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How do I get an expedited visa appointment for a funeral?
The visa a relative uses to come to a funeral is the ordinary B-1/B-2 visitor visa, which the Department of State describes as a nonimmigrant visa for people who want to enter the United States temporarily; the B-2 category covers visiting family. There is no separate funeral visa. What exists is an expedited interview date, which a consulate may grant on top of a regular application.
The Department of State's appointment wait-times page says consular sections may be able to expedite an interview when there is an urgent, unforeseen situation such as a funeral, a medical emergency or a school start date, and it defines emergency travel as serious illnesses, injuries or deaths in your immediate family. The same page lists what does not qualify: weddings, graduations, assisting pregnant relatives, conferences and last-minute tourism.
The order of steps matters
The consulate will not look at an expedite request from someone who has not applied. In the Department of State's words, you must first submit the online application form (DS-160), pay the application fee and book the first available interview; only at this point will a consular section consider your request for an expedited appointment. You will need to provide proof of the need for an earlier appointment, and the process varies by location.
- Form DS-160Completed only at ceac.state.gov/genniv. The Department of State says to print and keep the DS-160 barcode page.
- The $185 feeThe fee table lists $185.00 for a non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa, which includes the B visitor visa. It is non-refundable. The Mexico appointment site states the receipt is valid for use for 365 days from the date of purchase.
- A regular appointmentBook the first date the system offers, even if it is months away. The expedite request is made against that booking.
- Proof of the needThe death certificate and our verification letter. The consulate decides what it accepts.
Where the request is made, country by country
Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras all use the same appointment system. For Mexico, the official instructions are to book a regular appointment, then sign in to your account, click Continue and select Request Expedite, including the date and purpose of the travel. The Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras sites give the same steps, where the button reads Solicitar trámite urgente.
At the interview, the Department of State lists a passport valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay, the DS-160 confirmation page, the fee receipt and a photo, and it states that a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed. Our letter is proof of the death for the expedite request, not an invitation.
ESTA does not applyESTA is the travel authorization of the Visa Waiver Program, which the Department of Homeland Security list of October 28, 2026 limits to 42 countries. Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are not on it, so a relative from those countries needs a visa, not ESTA. The ESTA fee of $40.62 that applies from October 16, 2026 under Federal Register notice 2026-20185 is paid only by travelers from the 42 listed countries.
What is the $750 paid expedite appointment?
In 2026 the Department of State opened a pilot program that runs through December 31, 2026. A B-visa applicant who has paid the $185 fee and holds an appointment may pay $750 per appointment to schedule a visa interview within 10 business days, subject to availability.
The conditions in the notice are strict. The expedited appointment fee is not refundable, the appointment cannot be changed, and paying it does not guarantee issuance of a visa. The pilot's own FAQ says that applicants whose regular emergency visitor appointment request was denied can schedule a paid expedite appointment, which makes it a second route after the free request in the section above, not a replacement for it.
| Item | What the notice says |
|---|---|
| Fee | $750 per appointment, in addition to the $185 visa fee |
| Timing | Interview within 10 business days, subject to availability |
| Runs | Through December 31, 2026 |
| Mexico | Embassy and all consulates from July 21, 2026 |
| Guatemala and Honduras | Appointment sites carry the announcement dated August 18, 2026 |
| Refund | Not refundable; the appointment cannot be changed |
| Outcome | Does not guarantee that a visa is issued |
For El Salvador, check the appointment site for the current notice before paying anything. Nothing on this page replaces what the site shows on the day you apply.
What is humanitarian parole, and when does it apply?
When a visa cannot be obtained, some families hear about humanitarian parole. According to USCIS, parole allows a person who may be inadmissible to enter the United States temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. A parolee has not been formally admitted. It is a discretionary decision, and it is slower and more expensive than a visa.
Two things families should know before they start. First, the example of urgency that USCIS publishes is the need to visit, assist or support a family member who is at an end-of-life stage of an illness or disease; attending a funeral is not mentioned on the USCIS page. Second, USCIS says petitioners should expect processing delays and gives no timeframe, which is why we do not publish one.
The application and the evidence
- Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records (uscis.gov/i-131). USCIS says an initial parole request from outside the United States may be filed online.
- Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support (uscis.gov/i-134). USCIS requires one from the financial supporter for each parole request. Its fee is $0.
- Evidence: an explanation of the request, evidence of the urgency, evidence that a visa could not be obtained, and identity documents.
- An expedite request: write EXPEDITE on the top right of a paper Form I-131 or complete the online statement. USCIS's expedite criteria include emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations, such as the illness or death of a family member, and USCIS decides at its sole discretion.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-131, paper filing | $630 | USCIS Fee Schedule G-1055, edition of October 26, 2026 |
| Form I-131, online filing | $580 | USCIS Fee Schedule G-1055 |
| Form I-134 | $0 | USCIS Fee Schedule G-1055 |
| Immigration Parole Fee at the port of entry, if parole is granted on or after October 16, 2026 | $1,050 | Federal Register 2026-20185; G-1055 notes CBP collects it under Pub. L. 119-21 |
| Fee waiver | Form I-912 | USCIS: based on a demonstrated inability to pay |
Whether parole fits a particular family is a question for an immigration attorney. We provide the letter and the death certificate; we do not file immigration forms.
What does Vargas-London provide for the appointment?
The Department of State asks for proof of the need. On its emergency-passport page, the same Department accepts a death certificate, a mortuary statement or a hospital letter as proof of a death (travel.state.gov). Our letter is written to serve as that mortuary statement. It is our own document, not an embassy form, and each consulate decides what it accepts.
- Letterhead and signatureWritten on Vargas-London letterhead and signed by Carlos Vargas, Texas Licensed Funeral Director (TFSC #119648), with his direct phone so a consular officer can call.
- The person who diedFull name, date of death and place of death, as they appear on the death certificate.
- The service or the flightDate and place of the funeral or memorial, or the repatriation flight if your loved one is going home.
- The traveling relativeFull name as it appears in the passport and the relationship to the person who died.
- Death certificateA copy attached once the certificate has been issued by the Texas registrar.
- Service detailsWe work with the family on the date of the service while the relative waits for an appointment, and we tell you what is possible if the date must move.
Ask for the letter when you call (214) 550-7369 or through the form on this page. Tell us the name of the traveler and the country where the relative will apply.
Which consulates in Dallas can help?
The consulate of your loved one's country is a separate office from the U.S. consulate that issues the visa. It helps with the documents for taking a body or ashes home, with proof of nationality and, for Mexico, with guidance on the transfer of remains. Our consulate directory lists every mission that serves Dallas families.
| Consulate | Address | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Consulado General de México en Dallas | 1210 River Bend, Dallas, TX 75247 | consulmex.sre.gob.mx/dallas |
| Consulado de Guatemala en Dallas | 4405 N. Beltwood Parkway, Farmers Branch, TX 75244; 8:30 to 15:00, Monday to Friday; (469) 886-9922, per the RENAP list of August 8, 2024 | RENAP list (PDF) |
| Consulado General de El Salvador en Dallas | 7610 Stemmons Fwy, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75247 | Salvadoran government transparency record; see our El Salvador guide |
| Consulado de Honduras (Irving) | See our Honduras guide | Official contact details were not available to us at the time of writing |
We publish phone numbers and hours only when we have read them on an official government page. For Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras we could not, so please use the consulate's own site or our directory for current contact details.
What the Mexican consulate says about repatriation
The protección consular page of the Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas offers guidance when a relative died in the United States and the family wants to move the body or ashes to Mexico. The document list comes from the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores; the version we cite was published through the Consulate in Atlanta in April 2026:
- Death certificate with apostille (acta de defunción apostillada)
- Embalming certificate or cremation certificate
- Transit and burial permit
- Letter of non-contagious diseases
- Proof of the deceased person's Mexican nationality
- Every document translated into Spanish and notarized
The same document says remains travel embalmed or as ashes, that the family must prove the relationship and the identity and nationality of the person who died, and that the consulate's support is partial. It publishes no amount. Our Mexico repatriation guide and our Mexico package price explain how we prepare this file for the family.
What are the rules for bringing remains into the U.S., and for the trip home?
Some families face the reverse situation: a relative died abroad and will be buried in Dallas. The CDC's importation rule, 42 CFR 71.55, says that except for cremated or embalmed remains, remains brought in for final resting in the United States must be accompanied by a death certificate stating the cause of death. Cremated and embalmed remains need no death certificate and no permit under that rule. If the death certificate is not written in English, it must include an English translation attested by a notary or similar official in the country of death. Non-cremated remains must travel in a leak-proof container.
When no death certificate exists, the CDC says the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country of death issues the Consular Mortuary Certificate, the Affidavit of Foreign Funeral Director and the Transit Permit. The CDC page lists the Department of State's Overseas Citizens Services at 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444, and 202-647-4000 after hours. Our guide to international repatriation covers both directions, and shipping within the United States is a separate page.
What if a relative in the U.S. has no status and wants to travel to a funeral abroad?
This is the hardest question we are asked, and it is not one a funeral home can answer. We do not advise anyone whether to travel. What we can do is repeat what USCIS publishes about unlawful presence, so that the family asks an immigration attorney the right question before buying a ticket.
- Three-year bar. More than 180 days but less than one year of unlawful presence during a single stay. The period starts when you leave the United States.
- Ten-year bar. One year or more of unlawful presence during a single stay. It starts when you leave or are removed.
- Permanent bar. More than one year of unlawful presence in total, a departure, and then an entry without admission or parole makes a person permanently inadmissible.
- Advance Parole. On August 13, 2026 USCIS posted that departing the United States after obtaining an Advance Parole Document is a departure for the purpose of these bars.
Talk with an immigration attorney before any travel. If the family decides to stay, we can bring your loved one to Dallas for a service, or arrange the repatriation so the funeral takes place at home with the relatives who are there.
How to ask for an emergency visa appointment after a death
Every step below comes from the Department of State or the appointment system. The consulate decides the outcome of each one.
- Gather proof of the death. Ask us for the verification letter and a copy of the death certificate once it has been issued. The Department of State requires proof of the need for an earlier appointment.
- Complete the DS-160. The form is completed only at ceac.state.gov/genniv. Print and keep the DS-160 barcode page.
- Pay the $185 fee. Create an account on the appointment site for your country at ais.usvisa-info.com and pay the non-refundable visa application fee. The Mexico site states the receipt is valid for 365 days.
- Book the first available regular interview. The consulate considers an expedite request only after a regular appointment exists.
- Request the expedite. Sign in to the account, click Continue and select Request Expedite (Mexico) or Solicitar trámite urgente (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras). Include the date and purpose of the travel and the proof of the death.
- If the request is denied, consider the paid expedite. Through December 31, 2026, a B-visa applicant may pay $750 per appointment for an interview within 10 business days, subject to availability. The fee is not refundable and does not guarantee a visa.
- Attend the interview. Bring a passport valid at least six months beyond the period of stay, the DS-160 confirmation page, the fee receipt and a photo. The Department of State says a letter of invitation is not needed.
Links and forms
Official pages only. If a link stops working, search the site named in the first column.
| Label | What it is | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor Visa (B-1/B-2) | Official overview and steps | travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html |
| Expedited appointment criteria | The funeral and medical-emergency rule, and how to request | travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html |
| Fees for Visa Services | The $185 fee table | travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html |
| Form DS-160 | Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application | ceac.state.gov/genniv/ |
| Paid expedite pilot notice | $750 within 10 business days, through December 31, 2026 | travel.state.gov/en/newsroom/visas/2026/nonimmigrant-visa-expedited-appointment-pilot-program.html |
| Mexico appointments | Schedule, pay $185, Request Expedite | ais.usvisa-info.com/en-mx/niv/information/niv |
| Guatemala appointments | Same system, Solicitar trámite urgente | ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gt/niv/information/niv |
| El Salvador appointments | Same system, Solicitar trámite urgente | ais.usvisa-info.com/es-sv/niv/information/niv |
| Honduras appointments | Same system, Solicitar trámite urgente | ais.usvisa-info.com/es-hn/niv/information/niv |
| Visa Waiver Program countries | 42 countries; none of the four we serve most | www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program |
| ESTA | Visa Waiver Program travelers only | esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ |
| Humanitarian parole (outside the U.S.) | Who, how, evidence, expedite | www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/humanitarian-or-significant-public-benefit-parole-for-individuals-outside-the-united-states |
| Form I-131 | Parole application, $630 paper or $580 online | www.uscis.gov/i-131 |
| Form I-134 | Declaration of Financial Support, $0 | www.uscis.gov/i-134 |
| Form I-912 | Fee waiver request | www.uscis.gov/i-912 |
| USCIS Fee Schedule G-1055 | All fees, edition of October 26, 2026 | www.uscis.gov/g-1055 |
| USCIS expedite requests | Criteria, including the death of a family member | www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request |
| Unlawful presence bars | Three-year, ten-year and permanent bars | www.uscis.gov/laws-and-policy/other-resources/unlawful-presence-and-inadmissibility |
| CDC: importing human remains | Death certificate, cremated-remains exemption, 42 CFR 71.55 | www.cdc.gov/importation/human-remains.html |
| Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas | Protección consular, transfer of remains | consulmex.sre.gob.mx/dallas/ |
| SRE transfer-of-remains checklist (April 2026) | Document list for repatriation to Mexico | consulmex.sre.gob.mx/atlanta/images/stories/content/prote/2026/abril/Actualizacion_Traslado_de_Restosv210426.pdf |
| Consulate of Guatemala in Dallas | Address and hours on the RENAP list | www.renap.gob.gt/sites/default/files/lista-misiones-diplomaticas-servicios-renap-actualizado-8-08-2024.pdf |
Questions families ask
How do I get an emergency visa to attend a funeral in the United States?
There is no separate emergency visa. A relative applies for the ordinary B-1/B-2 visitor visa (DS-160, $185 fee, a regular appointment) and then asks the consulate for an expedited interview, which the Department of State says may be granted for an urgent, unforeseen situation such as a funeral. The applicant must provide proof of the need. The earlier date, and the visa itself, are the consulate's decision.
Can I get a US visa appointment fast if my father died in Texas?
Possibly. A death in the immediate family is the Department of State's own example of emergency travel. After the DS-160, the fee and a regular booking, the traveler signs in to the appointment account, clicks Continue and selects Request Expedite (Mexico) or Solicitar trámite urgente (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras), stating the date and purpose of travel, with proof attached. If that request is denied, the paid $750 expedite is available through December 31, 2026.
What documents do I need for an emergency visa appointment for a death in the family?
The Department of State says you must provide proof of the need for an earlier appointment and that the process varies by location. The embassy pages for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras were not available to us when this page was written, so we do not publish a consulate-specific list. What we can give you is our verification letter and a copy of the death certificate. For the interview itself, the Department of State lists a passport valid at least six months beyond your stay, the DS-160 confirmation page, the fee receipt and a photo.
Does the funeral home give a letter for a visa appointment?
Yes. On request we write a verification letter on our letterhead with the name of the person who died, the date and place of death, the date and place of the service or the repatriation flight, the name of the traveling relative and the relationship, and the signature and direct phone of our funeral director. We attach a copy of the death certificate when it has been issued. Call (214) 550-7369 to request it.
How much is the US visitor visa fee in 2026?
The Department of State's fee table lists $185 for a non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa, which includes the B visitor visa. The fee is non-refundable, and the Mexico appointment site states the receipt is valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. The $750 paid expedite is a separate, optional fee.
What is the $750 expedited visa appointment and who can use it?
It is a Department of State pilot that runs through December 31, 2026. A B-visa applicant who has already paid the $185 fee and holds an appointment may pay $750 per appointment to schedule an interview within 10 business days, subject to availability. The fee is not refundable, the appointment cannot be changed, and it does not guarantee that a visa is issued. The pilot's FAQ says applicants whose regular emergency request was denied can use it. It launched at the Embassy and every consulate in Mexico on July 21, 2026, and the Guatemala and Honduras appointment sites posted the announcement on August 18, 2026.
Can my mother in Mexico get humanitarian parole to come to my husband's funeral?
Humanitarian parole is for a person who may be inadmissible and needs to enter temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons. The example USCIS publishes is visiting or supporting a family member at an end-of-life stage of an illness; attending a funeral is not mentioned on the USCIS page. The application is Form I-131 ($630 on paper, $580 online), with a Form I-134 financial declaration ($0), an explanation, evidence of the urgency and evidence that a visa could not be obtained. If parole is granted on or after October 16, 2026, CBP collects an additional $1,050 at the port of entry. USCIS says to expect processing delays. An immigration attorney can tell you whether it fits your situation.
How long does humanitarian parole take?
USCIS does not publish a timeframe. Its parole page says petitioners should expect processing delays. An expedite request can be made by writing EXPEDITE on the top right of a paper Form I-131 or by completing the online statement, and USCIS decides it at its sole discretion. We do not publish an estimate because there is no official one.
Can Mexicans use ESTA to come to the US for a funeral?
No. ESTA is only for citizens of the 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program. The Department of Homeland Security list, updated October 28, 2026, does not include Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador or Honduras. The ESTA fee of $40.62 that applies from October 16, 2026 is paid only by travelers from those 42 countries.
Can I fly with my mother's ashes from Dallas to Mexico?
For the trip into Mexico, the SRE checklist on the transfer of remains (April 2026) lists the apostilled death certificate, the cremation certificate, the transit permit, the letter of non-contagious diseases and proof of the deceased person's nationality, all translated into Spanish and notarized, and it says the family must prove the relationship. Our Mexico repatriation page explains how we prepare that file. For the reverse trip into the United States, the CDC says cremated remains need neither a death certificate nor a permit.
What papers does the Mexican consulate in Dallas need to send a body to Mexico?
The SRE document published through the Consulate in Atlanta in April 2026 lists: the apostilled death certificate, the embalming certificate or cremation certificate, the transit and burial permit, the letter of non-contagious diseases and proof of nationality, with every document translated and notarized. Remains travel embalmed or as ashes. The Dallas consulate's protección page offers guidance when a relative died in the United States and the family wants to move the body or ashes to Mexico.
If I am undocumented, can I go to my father's funeral in Mexico and come back?
We cannot answer that for you, and we do not advise anyone whether to travel. What USCIS publishes is this: the three-year bar applies after more than 180 days but less than one year of unlawful presence in a single stay, the ten-year bar after one year or more, and both periods start when you leave the United States. A person with more than one year of unlawful presence who leaves and then enters without admission or parole is permanently inadmissible. Talk with an immigration attorney before buying a ticket. If the family decides not to travel, we can bring your loved one to Dallas or send them home to Mexico.
What is the 10-year bar if I leave the US?
According to USCIS, a person who accrued one year or more of unlawful presence during a single stay becomes inadmissible for ten years, and the ten years start when the person leaves or is removed from the United States. USCIS also noted on August 13, 2026 that departing after obtaining an Advance Parole Document counts as a departure for these bars.
Does the Mexican consulate help pay to repatriate a body?
The SRE document we cite says only that the consulate's support is partial. It publishes no amount and no Dallas-specific terms, so we do not either. Ask the protección department of the Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas directly. Our own Mexico repatriation price is published on its own page.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State: Visitor Visa
- U.S. Department of State: Visa appointment wait times and expedited appointments
- U.S. Department of State: Fees for Visa Services
- U.S. Department of State: Form DS-160
- U.S. Department of State: Nonimmigrant Visa Expedited Appointment Pilot Program (updated July 22, 2026)
- U.S. Department of State: Visa Waiver Program
- U.S. Department of State: Passport emergencies, proof of a death
- U.S. visa appointment service, Mexico: fee information
- U.S. visa appointment service, Mexico: nonimmigrant visa information
- U.S. visa appointment service, Guatemala
- U.S. visa appointment service, El Salvador
- U.S. visa appointment service, Honduras
- Department of Homeland Security: Visa Waiver Program (October 28, 2026)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: ESTA
- Federal Register 2026-20185 (October 1, 2026): FY2027 fees
- USCIS: Humanitarian or significant public benefit parole for individuals outside the United States (October 5, 2026)
- USCIS: Form I-131 (October 7, 2026)
- USCIS: Form I-134
- USCIS: Form I-912 (June 5, 2026)
- USCIS: Fee Schedule G-1055, edition of October 26, 2026
- USCIS: How to make an expedite request (September 8, 2026)
- USCIS: Unlawful presence and inadmissibility (August 14, 2026)
- CDC: Importation of human remains (December 4, 2025)
- Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas: Protección consular
- SRE, Consulate of Mexico in Atlanta: Actualización, traslado de restos (April 2026)
- RENAP (Guatemala): list of diplomatic missions (August 8, 2024)
This page is general information from the sources listed, checked on November 2, 2026. It is not legal advice and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fees, dates and procedures change; the official page governs. For advice about a particular person's situation, consult an immigration attorney.