I recently successfully obtained a US B1/B2 visa in Madrid, and the entire process went more smoothly than expected. I’d like to share my experience with everyone. I’ve seen many people in the forum asking about this, so I hope this post can help.
Appointment and Document Preparation
First, you need to fill out the DS-160 form on the US Department of State’s official website. This form is quite lengthy, so I recommend setting aside at least 1 hour to complete it. After finishing, you’ll generate a confirmation page that must be printed and brought to the interview. Next, you’ll need to schedule an appointment. I booked a 9 AM slot, and I suggest everyone try to book as early as possible—fewer people means better efficiency.
The document checklist is available on the official website, but here’s what I prepared: original passport and photocopy, DS-160 confirmation page, appointment confirmation letter, bank statements from the last 6 months, employment certificate or student ID, and round-trip flight reservation. Special reminder: bank statements are really important. I prepared 3 months’ worth, and I recommend maintaining a balance of at least €5,000.
Interview Day Process
The US Consulate in Madrid is located on Serrano Street, just a 5-minute walk from Rubén Darío metro station. Don’t bring too many things, as security screening is very strict—electronic devices except phones are basically not allowed. I arrived 20 minutes early, and there were already quite a few people queuing at the entrance.
The entire process consists of several steps:
| Step | Content | Duration |
|---|
| Security | Check personal belongings | 10 minutes |
| Document Submission | Submit passport and documents | 5 minutes |
| Fingerprinting | Ten-finger fingerprint collection | 3 minutes |
| Interview | Q&A with visa officer | 5-10 minutes |
Interview Questions and Experience
The visa officer was a middle-aged woman with a reasonably friendly attitude. She asked me several questions in English: purpose of visiting the US, duration of stay, what I do for work, which countries I’ve visited, etc. When answering, be confident and concise—don’t be nervous. After chatting for about 7 minutes, she said congratulations, you’re approved, and that my passport would be mailed to the address I provided.
Worth sharing a small incident: an applicant ahead of me was rejected due to incomplete documents, so everyone must ensure all documents are fully prepared. Additionally, if you have previous US visa records, remember to bring your old passport—this definitely helps.
Follow-up and Receiving the Visa
After passing the interview, the passport arrived in about a week. They use Seur courier service, which can be tracked online. After receiving the passport, check the visa page to confirm all information is correct. I received a 10-year multiple-entry visa with a maximum stay of 6 months per visit.
As long as documents are thoroughly prepared and questions are answered honestly, obtaining a US visa in Madrid is quite straightforward. Wishing everyone success in getting their visa—feel free to ask questions in the comments.
