2 completed applicationforms
A passport valid for travel to the US, with avalidity
date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended
period of stay
1 photograph (1in x1.5in)
Evidence of sufficient funds
Postal or drop-box applications:
Completed visa application
form DS-156.
Passport (valid through 6 months
after entry).
1 passport-size colour photo
(5x5 cm, head size2,5 - 3,5 cm, front view, light
background, max. 6 months old).
Copy of Embassy's red paying-in
slip.
Supporting documents: DS-158
( male between 16 and 45 also need a DS-157 ).
Stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Applications through travel
agent:
In addition to mentioned above applicants should contact
the travel agent for details on paying the visa fee.
Further documentation may be
required to substantiate details such as the purpose
of visit plus proof of intention to return to country
of residence.
Note:
For nationals of countries
under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, passports must
be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry (except
for nationals of Andorra, Brunei, San Marino and Slovenia,
who must hold passports valid for 6 months from date
of departure).
For all othernationals, passports
must be valid for 6 months from date of entry.
Interns: When doing an internship
in the USA, a J1 visa is required. For the application
you need the DS-2016 form (former IAP66). Usually
the company or the organization arranges that. Male
applicants aged 16-45 need to fill in the DS-157 form
additionally. All persons who apply for F, J and M
Visa have to fill in DS-158 ( Information on contact
persons and the businessbackground ) additional.
Time required to issue visa:
Varies with each embassy; interviewa
ppointment waiting time is usually 25 to 30 days (27
days for London Embassy), and visa processing time
isusually five to seven working days (three days for
London Embassy). Some applications, however, may take
upto 60 days. It is important to allow sufficient
time for processing the visa, and final travel plans
should not be made until a visa has been issued. Applicationslodged
during the peak travel season may take longer.
How do I apply?
Contact your nearest US Embassy
or consulate.
What is the cost of avisa?
Tourist, Business, Transit
and Student.Other types of visa are also available.
The visa application fee is $100, regardless of whether
the visa is issued or denied and regardless of the
duration of the visa or entries required. The Embassy
will provide a paying-in slip, which is attached to
the application form DS-156.The fee must be paid in
cash at a bank prior to submitting a visa application
to the US Embassy, and the bank will issue a receipt
of payment, which must be attached to the application
form. The fee receipt, once paid, is valid for one
year. Some nationals may also have to pay a reciprocal
visa issuance fee.
How long is the visa validfor?
10 years. Some visas are valid
for multiple entries.
The length of stay in the USA is determined by US
immigration officials at the time of entry, but is
generally 6 months.
For extensions and further information, apply to the
US Immigration &Naturalisation Service
When you enter the United States
on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for
the duration of your student status. That means you
may stay as long as you are a full time student, even
if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you
are in America. For a student who has completed the
course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized
practical training, the student is allowed the following
additional time in the U.S. before departure:
F-1student - An additional
60 days, to prepare for departure from the U.S. or
to transfer to another school.
M-1 student - An additional
30 days to depart the U.S. (Fixed time period, in
total not to exceed one year). The 30 days to prepare
for departure is permitted as long as the student
maintained a full course of study and maintained status.
An M student may receive extensions up to three years
for the total program.
As an example regarding duration
of status, if you have a visa that is valid for five
years that will expire on January 1, 2001, and you
are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your
studies(often abbreviated in your passport or on your
I-94 cardas "D/S"), you may stay in the
U.S. as long as you are a full time student. Even
if January 1, 2001 passes and your visa expires while
in America, you will still be inlegal student status.
However, if you depart the U.S.with an expired visa,
you will need to obtain a new one before being able
to return to America and resume your studies. A student
visa cannot be renewed or re-issued in the United
States; it must be done at an Embassy or Consulate
abroad.
Other Information:
Visa Waiver Program
The following nationals, upon
presentation of a valid passport, do not require a
visa under the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia,
Brunei, EU countries (except nationals of Cyprus,
CzechRepublic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Malta, Poland and Slovak Republic, who do require
avisa), Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, NewZealand,
Norway, San Marino, Singapore and Switzerland.
To qualify for visa-free travel
under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel
on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business
purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days.
If entering the USA by air or sea, passengers must
hold a return or onward ticket or itinerary (if onward
tickets terminatein Bermuda, Canada, Mexico or the
Caribbean Islands, travellers must be legal permanent
residents of those countries), hold a completed form
I-94W and enter aboardan air or sea carrier participating
in the Visa Waiver Program (lists of participating
air or sea carriers are available from most travel
agents or the carriers themselves).
If entering the USA by land
from Canadaor Mexico, hold a completed form I-94W*
issued by Immigration at the port of entry and a US$6
fee (only payable in US Dollars).
Note:
Passengers must have the full
address and ZIP code of where they are staying in
the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form.
Members of Visa Waiver Program
countries who want to work, study or remain more than
90 days in the USA must apply for a visa before travelling,
as should those who have been previously refused a
visa,have a criminal record, or are in any way ineligible
for an unrestricted visa.
Holders of UK passports with
the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent
Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British
Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen
do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. Persons
unsure about visa requirements (including those defined
in Restricted Entry’ above) should contact the
US Consulate General or the Visa Department of the
US Embassy.
