How to Get a U.S. Visa: The Complete Step-by-Step Process (2026)

Por Jean

How to Get a U.S. Visa: The Complete Step-by-Step Process (2026)
Getting a U.S. tourist/business visa (B1/B2) isn't hard, but it has a lot of steps — each with its own rules, deadlines, and pitfalls. This guide walks you through the entire process from start to finish: what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly where the biggest bottleneck is — the interview scheduling queue. That's where Skip Visa Queue comes in.

Overview: the 6 steps

For applicants in Brazil, the B1/B2 process follows six steps in order:
  1. Fill out the DS-160 form
  2. Create an account on the official portal and pay the MRV fee (US$ 185)
  3. Schedule the ASC (biometrics) appointment and the interview at the consulate
  4. Attend the ASC appointment (photo and fingerprints)
  5. Attend the interview at the consulate
  6. Pick up your passport with the visa
If you're renewing, you may be able to skip the interview in some cases (see the interview waiver section below).

Step 1: Fill out the DS-160

The DS-160 is the online form that forms the basis of the consulate's entire review. It's completed entirely at ceac.state.gov/genniv and asks for personal, professional, and financial details, travel history, and the purpose of your trip.
Take your time here: errors or inconsistencies in the DS-160 are one of the most common causes of problems at the interview. At the end you get a confirmation code with a barcode — keep it, you'll need it for the next steps. Also note your DS-160 number; it's used to link your account to scheduling services.

Step 2: Create a portal account and pay the MRV fee

Go to the official scheduling portal for Brazil at ais.usvisa-info.com, create your account, and pay the US$ 185 MRV fee (converted to reais on the day, around R$ 950). Payment can be made by bank slip (boleto), card, or PIX: PIX is recognized within minutes, card usually immediately, and boleto in 1 to 5 business days (typically 2).
The MRV fee is non-refundable, even if your visa is denied or you withdraw.
Heads up on the new US$ 250 fee: the "Visa Integrity Fee" was signed into law in July 2025 and is meant to be collected at visa issuance (not at application). As of mid-2026 it had not yet been implemented by consulates, but keep an eye on it — once it takes effect, it raises the total cost considerably.

Step 3: Schedule the ASC and the interview (the bottleneck)

With the fee paid, you schedule two appointments inside the portal: the ASC (Applicant Service Center), where they take your photo and fingerprints, and the interview at the consulate. The rule is to book the ASC for a date before the interview. Available consulates are São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Recife, Porto Alegre, and Belo Horizonte.
And here's the real pain point of the process: the date the portal offers you is often weeks or months away. In 2026, the queue varies widely by city — from about 15 days to over 2 months, with demand spikes pushing waits even higher. Earlier slots open up all the time (from cancellations), but they last minutes and vanish before you can refresh the page.

Where Skip Visa Queue comes in

Manually refreshing the portal several times a day is exhausting — and you still miss the best slots. Skip Visa Queue solves exactly this:
  • You choose the dates and cities you'll accept.
  • We monitor the official portal 24/7.
  • When a slot opens within your preferences, we reschedule automatically within seconds.
  • You get the new date confirmed — without being glued to the screen.
The service never touches your DS-160, your fee, or any other step: it simply does — automatically — the same thing you would do manually, only faster and without human error. Most clients move their interview up within a week. The cost is R$ 199 per interview (promotional, down from R$ 300), with a money-back guarantee if you pause before getting an earlier date.

Step 4: Attend the ASC appointment

On the day of your ASC appointment, bring your passport, the DS-160 confirmation, and the fee receipt. They collect your fingerprints and take your photo in the U.S. standard. It's quick and usually painless.

Step 5: The interview at the consulate

At the interview, the consular officer mainly assesses whether you have strong ties to Brazil (job, family, assets) that suggest you'll return. The most common questions: the purpose of your trip, where you'll stay, for how long, who's paying, and what you do in Brazil. Answer directly, honestly, and consistently with what's in your DS-160. The result usually comes on the spot.

Step 6: Pick up your passport with the visa

If approved, your passport is held to print the visa and returned within a few business days (typically 3 to 5), by pickup or delivery, depending on the option chosen at scheduling. Done — visa in hand.

What if I'm renewing?

Since September 2025, the interview waiver ("dropbox") rules have become stricter. In general, to renew without an interview in 2026 you usually need to: renew the same visa type (B1/B2); have your previous visa issued with full validity (10 years) and when you were already over 18; apply within 12 months of expiration; renew in Brazil; and have no refusal on your last application. Even then, the consulate can require an interview at any time — and those who end up needing one also face the queue, where Skip Visa Queue works the same way to move it up.

Cost and timing summary

  • MRV fee: US$ 185 (~R$ 950), non-refundable.
  • New integrity fee: US$ 250 (planned, not yet implemented as of mid-2026).
  • Scheduling queue: ~15 days to 2+ months, depending on city and demand.
  • Issuance after approval: ~3 to 5 business days.
  • Skip Visa Queue: R$ 199 per interview, with money-back guarantee.

Get started

The visa process has several steps, but the one that keeps people up at night is the wait for the interview. If your date is too far out and you have a trip, a commitment, or simply don't want to wait months, let technology work for you: go to skipvisaqueue.com.br, set your preferences, and move your interview up automatically and safely.