Consulate General Belfast

VISA SERVICES

Visa Information

This website contains comprehensive information on visa free travel and both non-immigrant and immigrant visas. The US Consulate General in Belfast is not open for walk-in visa enquiries. If you cannot find the visa information you require on this website, you may contact a live operator by telephoning our call center at 09042-450100. The lines are open Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 9:00pm, and on Saturday between 9:00am and 4:00pm. Calls are charged at £1.20/min from BT landlines. Some mobile and network providers may charge more. This number can only be dialed from within the UK.

Callers from within the United States who wish to obtain information should dial 1-866-382-3589. Callers are charged a fixed rate of $16:00 for up to 7 minutes which is payable by credit card (MasterCard, American Express or Visa). Please ensure that you have your credit card details available when making the call. You will not be charged for the call until payment has been taken.

If you have a question that has not been addressed on this website and which the live operator at 09042-450100 or 1-866-382-3589 is unable to help you with, you may email your query to consularbelfast@state.gov.

Who Needs a Visa?

Anyone who is not eligible to enter the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program or is not exempt from the visa requirement is required to apply for a U.S. visa.

What Type of Visas are Available?

Non immigrant Visas: A nonimmigrant visa is required by anyone seeking temporary admission into the United States who is not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program, or is not exempt from the visa requirement. Nonimmigrant visas cover visits for tourism, business, work or study. The Consulate General in Belfast does not issue Treaty Trader/Investor (E) visas or Fiance (K) visas. The Embassy in London is responsible for issuing E and K visas to residents of the United Kingdom.

Immigrant Visas: An immigrant visa is required by anyone seeking to take up indefinite or permanent residence in the United States. The Consulate General in Belfast does not issue immigrant visas. The Embassy in London is responsible for issuing immigrant visas to residents of the United Kingdom.

Applying by Mail for a Non-Immigrant Visa in Belfast

Most visa applicants must arrange an appointment for a personal interview with a consular officer in order to apply for a visa. However, there are limited exceptions to the interview requirement. If you are a resident of Northern Ireland and you are currently physically present in Northern Ireland and any one of the following categories applies to you, you may submit your application by mail:

• You are a child under the age of 14; or
• You are an adult aged 80 or over; or
• You are applying for a diplomatic or official visa.

Within the above group, however, the following must apply in person for a visa:

• Anyone who answers yes to question 38 on the visa application form DS-156;
• Applicants aged 14 or over who were born in or hold a passport from North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan, Iran or Libya.

If you are eligible to apply by mail, send the following by Royal Mail Special Delivery to the Visa Section, U.S. Consulate General, Danesfort House, 223 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5GR:

• A completed visa application form DS-156;
• A current passport in good condition with at least one blank page;
• One passport photograph that conforms to our specifications;
• The visa processing fee is $131 (diplomatic and official visa applications are fee exempt). You may either submit a bank draft or international money order in dollars made payable to the "U.S. Disbursing Officer", or, a completed and signed "Credit Card Authorization Form" authorizing us to the charge the $131 to the signatory's credit card;
• Any documents you need to submit in support of your application; e.g. an official request for a diplomatic or official visa from a qualifying employer. Other applicants should refer to the below section Documentation Required in Support of a Visa Application for further information in this regard;
• A prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope for the return of your passport.
You should allow a minimum of five working days for visa processing; and
• Any applicable visa issuance fees. Please refer to the below section Additional Fees for further information in this regard

Applying in Person for a Non-Immigrant Visa in Belfast

Every visa applicant apart from those very specific and limited exceptions indicated in the section above must apply for a visa in person. Any visa applicant who is physically present in the UK may attend a visa interview at the Consulate General in Belfast. Visa interviews are by appointment only.

Scheduling an appointment for visa interview in Belfast

Please telephone our call center at 09042-450100 to schedule an appointment for interview. The lines are open Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 8:00pm, and on Saturday between 9:00am and 4:00pm. The service is not available on British public holidays. Calls are charged at £1.20/min from BT landlines. Some mobile and network providers may charge more. This number can only be dialled from within the UK. If you are outside the UK, you may have a friend or family member in the UK call to book on your behalf.

Callers from within the United States can schedule an appointment by telephoning 1-866-382-3589. Callers are charged a fixed rate of $16:00 for up to 7 minutes which is payable by credit or debit card (Mastercard, American Express or Visa). Please ensure that you have your credit or debit card details available when making the call. You will not be charged for the call until payment has been taken.

The operator will ask the caller to provide the following information about each visa applicant(s): name; address; email address; date of birth; place of birth; nationality; passport number; visa category; and confirmation that the applicant has the necessary documentation to support the application. Payment of the visa processing fee ($131 per applicant) MUST be made by credit or debit card (Mastercard, American Express or Visa but NOT Visa Electron) during the call.

The call center will email or mail each applicant an appointment letter, a fee receipt, instructions on the application process (including hyperlinks to the application forms each applicant must complete and hyperlinks to information about the supporting documentation each applicant must present), and instructions on how to locate the Consulate General.

Please be sure to book in advance as the wait time for an appointment can be several weeks.   Click here for the current wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview in Belfast.

The Visa Interview

Visa interviews at the U.S. Consulate General in Belfast, are currently held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings between 8:15 am and 11:30am. During May and June, we also hold interviews on Friday mornings. Visa applicants will not be admitted to the Consulate General without a pre-arranged appointment. Only the visa applicant will be admitted to the Consulate except in the following circumstances: where the applicant is a minor (under 16); where the applicant needs an interpreter; or where the applicant is disabled and requires assistance.

Please note that there are no parking facilities for visitors to the Consulate General. Disabled applicants with the appropriate parking permits should contact us at consularbelfast@state.gov to make special arrangements.

Visa applicants can expect to be at the Consulate General for up to 2 hours. Do not bring any of the following with you to your visa interview at the Consulate General: mobile phones; blackberries; i Pods; PDAs; large bags; backpacks; suitcases; packages of any description. Those applicants who bring any of the above will experience considerable delays at the security check point and will delay the entire process for themselves and others. You may wish to bring some reading material to pass the time. Our waiting room is quite small and applicants are sometimes required to queue outside, even in inclement weather. Please dress appropriately for Belfast's variable weather conditions.

FINGER SCANS:   We electronically fingerscan all visa applicants. We cannot finger-scan an applicant who has a cut or blister on any finger or who has a skin-condition that will prevent us from obtaining a good quality print. If you have a cut or blister on any finger or a condition that might prevent us obtaining a successful finger-scan, please reschedule your appointment when the cut or blister has healed or the condition has cleared up.

How long will it take to process my visa application?

The vast majority of visa applications can be processed to conclusion in 2 working days.

Some visa applications, e.g. for applicants who have been arrested for or convicted of a crime, or who have previously been refused admission to the U.S., or who have previously violated the terms of a U.S. visa or of the Visa Waiver Program, can take several weeks, sometimes even months, to process. (Current estimate: 8 weeks)

Other applicants who are advised at the time of the visa interview that their application will require additional administrative processing should allow at least 30 days and in some cases longer for this stage of the application to be completed.

WE CANNOT GUARANTEE VISA ISSUANCE IN ADVANCE NOR CAN WE PREDICT IN ADVANCE HOW LONG ANY APPLICATION IS LIKELY TO TAKE TO PROCESS. WE THEREFORE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR VISAS WELL IN ADVANCE OF TRAVEL AND THAT THEY DO NOT MAKE FINAL TRAVEL PLANS UNTIL THEIR VISA APPLICATION HAS BEEN PROCESSED TO CONCLUSION.

How will my passport be returned to me?

All passports are returned by mail. Visa applicants are asked to provide a pre-paid (minimum postage paid), self-addressed, "Special Delivery" envelope with their visa application for this purpose. Such envelopes should be purchased at any UK post office prior to the interview. One envelope is sufficient for up to four passports. The U.S. Consulate General cannot return a passport without a prepaid envelope.

If you reside in the Republic of Ireland

Applicants residing in the Republic of Ireland must apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin. Application information can be obtained and an appointment can be scheduled by calling the Republic of Ireland Visa Information Service.

Documentation required in support of a visa application

The documents you must bring may vary depending upon the type of visa you seek. However, each applicant must bring the following to the prearranged interview:

• Appointment letter and receipt showing that the visa processing fee was paid by debit or credit card when you booked the appointment.



• Application Form DS-156 A completed form DS-156 is required of all visa applicants. As well as the printed hardcopy of the 3-page DS-156 with barcode, applicants are advised to bring a saved copy of the DS-156 with them on disc. If you bring a saved copy of the completed form with you on disc and your hardcopy is unscannable, we will reprint the document for you. If your hardcopy is unscannable and you have no back-up, we will not be able to proceed with your interview.
  
  Important Note: Important Note: Applicants who check "yes"" on the visa application form (see question 38 of form DS-156) to any of the questions regarding specific categories of persons who may be inadmissible to the United States are required to supply explanatory documentation. Examples are: a police certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) issued within 6 months of the date of the visa interview, previous visas, immigration or medical records. Please note that the UK Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law. Therefore, even if your conviction is considered "spent" in the UK, you will be required to submit a police certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
  
  
• Visa applicants who have been arrested or convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) may be required to undergo a medical examination by a U.S. Government (USG) panel physician following their formal visa interview. At present, the only USG panel physician for the UK is based in London. After the visa interview, applicants who are required to undergo a medical examination will be provided with contact details for the clinic in London. An appointment for a medical examination can usually be obtained at relatively short notice. The fee for the medical examination is approximately £200 plus VAT. It will take approximately four working days for the results of the medical examination to reach the Consulate General.


People who have been afflicted with a disease of public health significance, mental disorder, or history of drug abuse/addiction will need to submit a letter from a doctor, specialist and/or other professional person familiar with their case. Please refer to http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/add_mental.html for further information in this regard. Such applicants may be required to undergo a medical examination by a U.S. Government (USG) panel physician following their formal visa interview. See section above for details.


• Application Form DS-157 All male applicants aged 16 to 45 must also complete the form DS-157. This form is also required of any applicant (male or female) aged 16 or over who was born in or holds a passport from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria.



• Passport: British and Irish passport holders must present a passport valid for at least the duration of the trip. Other nationalities, except those listed at http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/sixmonth.html, must present a passport valid for at least 6 months. Passports must have at least one blank page and must be in good condition. Applicants who are not British, Irish or other E.U. citizens must submit proof of their U.K. immigration status.
  
  NOTE: Those flying to Northern Ireland from any other part of the UK should be aware that they will be required to leave their passport at the consulate for visa processing. Please check with your airline to determine what alternate form of ID will be acceptable to check-in for your return flight.



• Photograph: One full-face color or black and white photograph taken within the last six months is required of all applicants, including babies. The photograph must conform to our specifications. If the photograph does not meet required standards, applicants will have to leave the consulate grounds to have a new photograph taken before the visa interview can proceed. Affix the photograph firmly to the space provided on the DS-156. Place staples on the edge of the photograph, not in the middle of it, as the photograph will appear on the visa.



• Documentation of intent to return to your country of residence: This is required of ALL visa applicants except those applying for official (A or G), temporary worker (H1), intra-company transferee (L1), alien of extraordinary ability (O1), or religious worker (R) visas. Examples include evidence of employment or school attendance and other indications of financial and family ties to the UK, such as recent bank and mortgage statements. Employment letters should indicate your position, length of employment and salary or wages, and should be accompanied by your most recent payslip(s). Note: Although we accept applications from anyone physically present in the UK, it is often difficult for applicants who are not permanent residents here to demonstrate that they have sufficiently strong ties to either their home country or to the UK. Such applicants may therefore have difficulty in qualifying for visa issuance here, as our consular officer has no way of verifying or evaluating information from other countries.



• Proof of previous travel: Prior, expired passports, including any that contain previously issued U.S. visas



• Stamped, addressed Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope: Passports are mailed back to the applicant. Visa applicants MUST provide a prepaid, self-addressed, Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope for this purpose. No other form of delivery is accepted. You must keep a record of the Special Delivery envelope reference number. These envelopes can be purchased at any UK post office. One special delivery will be sufficient for up to 4 passports.

All of the above are required for every visa applicant. There are also specific additional requirements depending on the purpose of travel as explained below.

• Business travelers: Those traveling to the U.S. on business must submit a letter from their UK employer and/or the inviting organization in the U.S. that states their name, date and place of birth and foreign address and which also contains information regarding the purpose, location, duration of, and source of funding for the business trip to the U.S. The letter should address in some detail the specific duties/activities to be undertaken by the employee in the U.S.



• Business on the Outer Continental Shelf: Those business travelers who will be performing services on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) must provide a letter from their employer naming the specific ship(s) on which they will be performing services, and a letter from the U.S. Coastguard confirming that the ship(s) named in the employer's letter have been exempted from the OCSLA regulations restricting the employment of non-Americans and non-resident aliens on the OCS. The employer's letter should also indicate whether the employee is a permanent employee or a contractor, and if permanent how long the employee has been with the company, and the duration of the employee's assignment on the OCS.



• Volunteers and Missionaries: Those traveling to the U.S. to volunteer or to undertake missionary work must submit a letter from the organization in the U.S. The letter should include the applicant's name, date and place of birth, address in the UK, and initial address in the U.S. It should also include information on the nature of the organization, whether the organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, the exact activities to be undertaken by the volunteer or missionary, and details of how the volunteer/missionary will be supported, e.g., an allowance from the organization or self-funding. If self-funding, the applicant will be required to furnish documentation to show that s/he has sufficient funds to support her/himself for the entire proposed duration of stay. The duties/activities of a volunteer must provide assistance to the poor or the needy, or must further a religious or charitable cause. A missionary must not engage in the selling of articles and/or the solicitation and acceptance of donations.



• Academics/Doctors/Researchers: Those traveling to the U.S. to attend a conference or to undertake research or training, in addition to all of the other documents required, may also be required to submit: detailed information on the conference (where, when, organized by, topic, etc.) including a conference brochure if possible, a complete CV/Resume, a list of publications, a list of references, and a description of the subject to be discussed/researched/taught, a tentative itinerary, an abstract of any conference paper to be presented a letter of invitation and a letter of financial support.



• Student and Exchange Visitor (F, J or M) visa applicants: Those traveling as students or exchange visitors must bring a completed visa application form DS-158 and a form I-20 (for Fs and Ms) from their school/university or DS-2019 (for Js) from their program sponsor. Where the DS2019 indicates that the applicant is a "Trainee", the applicant must also submit a form DS-7002 from their program sponsor.

  Student and Exchange Visitor visa applicants with I-20 or DS-2019 forms issued on or after September 1, 2004, are required to show that they have paid the SEVIS fee where such a fee is necessary. For information on who needs to pay, how much, and how to pay, please refer to www.fmjfee.com.

  Applicants should ensure, prior to your interview, that the biographic data on their I-20 or DS-2019 are correct, i.e., name, date of birth (the U.S. date format is month/day/year rather than the British day/month/year), and country of citizenship. If traveling on a British passport, the country of citizenship should read GRBR or UK. If traveling on an Irish passport, the country of citizenship should read IRE.

  
  Additionally, F, M, and J visa applicants will be required to furnish financial documentation in support of their applications. Those whose I-20 or DS2019 shows that they are funding themselves or are being funded by family members will be required to furnish bank statements showing that they or their family members have access to the necessary funds. Those whose I-20 or DS2019 shows that they are being funded by a private sponsor or an organization in either the U.S. or the UK will be required to furnish documentation to show that this is the case, e.g., scholarship documentation, a letter from the funding organization, bank statements showing that the private sponsor has access to the necessary funds, etc. Students and exchange visitors who are enrolled at a UK school/college/university for the next academic year will be required to submit a letter from that institution confirming that this is the case.
  Checklist for Students and Exchange Visitors.



• H, L, O, P, Q and in some cases R visa applicants: Those applying for a temporary worker (H), intra-company transferee (L), alien of extraordinary ability (O), athlete/artist/entertainer (P), international cultural exchange visitor (Q), and in some cases religious worker (R) visa must be able to provide the receipt number of the approved I-129 petition. This number is provided by the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after the petition filed by the prospective employer to accord the alien H, L, O, P, Q or R status has been approved. Applicants will also be required to provide a copy of the petition and its supporting documents.
  Blanket L-1 visa applicants must submit 3 copies of the approval notice, 3 copies of the I-129S, and 3 copies of the supporting documentation. Blanket L-1 visa applicants are required to pay an additional $500 Anti-Fraud fee prior to their visa interview. We accept cash, dollars or sterling. We also accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express,Novus/Discover and Diners Club credit cards and debit cards that bear the Visa or Mastercard logo. We do not accept personal checks.



• Members of the Media: Those members of the media (definition includes but is not limited to members of the press, radio or film such as reporters, film crews, editors and persons in similar occupations) traveling to the U.S. to engage in the production or distribution of material that is informational or educational in content require an "I" visa. Such applicants must submit a letter from the foreign media organization stating the applicant's name, position in the organization, the purpose of the visit to the U.S., the intended duration of stay, and the nature of the material to be produced or distributed. Freelance journalists and employees of independent production companies will only be considered for the "I" visa if they are under contract to a media organization.
  
  Note: If the project is of a commercial or entertainment nature, rather than informational or educational, a "P" visa may be more appropriate (see above).

Additional fees

If your visa application is approved, it may be necessary for you to pay a visa issuance fee, based on reciprocity between the government of your country of nationality and the U.S. This fee is payable following your interview. We accept cash, dollars or sterling. We also accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express,Novus/Discover and Diners Club credit cards and debit cards that bear the Visa or Mastercard logo. We do not accept personal checks. Please note: If you are applying by mail and are subject to a reciprocity fee, you may either submit a bank draft or international money order in dollars for the appropriate amount made payable to the "U.S. Disbursing Officer", or, a completed and signed "Credit Card Authorization Form" authorizing us to the charge the appropriate reciprocity fee to the signatory's credit card.

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