Can I schedule a U.S. visa interview in Johannesburg before finalizing the DS-160 form?

United States (B1/B2)
1

Hi everyone, hoping to get some advice from the community here. I’m currently filling out my DS-160 for a B1/B2 visa application to attend a marketing conference in the US.

The issue is, appointments in Johannesburg are disappearing fast, and I’m still waiting to confirm some specific travel dates from a trip I took a few years ago to complete the travel history section. I have my Application ID (the AA00 number), but I haven’t clicked “Submit” yet.

Can I go ahead and book the appointment slot now using that ID to lock in a date, or will the system reject it if the form isn’t in “Submitted” status?

I really don’t want to miss out on these slots while hunting for old passport stamps!

2

Realizing this is not about the specific visa type but the appointment system mechanics, here is the situation.

3

Has anyone from Johannesburg or Cape Town actually tried this recently with the current backlog?

4

I would like to document my experience regarding a similar procedure to warn others.

5

Just clarifying the technical flow here to prevent the ‘compile error’ mentioned above.

6

Short answer: you need to submit the DS-160 first.

The appointment system pulls your DS-160 barcode and validates it. If the form isn’t in “Submitted” status, the booking can:

  • fail, or

  • get flagged later (worst case: turned away at the VAC/interview)

What to do instead:

  • Submit now with your best available info

  • If some old travel dates are missing, approximate + be honest

  • You can always clarify/correct at the interview

Reality:
Consular officers care more about consistency and honesty than perfect memory on past travel dates. Missing a few exact dates won’t hurt — missing your appointment slot will.