U.S. Mission in Uganda Launches New Appointment and Information Service for Visa Applicants

Today, the U.S. Mission in Uganda launched the Global Support Strategy (GSS), a customer-oriented information and visa facilitation service.  GSS will enhance delivery of visa services to nonimmigrant applicants by offering:

• Interactive web-based and live phone-based information centers designed to answer visa applicants' questions about U.S. visas, including how to apply for a visa, visa categories, and costs of applying for a visa;
• Interactive assistance to applicants needing help to complete the mandatory web-based nonimmigrant application (DS-160); and
• Timely pre-paid appointments system leading to
• Shorter wait times on the actual date of interview; and
• Easier selection of interview dates to best fit the visa applicant's schedule.

Our visa applicants may reach our new GSS information and assistance center through the U.S. Mission internet homepage at http://kampala.usembassy.gov/.  After paying their visa fee at Centenary Bank, applicants can also use the GSS link located on the right-hand side of our homepage to immediately book a visa appointment for a time that is convenient to them.

For those without internet access or who prefer speaking directly with one of our GSS staff, please call our call center at (0256) 312 411200 (Uganda) or (703) 439-2303 (United States) for assistance.  We now also offer the opportunity for all visa customers to speak to our support personnel via Skype, a free voice-over-internet (VOIP) line.  To reach our help center online via Skype, applicants should contact "usvisauganda".

The website will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The call center is available to Ugandan callers Monday through Friday 8am-6pm local time.  It is available to U.S. callers Monday through Friday 8am-6pm EST.  Access to the GSS and our new online system begins on March 31, 2011.  Visa appointments through this new system will be available as of April 7, 2011.

U.S. Mission Uganda appreciates the cooperation of Ugandan citizens and other visa applicants in adapting to our new Global Support Strategy for visas and looks forward to assisting them with their visa needs in 2011 and beyond.

For more information, please visit the Mission website at http://kampala.usembassy.gov/.