Ask the Consul
I just received my tourist visa in the mail, and it has an error. What should I do?
The Non-Immigrant Visa Section (NIV) at the U.S. Embassy takes great care to ensure the accuracy of each visa printed. We, however, strongly suggest applicants check the accuracy of their visas immediately after receiving it. To avoid travel delays or any problems entering into the United States, it is best to check for the following common typographical errors before traveling: the spelling of your first and last name, your gender, your date of birth, your nationality, and your passport number. If the original passport contains the error, you must get a new passport with the change first before correcting the visa. If the passport contains the original error, you must correct the passport before correcting the visa.
In the event an error is made, you will need to go to the NIV Section at the U.S. Embassy with a new application to have your visa corrected. You can bring your passport with your new application to Window Seven in the NIV Section between 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We will promptly correct any errors without cost for a year from the date the visa was initially printed. After a year, applicants will have to pay the $US131.00 application fee to have the visa corrected. You can avoid this expense by checking the accuracy of your visa as soon as possible. If your passport had the error when you first applied for the visa, however, you will have to pay a new application fee in order to correct the visa. If the passport contained the original error and the error was printed, unfortunately, you will have to pay the application fee regardless if the visa was printed less than a year ago.