Getting a U.S. Visa in Bahamas 2025

After completing the DS160 we searched for an appointment in June and the first available was October. We were able to request an emergency appointment for business reasons and got one in the week we requested (shortly after 4th of July long weekend). Security was fine, lots of checkpoints but the Bahamians are really lovely people so it's not that stressful. Can't bring ANY electronics to the appointment (including earphones) so make sure your pockets are empty, there is nowhere to store them at the consulate. Need to bring your paperwork, ID, passport, appointment confirmation, and new US passport photos. One complexity for us was that I emailed the consulate to ask if we could bring our (young, US citizen) children with us to the appointment, and got a generic response saying, "generally, only applicants or the parents of minor applicants are allowed in the consulate." So we hired a babysitter through an agency.... who didn't show up. That was very stressful, but thankfully we WERE allowed to bring the children inside so it was fine. The interviewer asked the most questions about education and qualifications, less about the current job/work. As others have mentioned, they also want to know that when your work in the USA is finished, of course we intend to return home to Australia. They even expedited the application and gave us a ticket to collect at the embassy rather than needing to go to the DHL pickup location (which is separate from the consulate). Our appointment was a Tuesday morning, we got to pick up the following week on Monday afternoon. We needed another form of ID (e.g. driver's license) to get back into the consulate as they have your passport. Overall I would recommend this consulate. We stayed at a resort nearby, prices were OK for the quality of accommodation! Food and dining gets very expensive and unhealthy as it's an island with minimal agriculture. Happy to be home and eating home-cooked vegetables again.
- Rika (about 23 days ago)

I'm from Australia and the only place close to the US to get the B1B2 was Bahamas even though I was 3rd country application it only took 5 days to get an interview through an agent, I used Visa overseas which were quite good. It was about $200 us dollars on top of the interview fee. I had previously paid in Melbourne Aust and had filled in my DS160 form but the interview time was extensive 6 months and I needed to start on a yacht in late March in the Canaries so I contacted an agent the second time round which meant paying twice. Just remember to ask the agent to also add your email contact for when they send out the DHL tracking number to collect otherwise the time difference might mean you wait longer. You also need to book a return flight out of the Bahamas to get into Nassau so you may need a flight you can change if the processing time is longer. Biggest Issue was not knowing there wasn't any lockers for my phone and watch at the consulate, I nearly missed my appointment as I had to jump in a taxi quickly and take back to my accommodation, A taxi was waiting out the front as this must happen allot and he was making good money he yelled out to me ' you need lift to get your phone back to your room and then charged me double !" Be prepared for expensive Accom and food and mostly air b and b's in the affordable range $150-$200 a night for small room in a house in the Nassau area. I moved after 2 days because it was in a noisy area dogs barking, lurkers on the streets etc. I moved to Paradise Island area over the bridges much safer and not far from the Atlantis resort. Food at the supermarkets very expensive so just as much to eat out daily, you need to buy bottled water also. Filling time waiting wasn't that hard, but I didn't do any tours as most over $400 US a half day. I wouldn't walk the streets after dark either and look on FB 'I love the Bahamas' for reputable taxi drivers that won't rip you off. Collecting Visa straight forward, took ID and the tracking number to the DHL depo after we received the notification it was ready and waited about an hour and was given back my passport.
- Joel (about 5 months ago)

Interviewed on Thursday 27th February, arrived at 10am for 10.15 appointment. Was in and out through all security checks and interview in an hour. Every person in the process was friendly and respectful without the usual weird US immigration intimidation vibes. Approved on the spot and online status changed to ISSUED the following day (Friday 28th). Did not wait to receive the email with tracking but went to DHL pickup point on Tuesday 4th, they said it had arrived at the facility the day before but had not been ‘processed.’ Came back again on Wednesday and they did me a solid and processed on the spot with just my license as ID and no tracking number. That afternoon I received the email with tracking number saying it was being processed and it would be available 48 hours later lol.
- Melo (about 5 months ago)

Overall I would recommend this consulate with following tips / thoughts. - CVS passport photos both got denied, luckily the ones we took at home and uploaded to DS-160 were deemed acceptable. I would look for a proper photo place instead. - Our consulate officer was very “friendly” and asked lots of trip up questions to see if we would say something. For example, asking jokingly why I haven’t been promoted yet, asked my partner if he had gotten into a fight in front of a pub and said he had, asked how far along I was (I’m pregnant but was wearing a very loose fitting dress), asked clarifying question “what for?” and he meant my career apparently, very strange. Be ready to strictly answer about the 2 year intent only. We heard him deny three other people (B1/B2 tourist visas mostly) by asking these gotcha questions. He asked for barely - Can’t take your phone or any water in, recommend staying nearby in downtown so you can walk to embassy. - I would get an airbnb and car for some of the nights. Cooking our own food was a lifesaver so we weren’t eating pricey/fried food every night.
- Carol (about 8 months ago)

Attended the interview first thing at 8am and was at the second interview window within 40 mins. The second interviewer was asking singular questions and then going silent for a few minutes typing and then asking the next question. he questioned if I truly had non-immigrant intent and asked why I had changed jobs so frequently (3rd company in 6 years so not that frequently). Visa was finally approved and left. I was then left on APPROVED for 10 business days, in administrative processing nothing else and case last updated 1/17 (the day of my appointment). I contact the embassy from business day 6 onwards as I knew they were just holding my passport as there was no movement. Eventually on business day 9 I contacted the state gov and they responded within 3 hours and said to just come to the embassy to pick up the passport; I was worried they just meant the passport (no visa) but checked CEAC and it finally moved to ISSUED. So all in all, I was approved and they were holding onto the passport. Vibes were off. Would definitely plan on being in Bahamas a minimum 7 days, but be prepared for the full 10+ Business days (2 weeks)
- Lauren (about 2 years ago)

This is my 3rd E-3 renewal. I have a prior experience in Barbados which was very smooth and easy. This was was not. My appointment was on Wednesday 25th and I was approved at the embassy. I was told to expect a tracking number from DHL after a couple of days. My visa was “issued” on Tuesday October 31 but I still hadn’t received a tracking number. DHL kept telling me that I needed my tracking number. By Wednesday (7 days after approval), I still hadn’t received the tracking number. I drove to the DHL office and after a lot of hassle, they confirmed they had my passport in the building but that I still needed to wait for my tracking number (and another 24 hours after I received it to actually pick up the package). At that point, I had changed my flight a bunch of times, continued to pay for accommodation and food (Bahamas is very expensive), plus the rental car. By Thursday, there was still no tracking number so I drove to DHL, threatened to report them to DHL headquarters before they finally went out back and gave me my passport. The people at DHL were horrible to deal with. I spent thousands of dollars more than I should’ve on that island. They were not friendly, and held my passport hostage for several days after they received it. Another thing to keep in mind is that the embassy does not print visas on Fridays. I had no idea that was the case but potentially added to my lengthy wait period.
- John (about 2 years ago)

As a third party National : interviewed on Monday, approved at the end of the day on Monday, issued on Friday afternoon, got email with tracking number on Tuesday , picked passport up at DHL office on Tuesday end of the day . Total seven business days and one weekend of agony.
- Maria (about 2 years ago)

Go down to DHL pickup 4 or 5 days after approval regardless of receiving notification or not - your passport is probably there waiting for you!
- Brett (about 2 years ago)

The appointment was very quick - everything done and complete in 20 minutes. Visa was marked "approved" later that day, "issued" two days later and sent to DHL. DHL pick-up can be difficult as they want 24-48 hours to process the batch. My appointment was a Monday and had my passport with visa back by Friday afternoon.
- Nick (about 2 years ago)

Interviewed on Friday 5th. Missed one piece if paperwork which they allowed us to submit and we had it emailed to them by 2pm that day. Recieved receipt email late monday 8th afternoon. Status chaged from refused to administrative processing on wednesday 10th. Approved on friday 19th. Issued monday 21st. Its almost end of business tuesday and DHL still have not received them and require 24hrs after receipt before we can pick up... So if we are lucky we might be done in under 3 weeks..
- Scott (about 2 years ago)