B1/B2 visitor, F1 student and other categories
A US visa application is decided in a short interview at the embassy in Kampala. Preparation is everything, because you will have only a few minutes to convince a consular officer. We make sure you walk in ready.
The essentials for applicants in Kampala and across Uganda, in one place.
Fees and processing times are indicative and were checked in September 2026. They are set by the authorities and can change. Always confirm the current figures before you pay.
The United States attracts travellers from Uganda for tourism, family visits, business, conferences and study. Unlike most destinations, the decision is made face to face: a consular officer at the US Embassy in Kampala interviews you, often for only a few minutes. Some cases need further administrative processing before a decision is made.
United States law requires the officer to presume that every applicant intends to immigrate. Your job is to overcome that presumption with clear evidence of your ties to Uganda and a credible, specific reason for your trip. Preparation for that conversation is the single highest-value thing you can do.
Current status: the US Embassy in Kampala announced a temporary pause of visa operations on 18 May 2026 because of the Ebola outbreak in the region. Check the embassy's official website for the latest position before you pay any fee or make travel plans. We can still help you prepare while appointments are unavailable.
We assist with each of these categories. If you are not sure which one fits your trip, start with the eligibility check and we will talk it through with you.
What the authorities need to be satisfied about before they issue your visa.
A common mistake to avoid
Meeting the requirements is not the same as proving you meet them. Every requirement above needs a document behind it, and that document needs to be readable, current and consistent with everything else in your file.
Bring what you have and we will tell you what is missing. This list covers the usual requirements; your exact checklist depends on your visa category and circumstances.
Bring these to the US Embassy
Officers may not ask, but you should be ready
F1 applicants need more
From your first question to your travel date, here is what our visa consultants in Kampala do at each step.
B1/B2 for visits and business, F1 for study, J1 for approved exchanges. We confirm yours before you pay the fee.
The officer reads your DS-160 during the interview. Every answer must be accurate and match what you will say, so we go through it question by question.
You pay the fee and book an interview at the US Embassy in Kampala. Wait times change with demand, and appointment availability is set by the embassy.
The interview often lasts two or three minutes. We practise the questions officers ask so your answers are brief, specific and honest.
Many decisions are made at the interview, but some cases need further administrative processing. If a visa is approved, you will be told how and when your passport is returned.
Government fees are paid directly to the authorities and are not refunded if an application is refused. Our service fee is separate and quoted for your case before you commit.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| B1/B2, F1 and most non-immigrant visasPaid before booking the interview | US$185 |
| SEVIS fee (F1 students)Paid separately to the US government | US$350 |
| Go Global service feeIncludes interview preparation | Quoted per case |
The equivalent amount in UGX will be calculated using the embassy, visa application centre or applicable exchange rate at the time of payment. Amounts shown were checked in September 2026. Fees are set by the authorities and change without notice. Confirm the current amount before paying.
Visa rules, fees and forms are set by the authorities, not by us. These are their official pages, so you can confirm the latest details yourself before you apply or pay.
We would rather tell you this before you apply than after. These are the patterns we see most often, and what we do about each one.
This is by far the most common outcome for refused applicants from Uganda. It means the officer was not satisfied that you had shown strong enough ties to Uganda to overcome the legal presumption that you intend to immigrate.
How we help
We work on how you present your ties and your travel purpose, in your documents and in the way you answer questions, so the officer hears a clear and consistent story.
The officer has your form in front of them. If your spoken answers about your job, your funding or your itinerary differ from what you wrote, your credibility is damaged immediately.
How we help
We complete the DS-160 with you rather than for you, so you know exactly what it says, and we rehearse the questions most likely to follow from your answers.
"Visiting friends" or "tourism" without specifics gives the officer nothing to verify. Applicants who cannot say where they will stay or what they will do struggle.
How we help
We help you prepare a clear, specific and honest account of your trip, with the supporting documents that back it up.
If someone else is funding your trip, the officer needs to see who they are, their relationship to you, and their ability to pay. A letter alone rarely suffices.
How we help
We help your sponsor assemble the right evidence and explain how it will be assessed.
Answer a few questions about your travel plans and we'll help you understand the visa category that may be relevant to your trip and the documents you may need.
The questions we are asked most often about this destination.
Question not answered here?
Message a visa consultant in Kampala and get a straight answer today.
Ask on WhatsAppThe embassy announced a temporary pause of its visa operations on 18 May 2026 because of the Ebola outbreak in the region, and appointments could not be booked while the pause was in place. The position can change, so check the embassy's official website for the latest notice before you pay a fee or book travel. Visa fees already paid are handled under the embassy's own rules, not ours.
The application fee for most non-immigrant visas, including B1/B2 visitor and F1 student visas, is US$185. Student applicants also pay a separate SEVIS fee of US$350. These are paid to the US government and are not refunded if your application is refused. Our preparation and interview coaching fee is quoted separately.
The main variable is the wait for an interview appointment at the US Embassy in Kampala, which changes with demand and can run to several weeks or longer. After the interview, some cases need further administrative processing, and the time taken to receive your passport can vary. Start early, especially if you are travelling in a peak season.
Officers commonly ask why you are travelling, who is paying, where you will stay, what you do in Uganda, whether you have travelled before, and who you know in the United States. The questions are simple; what matters is that your answers are honest, brief, specific, and consistent with your DS-160 form. We run mock interviews so nothing is a surprise.
Section 214(b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act requires officers to presume every applicant intends to immigrate. A 214(b) refusal means you did not overcome that presumption. It is not a permanent bar, and you may apply again, but reapplying without changing anything about your evidence or circumstances usually produces the same result.
Yes, there is no waiting period, and you pay the fee again. The honest question is whether anything has changed. We review what happened, advise on what would need to be different, and tell you plainly if we think you should wait.
There is no formal document checklist for a B1/B2 interview, and officers often decide without examining documents at all. That said, you should be ready to evidence your funding and your ties to Uganda if asked. We help you prepare a well-organised file, so you are ready either way.
Visa validity and number of entries depend on the applicant's nationality and the applicable US reciprocity schedule. This is different from the period of stay granted at the US port of entry, which is set by the officer there. The visa gives you permission to travel to the border, not an automatic right to enter or to stay for a fixed period.
No, and you should be cautious of anyone who says they can. The decision belongs entirely to the consular officer. What we can do is make sure your application is complete, your documents are strong and consistent, and you are properly prepared for the interview.
Travelling somewhere else, or comparing your options? These are the destinations applicants from Uganda ask about alongside this one.
Talk to a visa consultant in Kampala about your trip, or check your eligibility online in a few minutes.
