How to Log In to Your U.S. Visa Appointment Account in India

The login page for U.S. visa appointments in India is part of the official State Department system

To schedule or manage a U.S. visa appointment in India, you log in through the Consular Electronic process Center (CEAC), which is the State Department's official portal. The login page is specific to India and directs you to the system used by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and the U.S. Consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. You will need a valid email address and a password you create yourself — there is no separate registration step.

The CEAC system is free and is the only official way to schedule a visa appointment in India. No third-party website or agent can create an account for you or access your appointment on your behalf. If you see a website claiming to offer visa appointment booking for a fee, it is not affiliated with the U.S. government.

The login process takes about two minutes if you have your documents ready. Once you log in, you will see your visa process status, any appointment you have already scheduled, and the option to book a new appointment if slots are open.

Key Takeaways

• The official login portal is the Consular Electronic process Center (CEAC), run by the U.S. State Department, and it is free to use.
• You create your own password during your first login — the system does not send you a temporary password or require pre-registration.
• Your login credentials are tied to your passport number and email address, so use the same email each time you log in.
• If you forget your password, you can reset it on the login page itself without contacting the embassy or consulate.
• The CEAC system is the only official way to schedule a U.S. visa appointment in India; no agent or third-party website can do this for you.

What you need before you log in

Gather these items before you attempt to log in for the first time. You will not be able to complete your appointment booking without them, and having them ready will prevent you from losing your place in the queue.

You need your valid passport number, your full name exactly as it appears on your passport, and an email address you can access. You should also have your visa process confirmation number if you have already submitted a DS-160 form (the online nonimmigrant visa process). If you have not yet filled out the DS-160, you can do that through the CEAC system after you log in, or you can complete it separately and then use the confirmation number to link it to your appointment account.

Have a list of appointment dates and times that work for you. Appointment slots vary by location and visa type, and slots fill quickly during peak seasons. Knowing your preferred dates in advance will help you book when ready if your first choice is available.

Step-by-step login process

Go to the CEAC website for India. The URL is specific to India and will direct you to the correct embassy or consulate based on your location. Once you arrive at the login page, you will see two fields: one for your email address and one for your password.

On your first visit, enter your email address and create a password. The password must be at least 8 characters long and include at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one special character (such as @, #, or $). Write down your password in a find place — you will need it every time you log in to check your appointment status or reschedule.

After you create your password, the system will ask you to confirm your passport number and full name. Make sure these match your passport exactly, including spelling and the order of your names. If you enter them incorrectly, you may not be able to retrieve your account later.

Once you log in successfully, you will see your account dashboard. If you have already submitted a DS-160 form, your process status will appear here. If you have not yet submitted one, you can start the form from this page. After you submit the DS-160, you will receive a confirmation number — save this number, as you will need it to book your appointment.

What to do if you cannot log in

If you enter your email and password and see an error message, first check that you are using the correct CEAC website for India. Bookmarking the correct URL will prevent you from accidentally visiting a similar-looking website that is not official.

If you are certain you are on the correct website and your password is not working, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. Enter your email address, and the system will send you a password reset link. Check your email inbox and your spam folder — the reset email sometimes arrives in spam. The reset link is valid for 24 hours. Click it, create a new password following the same rules (8 characters, uppercase, lowercase, number, special character), and try logging in again.

If you do not receive a password reset email after 10 minutes, check that you are using the email address you originally registered with. If you registered with a different email address and cannot remember which one, you will need to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India directly. They can verify your identity and help you regain access to your account. Contact information for each location is on the official State Department website.

Common mistakes that lock you out

The most common mistake is entering your name differently than it appears on your passport. If your passport says "Rajesh Kumar Sharma" but you enter "Rajesh K. Sharma" or "R. Kumar Sharma," the system will not recognize you. Copy your name directly from your passport when you first log in.

Another frequent error is using the wrong email address on repeat visits. If you registered with one email but try to log in with a different one, the system will treat it as a new account. Stick with the same email address every time. If you need to change your registered email, contact the embassy or consulate — do not create a second account.

Passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword123!" is different from "mypassword123!". If you have trouble logging in, make sure Caps Lock is not on. Also, some people accidentally include a space at the beginning or end of their password when they type it — avoid this by typing slowly and checking before you click the login button.

After you log in: scheduling your appointment

Once you are logged in and your DS-160 form is submitted, you can view available appointment dates. The system shows openings by visa type and by location (New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, or Chennai). Appointment availability changes daily, and slots during business hours fill faster than early morning or late afternoon slots.

Select your preferred date and time, and the system will hold that slot for 15 minutes while you review your information. During this time, you can cancel and choose a different slot if you change your mind. After 15 minutes, if you have not confirmed, the slot is released back into the pool.

Once you confirm your appointment, you will receive a confirmation number and an email with your appointment details. Print this confirmation or save it as a PDF — you will need to bring it with you on your appointment day. The email will also include instructions on what documents to bring and what to expect during your interview.

Rescheduling or canceling your appointment

If you need to change your appointment date or time, log in to your CEAC account and look for the option to reschedule. You can reschedule up until a certain number of days before your appointment — the exact number varies by location and is shown on your account. Rescheduling is free and does not require you to contact the embassy or consulate.

If you need to cancel your appointment entirely, you can do this through your account as well. Canceling frees up your slot for other applicants. If you cancel and later decide you want another appointment, you can book a new one through the same account, but you may have to wait for new slots to open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else log in to my account and schedule my appointment for me?

No. Your account is personal and tied to your passport number and email address. Only you should have access to your password. If someone else logs in using your credentials, it is a security risk and may cause problems with your process. You must log in yourself to schedule or reschedule your appointment.

What if I forget my password and cannot access the reset email?

Check your spam folder first — reset emails sometimes go there. If you still cannot find it after 10 minutes, wait a bit and try requesting another reset. If you have tried multiple times and still have no luck, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India directly. They can verify your identity and help you regain access to your account.

Is the CEAC login page the same for all countries, or is there a separate one for India?

There is a specific CEAC portal for India that directs you to the correct embassy or consulate based on your location. Make sure you are using the India-specific URL and not a general CEAC page. The State Department website lists the correct link for India visa appointments.

What happens if I create two accounts by mistake?

If you registered with two different email addresses, you now have two separate accounts. The system will not merge them. Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India and explain what happened. They can help you consolidate your accounts or cancel the duplicate one so you do not accidentally book two appointments.

Can I log in on my phone, or do I need a computer?

The CEAC system works on both phones and computers, though the layout may look different on a smaller screen. Make sure you have a stable internet connection before you log in. If you are booking an appointment, use a device where you can clearly see all the available dates and times, as small screens can make it harder to spot the slot you want.