2006 Press Releases

U.S. Embassy Announces Changes to the Visa Application Process

Nov. 1, 2006

The U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, is pleased to announce an important change to the visa application process that is intended to streamline the application process and reduce application time.

As of November 1, the U.S. Department of State will require that all visa applications worldwide be completed and printed using the Internet-based Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF). The EVAF has been available for several years, and many visa applicants around the world are already using it. Effective November 1, 2006, all applicants for non-immigrant visas in Turkmenistan must complete their visa application forms using the EVAF.

The EVAF allows applicants to complete their application form online, and then print it out. In doing so, the form creates a third page with a barcode containing the data in the application. The barcode will then be scanned at the embassy on the day of the visa interview, thus reducing processing time and saving time for the applicant.

Starting November 5, applicants who wish to apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat must request an appointment date. To make an appointment, applicants may send an email to: consularashgab@state.gov or may call the Consular Information Line, +993 12 35 00 49, on any business day between the hours of 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Applicants will be required to provide information from their completed EVAF in order to schedule an appointment.

The EVAF is available online at http://evisaforms.state.gov. The EVAF may also be found on the embassy web site along with detailed instructions in Russian and Turkmen to assist applicants in completing the form.

Applicants who do not have access to the internet at home or at work can use public internet access sites to complete the application. Applicants who are unable to print the application from a public internet terminal may send the application as an attachment to an email to the following email address: consularashgab@state.gov.

Questions regarding the visa process should be referred to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at consularashgab@state.gov or through the Consular Information Line at +993 12 35 00 49. The consular section will be available to answer visa inquiries on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.