No appointment for months
In September 2026 the next appointment was about 1 month away in Johannesburg and 1.5 months in Cape Town. Apply early.
Do South Africans need a visa for United States?
Embassy visafor South African passports
South Africans need a B1/B2 visitor visa for the USA. It costs US$185 and needs an interview at the US consulate in Johannesburg or Cape Town.
StaySet by the officer when you arrive
B1/B2 visa applicationUS$185, about R3,060
Difficulty 5 of 5
Last checkedChecked17 Oct 2026
What changed: Durban stopped routine visa interviews on 1 August 2026, so KwaZulu-Natal applicants now go to Johannesburg or Cape Town.
What you need
Tick these off as you go. Your ticks are saved on this device.
How to do it
- Fill in the DS-160 form online.
- Pay US$185 and book an interview in Johannesburg or Cape Town.
- Go to the interview with your documents.
Official sites:
Airlines decide whether you can board using a database called Timatic. Before you fly, check your route on the IATA Travel Centre.
What it costs in rand
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| B1/B2 visa application | US$185, about R3,060 |
| Visa integrity fee (where charged, after approval) | US$250, about R4,130 |
Rand amounts use the exchange rate on 9 October 2026 (R16.53 to the US dollar, R18.50 to the euro, R21.87 to the pound) and are rounded. Work out your whole trip in the budget calculator.
Common problems and fixes
Refused at the interview
Most refusals mean the officer wasn’t convinced you’ll return home. Strengthen your ties to home and reapply.
Plan your trip
Best timeDepends on where you go
MoneyUS dollar (USD)
Three trip ideas
New York
Museums, Central Park and the neighbourhoods.
California
San Francisco and the coast road south.
Florida
Orlando’s theme parks and Miami’s beaches.
Good to know
- Read the full US guide before you apply.
Book
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Sources and checks
Checked17 Oct 2026
Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the official government or embassy page, plus at least one independent source.
- officialFees for visa services · U.S. Department of State · no date shown
- officialGlobal visa wait times (updated 17 Sept 2026) · U.S. Department of State · published 17 Sep 2026
- secondaryState Department consolidates visa processing to regional hubs in Africa · Harvard International Office · published 28 Jul 2026
- secondaryUnited States ends routine visa services in Durban · BusinessTech · published 28 Jul 2026
- secondaryVisa integrity fee · Boston University ISSO · published 19 May 2026
- officialHow to apply for a U.S. visa in South Africa · U.S. Embassy & Consulates in South Africa · no date shown
How we check: our method and every source we use.
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