Nonimmigrant Visas

The following provides information on visa requirements for travelers to the United States who wish to visit, work or study for a temporary period. The type of visa required will depend on the purpose of your travel. Many travelers seeking to enter the U.S. for business or tourism for less than 90 days will be eligible to travel to the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.

Method of Application

With limited exceptions, nonimmigrant visa applicants aged 14 to 79 are required to schedule an appointment for an interview with a U.S. consular officer. Interviews are by appointment only. The Embassy does not accept walk-in applications.

Processing Times

The average visa processing time for successful applicants is five business days, during which time the applicant's passport must remain with the Embassy. Applicants who are advised at the visa interview that their application requires additional processing should allow at least 8 weeks for this stage of the application process. Once processing is completed, the applicant will be contacted for the passport. A further four weeks should be allowed for the visa to be issued and the passport returned.

Applicants who are advised at the time of their interview that action on their application has been suspended under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act should allow a minimum of 10 - 15 business days for their application to be processed once they submit the missing documents to the Embassy.

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