Understanding U.S. visa processing timelines helps you plan your travel, studies, or work without stress. Processing time depends on the visa type, embassy workload, and individual case details. Here is a step-by-step explanation of each stage. 1. Completing the Visa Application (DS-160 / DS-260) The Non-Immigrant form, also known as the DS-160 is pretty long. It will take you about 60 to 90 minutes to fill it out. To make it easier you should have a things ready before you s