US Immigration - Complete Application Process for a Non-Immigrant VISA

Tuesday, September 21, 2021
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#0 Initial Info - Things to Remember:

  1. The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. 
  2. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. 
  3. When you apply at a U.S embassy or consulate, a consular officer will determine based on laws, whether you are eligible to receive a visa.
  4. State Department guidelines require most classes of nonimmigrant visa applicants to appear at consulates for personal interviews, with the exception of certain foreign nationals applying to renew a visa that remains valid or has been expired for four years or less. 
  5. Most consulates use an online appointment system for visa applicants. Be prepared for the possibility of lengthy waits of four to six weeks or longer for visa appointments.
  6. During a visa appointment, you will be fingerprinted, photographed, and interviewed about your visa application and your prospective stay in the United States. 
  7. You may also be subject to a sometimes-lengthy security clearance.
  8. In most cases, before approving the visa application and issuing the visa, the U.S. consulate must verify the approval of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) petition that is the basis for the visa application. 
  9. To make this verification, the consulate will consult the State Department’s Petition Information Management Service (PIMS), an electronic database that contains information on petition approvals. 
  10. Please note that it may take several days or more for the consulate to verify the approval in the PIMS system, particularly if the visa applicant was the beneficiary of a petition to change or extend nonimmigrant status. 
  11. Visa applicants should be prepared for the possibility of delays while the consulate verifies the petition approval.
  12. If you will be applying for a visa at a U.S. consulate, you should contact the consular post at which you will apply for a nonimmigrant visa in order to obtain the latest information on procedures, requirements and appointment wait times.
  13. Biometrics Collection
    If you are between the ages of 14 and 79 and are applying for a visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy, you will be required to make a personal appearance at the post so that your fingerprints and photograph can be taken. Biometric information captured during the visa application process is later coordinated with fingerprints and photographs taken for Biometric Data Collection (formerly the US-VISIT) at the U.S. port of entry (discussed below).
  14. Security and Background Checks
    When applying for a visa to the United States, you may be subject to additional security and background checks. Though the State Department has provided only limited information on the circumstances that will prompt the checks, the following may trigger additional screening:
  15. Citizenship, nationality or country of birth.
    Special scrutiny is imposed on male visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 who were born in or are nationals or citizens of countries of concern. Though the State Department has declined to release the list of countries on national security grounds, it is thought to include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Citizens of North Korea are subject to increased scrutiny as well.
  16. Background information.
    The State Department requires visa applicants to provide extensive background information on the applicant’s foreign travel history, education, military service, weapons and combat training, membership in and contributions to charitable organizations and other details. This information may trigger more intensive security clearances.
  17. Involvement in high-technology fields.
    If you work in high technology, engineering, or the sciences, you should be prepared to be questioned closely about the details of your job. This is also true if you work with products or services that have both commercial and military applications (known as “dual use” technologies). Visa delays may result as consular officers seek security advisory opinions from federal agencies on your work background. If an export control license is required for a position, you must ensure that your job activities are within the terms of the license and that your employer can document your compliance with the license.
  18. Home country references for students and exchange visitors.
    All applicants for foreign student visas in the F and M categories and exchange visitor visas in the J category must provide information on their family members and work history, and provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two persons in the country of residence who can verify information about the applicant. Consular officers may elect to verify an applicant’s background information with family members, current and former employers and other references.
  19. Appearance in national security and law enforcement databases.
    Consular officers are required to screen visa applicants through the State Department’s security databases and lookout lists, which contain the names of individuals identified as security risks. A positive “hit” on one of these lists will trigger additional security clearances and may cause the consular officer to seek guidance from State Department headquarters on the further handling of the case; as a result, visas may be delayed or refused. If you believe that your name may appear or is similar to a name that appears in one of these databases, please contact the Fragomen professional with whom you normally work.

How to apply for nonimmigrant visa

Assuming you actually qualify for a US VISA, please follow the process shown below:


#1 Fill the DS160 Form -
  1. The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States, and for K (fiancé(e)) visas. 
  2. Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet.
  3. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.
  4. Be sure to read the Guidelines for Completing the DS-160 Form carefully and read the DS-160 FAQs here.
  5. Next, complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form (also accessible here). All information must be correct and accurate. 
  6. You can also save your work and later, start where you left off. However, in order to access your application later, you will need: (1) your Application ID, and (2) the answer to the security question that you have chosen.
  7. Remember, once the form is submitted, you cannot make any changes.
  8. The interview Embassy/Consulate you select at the beginning of the Form DS-160 must be the same Embassy/Consulate where you schedule your interview appointment.
  9. Note: You need to fill and complete a new Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form if:
    A) You were denied VISA previously
    B) Your Passport has changed/updated/renewed
    C) You previously had a VISA and are now renewing your VISA
    D) You currently have a VISA and your VISA type is changing

#2 Pay the Visa (MRV) Fee -
  1. Pay the visa application processing fee. Review country-specific instructions on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.
  2. It can take up to 2 business days from the time of your SEVIS fee payment for your payment to be verified, so you may be able to do this step 2 days after filling the SEVIS fee. 
  3. The visa fee page lists the visa types and correlating visa fee in US dollars and native currency.
  4. To pay your visa fee, read the Bank and Payment Options page. This page explains how to make your visa fee payment.
  5. Create a profile, fill out the details asked.
  6. Now you will need to login to your profile with the same credentials you used to pay the non-refundable, non-transferable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee at  - https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/applicanthome.
  7. Note: The application fee for the most common nonimmigrant visa types is ~$150-$200.
  8. You will receive a receipt after paying the application fee and you must keep your receipt number and the respective proof of payment listed on the Bank and Payment Options page, in order to schedule your visa interview appointment.
  9. Applicants are limited to the number of times they can reschedule their appointments. Please plan accordingly so that you are not required to pay another visa application fee.
  10. If you have encountered an error with your payment or you believe your payment was not successful, DO NOT PAY THE FEE A SECOND TIME AS IT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.
  11. Please email our support center at support-india@ustraveldocs.com  with your concern and we will investigate. Be aware that if you request a chargeback that reverses the charge or payment, your case will be promptly investigated which may lead to fines and/or other legal action.

#3 Schedule individual/group VISA Appointments -
  1. Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where you will be interviewed for country-specific instructions. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate does not schedule an appointment for you.
  2. Check appointment wait times at ustraveldocs.com.

INDIVIDUAL Appointments:
  1. Open https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/applicanthome and click on "Schedule Appointment" on the left-hand side menu. This will start the process of scheduling your appointment. 
  2. You must schedule two appointments,
    1. OFC appointment for taking your Biometrics (that is, your fingerprints and photo) at the Visa Application Center (VAC), and
    2. Visa Interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate (for your evaluation as a candidate to enter the US).
  3. Remember to schedule your visa interview appointment at an Embassy or a Consulate near to you.
  4. Also, schedule your OFC Biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Centre at least 1 day before your Visa Interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate. 
  5. Now, you will need three pieces of information in order to schedule your "OFC appointment" at the "Visa Application Centre (VAC):
    1. Your passport number,
    2. The date you paid your fee, and
    3. The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page.

GROUP Appointments: 
  1. If you are applying for a U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa as a group, you may request interview appointments on the same date and time in case of at least 10 applicants with the same purpose of travelling. 
  2. Examples of groups include, but are not limited to, professional trainees, performance troops, and tour groups. Please note that family members of group applicant who would like to schedule an interview appointment together are not eligible for group appointment requests. 
  3. When submitting a group appointment request, please be sure to include detailed information about the nature of your travel plans and whether there is a particular day that you would like to schedule your group interview. The Embassy/Consulate might take into consideration those preferred dates when assigning a date and time for your group.
  4. The maximum number of appointments for a group on any given day is fifty. Groups may be allocated appointment times over multiple days based on availability.
  5. A designated group coordinator needs to log in to his/her profile on https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ and request group appointment by selecting – “Group Scheduling Request” from the left menu. 
  6. Group coordinators must submit this information as attached files with the request:
    1. List of visa applicants' names in English (per passport biodata pages) with DS-160 barcode number and passport number
    2. Itinerary
    3. Invitation letter (if any)
    Note*: Group coordinators must have this information ready on hand in order to fill in the information for group members correctly:
    1. Biodata information (e.g. names/passport number/date of birth) as shown in passport
    2. Visa fee receipt number, payment date, and total amount of visa fee.
    3. The 10-digit barcode number from DS-160 confirmation page of each group member

    Note**: A representative from the Embassy will contact you to finalize your group appointment. Please provide valid contact telephone number when completing your group appointment request.

  7. If the U.S. Embassy or Consulate approves the request, the group coordinator will receive an e-mail inviting him or her to return to his or her profile to schedule appointments for each group member. Should the U.S. Embassy or Consulate deny the request for a group appointment, a notification will also be sent by e-mail. In this case, each group member must schedule an individual appointment.
  8. The e-mail confirming or denying your request comes from no-reply@ustraveldocs.com. Some e-mail applications have rules which filter unknown senders into a spam or junk mail folder. If you have not received your e-mail notification, please look for the message in your junk and spam e-mail folder. 
  9. ADD EACH GROUP MEMBER AS A "DEPENDENT" The group coordinator adds each group member as a "Dependent" to the group coordinator's profile. If the group coordinator applies for a visa together with the group, check the box “Include yourself in the group appointment”. Click either “Add by name” or “Add by UID” (if a profile has already been created for an individual applicant) and add the applicants one by one, then click “Save”.
  10. Once you hit “Save”, that individual applicant will be added to the group appointment.
    1. After you have added all the applicants to the group: click “Continue”.
    2. Identify your mailing address.
    3. Enter a visa fee receipt number for each member to confirm your visa fee’s payment.
    4. Choose an agreed interview date and time.
    Note: The appointment calendar should all be greyed out and you should only see the available appointment on the date the Embassy has approved for your group.
  11. The group goes to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the date and time of their visa interviews. Each group member must bring an appointment letter, a current passport, all old passports, DS-160 confirmation page, and 2x2 inch color photo with white background taken within the last six months with no glasses on. For U.S. visa photo requirements, please see: http://www.ustraveldocs.com





#4 Go to US Embassy to Attend Appointments -
  1. Attend your OFC appointment for taking your Biometrics (that is, your fingerprints and photo) at the Visa Application Center (VAC), and
  2. Visa Interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate (for your evaluation as a candidate to enter the US). For your Visa Application Center appointment, you must present:

    • A passport valid for travel to the United States with validity dates at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). 

    • If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application.

    • Your DS-160 confirmation page.

    • Your appointment confirmation page.

    • One photograph as per U.S. visa specifications if the applicant is under 14 years of age. See photos and fingerprints for more details.


#5 Check VISA Status -
  1. Applicants can track the status of their visa application through https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/
  2. Track my passport by telephone - Callers in the United States - +1 703 520 2239

  3. Track my passport by email -
    A) Send an email to passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com 
    B) In the subject and/or body enter only a valid passport number exactly as it was entered at the time the appointment was scheduled.
    C) Do not enter any additional text. You will receive an automatic response with the status.

#6 Collect your VISA -
  1. If your visa application is approved, your passport and visa can be collected from the pickup location you selected when you scheduled for interview appointment. 
  2. When your passport is available at the selected location you will receive an email and an SMS that your passport is “Ready for Pick Up”.  Domestic delivery services to applicant’s address are available as a premium service.
  3. Although visa processing time is typically three working days, the processing time for specific cases may vary due to individual circumstances and other special requirements. 
  4. Passports not collected within 14 days from 11 Visa Application Centers or 7 days from Blue Dart locations will be returned to the Embassy/Consulate.
  5. Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant's interview by a Consular Officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. 
  6. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. 
  7. "Wait Times for a Nonimmigrant Visa to be processed" information by country does not include the time required for administrative processing. Processing wait time also does not include the time required to return the passport to applicants, by either courier services or the local mail system.



References:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application/ds-160-faqs.html
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/payment-options
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-1
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-3
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-6
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/payment-options
https://www.fragomen.com/migrated-sitemap-pages/know-your-obligations.html
https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/how_to_request_group_appointment_english-2019.pdf

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