Non-Immigrant Visas

General Documentation Requirements

To apply for a non-immigrant visa to the United States you need the following documents:

• Passport which must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in the United States (e.g. if you plan to go to the United States for 1 month in March, your passport must be valid at least through October).
• Form DS-156 - You must have a fully-completed electronic visa application form with a clear, machine-readable barcode. This application is 3 pages lang when printed. No documents will be accepted without this form. If you do not have a complete DS-156, you will be asked to reschedule an interview for another day.
• Form DS-157 - All non-immigrant visa applicants, regardless of nationality, must submit this supplemental non-immigrant visa form.
• Form DS-158 - All non-immigrant visa applicants, regardless of nationality, must submit this supplemental non-immigrant visa form.
• Photograph - You must provide one recent 2"×2" (5x5cm) photograph of you stapled or glued to Form DS-156. The photo cannot be more than six months old and must resemble your current appearance. The photo should be in color, with a white background. You should remove any glasses or head coverings, apart from those worn for religious reasons. Additional information on photo requirements can be found here.
• Visa Processing Fee - All applicants must pay non-refundable application fee of $131, in U.S. dollars only. In some cases, applicants will be charged an issuance fee depending on the length of validity of the visa. See Fees for Non-Immigrant Visas.

ATTENTION! Effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa will increase from $100 to $131.

Supporting Documentation:

• Evidence of the purpose of your trip;
• Evidence of ties to your home country, which will compel you to return home after a brief stay in the United States;
• Evidence of a permanent residence outside the United States;
• Evidence of your intent to depart the U.S. at the end of your trip;
• Evidence of your personal financial situation, such as a letter verifying your employment;
• Evidence of arrangements made to cover the costs of the trip or convincing evidence of a sponsor, should you not have sufficient funds;

Additional Documentation

Depending on which category of visa you are requesting, the required documentation will vary. Please refer to the Visa Category Chart for detailed information regarding the documentation requirements. Please note that there are no supporting documents that guarantee the issuance of a visa.

NOTE: Documents do not need to be translated into English or notarized. The Consular Section can consider supporting documents written in Turkmen or Russian.

Attempting to obtain a visa by willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States.