NONIMMIGRANT VISAS

HOW TO APPLY Step 1

For Nonimmigrant Visa applicants:

Determine your visa type by reading Common Nonimmigrant

Visas. Each visa type explains the qualifications and application
items. Choose the visa type that applies to your situation.

Be sure to also review the Visa Waiver Program. If your country

participates in the Visa Waiver Program, you do not need to apply
for a visa if you are traveling for business or pleasure and will only
be staying in the Unites States for 90 days or less.

Step 2
Once you have determined the correct visa type, you must pay
the visa fee. The visa fee page lists the visa types and correlating
visa fee in US dollars and native currency.

To pay your visa fee, read the Bank and Payment Options page.
This page explains how to make your visa fee payment. You must
keep your receipt number to book your visa appointment.

Step 3
The next step is to complete the DS-160 form. Be sure to read the
Guidelines for Completing the DS-160 Form carefully. All
information must be correct and accurate. Once the form is
submitted, you cannot make any changes. If you need assistance,
please consult an immigration lawyer or translator. The call
center cannot help you complete your DS-160. You will need your
DS-160 number to book your appointment.

Step 4
You are almost ready to schedule your visa appointment!

Now you will need to create a profile in our system. Follow this
link and click on New User.

Complete all fields and create a password. Once you are in the
system, you will see your dashboard. Click on Schedule
Appointment on the left-hand side menu.

This will start the process for scheduling your appointment. You
will need:
 Your passport number

The receipt number from your Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) or

BancNet receipt

The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation
page
Ensure that you have provided a valid and correct DS-160 barcode
number when you scheduled your appointment. If the barcode
number is invalid or incorrect, you will not be admitted to the
interview and your receipt will be locked, preventing rebooking,
for 30 days.

As you go through the process you will be able to select your visa
type, enter personal data, add dependents, select your document
delivery location, confirm visa payment and finally, schedule your
appointment.

Step 5
Visit the U.S. Embassy on the date and time of your visa
interview. Be sure to check the Schedule My Appointment page
for the necessary documentation needed for your appointment.

You must bring a printed copy of your appointment letter, your

DS-160 confirmation page, one photograph taken within the last
six months, your current and with previously issued U.S. Visa.
Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.

Step 6
If your visa is approved, the visa will be sent to your designated
location selected when you scheduled your appointment.
 Business/Tourist Visa
 Work Visa
 Student Visa
 Exchange Visitor Visa
 Transit/Ship Crew Visa
NONIMMIGRANT VISAS  Religious Worker Visa
 Domestic Employee Visa
 Journalist and Media Visa
 Treaty Investors and Traders
 CNMI-Saipan Visa
 A List of NIV Types
 IMMIGRANT VISAS
HOW TO APPLY Step 1: Submit a Petition
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent resident petitioners residing in the
United States must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This can
be done either electronically or through the traditional paper process
through the mail.

Step 2: Begin National Visa Center (NVC) Processing

After USCIS approves your petition, they will transfer your case to the
Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) for pre-processing.
The first step in this processing is the creation of your case in our
system. Once this is complete, we will send you a Welcome Letter by
e-mail or physical mail. With the information in this letter, you can log
in to our Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) to check your
status, receive messages, and manage your case.

Once you submit your fees, forms, and supporting documents to NVC,
we will review your case to ensure you provided all the
documentation required to schedule the immigrant visa interview.
Interviews are based on the availability of appointments offered at
the Embassy/Consulate.

Step 3: Pay Fees

The first thing you need to do after receiving your NVC Welcome
Letter is pay your processing fees. There are two processing fees:

 Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee

 Affidavit of Support Fee

You will need a bank routing number and a checking or savings

account number from a U.S. based bank.

Step 4: Complete Affidavit of Support

An Affidavit of Support, also called the Form I-864, is a document an
individual signs to accept financial responsibility for the applicant who
is coming to live in the United States. The person who signs the
Affidavit of Support is also called the “sponsor.” The petitioner must
complete Form I-864; however if the petitioner’s income is
insufficient, a joint-sponsor may agree to also complete an I-864 on
the applicant’s behalf.

An Affidavit of Support is legally enforceable. The sponsor's financial

responsibility usually lasts until the applicant either becomes a U.S.
citizen, or can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work (usually
10 years) under the Social Security Act.

By signing Form I-864, the petitioner (including any joint sponsor(s)) is

agreeing to use their resources, if necessary, to financially support the
beneficiary and any dependent(s). If the beneficiary and dependent(s)
receive any designated federal, state, or local means-tested public
benefits, under U.S. law the agency providing the benefit “shall
request reimbursement” from the signatory of the I-864.

NOTE: Please review the following information very carefully. Failure

to complete and submit the correct form(s) will delay the processing
of your case.

In general, the petitioner must:

a) Complete an Affidavit of Support form and;

b) Gather evidence of their finances and other supporting
documents (See Step 5).

Step 5: Collect Financial Evidence and other Supporting Documents

After the financial sponsor(s) completes the Affidavit of Support form,
they should gather evidence of their finances and other supporting
documents. Review the table below to learn more about what must
be submitted.

Please remember: Each financial sponsor (petitioner, any joint sponsors, and
any household members) must submit an Affidavit of Support as well as
evidence of their finances and other supporting documents. Failure to do so
will delay the processing of your case.

Step 6: Complete Online Visa Application (DS-260)

After you pay your fees and the status in CEAC is updated to ‘PAID’,
you and each qualified family member immigrating with you must
complete the Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
(Form DS-260).

Step 7: Collect Civil Documents

After you complete your DS-260(s), you and each family member
immigrating with you MUST collect the civil documents required to
support your visa application.

Step 8: Scan Collected Documents

Once you have collected all the necessary documents, you must scan
and save them.

Step 9: Upload and Submit Scanned Documents

You must bring every civil document you uploaded and submitted
with your application to your visa interview.

Step 10: Prepare for the Interview

After the National Visa Center (NVC) schedules your visa interview
appointment, they will send you, your petitioner, and your
agent/attorney (if applicable) an email noting the appointment date
and time.  After you receive an interview Appointment Letter from
NVC, you must take the following steps BEFORE the interview date.

1. Schedule and Complete a Medical Examination

You (and each family member or “derivative applicant” applying for a

visa with you) are required to schedule a medical appointment with
an authorized physician in the country where you will be
interviewed. This exam must be with an embassy-approved doctor,
also referred to as the Panel Physician. Exams conducted by other
physicians will not be accepted. You must complete your medical
examination, along with any required vaccinations, before your
scheduled visa interview date.

2. Register for Courier Service/Other Pre-Interview Instructions

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-
visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/MNL-Manila.html

3. Gather Documents Required for the Interview

Every visa applicant, no matter their age, must bring certain

documents to the interview, including photographs, the original or
certified copy version of all civil documents submitted to NVC. You do
not need to bring your Affidavit of Support or financial evidence you
submitted to NVC.

What happens if you forget to bring something on this list? The

consular officer will not be able to complete the processing of your
visa. You will have to gather the missing items and provide them to
the embassy or consulate, and may have to come for additional
interviews. Failure to bring all items on the above list can delay visa
issuance.

4. Public Charge Questionnaire: DS:5540

You may be asked to present a completed DS-5540, Public Charge
Questionnaire, and supporting evidence at the time of your interview.

Step 11: Applicant Interview

On the scheduled date and time of your interview appointment, go to
the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with your printed visa application (DS-
260) confirmation page. A consular officer will interview you (and
accompanying family member beneficiaries) and determine whether
or not you are eligible to receive an immigrant visa. As part of the
interview process, ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken.

Who Must Attend the Interview

You, your spouse, and any qualified unmarried children immigrating
with you, must participate in the interview. All traveling applicants
required to participate will be named on the interview Appointment
Letter you receive from the National Visa Center (NVC).

If your spouse and/or qualified unmarried children will immigrate at a

later date and travel separately from you, they are not required to
participate in your interview. They will be scheduled for a separate
interview appointment. You should contact the U.S. Embassy or
Consulate directly to arrange separate interviews, if needed.

Your sponsor/petitioner does not attend the visa interview.

What to bring to the Interview

The applicant is responsible to bring all required original or certified
copy civil documents to the visa interview. Failure to bring all required
documents to the interview may cause delay or denial of the visa.
 You must bring the following documents to the interview:

 Appointment Letter – The interview appointment letter you

received from NVC.
 Passport – For each applicant, an unexpired passport valid for
six months beyond the intended date of entry into the United
States
 Photographs – two identical color photograph(s) for each
applicant, which must meet the general Photograph
Requirements.
 DS-260 Confirmation Page
 Supporting Documents – original or certified copies of all civil
documents you uploaded into CEAC.
Your original documents will be returned to you when the interview
 has been completed. Any photocopies provided may be kept.
 English Translations – If documents requiring English
translation were not sent to NVC, you must obtain them and
present them on the day of your interview. For more
information please review the U.S. Embassy or Consulate
interview preparation instructions. 
 Visa Fees – If your visa application fees were collected by NVC,
you do not need to pay again. However, if you or any family
member did not pay all the necessary fees, you will be asked
to pay any unpaid fees at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. 

Failure to Appear for Interview - If you cannot appear at your

scheduled interview, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate as soon as
possible.  If you do not contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate within
one year of receiving your interview appointment letter, your case
may be terminated and your immigrant visa petition cancelled, and
any fees paid will not be refunded.
IMMIGRANT VISAS  Family-Based Immigration
 Fiancé(e) Visa
 Employment-Based Immigration
 Diversity Visa
 Returning Resident Visa