Welcome to Nonimmigrant Visas
Thank you for your interest in traveling to the United States. We hope that this web site makes it easier for you to select and apply for the proper visa.
The type of visa you will need and the requirements to apply for that that visa depend largely on your purpose of travel to the United States.
Important Announcements |
Nonimmigrant Visa Fee IncreaseOn June 4, 2010, the U.S. Department of State increased Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fees to ensure sufficient resources to meet the increasing cost of processing nonimmigrant visas.
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If an applicant paid a visa fee of $131 but has an appointment after June 4:
All applicants with an interview date after June 4 must pay the full MRV fee, even if they paid at the former rate of $131. The Embassy requests that visa applicants who paid the MRV fee of $131 for an appointment scheduled after June 4 pay for the difference in fees at the same bank branch where they made the initial $131 payment. For instance, if an applicant made a visa interview appointment for a tourist visa for Friday,June 4, and paid the former MRV fee of $131, the applicant will need to pay the difference of $9 before arriving at the Embassy on the appointment date. Applicants for other visa categories will need to pay the appropriate incremental fee difference. Applicants will need to present both blue MRV fee receipts when arriving at the Embassy (in this example, receipts for $131 and $9). Applicants will not be allowed to enter the Embassy for their interview unless the full MRV fee has been paid.
Message updated: June 4, 2010
New DS-160 Online Visa Application Form Requirement Effective May 24, 2010Effective May 24, 2010, all nonimmigrant visa applicants will be REQUIRED to complete and submit an online visa application form known as the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application. The DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application will replace the current nonimmigrant visa paper application, Forms DS-156/157/158, and other related paper forms.
With demand for U.S. visas continuing to increase worldwide, the U.S. State Department is committed to using new technologies to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the visa application process. The web-based nonimmigrant visa application uses new technologies and replaces existing forms to better serve our visa applicants.
For visa applicants with a visa interview scheduled before May 24, 2010, the DS-156/157/158 and related paper forms will continue to be accepted. Visa applicants with a visa interview scheduled on May 24, 2010, or after MUST complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application. As DS-157 forms will no longer be accepted after this date, the MRV fee payment slip (blue paper) from the bank must be attached to the DS-160 confirmation page when an applicant appears for a visa interview. Applicants can access the DS-160 from the Consular Electronic Application Center website or from the link on the U.S. Embassy website in Manila.
In order to avoid delays in processing visa applications, visa applicants or their representatives must ensure that the following information is correctly provided:
- Applicant’s complete name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s))
- Applicant’s passport information (the passport used in filling out the form must be the same passport presented on the day of interview)
- Other Name(s) (for married female applicants, type your complete maiden name)
- Purpose of Trip to the U.S. (if the answer falls under “Other,” it is a requirement to specify the purpose of travel in the blank provided)
- Primary Occupation (if the answer falls under “Other,” it is a requirement to specify the occupation in the blank provided)
- Contact Person and Contact Address in the United States
- Father’s Complete Name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s))
- Mother’s Complete Maiden Name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s))
The only change we are implementing at the current time is the use of the DS-160 in lieu of the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF). All other visa application procedures remain the same.
Message updated: May 4, 2010
- VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN WORKERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (CNMI) EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 28, 2009
- LEGAL RIGHTS FOR WORKERS IN THE U.S.
- ELECTRONIC DEVICES NOT PERMITTED ON EMBASSY GROUNDS
- AVERAGE VISA PROCESSING TIME AND DELIVERY
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN WORKERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (CNMI) EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 28, 2009
On November 28, 2009, U.S. immigration law began applying to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), replacing the CNMI's previous immigration rules and procedures. U.S. immigration law will affect foreign workers, investors, and visitors in the CNMI. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) bureau of the Department of Homeland Security has released information on how the changes affect workers and others, including the creation of a Transitional Worker Program for foreign workers in the CNMI. Foreign workers and residents of the CNMI should be aware that they will need a visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate if they leave the CNMI and plan to return. For information, please see the USCIS links below.
. USCIS Establishes Transitional Worker Program for the CNMI
. USCIS Announces Advance Parole Procedures for the CNMI
. Questions and Answers: USCIS Amends Immigration Regulations Relating to the CNMI
On December 23, 2008, then-President George Bush signed into law the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (WWTVPA) of 2008. The Act requires that an individual applying for an A-3, G-5, B1 domestic employee, J1, or certain H1B and H2B visas is made aware of his or her legal rights under federal immigration, labor, and employment laws. This includes information on the illegality of slavery, peonage, trafficking in persons, sexual assault, extortion, blackmail, and worker exploitation in the United States. Please read this pamphlet prior to your visa interview. You will be asked if you have received, read, and understood its contents.
For inquiries related to this matter, please e-mail us at ConsManilaNIV@state.gov.
Message updated: September 15, 2009
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For the safety and security of all applicants and employees, visa applicants are NOT PERMITTED to bring any kind of electronic and battery-operated devices (cellular phone, digital camera, laptop, music player, portable game consoles such as PSP, etc.) into the U.S. Embassy. Applicants who bring such devices will be denied entry. Please make arrangements to leave your electronic equipment in a safe location off Embassy grounds BEFORE your interview appointment. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your cooperation.
Message updated: May 15, 2009
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Message updated: June 16, 2009
Depending on the volume of visa issuances of the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit, visa processing after the interview usually takes at least one week*. After the one-week visa processing, the receipt of a passport with a visa may take longer, depending on the applicant’s delivery address.
* – Average Visa Processing Time: This means the number of working days it takes for an approved applicant to receive his/her passport back from the Embassy with the U.S. Visa at the address given to the courier company. All applicants should be aware that the one week processing time is an AVERAGE, and that the processing time of a specific case can vary due to individual circumstances and other special requirements.
