Important Notice for Visa Applicants
The consular section of the U.S. Embassy Banjul continues to address large COVID and staffing-induced backlogs and high demand for all visa classes, especially B1/B2 visas.
Unfortunately, applicants will continue to experience long waits and limited appointment availability for most visa categories for the foreseeable future.
Please try to arrange your visa interview as early as possible and do not make definite travel plans until you have received a visa.
Visa Fee Increase
The application fee for visitor and certain other non-immigrant visa categories will increase from $160 to $185, effective June 17, 2023. Similarly, the application fee for certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from $190 to $205. Applicants who paid for their visa application before June 17, 2023, will not be charged any additional fees. Beginning on June 22, 2023, Gambian applicants whose visas are approved will have to pay a $15 reciprocity fee in addition to the visa application fee. The Gambian government charges U.S. citizens applying for a tourist visa $200, and it is U.S. government policy to match the fee U.S. citizens are charged. Please be sure to bring $15 in U.S. dollars or the equivalent in Gambian dalasi to the interview.
More information on Nonimmigrant Visa Fee Increases.
Expedited Appointments: Applicants can request an expedited appointment through our online appointment system. You must already have a confirmed interview appointment date in order to request an expedited appointment. If your expedited appointment request is approved, you will be notified with instructions via email.
Expedited appointment are only approved for visa applicants going to the U.S. for urgent medical treatment, for the funeral of a close relative, or for urgent business travel. Please note that due to the high volume of requests, we cannot accommodate all business travelers prior to their planned travel dates, even if the purpose of travel is time sensitive. Requests for emergency appointments to attend weddings and graduations will not be approved.
