1. What Happens at the U.S. Consulate?

2. Presentation Topics Do I need a visa? What is a visa? Visa Types
Application Process
The Interview
Other Resources

3. What’s a visa? A Visa is: A Visa does NOT:
a permit to apply for entry to the U.S.
A Visa does NOT:
guarantee entry into the United States
determine the length of time you may stay in the United States

4. A two-step dance… The Department of State
consular officers conduct personal interviews
grants visas
The Department of Homeland Security (POE)
admits into U.S. (the FINAL word)
limits the duration of stay in U.S.

5. Why are you traveling? Visitor for Business or Pleasure (B-1/B-2)
Petition Based Visas:
Student Visitors (F-1)
Exchange Visitors (J-1)
Foreign Workers (H-1B, L-1, TN)
Note: Above classifications and documentation requirements are relevant for Canadian citizens, but they do not require visas.

6. Procedures for Canadian Citizens
No visas – proceed to POE with passport and:
Academic Study (F-1)
I-20, evidence of financial support
Proof of SEVIS registration and fee payment
Internships (J-1 or TN)
J-1  DS-2019, SEVIS registration & fee receipt
TN  job offer letter and proof of qualifications
Employment (H-1B, L-1 or TN)
H-1B or L-1  I-797
SEVIS: student and exchange visitor information system

7. Procedures for Visa Waiver
Why will I travel? How long will I stay?
27 Participating countries:
Andorra Iceland Norway
Australia Ireland Portugal
Austria Italy San Marino
Belgium Japan Singapore
Brunei Liechtenstein Slovenia
Denmark Luxembourg Spain
Finland Monaco Sweden
France the Netherlands Switzerland
Germany New Zealand United Kingdom
Does my passport qualify?
All VWP travelers, regardless of age or type of passport used, must present individual machine -readable passports. In addition, depending on when VWP travelers’ passports were issued, other passport requirements apply:
* Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/06 – requires integrated chip with information from the data page ( e-Passport ).
* Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 – requires digital photograph printed on the data page or integrated chip with information from the data page.
* Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05 – no further requirements.
* Temporary, emergency, official and diplomatic passports are exempted from biometric digital photo and chip requirements, but must be machine-readable. Note that German temporary or emergency passports are not included in this biometric e-passport exemption.. Therefore, holders of German temporary or emergency passports must either obtain a valid, machine-readable regular German passport for VWP travel or apply for a U.S. visa to travel to or through the United States.

8. Plan Ahead Appointments filled 45 business days in advance
Most visas can be issued within 2-4 days, but some require months of processing
Typical reasons for processing delays are clearance requirements and waivers
Every applicant’s situation is unique
An approval notice or interview appointment does not guarantee the issuance of a visa

9. Complete Application Form Online
visa application forms available online via our appointment scheduling service at or at travel.state.gov ; the DS-156 must be completed online and printed with bar code; bring your completed forms to your interview

10. Procedures for Non-Canadians
Gain admission or get hired
School or employer files/issues paperwork
Make an appointment for a visa interview
Prepare for interview/gather required items
Electronic application (DS-156, -157, -158)
$131 application fee / possibly reciprocity fees
Valid passport 6 months after travel date
Supporting documentation (as discussed)
1 recent photo
All for **each** applicant
Attend your interview at the Consulate

11. The big day… Plan to spend about 2 hours at the Consulate
Arrive on time- bring all required paperwork, photo, fees, etc.
Clear security (no food or electronics- cell phones, calculators etc.)
Intake- no blanks on your application!
10-fingerprints
Interview

12. What do I have to prove? You picked the right visa category
You qualify for that type of visa
You are a bona-fide applicant
214(b) for F and J visas- the assumption of immigrant intent
Background, experience and purpose of travel all make sense
Role of supporting docs
An average interview lasts 2 min