How to Apply

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States, unless exempt by country-specific agreements (PDF, 57 KB).

  • Completed Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160

Please note that you must answer EVERY question on the application forms. If the answer to a question is “none,” please write “none”(Do not leave it blank). Incomplete/incorrect forms will be returned and will require you to schedule a new interview appointment.

Important! Many of our visa applicants are completing the DS-160 incorrectly, causing us to postpone their planned visa interview dates.

Only a passport, DS-160 confirmation page, a 2 x 2 inch color photo not older than 6 months – with a light or white background, and the forms listed in Step 2 are required for the visa interview.  Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:

  • The purpose of your trip;
  • Your intent to depart the United States after your trip; and/or
  • Your ability to pay all costs of the trip.

Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant’s residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a nonimmigrant tourist visa. If you do choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember that it is not one of the factors that we use in determining whether to issue or deny a nonimmigrant tourist visa.

To schedule an appointment for a non-immigrant visa (NIV) interview, please consult the Embassy’s online NIV Appointment System. Please have your DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form Confirmation Number handy. It is located on your DS-160 confirmation page, in bold print.

!!!IMPORTANT!!! You must include correct, working contact information including email and mobile phone. Additionally, when the system asks for a “Receipt Number” you should enter the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form Confirmation Number, otherwise known as a barcode.

!!!IMPORTANT!!! Your appointment will be cancelled if you have made an appointment within the two prior months regardless of whether you were at the appointment, failed to appear for the appointment, or cancelled the appointment.

!!!IMPORTANT!!! All applicants must arrive no more than 15 minutes early or 15 minutes late, or risk having their appointment cancelled. Failure to arrive with the DS-160 confirmation page can result in having your appointment cancelled. Failure to have exact change for the 160 USD machine readable visa fee can result in having your appointment cancelled.

!!!IMPORTANT!!! Submission of an application form and payment of a fee does not guarantee issuance of a visa. Each applicant must qualify for the visa under U.S. law.

 

Bring your completed DS-160 confirmation sheet, a 2 x 2 inch color photo not older than 6 months, and a valid passport, to the Consular Office on the day of the interview.

On the day of your interview, please pay the following nonrefundable visa application fees: $ 160 for B-1 (Business) and B-2 (Tourism & Visit) nonimmigrant visas; $ 190 for H, L, O, P, Q, and R visas; and $ 270 for E visas.

NB. Please note that we do not accept deficient money.

During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.

Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process.

If your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, depending on the type of visa issued.  If you are issued a B-2 Tourism & Visit visa, you will need to pay an additional fee of $20.

NB. Please note that we do not accept deficient money.

If you are issued the visa, you will be told when to return to the embassy to collect your passport and visa.