An Immediate Need to Travel to the United States when an immediate relative is gravely ill or deceased

Persons who need to immediately travel to the United States in connection with the grave illness or death of an immediate relative residing in the United States may apply for a visa without calling to make an appointment. They can come without appointment to the Embassy in Warsaw Monday through Friday 8:00am - 16.30 pm or, as appropriate, to the U.S. Consulate in Krakow Monday through Friday 8:30am – 15:00 pm except Polish and American holidays. Applicants will need to present all required documents. 

Applicants should have plans to depart for the United States within a short time frame following the visa interview and should be prepared to return to the Embassy the next business day or to send an authorized representative to personally pick up their passports and visas.  Applicants traveling more than five business days after their interview should make regular appointments, and are not eligible for an emergency appointment.

In addition, a statement from a U.S. doctor or hospital on official or hospital letterhead regarding the life-threatening nature of the medical condition of the close relative, or the death certificate and letter from a funeral home must be faxed or e-mailed directly to the Nonimmigrant Visa Section where the applicant is applying.  Before coming for a visa interview, applicants should confirm receipt of the fax or e-mail by telephone. The fax or email should be sent to the section no earlier than 3 business days in advance of the visa interview.

Please send your documents only to the location where you are applying:

U.S. Embassy in Warsaw
Fax: 011-48-22-504-2532
Email: NIVdocsWRW@state.gov
Telephone (to confirm receipt): 011-48-22-504-2000

U.S. Consulate in Krakow
Fax: 011-48-12-424-5103
Email: KrakowNIV@state.gov
Telephone (to confirm receipt): 011-48-12-424-5107

Only immediate relatives - a wife, husband, mother, father, child, brother, or sister - may apply for visas in this situation without an appointment.  Please note that a letter from a doctor or hospital in the United States does not guarantee the issuance of a visa.  All applicants must prove that they are qualified for visas.