenty of documents are required to apply for a student visa. If you are aiming to study in USA, then understanding the visa process is crucial. At OFC, candidate needs to submit biometrics (fingerprints) and photos for their visa application. Candidates are required to book an OFC appointment and should appear at a given centre to provide biometrics and photos for the US student visa. Once you submit the same, your DS-160 form will get a confirmation stamp. Read the article for more information about OFC appointment, purpose, procedure, and more.
This Story also Contains
- OFC Appointment Full Form
- What is an OFC Appointment for a US Visa?
- Who Requires an OFC Appointment for a US Visa?
- Documents Required for US Visa OFC Appointment
- How to Book an OFC Appointment for a US Visa?
- What is the OFC Appointment Fee for 2025?
- OFC Centres in India
- OFC Fingerprint and Photo Process
- Rescheduling OFC Appointment
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OFC Appointment Full Form
The OFC full form in the visa process is Offsite Facilitation Centre. There are centres for OFC appointments set up by the US immigration department to increase the efficiency of processing US student visa applications. You will need to submit your biometrics and photographs at the OFC before your appointment at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) for your US student visa interview.
What is an OFC Appointment for a US Visa?
One of the crucial steps in the entire process of OFC is booking an OFC appointment. OFC appointment is your booking to visit the OFC centre. At an OFC appointment for US visa candidates are required to provide fingerprints and photographs before attending the visa interview. This will further help in tracking the US visa status. Make sure to have a set of documents ready to showcase at the OFC appointment. Schedule your OFC appointment before your visa interview appointment date.
Who Requires an OFC Appointment for a US Visa?
Students who are aiming to study in USA, need to schedule an OFC appointment. The OFC is a centre where you are required to provide your biometrics, like fingerprints and photos, and confirm the details of your application before your visa interview. This is the crucial first step before the visa interview. This step is designed to make the visa process smoother and speed things up overall.
Documents Required for US Visa OFC Appointment
The candidates need to submit the following documents for OFC appointment which are listed below.
- Passport: Apart from your current passport, you should also have your old passports with you.
- OFC Appointment Confirmation: You should carry a copy of the appointment confirmation letter when you enter the OFC centre.
- DS-160 Confirmation Copy: You should have a copy of the DS-160 confirmation page to enter the OFC centre.
How to Book an OFC Appointment for a US Visa?
In order to submit your application to the OFC, you will need to book an appointment beforehand. Candidates can do this online by following the steps mentioned below.
Step 1 - Visit the website - www.ustraveldocs.com.
Step 2 - Check the OFC appointment availability.
Step 3 - Select and fix your date.
You must go to the OFC on the day of the appointment and in case you are not able to make it on that day, you can cancel or reschedule your visa OFC appointments. The fees for the OFC appointment are included in the total fees for the US visa application process.
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What is the OFC Appointment Fee for 2025?
The US visa fee of USD 185 includes the OFC fee 2025. There is no fee required to pay for the OFC appointment. All the necessary OFC visa fees or charges are included in the total US student visa fee. The same is applicable for rescheduling of OFC and consular appointments.
OFC Centres in India
For the candidates in India, the OFC centres are located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chennai. You can book your appointment at a centre that is convenient for you.
| OFC Appointment Centres in India | Address |
| Mumbai | Trade Center, Gr. Floor, G Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra East Mumbai 400051 |
| New Delhi | S – 1 American Plaza, (Hotel Eros Managed by Hilton), International Trade Tower Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019 |
| Chennai | Good Shepherd, No 82, Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600034 |
| Kolkata | Jasmine Tower, 31, Shakespeare Sarani (1st Floor) Kolkata 700017 |
| Hyderabad | 1-8-384/385, Gowra Grand, S.P. Road Begumpet, Secunderabad 500003 |
What happens at the OFC appointment for a US Visa?
On the day of your OFC visa appointment, you will have to take your passport and complete your biometrics which includes providing your fingerprints and getting your photo taken. There are certain US visa OFC appointment documents that you need for your appointment, which are discussed below. A common misconception is that the US student visa interview will be conducted at the OFC centre. This is not true as no US embassy officials are available at the OFC centre. The final interview is always conducted at the VAC or the embassy.
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What Happens After an OFC Appointment?
Once you have finished with your appointment at the OFC, you will have to visit the US consulate office for your student visa interview on the day you have been given a consular appointment. After this, you will have to visit the OFC centre once again to collect your passport in case your visa is confirmed.
OFC Fingerprint and Photo Process
Many people are unaware of the OFC centre's procedures. Notably, no visa interviews are conducted in the OFC centre. You are required to show your documents, which include your passport, OFC appointment copy, and DS-160 confirmation.
Step 1: Once you arrive for the OFC appointment, wait for your turn.
Step 2: At your turn, your fingers will be scanned on the biometric machine.
Step 3: Your photo will be taken at the OFC centre. This is why you do not need to bring visa photos.
Step 4: After this, go to the US consulate for the planned visa interview on the given date.
Step 5: If your visa application has been approved, return to the OFC centre to pick up your passport. For those who choose Premium delivery, the passport will be delivered to your place. If the visa is denied, no further visits to the OFC centre are required.
Things to Remember Before Your OFC Appointment for the US Visa
Before their OFC appointment, candidates must consider the following points:
You will need to book separate appointments for the OFC (biometrics) and the visa interview, which will most likely take place at the US embassy or consulate. These can typically be arranged on the same day.
Gather the following documents: your passport, DS-160 confirmation page, appointment confirmation, visa fee payment receipt, and a current passport-sized photograph that meets US visa standards.
To avoid last-minute delays, plan to arrive at the OFC centre at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.
Rescheduling OFC Appointment
Any candidate who wants to reschedule their OFC visa appointment can do so at least three days before the appointment. This can be done by simply logging into your existing account and choosing the “Reschedule Immigrant Visa Appointment” option. Then, choose an alternate date for rescheduling the visa OFC appointment. If you miss the 3-day timeline for rescheduling of OFC visa appointment, then the candidate has to wait till the completion of the current OFC appointment date to reschedule a new one.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will there be any interview for OFC appointment US visa?
No, this appointment is just for biometric data collection and there is no interview held at OFC appointment.
2. Is OFC appointment and the visa interview same or different?
Both are different, after the completion of the OFC appointment, the candidate will need to attend the visa interview.
3. What if I miss my OFC appointment?
The candidate has the option to either cancel or reschedule the OFC appointment for a US visa. In the case of not utilizing these options and choosing not to attend the interview, then the candidates' visa account gets blocked for 120 days.
4. What is the validity of visa fee?
The visa fee is valid for 1 year. The candidate can make sure to complete all the processes and stages within the time period.
5. What is OFC appointment US visa?
An Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) appointment is a step in the US visa application process designed to streamline things. Candidates are required to undergo 2 main procedures, which are:
Biometrics and Photo Collection
Document Verification
The whole process is quite quick, which takes around 15-30 minutes. After your OFC appointment, you will attend a separate visa interview with a U.S. consular officer. Once everything is complete, you are required to return to the OFC to pick up your passport if your visa is approved.
6. What should I wear to my visa OFC appointment?
Since the OFC appointment is conducted in a professional setting. Candidates must choose a business attire or business casual clothing. Men can opt for shirts in neutral colors like white, blue or gray are ideal. Women can choose blouses, button-down shirts or a nice sweater. They must keep it simple and professional.
7. Do I need to carry a photo for a US visa OFC?
Contrary to the general opinion, the OFC centre does not conduct visa interviews. You will be prompted to submit the required documents (passport, confirmation copy, and others). When you're called, you will go through the OFC fingerprinting and visa photo process, followed by a comprehensive examination and scanning procedurescanning procedure. Before your appointment, you can seek assistance from someone at the facility who is fluent in your original language.
Articles
Jun 26, 2025
Jun 26, 2025
Questions related to
Have a question related to ?
Hi there
Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.
Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..
Below i have mentioned some courses that you can try before visiting us:
- Social media marketing
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So these are some courses you can try.
Hope this answer will help you. Revert incase of any query.
Thank you and good luck:)
Anushri Varshney 12 June,2022
Hello Samarasimha,
YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.
Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :
- 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
- 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
- GRE score of 330 or above.
- Statement of Purpose.
- Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
- Project work/Seminars.
- 2-3 Letter of Recommendation.
- Social & Leadership Activities.
Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :
- Enroll in a software development program. The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. ...
- Gain internship experience. ...
- Choose your specialty. ...
- Pursue industry certifications. ...
- Continue your education.
I hope that this will help.
Piyush kesarwani 13 May,2022
Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..
To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as
- TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
- There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.
Top university of The USA for master degree courses
- John Carroll University
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Michigan State University
- West Virginia University
- Rhode Island College
- University of Arkansas
- Vanderbilt University
- DePaul University
- Delaware State University
- Texas A&M University-Commerce
- University of South Florida
- California State University Northridge
You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below
https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp
Hope it's helpful for you..
Thank you
AVINASH KUMAR 23 February,2022
There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .
Tabitha 08 January,2022
Hello Student
You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.
Hope this will help.
Sohamsengupta8 13 February,2022
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