What to expect at your J1 visa appointment

Hey I’m Victoria, a summer camp-a-holic who is about to spend my sixth summer at a camp!

I have been through the visa process many times (it’s never not stressful), so I’m here to share some 'been-there-done-that' pointers on what to expect and how to make that US Embassy appointment run smoothly. Let’s do this…

Applying for your J1 visa

Your J1 camp visa consists of an online application form and in-person appointment at a US Embassy or Consulate.

Once you’ve secured your camp job, the next step is applying for your J1 visa. All the instructions you need will be available on your BUNAC account. This includes how to fill out your application, how to book the embassy appointment, along with a checklist of things to make sure you take with you. Remember, all the BUNAC team have worked at camp and, like you, many will be returning in the summer. So if you have any questions, just reach out and they'll guide you through it.

TOP TIP: Start your J1 visa application as soon as you get your paperwork emailed from BUNAC. Visa appointments for summer 2026 are already limited due to new US security procedures, additional screening processes, and a pretty major football tournament happening in North America this summer. Interview slots are filled on a first come first served basis, can fill up without warning, and may be paused at any time – so it's more important than ever this year to apply, get hired and be on top of your paperwork.

Step 1: DS-160

The first thing you need to do when your work papers are ready, is to fill in your DS-160. As I mentioned, all the instructions and guidance will be on your BUNAC account, so don’t worry if it looks a little daunting. It is quite a lengthy application, so make sure you put aside some time to do it, roughly 45-60 minutes. You can save it as you go along, but the website can be a little funny at saving your info sometimes, so I’d recommend getting it done in one go if you can.

In your online account, you'll also find a video run-through that the BUNAC team have done on how to complete your DS-160, so I'd also recommend watching that.

Step 2: Booking your embassy appointment

Once you’ve completed your DS-160, you’ll be redirected to book in for your embassy appointment. You’ll need to pay the visa fee when booking but again, all this info will be available to you on your BUNAC account, so you can cross-reference each stage with the visa guide provided or by contacting the BUNAC team.

TOP TIP: When it comes to booking your embassy appointment, try and go as early as possible. The embassy can get super busy and the later you go, the longer the wait times. One year I was in the embassy for 4 hours, so try and plan around that and get an appointment early doors.

Step 3: US Embassy appointment

I remember when I went to my first embassy appointment I was absolutely terrified, and honestly there is nothing to worry about at all. Make sure you follow the checklist and you triple check you’ve got everything that you need with you, and you’ll be good to go. Also, don't forget that the embassy will keep your passport for 7-10 days, so make sure you don't have any trips planned within that time!

Printed documents to take with you

The US Embassy require you to take physical copies of your documentation, so if your printer is anything like mine (unpredictable) make sure you have everything printed out ahead of the day to avoid last-minute printer panic. You'll need to take with you:

• Your passport.
• A copy of your DS-2019. This must be signed at the bottom and dated. The date you must list is the date of your appointment. This must be in MM/DD/YYYY format. The Place must be the location of the embassy you are interviewing at e.g. ‘London, England’. Use blue or black ink only.
• A copy of your SEVIS receipt.
• DS-160 confirmation page.
• Embassy appointment confirmation page.
• US-sized passport photo (5x5cm).
• Proof of return (this can be proof you are a student, proof you have a job to return to, or a self-declaration clearly outlining your plans for the months after you return home).

What you need to do to your social media accounts

As of June 2025, anyone applying for a J1 visa must adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts from the last 5 years to PUBLIC. Accounts that are set to private will likely result in your visa application being refused. You must do this before your visa interview and accounts must remain public until your visa is approved.  Here's what you need to do:

• Make all accounts public before your US Embassy interview  
• Ensure your name or username clearly identifies you
• Keep accounts public until approval
• Review your content for accuracy and appropriateness

The US Embassy will check your accounts, so you mustn't ignore this. Again, all of this info will also be in your BUNAC online account.

What to wear to your embassy appointment

I get a lot of people asking me what they should wear to their embassy appointment and I always say smart casual. I usually go in jeans and a t-shirt/jumper with trainers. First year I dressed up as if I was going to a job interview not knowing what to expect – it was much more relaxed than I thought it would be.

What happens when you get to your embassy appointment?

I have been to both the London Embassy and the Consulate in Sydney for my visa appointments and the procedure has been fairly similar. I’d get called up to one desk first and would provide my documents, usually give my fingerprints here and then I’d be given back my documents in a little pack and told to sit down again.

You’ll then get called back up for the interview part of the appointment where I was asked about my job role at summer camp, if I had been to America before and just some general questions about my camp. This is based on my experience and you might get asked different, but you’ll be able to answer them easy enough I’m sure.

Step 4: That's a wrap

That's it, you can now head off on your day and wait to see if your visa has been approved. I usually receive an email a couple of weeks later to say that my passport is ready for collection (you can opt to pay extra to have your passport delivered back to you).

Visa locked in, you can start getting hyped for your Summer Camp USA experience! The process might seem complex and a little confusing but as long as you follow the guidance given to you by BUNAC, it should be a piece of cake. If you've got any more questions on your Summer Camp visa process or how to apply - the BUNAC Support Squad are all ears. Drop us an email or give us a call to chat.