Temporary Business or Tourism (B)
For those persons going to the U.S. on tourism, please indicate where you will be staying. If you are visiting friends, please feel free to bring correspondence or letters of invitation from them. PLEASE do NOT bring a notarized form or letter to this effect. The consular officer may ask how you met the person you are visiting. If you are visiting family, please indicate the inviting person's relationship to you and indicate whether that person is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (i.e. bearer of a U.S. green card), or nonimmigrant in the U.S. on a work or student visa.
Individuals applying for business visas should be prepared to explain what kind of business trip they are making. For those persons visiting business contacts or clients, please bring correspondence that explains the nature of the trip. If you choose to include an invitation letter with your visa application, it is not necessary that it be notarized.
Validity: 12-month Multiple Entry. A 24-month Multiple Entry visa is available for an additional $100 reciprocity fee.
Student or Exchange Programs
Student Visas (F, M)
Those wishing to study in the United States must include with the visa application the Form I-20 and evidence of funding for the first year's studies. The Form I-20 is provided by the United States institution after a foreign student has been accepted. F-1 and M-1 visa applicants must also complete form DS-158 and submit it with the visa application. Most successful applicants for student visas are attending college or post graduate programs; however, we do issue F-1 visas to high school students depending on the program and arrangements made. (Special requirements exist for high school students, please see the U.S. Department of State website). The evidence that you have the funding for the first year should be in the form of a bank financial statement (not just a letter from the bank). If you have a U.S. sponsor, you may bring the sponsor's yearly income tax return to show that he can fulfill his financial obligation for your education. If your parents are paying and they do not have an overseas account, you may bring documents from their place of employment to demonstrate that they can cover the cost of your first year in the United States .
Persons applying for student visas must pay the SEVIS fee before their interview date . Please review the SEVIS Fact Sheet for more information.
Validity: Maximum 12 month, Multiple Entry or the expected end-date of your studies, if less than 12 months.
Exchange Visas (J)
The United States government and many private organizations sponsor a wide variety of exchange programs. These include academic and cultural exchanges, as well as au pair programs and summer work and travel programs. Applications for J-1 Exchange Visitor visas must be accompanied by the Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for NIV Exchange Visitor) which is provided by the sponsoring U.S. organization. With few exceptions, the consular officer will require that the applicant sign the DS-2019 prior to visa issuance. J-1 visa applicants must also complete form DS-158 and submit it with the visa application.
Summer Work & Travel Program for students.
Persons applying for exchange visas must pay the SEVIS fee before their interview date . Please review the SEVIS Fact Sheet for more information.
For more information on Student and Exchange programs, please see review Studying in the US on the U.S. Department of State website.
Validity : The expiration date of the DS-2019 form (usually the program end date).
Temporary Work
Nonimmigrant Worker (H)
An H visa is issued to a nonimmigrant to allow travel for the purpose of temporary employment in the United States . To qualify for an H visa, the applicant must demonstrate that (a) the prospective employer has filed and the USCIS has approved a petition (Form I-129) requesting H status for the applicant, and (b) the applicant qualifies for the specified employment by showing proof of education and relevant work experience.
Validity: 12 month Multiple Entry, or 24 months Multiple Entry with the payment of an additional $100 reciprocity fee.
Intracompany Transfer (L)
The L visa classification was created to permit multinational companies to transfer qualified employees temporarily to the United States for the purpose of improving management effectiveness, expanding U. S. exports, and enhancing competitiveness in overseas markets. An applicant for an L visa must demonstrate that (a) the prospective employer has filed and the USCIS has approved a petition (Form I-129) requesting L status for the applicant; (b) the prospective employer is the same firm, corporation, or other legal entity, or parent, branch, affiliate or subsidiary thereof, for whom the applicant has been employed abroad; (c) the prospective employer will continue to do business in the United States and at least one other country; (d) the applicant has been employed overseas by the transferring organization for at least one year within the past three years; and (e) the applicant is a manager, executive, or employee with specialized knowledge and is destined to a managerial or executive position, or a position which requires specialized knowledge.
Please note that for blanket L visas, the new fee is $500 to be paid at the time of the interview.
Questions regarding the appropriate type of visa can be resolved at the time of the visa interview.
Validity: 12 month Multiple Entry, or 24 months Multiple Entry with the payment of an additional $100 reciprocity fee.
Journalists (I)
Representative of foreign press, radio, film or other information media should apply for this type of visa. This includes personnel whose activities are essential to the foreign information media function; for example, media reporters, media film crews, video tape editors, and persons in similar occupations. The I visa classification may be accorded not only to primary employees of foreign information media engaged in filming a news event or documentary, but also to the employees of independent production companies when those employees hold a credential issued by a professional journalistic association.
Validity: 3 month Single Entry. Journalists on long-term assignment may be eligible for 12 month Multiple Entry visas with the payment of an additional $100 reciprocity fee.
Religious Occupations (R)
Religious workers include ministers of religion who are authorized by a recognized denomination to conduct religious worship and perform other duties usually performed by members of the clergy such as administering the sacraments, or their equivalent. The term does not apply to lay preachers. A religious vocation means a calling to religious life, evidenced by the demonstration of a lifelong commitment, such as taking vows. Examples include nuns, monks, and religious brothers and sisters. A religious occupation means a habitual engagement in an activity which relates to a traditional religious function. Examples include liturgical workers, religious instructors or cantors, catechists, workers in religious hospitals, missionaries, religious translators, or religious broadcasters. It does not include janitors, maintenance workers, clerks, fund raisers, solicitors of donations, or similar occupations. The activity of a lay-person who will be engaged in a religious occupation must relate to a traditional religious function: i.e., the activity must embody the tenets of the religion and have religious significance, relating primarily, if not exclusively, to matters of the spirit as they apply to the religion.
Validity: 12 month Multiple Entry, or 24 months Multiple Entry with the payment of an additional $100 reciprocity fee.
Crew Members and/or Transit (C1/D)
Pilots, air hostesses, stewards, seamen or employees on board a ship whose services are required for normal operation, or crew members traveling to the United States as passengers to join vessel or aircraft should apply for this type of visa.
Validity: 12 month Multiple Entry, or 24 months Multiple Entry with the payment of an additional $100 reciprocity fee for sea crews. Air crews only may receive the 24 month multiple-entry visa without payment of the $100 reciprocity fee.
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