Visas

Non-Immigrant Visas

Non-immigrant visas are required for travelers who wish to visit the United States temporarily for tourism, business, studies or cultural exchanges. Visa applicants must  appear in person before a U.S. Consular Officer in Ashgabat for a visa interview.  Interviews are by appointment only. The Embassy does not accept walk-in applications.

Applying for Visa in Ashgabat

To apply for a non-immigrant visa to the United States, follow these steps:

• Gather necessary documents - In addition to the General Documentation Requirements, you must determine which category of visa you are requesting. The visa category is determined by the purpose of your travel. Please refer to the Visa Category chart for information, including additional forms and documents required when applying for each specific visa category. For more detailed information regarding visa categories, see the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site.
• Schedule an appointment for an interview.
• Arrive at the Embassy and Interview with a Consular officer.

Average Wait Time for Appointment and Processing Time

To see the current average interview wait time, please click below:

Issued visas will be ready for pick-up at 17:00 on the NEXT working day after your interview.  Please plan ahead and note that interview wait times may be longer in the busy spring and summer months.

The processing times quoted are averages and cannot be guaranteed. Many additional factors, such as the need for additional documentation, special clearances, incomplete applications, and fraud investigations may influence the processing of individual visa cases. Therefore, the actual processing time will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.

You should never pay for travel arrangements before receiving a visa. The U.S. Embassy Consular Section accepts no responsibility if you do so, nor will we expedite visa processing because you have fixed travel dates.

General Visa Information

The expiration of the visa date is the last day when you can ENTER the USA. Upon arrival in the United States, the U.S. Immigration officer at the port of entry determines the duration of your stay.

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

Fees for Non-Immigrant Visas

There are two fees for the issuance of non-immigrant visas:

• Visa Processing Fee: $131 for each applicant, including children
• Visa issuance fees and visa options currently available to citizens of Turkmenistan are as follows:

The Visa Processing Fee must be paid at the time of your interview. The Visa Issuance Fee, if any, must be paid before the visa will be issued. Visa Issuance Fees for citizens of other countries are listed here.

All visa fees must be paid in U.S. dollars.

U.S. Immigration Law

Under Section 214(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, all nonimmigrant visa applicants must prove that they meet the legal qualifications for a U.S. visa. Visa applicants must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Consular Officer that they have sufficient ties to their country of residence to guarantee they will return after a temporary stay in the United States.  Applicants should note that anyone who provides fraudulent or misleading information related to a visa application will be found to be permanently ineligible to receive a visa. 

Visa Denials

If you are refused a visa, you can apply again. However, we do not recommend re-applying without any additional or new information that can demonstrate your strong social and economic ties to Turkmenistan or changed life circumstances.

If you are denied a visa, the $131 Visa Processing Fee will not be refunded.

For more information about visa refusals under 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, please refer to Visa Denials at http://travel.state.gov/.