Visa Validity and Reciprocity
“When I first applied, I got a 5-year visa with multiple entries. Why was I was only issued a 3-month visa with a single entry this time?” a Taiwanese applicant once asked me. 
The applicant’s country of citizenship determines the visa’s validity period. In most cases, visa validity is determined bythe applicant’s purpose of travel and by the Reciprocity schedule. The latter term means that if country “A” issues a 5-year valid visa to an American citizen, the same length of validity will be given to the citizens of country “A” when they apply for a U.S. visa.
The longest validity is up to 10 years with multiple entries, including for Philippine nationals. This is an effort to provide reciprocity to the Philippines that do not require visas from American citizens.
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We have good news for travel coordinators who book interview appointments for clients applying for nonimmigrant visas. You can now create a travel coordinator profile in our online appointment website.
This feature allows you to manage and track all your clients under your profile. You can schedule, reschedule, cancel or confirm multiple client appointments from one screen. This eliminates the need for creating new profile for each applicant or multiple profile names, passwords and external tracking of your clients’ appointments.
You can find instructions on how to create a travel coordinator profile and manage multiple appointments at our appointment website.
Are you a travel coordinator and have tried this new appointment feature? Share with us how it went and if this feature was useful to you.
If you arrive in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa to work, please remember that you have rights and you can get help if mistreated by your employer.
Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a form of modern-day slavery. It refers to the recruitment, transportation, harbouring, or receipt of people for the purpose of exploitation. Trafficking occurs when a victim does not feel safe or free to leave a situation because of physical or psychological abuse.
Rights, Protections, and Resources
The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to fighting human trafficking and labor abuse through the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (Public Law 110-457). This law was passed to ensure the dignity of those who visit the United States. It also mandated that information be given to all nonimmigrant visa holders in certain categories.
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The Visa Hour: “Completing Forms and the Application Process”
The Visa Hour proudly presents an hour with U.S. consular officers to answer your questions in Tagalog and English.
You told us on Facebook that you want to hear about the forms, processes, and documents necessary for a U.S. visa. A group of four consular officers will help take the mystery out of the nonimmigrant visa paperwork LIVE on Thursday, May 30, 2013 @ 3:00pm – 4:00pm (Philippine time).
The Visa Hour is a monthly broadcast – check our YouTube channel for previous episodes. This episode will be livestreamed on Thursday, May 30, 2013 @ 3:00pm – 4:00pm (Philippine time), but we need your questions.
Does something confuse you? Having trouble with the application? Don’t know what to do with your 221g letter? Drop us a line on twitter, Facebook and Google+ using #TheVisaHour hashtag. See you Thursday!
“Faster deployment process!” “ No fees charged!” “Guaranteed employment!” These are common phrases to hear from people offering overseas jobs, but it’s also important to verify these promises.
According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), about 4,500 Filipinos leave this country everyday to work abroad and the United States remains one of the most popular destinations.
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1. Hi, my name is… Jennifer
2. I’m from… Virginia
3. My home state/city is known for… history (Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, historic plantations, Monticello, James Madison’s home, Arlington Cemetery); wine; nature (Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park, Chincoteague/Assateague Island, Great Falls)
4. My favorite thing about my home state is… it’s diversity – of people, geography and communities. Northern Virginia is part of the suburbs of Washington, DC. It is home to powerful politicians, wealthy consultants and contractors, dedicated public servants, and scores of recent immigrants. The beach communities of Virginia are dominated by Norfolk where the Naval Air Station is home to many U.S. service members, and the nearby colonial areas are home to “old money” and historical families. Central Virginia is home to the capital of the State, Richmond, and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The University is very historical (founded by Thomas Jefferson) and one of the best in the region. There are also lots of horse farms and wineries in this region. And Southwest Virginia is very agricultural, with beautiful rural small towns and the small-community spirit.
5. If you came to visit me, I’d take you… Central Virginia. We’d see history at Monticello and the University of Virginia, we’d see beautiful countryside as we tour wineries, we’d boat and play on Lake Anna, and we’d put on hats and white gloves and watch the Foxfield horse races.
6. Things you have to try before you leave… Virginia ham biscuits
7. My favorite place in the U.S. is… Virginia, of course!
8. You’ll have to take home… Virginia wine.
9. My advice to immigrant visa applicants: Take your time when you arrive. It’s a challenge to set up a new life in a new place. There’s a lot to learn, nothing happens the way you think it will, it takes time to make friends and establish community connections. Don’t expect it all to fall into place quickly and easily. It’ll take time, but in the end it’s worth the effort!
We’re doing our best to answer your questions about applying for U.S. visas. In addition to the detailed info and FAQs on the Embassy website, we’ve added new FAQs for non-immigrant visas.
Have a look, and write us a comment if you have any questions that we haven’t thought of yet!
Beginning May 8, 2013, the Immigrant Visa Unit will no longer accept walk-in inquiries. Exceptions may be granted in case of emergencies (i.e., ageing out cases, visa correction requests, and expiring visas).
Applicants who need to submit additional documentation should proceed to the 2GO outlets at Robinsons Place Manila or SM Mall of Asia. Alternatively, the documentation may be sent to the U.S. Embassy via any branch of 2GO courier service (Attn: Immigrant Visa Unit) together with a copy of our 221g refusal letter (MNL-IV-22A).
Returning resident applicants, however, may continue to submit completed returning resident application forms at Window 38 every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For more information on the Returning Resident process, click here.
Applicants with specific questions regarding their case should contact the Immigrant Visa unit by email at IVManilaReplies@state.gov.
Are you applying for a B1/B2 visas with a group? Why not request a group appointment?
To qualify for a group appointment, your group of three to ten people must:
• apply for B1/B2 visa
• travel together for the same purpose,
• travel on or around the same date
Examples of groups include sports teams, choir groups, school groups, and groups traveling for competitions. Please note that family members traveling together do not qualify. If your group has more than 10 members, you have to make a separate request for them. If you have too many people on one application, the request for group appointment will be refused.
Going as a group? Request for group appointments
If the Embassy approves the request, you will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule the group appointment. Please ensure that each group member has not booked or scheduled an individual appointment yet or they will not be added to the group unless you cancel the existing appointment.
To request a Group Appointment, please complete the steps online and appear for your interview. For general information regarding group appointments, please visit the online appointment website or call the Embassy call center.
If you’ve traveled with a group before, tell us about your experience!
The Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Visa Units are temporarily closed to the public on May 13, 2013. Applicants with appointments scheduled on that date will be contacted by the Embassy call center to reschedule their appointments.
Alternatively, you may contact the Embassy’s call center at (632) 982-5555 or (632) 902-8930 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday) to reschedule your own appointment.