USTravelDocs: The New US Visa Appointment System

USTravelDocs is the platform that now handles US visa appointment scheduling worldwide, having replaced the older AIS system in a rollout that began in May 2025 and reached full capacity by June 2025. If you scheduled a US visa interview before that transition, the process will look broadly familiar — but several of the rules underneath it changed in ways that catch applicants off guard if they aren’t expecting them.

Key Facts

• New system: USTravelDocs (the official US visa appointment portal)
• Replaced: AIS (ais.usvisa-info.com)
• Rollout: Announced May 19, 2025; fully active from June 2025
• The 4 changes that matter most:
  1. Reschedule limit cut from 22 attempts to a maximum of 4
  2. DS-160 matching — your confirmation number must exactly match your appointment record, and last-minute edits are gone (the form must be submitted at least 2 business days before your interview)
  3. No more mail-in applications for children under 14 — an in-person interview is now required at every age
  4. Online MRV fee payment restricted to Mastercard only

How Does Scheduling Work on the New System?

Booking an appointment through USTravelDocs isn’t dramatically different from the old process — you still complete your personal and passport details, select your visa category, and choose an interview date from the available calendar. Where the two systems really diverge is in what happens after you’ve booked, and how much flexibility you have if your plans change.

What Changed From the Old System?

Rescheduling and Location Changes Are Now Limited

Under the old AIS system, applicants had 22 chances to reschedule an appointment. USTravelDocs cuts that down to 4. Once you’ve used all 4, you lose the ability to reschedule — and if you then can’t make your booked appointment, you’ll need to pay the $185 MRV fee again to start over.

Changing your appointment city after booking has also gotten stricter. Previously you could switch between Ankara and Istanbul without much friction; now you must cancel your existing appointment entirely before booking in a different location.

Updating Your Information Is More Restricted

Under the old system, your passport number and DS-160 confirmation number could each be updated once after booking. USTravelDocs removed that option — if either number needs to change, your only path is to reset the application and submit a new DS-160 with a new appointment.

This also affects timing: your DS-160 must now be submitted (not just started) at least 2 business days before your interview, whereas the old system allowed last-day updates.

Your DS-160 Number Must Match Your Appointment Exactly

One of the more consequential changes for Turkey specifically: the DS-160 number tied to your appointment record must be identical to the one on your confirmation page. Under the old AIS system, the confirmation page brought to the consulate was what actually mattered; under USTravelDocs, it’s the number entered while booking. Even a single-character mismatch can mean being turned away at the door.

Other Changes Worth Knowing

• The $185 MRV fee can only be paid online with a Mastercard-branded credit card.
• The mail-in, no-interview option previously available for children under 14 traveling with a visa-holding parent has been removed entirely — every applicant, regardless of age, must attend the interview in person with a parent.

Common Technical Issues on USTravelDocs

The global rollout of a single unified scheduling system introduced its share of technical friction. The most frequently reported issue is buttons that simply don’t respond, stalling the booking process. Other common complaints include the appointment calendar failing to load, difficulty adding family members to a joint application, and blank pages. Some of these resolve with professional guidance; others require restarting the application from scratch.

How to Reschedule a US Visa Appointment

To change the date or time of an existing USTravelDocs appointment:

1. Log in to the official USTravelDocs portal using the email and password from your application.
2. Open your active application from your account dashboard.
3. Select “Reschedule Appointment” from the menu.
4. Choose a new date and time from the available slots and confirm.

What to Watch For When Rescheduling

• The 4-reschedule limit — once used up, you can no longer move your appointment, and missing it means paying the $185 MRV fee again.
• City-change restrictions — you can no longer switch between Ankara and Istanbul without cancelling your appointment outright.
• DS-160 lock-in — since your confirmation number is now tied to your appointment, changing your DS-160 typically means resetting your appointment as well.

Support With Your US Visa Appointment

The transition to USTravelDocs has made an already detail-sensitive process even less forgiving of small mistakes. If you’d rather not navigate the new reschedule limits and matching requirements alone, our team can manage your visa application end to end. Request a free pre-assessment to get started.