Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States, unless exempt by country-specific agreements (PDF 24KB). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.

Completed Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160

Please note that you must answer EVERY question on the application forms. If the answer to a question is “none,” please write “none”(Do not leave it blank). Incomplete/incorrect forms will be returned and will require you to schedule a new interview appointment.

Important! Many of our visa applicants are completing the DS-160 incorrectly, causing us to postpone their planned visa interview dates.

Only a passport, DS-160 confirmation page, a 2 x 2 inch color photo not older than 6 months – with a light or white background, are required for the visa interview.  Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:

• The purpose of your trip;
• A diplomatic note from the government or international organization
• An Ordre de mission
• Your intent to depart the United States after your trip; and/or
• Your ability, and/or your organization’s ability, to pay all costs of the trip.

Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant’s residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a nonimmigrant tourist visa. If you do choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember that it is not one of the factors that we use in determining whether to issue or deny a nonimmigrant tourist visa.

Official government and international organization travelers usually do not need interviews.  Please contact the Consular Section via email to find out when you or your protocol can come to the Embassy to drop off your passport, a 2 x 2 inch color photo not older than 6 months, a valid diplomatic or service passport (or in limited instances your tourist passport), diplomatic note, ordre de mission, and your DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form Confirmation Page handy.

When your visa is approved, the Consular Section will contact you and tell you when you or your protocol can collect your passport and visa.