How to Apply
- Schedule an interview
- I require an earlier appointment than the one offered
- Are individual appointments required?
- How long can I expect to be at the Embassy/Consulate?
- I cannot come to the Embassy/Consulate in person. Can I mail in my application?
- What documents should I bring with me to my interview?
- On the day of my interview, where should I go?
- How will my passport be returned to me?
- Administrative Processing Information
Schedule an interview
To make an appointment call our Visa Information Service Monday through Friday between 7.00 am and 8:00pm.
Please prepare your passport before making an appointment call.
If you are applying for petition based visa (H, L, O, P, R, Q) please prepare the number of I-797 form (Notice of Action) or the receipt number of the approved petition (form I-129) for the principal applicant.
The number is (from TP SA billable phones): 0 703 700 120
From cell phones: *740 94 00
The call costs 4.00 PLN plus 22%VAT per minute (the price is subject to change without notice).
The Visa Information Service can also be reached from anywhere in the world via at (48)(22) 523 2000. Applicants can charge the $7.11USD (22 zlotys) fee for 7 minutes to a Visa or MasterCard.
I require an earlier appointment than the one offered
Applicants are offered the earliest available appointment. Applicants who wish to schedule an appointment for the following month may do so after the 20th day of the current month. Please do not make final travel plans until you have received your visa. You may visit our appointment wait times page to see when the next available appointment is.
If you need to travel for an emergency, please see Family Emergencies.
Are individual appointments required?
Family or married couples applying for visas at the same time may schedule one appointment per family or couple. Groups of five or more unrelated persons traveling together for a purpose other than tourism are required to schedule a group appointment and appear together for an interview.
How long can I expect to be at the Embassy/Consulate?
Appointments are schedules on the half-hour. Please do not show up before your appointment time. Expect to spend an average of one hour before speaking with a consular officer.
- Security process
- Registration of an applicant and ten fingerprints scanning
- The interview with the consular officer
Be aware that you may have to wait longer during the busy spring and summer travel season.
I cannot come to the Embassy/Consulate in person. Can I mail in my application?
There are limited cases which do not require an interview. All others must schedule an appointment for an interview and appear in person to have ten fingerprints scanned.
What documents should I bring with me to my interview?
Please see Required Documents for a complete list of what you will need to bring with you. Please also consult our tips on completing your application.
On the day of my interview, where should I go?
The consular section of Embassy Warsaw is located at 12 Piękna Street in Warsaw, Poland. The U.S. Consulate in Krakow is located at Ul. Stolarska 9.
The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and the U.S. Consulate in Krakow have no affiliation with individuals attempting to sell services or products to applicants waiting in line and these individuals often do so without license or registration.
Please do not bring cameras, weapons, knives or mace, or any kind of electronic equipment, e.g. mobile phones, digital cameras, video cameras, walkmans, discmans, laptops, etc. when you come for your appointment.
How will my passport be returned to me?
After an applicant has an interview and is told that he/she qualifies for a visa, he/she will have his/her passport and visa returned via DHL Express courier service. The service fee is 23 PLN (cash on delivery). Passports are delivered within five working days.
Please note that the processing times quoted are approximate and cannot be guaranteed. It will not be possible to expedite a case simply because an applicant has not allowed sufficient time for the application to be processed.
Administrative Processing Information
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on individual circumstances of each case. Visa applicants are reminded to apply early for their visa, well in advance of the anticipated travel date.
Important Notice: Before making inquiries about status of administrative processing, applicants or their representatives will need to wait at least 90 days from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents, whichever is later.
