For the majority of individuals on the planet, visiting the United States requires a visa. The motivations behind wanting to go are not limited to business or tourism trips; they could include working, learning, or relocating permanently. Many different types of citizens with diverse aspirations who wish to realize "the American dream" are drawn to the nation. Obtaining a visa is one of the numerous obstacles, including procedures, the US visa fee, and how to interview.
Obtaining a visa is always a laborious and anxious process. Most people find the drawn-out process of obtaining a US visa to be annoying, but you can learn everything there is to know about the process, including ways to make it easier.
How to obtain a US visa quickly
Your passport needs to stay valid for at least six months following the end of your visit to the US, unless agreements with other nations specify otherwise. If not, obtaining a visa requires you to apply for a new passport.
Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160. Please take note of the following extra details:
Every question on the application form needs to be answered. Please type "none" (do not leave it blank) if the response to a question is "none." Forms that are wrong or incomplete will be returned, and you will have to set up a new interview time.
It costs nothing to complete the DS-160 form. You don't need a business or other third party to help you fill out the form, and neither of them can promise that your visa will be issued or that it will be processed more quickly.
A nonimmigrant visa interview simply needs the following documents:
Passport-size 2 x 2 inch (5 x 5 cm) photo on white background, shot within the last six months
To determine your eligibility, more documentation could be needed. Evidence proving your trip's purpose, your intention to leave the United States following it, and/or your ability to cover all associated expenditures are a few examples of additional documentation that may be required.
Note: Rather than promises from friends and family in the United States, applicants for visas must be eligible based on their place of residence and their connections overseas. To apply for a nonimmigrant tourist visa, neither an affidavit of support nor a letter of invitation is required. Please keep in mind that we do not consider the presence of an invitation letter or an affidavit of support when making the decision to grant or refuse a nonimmigrant tourist visa.
Please use the Embassy's online NIV Appointment System to make an appointment for a non-immigrant visa (NIV) interview. Please ensure you have your confirmation number for the DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application form available. It's in bold print on your DS-160 confirmation page.
Certain visas can be obtained or renewed without the need for an interview. Please consult the Interview Waiver/Visa Application or Renewal by Mail page to find out if an interview is necessary in your situation.
From location to location, the interview process differs slightly. An overview of what to expect is provided by this 10-step approach.
Go to the Embassy.
Display the confirmation of your appointment at the gate.
Walk through the security checks.
Place your ID proof in the bank.
Drop off your keys and cell phone.
Form a line to get your picture and fingerprinted.
Provide your picture and fingerprints.
Await the interview by lining up.
Do the interview.
Find out the outcome of your visa
Follow up on some considerations to make sure your interview goes smoothly and successfully:
You should arrive at the Embassy gate at the time specified for your appointment. This is not when your interview will take place. You have to get to your appointment no later than fifteen minutes in advance. If not, you will be requested to return and be at your appointment time.
Only a mobile phone and keyfob are allowed into the Embassy. You will be returned home if you bring any further electronics into the Embassy, including computers, iPads, and the like.
You are not permitted to bring bags or backpacks into the Embassy. You will be returned, and the Embassy will not store your bags.
It is not permissible to bring in goods like food, cigarettes, lighters, or sharp objects. They will be returned if you don't get rid of them.
Only a transparent folder or plastic bag are acceptable containers for transporting documents.
Tips for passing the successful interview with the US Embassy are listed below:
Tips for a smooth interview when applying for a US visa
Aside from having years of experience, visa officers are highly trained. Within their careers, they see thousands of candidates. Lie detectors and cunning response generators are easy to spot. When responding, give sincere answers.
Maintain your posture, and try to speak up and be clear. Should you have any questions, ask the visa officer to repeat the inquiry. If prompted to repeat your response, don't alter it.
Keep your demeanor calm and composed. Aside from having years of experience, visa officers are highly trained. Desperation is easy for them to detect.
It is advised that you respond only with the details required. Any additional details could raise pointless queries for which you might not have the answers.
Visa officials may be frustrated at times and won't have much time. Your visa outcome may be affected if your responses are unclear or hard to understand.
Ensure that you are carrying the necessary papers. You shouldn't be required to present a document in an instance when you don't have one.
Make sure your files are logically organized so you can quickly access them when needed. The outcome of your visa application may be impacted by mishandling documents, rummaging through the paperwork, and waiting too long to find a document.
You look presentable when you dress adequately. It also gives you more confidence to finalize the interview successfully.
Last but not least, select a visa officer who appears kind and is roughly your age if you have the option to select your own.
When your appointment is scheduled, show up at the Embassy. Bring the paperwork that was specified in Step 3. An immigration officer will decide at your interview if you meet the requirements for obtaining a visa and, if so, which category best suits your intended itinerary.
To be eligible for the type of visa you are applying for, you must demonstrate that you fulfill the standards set forth by US law. When you interview with the consular official, digital fingerprint scans that are free of ink will be collected as part of the application procedure.
The relevant visa cost will be paid at the Embassy when you first arrive for your appointment. Please be aware that credit cards are not accepted for payment of the US visa fee; cash or a credit card must be brought. You can pay for fees with US dollars or kina from Papua New Guinea.
Depending on the visa class you are seeking, the amount of the visa fee will vary. The current costs for obtaining a visa are:
B1/B2, F, J, and non-petition-based visas cost USD 185.
H, L, O, P, Q, and R category visas cost USD 205.
USD 315 (Visa for the E3 category)
Certain visa categories, like the L-1 and H-1B, may have extra costs. In addition, if the consular official grants your visa, citizens of specific nations could have to pay a reciprocity charge. Further updated information on the reciprocity US visa fee can be found on the government’s official websites.
Normally, you can pick up your passport and visa at the Embassy the next working day after 9:00 a.m., provided your visa is approved. When your visa is prepared for pickup, you will get a notification from the Embassy by phone or email.
It is possible for you to designate a representative to pick up your passport and visa. Kindly attach a letter, signed by the designated person, stating who has permission to retrieve your documents.
Always make sure you have a valid visa before paying for any travel-related expenses (such as accommodation or airfare). Ignore this advice at your own risk of serious financial loss.
In accordance with US immigration laws, obtaining a visa requires paying a US visa fee, which applies to all visa applicants, including children. All applicants, whether or not they are granted a visa, are required to pay the application fee for a US visa. There are no refunds or transfers for the application fee.
The US visa fee must be paid in advance to allow the government to proceed with the visa application
Depending on the kind of visa you're applying for, the cost will vary. For instance, the cost of a US tourist visa is different from that of an H1B visa. The costs for applying for each category of nonimmigrant visa are listed in the following table.
|
Visa category |
Abbreviations |
US visa fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
|
B |
Business or Tourist |
160 |
|
C-1 |
Transit |
160 |
|
D |
Ship/ Airline Crew |
160 |
|
E |
Treaty Trade/ Investor, Australian Professional Speciality |
205 |
|
F |
Student (academic) |
160 |
|
H |
Temporary/ Seasonal Workers and Employment, Trainees |
190 |
|
I |
Journalist and Media |
160 |
|
J |
Exchange Visitor |
160 |
|
K |
Fiance(e) or Spouse of a US Citizen |
265 |
|
L |
Intracompany Transferees |
190 |
|
M |
Student (vocational) |
160 |
|
O |
Persons with Extraordinary Ability |
190 |
|
P |
Athletes, Artists & Entertainers |
190 |
|
Q |
International Cultural Exchange |
190 |
|
R |
Religious Worker |
190 |
|
TN/TD |
NAFTA* Professionals |
160 |
Note that only nonimmigrant visas are subject to this US visa fee.
Travelers who wish to enter the United States of America are exempt from paying the application fee for a US visa.
Individuals seeking A, C-2, C-3, G visa categories, NATO, and diplomatic visas.
J visa holders and persons who are engaging in specific US government-sponsored cultural and educational programs.
Under international accords, the US visa fee is waived for members or staff of an observer mission to the UN headquarters approved by the UN General Assembly, as well as for members of their immediate family.
Individuals are coming to the US to perform certain altruistic tasks.
A family member (spouse, parent, sibling, or child) of a US government employee killed or gravely injured in the line of duty who is traveling to the US for final rites or urgent care of the person.
FAQs about the US visa fee are mentioned in detail below for your reference:
FAQs about the US visa fee
To apply for a tourist visa to the United States, you must first complete the DS-160 form online. Applying for a tourist visa to the US is a four-step process.
Fill out the online DS-160 with accurate information.
Pay the US visa fee in advance.
Make an appointment to pick up your US visa offline.
Retrieve your passport.
The DS-160 form can take many days for you to complete as it demands a lot of information. The current US visa fee is $160 USD, which can be paid using a credit card, an electronic fund transfer, or cash at a nearby bank.
You would need to schedule one or two visa appointments, depending on the nation. Certain nations, like Mexico, demand a second appointment for pictures and fingerprinting. After the interview, you'll find out the outcome of your visa. In 3–10 working days, you can pick up your passport after that.
The cost of applying for a US visa is $185 USD. In Asia, you may pay this tax in local currency; elsewhere in the world, you may pay it in US dollars.
The US visa outcome is instantaneous. After your interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your visa. Nevertheless, it may take several weeks to complete the entire procedure, from filing the DS-160 to getting your passport. Applying for your visa as early as possible is good advice for you.
For your interview for a US visa, you must provide the following required paperwork:
Present the original passport.
Every old passport, particularly for individuals holding US visas
Interview Time Slot Verification Image
The US visa fee receipt for the DS-160 Confirmation Print, if the fee was paid in person at a nearby bank
Additional passport-sized photo, extra ID photo
You may also bring any supporting documentation, such as proof of job or finances, in addition to the above-mentioned required paperwork.
Officers handling visas usually inquire about your itinerary, reason for traveling, and connections to your home nation throughout the interview. These may be entirely separate questions or ones from your DS-160.
The top 5 questions and answers for US visa interviews are shown below.
You can discuss whether your visit to the US is for work or pleasure. If it's for travel, describe your intended destinations and your motivations. If it's business-related, discuss the people you hope to meet or the meetings or conferences you intend to attend.
Mention how many days your itinerary has in total. Make sure the total doesn't exceed ten or twenty days.
Tell us whether you have any prior experience visiting the US. If so, please include the time and duration.
List all of the nations you have visited. Start with the countries that require visas, such as countries in Europe, Canada, Japan, etc.
Talk about your role, title, and present employer. It is not necessary to provide information about your work history, responsibilities, or pay. Every application has a different set of circumstances. Consequently, based on your responses, any of these questions may lead to a plethora of further ones.
At the conclusion of the interview, the visa outcome will be disclosed. In the event that your visa is granted, you will have three to ten business days to pick up your passport. Your passport will be available for pickup, and you will be notified by email or SMS.
If you have asked for your passport to be delivered, you will receive an email or SMS alerting you when it leaves the office. It ought to reach you in three to ten business days.
A predetermined service cost is estimated based on the kind of visa. The various processing efforts involved when doing this are taken into consideration. Whether it's a US or international form, our visa advisors will assist you more favorably if the visa category processing is straightforward. Hopefully, this US visa fee above can support a smooth trip in Vietnam. Contact us at [email protected] for more related information about the US visa before planning a Vietnam vacation.
