Print
Friendly Version 
REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-IMMIGRANT VISITORS TO OBTAIN VISA TO ENTER
THE UNITED STATES
All
visitor visa applicants must have the following:
-
Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-156,
completed and signed
-
Valid
passport, must have at least 6 months remaining validity
-
Passport-type
photograph (2 x 2 in.)
-
Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States
-
Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad
-
Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form
DS-157, for men between 16-45 years of age, and for all
applicants age 16 and over who are from Cuba, Iran, Iraq,
Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Note that a consular
officer may ask any applicant to complete this form
Processing
times are difficult to predict for an individual applicant.
For many applicants, a personal appearance interview is required
as a standard part of visa processing. For travelers, the need
for an interview will mean additional coordination with the
embassy or consulate, is required to schedule an interview appointment.
If additional processing is needed, visa applicants are informed
at the time they submit their applications. While most additional
processing takes 30 days or less, a small percentage may take
considerably longer.
Advance
planning is a key ingredient for successfully having your visa
when you want it. If you wish to visit the U.S., plan to submit
your visa application well in advance of your departure date.
REQUIREMENTS FOR BORDER COUNTRY VISITORS TO ENTER THE UNITED
STATES
-
Applicants
replacing an old-style BCC do not need a passport in order to
get a laser visa.
-
They
need to present the old card and a recent photo identity card.
-
A passport issued within the past 12 years is acceptable, even
if it is now expired.
-
In
lieu of a passport, a voter registration card is the preferred
identity document.
-
First
time applicants and those renewing other types of visas need
to present a valid Mexican passport as the primary document
of citizenship and identity. (GOM requires citizens flying out
of the country to have a valid passport.)
-
The U.S. was willing to accept the Mexican Certificate of Nationality,
issued by SRE (the Mexican Foreign Ministry), but the Ministry
decided that the Certificate was not intended for general issuance.
This
information is provided for informational purposes only. TDS does
not assist with the issue or expediting of United States visas.
Further complete information can be located on the State
Department or the Homeland
Security Immigration web site.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VWP COUNTRY VISITORS TO ENTER THE UNITED
STATES
Visa
Waiver Program - Participating Countries
| Andorra
(MRP) |
Iceland |
Norway |
| Australia |
Ireland |
Portugal |
| Austria |
Italy |
San
Marino |
| Belgium
(MRP) |
Japan |
Singapore |
| Brunei
(MRP) |
Liechtenstein
(MRP) |
Slovenia
(MRP) |
| Denmark |
Luxembourg
|
Spain |
| Finland |
Monaco |
Sweden |
| France |
the
Netherlands |
Switzerland |
| Germany |
New
Zealand |
United
Kingdom |
As
of October 1, 2003, visa waiver travelers from
Andorra, Brunei, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia must present either
a machine-readable passport (MRP) or a U.S. visa at the port
of entry to enter the U.S. This includes all categories of passports
-- regular, diplomatic, and official, when the traveler is seeking
to enter the U.S. for business or tourist purposes, for a maximum
of 90 days without needing a visa.
Countries
With a October 26, 2004 MRP Date - Travelers
from countries granted the postponement can continue to travel,
as they have in the past, without a machine-readable passport.
On October 26, 2004 a machine-readable passport or U.S. visa
will be required at the port of entry, to enter the U.S. without
a visa. Countries with the machine-readable passport postponement
until October 26, 2004 are:
Australia,
Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
and the United Kingdom.
To
qualify for the VWP, you must have:
-
A valid passport issued by the participating country that is
valid for six months beyond your intended visit
- A
machine-readable passport (MRP), following the required due
dates for MRP's explained above.
- A
round-trip transportation ticket
- a
completed and signed Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure
Record, Form I-94W, on which you have waived the right of review
or appeal of an immigration officer’s determination about
admissibility, or deportation. These forms are available from
participating carriers, from travel agents, and at land-border
ports-of-entry.
- You
must have no visa ineligibilities. This means if you have been
refused a visa before, have a criminal record or are ineligible
for a visa you cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Program without
a visa. You must apply for a visa to the U.S.
This
information is provided for informational purposes only. TDS does
not assist with the issue or expediting of United States visas.
Further complete information can be located on the State
Department or the Homeland
Security Immigration web site.
|
