NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

Tourist/Business Visas

Visa Pick-up Hours: In case of approved applications, passports with visas may be picked up at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Documentation: The following documents must be presented at the time of application:

• Passport: Must be valid for at least six months beyond the planned date of departure from the U.S.
  
• Personal appearance: All applicants aged 14 to 80 are required to appear in person.
  
• Forms: Each applicant must submit a fully completed and signed Electronic Visa Application Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application).  The electronic version is available at http://evisaforms.state.gov.  In addition, all males between 16-45 years of age, and all applicants age 16 and over who are from Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria must present Form DS-157.  DS-157 is available at www.travel.state.gov or http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0157.pdf. 
  
• Photographs:  Each applicant must present a recent (within six months) full-face photo without any head covering (5 cm by 5 cm in size, exclusive of any white borders) and taken against a white or off-white background.  Applicants may wear a head covering for religious reasons but only if the head covering does not obscure any portion of the face.  Traditional head coverings may not be worn in photos submitted for visa applications.
  
• Fees: A non-refundable visa application fee of U.S. $100.00 (R.O. 40) is charged to all applicants for standard visitor visas, regardless of whether a visa is issued or not.  Additionally, an issuance fee (usually varying from R.O. 4/- to R.O. 80/- depending on nationality) may apply, and if so, it must be paid immediately after the visa has been approved for issuance.
  
• Supporting documentation: Under U.S. Immigration law, applicants for visitor visas must demonstrate strong economic and social ties to their country of residence.  While supporting documentation is not required during the interview, applicants may nonetheless wish to provide some or all of the following documents (in original form) to assist the interviewing officer in reaching a decision.  Applicants who are financially dependent may present documents relevant to the situation of their head of the family. 

Examples of supporting documentation: Letters of employment (stating position, salary and time of service), bank documents demonstrating at least a six-month account history, employment contracts, current trade license and/or audited financial statements showing status of business, letters of invitation to the U.S., applicant's previous passports, passports of immediate family members not traveling with the applicant, tour, airline and/or hotel reservations. 

Note: Fulfilling the visa application requirements listed above does not guarantee issuance of a visa.  A visa may be issued only when the applicant independently qualifies for such visa status.