Applying for a Non-Immigration US Visa in 5 Easy Steps
Every year, there are thousands of people who submit a US visa application to enter the United States as a Non-Immigrant. For people who want to visit, it is important to know the basic steps of the application process that must be followed to have a smooth and successful end of the application.
Here are the 5 Easy Steps:
Step 1 – Determine the proper type of visa for your needs
Review the common Non-immigrant Visas to determine what kind of visa is suited for your situation. For some nationals, a Visa Waiver allows them to travel to the United States 90 days or less without a US Tourist Visa.
Step 2 – Fill out the application
The DS-160 form is an online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form for temporary travel to the United States. You need to register with your passport information.
It is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet so you need to login first using the credentials you have used on the registration process.
Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and combined with a personal interview as well as to determine an applicant’s eligibility. It is important to read first the Guidelines in Completing the DS-160 Form.
Step 3 – Pay the right application fee that applies to your situation
You must login to your online account profile to proceed with EFT payment. It is critical to read the pages of the visa fee listings and how to make your payment online to avoid future complications.
Step 4 – Schedule your interview
All US Visa require an interview. In order to schedule your appointment, make sure you already have the following information at hand:
- Your passport number
- The receipt number from your Visa Fee receipt.
- The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page.
This process is done online and you must enter accurate information pertaining to your visa application.
Step 5 – Show up to the scheduled interview
All applicants regardless of age (except for those applying for diplomatic visa) are required to appear at the embassy for an interview. Please keep in mind couple of important things on the interview date.
- Make sure you will be at the embassy 15 minutes earlier of your scheduled appointment time.
- Know what must and must not bring before going to the embassy for your interview.
There will be pre-screening process during the scheduled appointment. The DS-160 will be reviewed for any necessary corrections to be made; making sure you are applying for the correct visa classification; qualifying your visa photos base on the required specifications; undergo biometric or finger scanning.
You will be assisted by someone from consular or immigration office during the biometric process.
In the event that you feel sick or experience symptoms of being sick such as cold, nausea, severe headache, vomiting, stomach pain and other contagious diseases, you are highly encouraged to reschedule your appointment.
This is for the safety of the embassy employees and customers. There is no penalty to reschedule the interview. You can do the change of appointment online.
During the interview, be open and honest. Do not worry of anything that you might lack because the immigration officer can provide you the information on how to obtain those if there are any missing document that’s required before proceeding to the final decision in your US Visa Application.
Category: US Business Visa, US Immigration
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Siam Legal is a full service law firm but it has an extensive range of immigration, corporate, and real estate experience accessible to clients both domestically and internationally. It has offices strategically located throughout the major cities in Thailand including Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Samui and Phuket along with international representative offices in Australia, London and Las Vegas.
