Nonimmigrant Visas
Welcome to the Nonimmigrant Visa section! This section is designed to give travelers information about what to expect before, during, and after the interview process.
First, what is a nonimmigrant visa?
Nonimmigrant visas (or NIVs) are generally intended for short stays in the U.S. for tourism, study, or temporary working opportunities. The most common NIV categories in the Philippines are B1/B2 business/tourist visas, C1/D seafaring visas, F or M student visas, and H1B temporary workers. For a more complete description of the NIV categories, visit: http://manila.usembassy.gov/nivisatype.html
VISAtisfied Voyager is intended to give helpful information about applying for both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas. To see information about NIVs only, click on the “Nonimmigrant Visas” category tab on the right side of the page. For complete instructions or to schedule an appointment, visit the official U.S. Embassy website.
Please also post comments or questions. While we cannot respond to everyone’s individual situations, your comment or question could be a featured topic of a blog post in the future!
Hi there,
Me and my husband are planning to go to US for vacation end of this year and to meet our relatives also.
He has already filled the DS-190 in which he has mentioned mine and our daughter details and taken the date of interview its on 26 of July. But now my query is do i need to fill the different form for myself and for my daughter(16 months) as well or take the date also ?? or he will get the things on my behalf.
Please let me know do i need to fill
Jyoti, every applicant must fill out a separate DS-160.
Hi. My fiance is going to petition me and of course there are payments that he will pay back there in the us. If i am going to apply for a k1 visa here, do i have to pay also except for the medical exam? if yes, how much? because i havent seen the payment for k1 visa in your site. Thanks!
The fee for a K1 visa application is $240. Please see our website for further information: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3220.html
My wife is preparing to apply for her L2 visa (I’m an L1B holder currently in the US). To try and speed things up I am wondering if she should complete the DS160 and apply for her interview right now – note that she is currently waiting for her renewed passport and our marriage certificate to arrive. Will it cause problems if she applies for the interview without having the renewed passport available at the time of completing the application?
Thanks
Steve, a valid passport is a basic requirement for visa applicants. Your wife would need it when paying the application fee, in accomplishing the DS-160 application, and in booking the interview.
Hello admin do i need to fill up the DS-156 and DS-157? cos my husband said its for non immigrant and the I-130 petition is for immigrant? please i need your opinion Thank’s
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
Forms DS-156 and DS-157 applies for I-129 petitions, or fiancé visa petitions categorized under non-immigrant visas. Form DS 230 parts 1 and 2 applies for
I-130 petitions or immigrant visas. There is no need for you to fill up Forms DS 156 and DS 157 if your husband filed an I-130 petition on your behalf.
You may wish to visit the following websites for more information on immigration visa petition filing procedures:
(1) http://manila.usembassy.gov
(2)http://www.uscis.gov
(3) http://travel.state.gov
You may also wish to contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC) toll-free at 1-800-375-5283 regarding this matter.
Thank You so much..its a very big help for me
Good day! My non-immigrant visa will expire on August 16, 2012. There is an Special Event Conference ( ISES EVENTWORLD 2012) IN Fairmont Dallas on August 2-4, 2012 which I wish to attend. Can I still attend considering my Visa will expire in a few more days? Thanks so much.
Jess, you can use your visa up to the expiration date. As long as you arrive in the U.S. before your visa expires, you can use the visa.
Please tell me if there is a problem in applying for Hb1 visa for work if my parents (US citizen) has already applied for i130 IMMIGRANT PETITION for me a year ago. Will that cancel it or mess it up? Thank you
Sam, you may apply for a nonimmigrant visa while your immigrant petition is pending.
thank you
Hi! My mother-in-law is a citizen of United States of America, she went home last 2010, because she had alzheimers disease, and now she wants to go back, but no one of her 2 children wants to undergo an interview so they decided that i will be the one to accompany their mother, is that possible? And i am wiling to undergo an interview, shall i bring my mother-in-law on my interview?
Tess, you will need a visitor visa to accompany your mother-in-law to the U.S. Please remember that visitor visas are usually for short-term stays of six months or shorter. To qualify for the visitor visa, you should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after your temporary stay in the United States.
When you apply for the visa, your mother-in-law does not need to accompany you to your interview. Only visa applicants are interviewed and are allowed in the nonimmigrant visa interviewing area. For information on visitor visas, please visit our website.
good day,i have a question please help me to find my fathers name in U.S.embassy because 23years cannot be found he citizen in U.S.i want to find her.
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
You may contact the Embassy’s American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit by email at ACSInfoManila@state.gov regarding your concerns.
Hi there im confused. my fiance is from Guam and im from Philippines..we are about to file a K1 visa. However, I am confused with the address of filing location, as it leads to California lock box but also USCIS giving me to Texas lock box. so which is which?? please help for this clarification. thank you!
United States Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[ADDRESS OF FILING LOCATION]????????
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextoid=1872aca797e63110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
For more information about Form I-129F, including how to file your application or filing locations, call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or visit USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov
Additional information regarding visa petitions may be obtained from the following websites which provide comprehensive information on how a U.S. citizen may bring fiancé(e) to the United States:
(1) http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
(2) http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1315.html
(3) http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3204.html
Goodevening..Hi!I am a pilipina and my fiancee is a us citizen.we just confuse if we need to hire interpreter for my k1 visa interview.I am not fluent in english.Does US Embassy allow me to have pilipino interpreter in my interview?thank you.hope for ur response.
The Embassy has local employees available to act as interpreters in Tagalog and other major dialects. You may request for an interpreter during the visa interview.
Hi,
I would like to ask if I can still retrieve my visa application,because I already have one and I still need to dowload a picture on my visa application,or do I have to make another application?
Thank You
Paolo, to retrieve your application you will need to go to the Consular Electronic Application Center website, select the Embassy where you are applying. Hit “Option C-Retrieve Application” on the Getting Started page and enter your application ID number, and answer other questions as prompted. Information on how to retrieve the application and uploading a photo to the DS-160 is provided in the DS-160 Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Do i have to bring my 6yrs old kid to the Embassy to renew his visa under VRP? Thank you and more power.
Yes, your son needs to appear at the Embassy on his VRP appointment. Please know that all applicants, regardless of age (excluding those applying for diplomatic visas), are required to appear at the Embassy. Thank you.
Good Day….
I am a Filipina planning to visit my friend in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. What are the requirement to apply of US Tourist Visa.
Bel, the application procedure for visitor visas is provided in our website. For the requirements, applicants should pay the machine-readable visa application fee of $160, fill out the DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application, schedule the interview appointment through the call center or online through http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph., and appear at the U.S. Embassy for the interview with the consular officer. To qualify for the visitor visa, you should be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after your temporary stay in the United States. Information about visitor visas is also provided in our previous blog post here.
Good day! I am John I’m American citizen born and rise.I’m married a filipina she is from Cebu,me and my wife are planning to petition her Mother and her daughter so that they can visit us here in America can you help us please what kind of requirements do we need to get and the form that we need to fill up to petition them.Thank you.
John
John, the type of visa that your mother-in-law and daughter need and the requirements to comply for that visa would depend on their purpose of travel. Please visit our website for information on visa requirements at http://manila.usembassy.gov/visas.html.
Greetings,
I would like to ask if I still need to submit a police clearance if I already have a nbi clearance taken at the Philippines I also have a police clearance taken at Kuwait since I am currently working here, by the way I have an application for fiancée visa. Thank you in advance
Applicants aged 16 years and older must have a valid Record Clearance for Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The NBI police clearance is sufficient if the applicant has not resided abroad.
Immigrant visa applicants are required to present a police certificate from any place or places of residence (outside of the Philippines) for more than one year since attaining the age of 16.
For specific instructions on how to obtain a police clearance for certain foreign country clearances, you may visit our website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_3272.html.
My interview with my husband and my son was at 26th june 2012 , the consular officer said its ok but he returned us passport and told us to wait call from embassy within some days to come and take visas, and on my husband’s letter its written 221(g) ( your case needs administrative processing)with Batch number but on mone and my son’s only Batch number , my question is what this means?? Can I , my husband and my son have visa after AP of my husband is complete ? And if my husband’ case is rejected what about I and son’s cases?
You can send an email to ConsManilaNIV@state.gov to inquire on the status of your family’s applications. Please include your complete names, passport numbers, and dates of birth. You can also contact the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit at (02) 301-2104 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on U.S. and Philippine holidays.
Good day!
I had my interview for NIV ( B1/B2) this morning, unfortunately I was not given a visa. The consul gave me a blue paper and marked X this statement ” You did not establish that you are qualified for one of the non-immigrant visa categories as indicated in the INA.” what does the statement mean? I’ve visited U.S.A for several times, visited different states and cities, theme parks and landmarks and never stayed beyond the allowable tenure of stay nor violated any rules and laws of the States. I Spend thousands of dollars in shopping and pay the taxes that was added to every thing that I bought, used and ate. And, I never tried nor attempted to work in the U.S.A.
I just don’t understand, how come I am not qualified for one of the non-immigrant visa categories as indicated in the INA?
Does this mean that I have no more chance to see U.S.A again? No more Macy’s, K Mart and Target, No more Las Vegas and Manhattan? Orlando Disneyworld and 6 flags mt.?
Please clarify the marked statement. Thank you.
Giselle, you can send an email to the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit at ConsManilaNIV@state.gov if you wish to clarify the reason of your denial. Please include your full name, passport number, and date of birth. In general, visa applications are evaluated under Section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, which states, in part, that every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa ”. . .shall be presumed to be an immigrant until (s)he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for a visa, . . .that (s)he is entitled to nonimmigrant status. . . .” This statutory presumption of immigration may be overcome by demonstrating sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after a temporary stay in the United States. Ties are various aspects of one’s life that bind one to his or her country of residence, like one’s profession, employment, social and family relationships, and properties. All of these factors are considered in the process, and U.S. Immigration Law requires that the visa application be refused if these strong ties are not apparent.
Hello Admin!!..Good Day Last June 06,2012 my husband received email from the USCIS that was approved I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION..then i am confuse how many days that the NVC send us email or notice that i am ready to take a medical exam and my interview …Please help me about this
Thank’s God Bless.
The USCIS sends approved petitions to the State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC) for documentary processing. NVC will send you and the petitioner appointment packets, and will subsequently forward the case to Embassy Manila once an interview slot becomes available for you. We will process the case once the visa petition is received from NVC
Written inquiries, changes of address or in the personal circumstances of the applicant/petitioner should be sent and reported to NVC at 31 Rochester Ave., Suite 200, Portsmouth, NH 03801-2915 (Attn: WC). Forms, documents, and photographs should be sent to: 31 Rochester Ave. Suite 100, Portsmouth, NH 03801-2914 (Attn: CMR). Public inquiries can also be sent by email at NVCInquiry@state.gov. NVC’s telephone number is (603) 334-0700.
Thank you! we received email from NVC July 20,2012 and my husband send a some documents to NVC July 21,2012 so how many days that the NVC send our documents to US embassy manila?
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
once your case becomes documentarily qualified and an interview slot becomes available for you, NVC will send you and the petitioner appointment packets and will subsequently forward the case to Embassy Manila for processing.
Thank you very much!!
Hi. I came here in US under K1 visa. I have an 18-yr old son left in the Phils. He is included in my I-129f. My visa was issued Nov 7, 2011. He decided now to come here (US) thru k2. My question is, do i need to register him at the USEM or do i just pay the visa fee and get him an appointment for interview? thank you.
The applicant’s guardian should follow all interview preparation instructions for K1/K2 visa applicants located on the Embassy’s website at http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3238.html. The instructions contained on the website will provide him/her the required documentation and procedures to follow prior to the interview date.
The applicant’s adult representative should compile all the required documents and have the derivative complete the medical examination before the interview date (when scheduled).
Please be aware that under U.S. immigration law and regulation, issuance of a fiancé(e) derivative (K2) visa must follow within one year from the date the fiancé(e) visa (K1) was issued to the principal applicant.
Hi, my B1/B2 visa expired last May 2010 so i believe am not qualified for the VRP but my children’s visas expired last March, 2012 making them qualified under the VRP. I wish to renew our tourist visas since we have plans of visiting the U.S. as a family again. I will shoulder my children’s travel expenses since they are still students. Do i have to schedule a separate appointment for my visa renewal application since am not qualified under the VRP and wait to be granted a visa before I appy for my children’s visa renewal under the VRP? Thank you.
Lani, qualifying for VRP is based on individual merits. Family member who do not satisfy the VRP criteria will not be accommodated with a VRP applicant. Non-VRP applicants will be turned away and will be asked to book a regular appointment. In cases where the family wants to be interviewed on the same day, they may book the VRP appointment (for those qualified) and regular appointment (for those who are not qualified) on the same day, although they will be on different timeslots. Alternatively, the family may choose to book together under a regular appointment.
Hi, would it be recommended that a parent use his/her b1/b2 first (in entering the US) before applying for a 6year old child?what if that parent decides to bring along the kid on his/her trip?btw only one parent has a valid US visa.
Susan, a parent can apply for a visa for his/her child even if he/she has not yet traveled to the United States. The consular officer will determine the eligibility of the child largely based on the eligibility of the parent(s).
hi! just wanna ask if having delivered a child in the U.S is a ground for visa refusal (renewal)? thanks
The Consular Officer will look at your overall circumstances when determining whether you qualify for a tourist visa. Having had a child in the United States is not grounds for an automatic refusal but will constitute part of your overall circumstances.
i would like to know if a non immigrant got a baby in the u.s and did not pay the hospital…..and benefited from medicaid…and had their visas revoked upon return to their homeland….if that person would be successful in obtaining another visitor’s visa…the father of the child is applying for a visa totake the child to the u.s on holiday..thanks for a reply
Nick, the consular officer will determine whether you are qualified for the visa at the time of your interview. The officer will certainly take into consideration your prior revoked visa.
I would like to inquire the proper answer for this question:
“Have you ever been refused a U.S. Visa, been refused admission to the United States, or withdrawn your application for admission at the port of entry?”
I applied for a US visa a year ago and was denied now planning to apply but hesitant on how should answer this question.
Should I answer yes and explain the reason in the box as indicated in the blue paper handed to me?
Thank you.
Mavs, your answer to the question regarding previous visa refusals should be “yes”. Then, you can copy the reason of the refusal from the blue form that was handed to you by the interviewing officer. Thank you.
My wife and son, living in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, would be travelling to Mexico to join me where I am living since 2 years ago. But at the biginning they need to apply for a C1 visa because all the airlines before coming to Mexico go to Miami for transit. The appointment is set for the next August.
Passangers need to have a C1 visa. They will be applying for the C1 visa, but my questions: can they apply for a B1/B2 visa instead of the C1?
Can that be changed at the moment of the interview at the Consulat? If not (at the moment of the interview) when and how can they change from C1 to B1/B2 already been in Mexico? What would be the requirements and how long do they need to wait after the holding a C1 visa (to apply for the B1/B2)?
As B1/B2 requirements are the same; in the DS-160 form that we are filling out, what about if we choose B1/B2 visa even if we will be in US in transit? Remember to choose the B1/B2 while filling out the DS-160 we need to submit a valid address in US where we will be staying.
I would appreciate if you can send us a copy of your answer to our e-mail address in case if we can not track the answer through this web site. Please.
Thank you very much and may God bless you.
Pedro, please contact the U.S. Embassy in Dominican Republic regarding the procedures in applying for nonimmigrant visas and visa processing time. Their contact information is provided in their website. In general, the type of visa that one should apply for would depend on the purpose of travel. The transit visa is issued to foreign nationals proceeding in immediate and continuous transit through the United States to another country. Visitor visas are for those whose purpose of travel is for tourism, general business, and for medical and emergency situations. Travelers who have a valid B1/B2 visa don’t need a transit visa to transit through the U.S. If your wife and son decide to apply for visitor visas instead of transit visas, they they need to indicate this in the purpose of travel in their DS-160 applications and comply with the B1/B2 application procedures.
Hi, my parents are immigrants in the US, i have a daughter and they want to give a treat to my daughter, they want to have a vacation with her and visit Disneyland. what will i do or apply, please help, thanks.
Cristel, please see our website for instructions on how to apply for a tourist visa: http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html
My in laws filed a petition for my husband this year, he has a B1/B2 visa issued for 10 yrs, can he still use that? after the 10 yrs will he be refused a tourist visa if he reapplies?
Your husband may continue to use his B1/B2 until its expiration date. At that time he can apply for another B1/B2. Although we cannot give you any sort of guarantee about whether your husband will receive another visa, having a pending immigrant petition is not grounds for automatic refusal for a tourist visa.
Hi Sir/Maam,
I would like to clarify next steps on my US Visa application (B2-Pleasure/Tourism). I filled-up the DS-160 online application using my old-valid passport ( not expired during the time I applied, expiring May 2013), however, paid using my most-recent passport that was renewed dated July 10,2012 only.. Reason for the need to request for a renewed passport, is because of my intent to travel for 3 months in Dubai, UAE this Aug 2012. By then, my old passport will be less than 6 months old if I leave the country this Aug2012.
Do I need to re-apply filling-up the DS-160 online application because there are changes on my passport number? Or can I just show my old passport, along with the renewed passport I have now?
Thanks for accommodating my query.
Kristine, you should edit your DS-160 before your interview. Remember, all information in the DS-160 must be accurate. To return to your application and edit your passport number, you need to enter your application ID and answer questions as prompted.. Information on how to return to your DS-160 and edit the information in your application is also found in the DS-160 Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
i aged out and am the only one remaining Philippines have applied twice and got denied.I also have a pending petition. Do i even stand a chance of getting a tourist visa? i will never outweigh my familial ties… I have been to 5 different countries all none visa bearing i also have a business which has been running for 5 years now… will it help if i promise a personal appearance before the consul? i haven’t seen my family for 4 years now… I just want to see and experience the us please help me im very honest in my interviews …what else would you suggest?
Archie, we unfortunately cannot give you any advice about how to receive a tourist visa. You can reapply at any time, but each consular officer will look at your social, family, and economic ties outside the United States.
Which visa is needed in order to travel to Guam for the quickie 7 day divorce?
Jerry, based on the purpose of travel, the person needs a visitor (B1/B2) visa to travel to Guam. Information about visitor visas is provided in our website and previous blog post.
hi, my fiancee’s application for petition for me was approved last june 27, 2012 and im still waiting for the packet until now, my question is; how long does it take for meto wait for the packet to arrive, and do my fiancee need to send me the original copy of his ITR, W2, latest pay stubs and form I-134 can he send me all this thru email or does the consulate will accept anemail copy? thank you and God Bless
do i need to wait for the packet? my fiancee already gave me my NVC case#…
Thank you for your interest in VISAtisfied Voyager.
NVC will send you and your petitioner an appointment letter, and will subsequently forward the case to Embassy Manila once an interview slot becomes available for you. This process may take up to three months. We will process the case once the visa petition is received from NVC. Your fiancé may also send the Form I-134 and other financial documents (ITR, W2, latest pay stubs) to you via email.
Good day! I will be renewing my B1/B2 visa this November (qualified under VRP). I traveled to the US 3 times in 10 years. I stayed there for 6 months on all 3 visits, but I never over stayed. What are my chances of getting renewed? Will the (3times) 6months stay in the US affect my visa reissuance? I’m worried–because my sister just had her VRP appointment and after 2days got a call that she needs to appear for an interview. Her visa was not renewed. She also went to the US 3 times and stayed for 6months. Is it a disadvantage to stay in the US for 6months even if you are entitled to it? Will it affect my visa renewal?
Shaylene, each application is reviewed carefully by a consular officer. When adjudicating visas, consular officers look very closely at past stays in the United States. The consular officer must be convinced that you have used the visa correctly in the past and that you will use your next visa correctly as well. Moreover, to qualify for a new B1/B2 visa, you must be able to demonstrate sufficiently strong familial, social, professional and economic ties to a country outside the United States that would compel return after a temporary stay in the United States.
Thank you so much for the quick reply. You have been a great help to a lot of people. God speed.
hi! i am helping my parents fill up the ds160. the given name of my mother’s father is Fernando Sr. (Sr. for Senior) How do i write that on the given name field since a period is not allowed is not allowed in the field?
Eda, thank you for posting your inquiry on Visatisfied Voyager. In accomplishing the DS-160, you don’t need to put a period in “Sr”. Just type in the given name field: FERNANDO SR
Hi! an employer from US wants to petition me for an H1B visa to work there as a biomedical teacher. I am a nurse here in the Philippines and working as an academic consultant and an instructor relating to medical studies. Is there any chance that i will be denied because i am a nurse? the company is cap exempt, can they file me anytime this year? How long do i have to wait? Thank you
Jen, you can contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if your inquiry is about the qualifications to accept a job offer in the U.S. and the processing time in filing a work petition. The contact information of USCIS is provided in their website. Information about H-1B visa is also found here. Once you have an approved petition for a nonimmigrant temporary worker (Form I-129), you may proceed to apply for a nonimmigrant H-1B visa by complying with the procedures provided in our website.
Thank you so much. i appreciate a lot your great help.
I have an interview for tourist visa scheduled on the 17 th of august. My husband is a legal permanent resident, we ‘ ve been married for 28 months. He hasn’t filed petition for me yet. Would there be a chance of denial knowing he is in US? Or still a great chance to be approved? Many thanks and more power.
Gemma, your eligibility for a tourist visa will be determined at the time of your interview. The consular officer who will review your application will consider your travel plans and ties outside the United States that will ensure departure after a temporary visit to the U.S. Please be aware that due to the bonds of marriage and the presumption by the interviewing officer that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident’s spouse may want to permanently reside with the citizen in the United States, spouses of lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens that reside in the United States may find it difficult to qualify for a visitor visa. Hence, you will need to provide strong evidence that you intend to leave the United States after your planned visit.
Many thanks for the reply. I hope i can still have the visa. I hope i can convince the consul, i really plan to come back home as i am under medication, i am a breast cancer patient. Many thanks and more power.
hi here i am again….i ask someone who had a case like mine on what she did because she will be having her interview this month she said she paid and set her appointment even she did not receive the packet yet,she told me that i can pay my appointment interview to BPI bank and set my appointment once i already have my MNL case # even without receiving the packet yet, can i do that?
Emmy, if you have your case number, you can make an interview appointment. However, the Embassy must have received your petition from NVC before your appointment, or we will not be able to interview you.
Hi!
I would just like to ask if how long will it take to process one’s visa after it has been approved? We are renewing our VISAs under VRP on the 10th of August. ON August 23 however, I am going on a trip abroad? I am hoping I will be able to receive my passport by then.
Thanks,
Yan
Visas can usually be processed in 5-7 business days after the appointment. However, we cannot make any guarantees about your specific case, as the consular officer will determine if you are qualified when you have your appointment. Some VRP applicants are required to return to the Embassy at a later date for an interview.
Hello! I have a 10yr B1/B2 visa. My 9year old son was not given a B1/B2 visa last 2009 because I did not accompany him to the US Embassy. (I was not aware that I should be the 1 to go with him). It was my parents who went with him as they also applied for a B1/B2 visa. They were approved except my son. They were told that if my son will apply again for a B1/B2 they would grant him a visa if I would just appear in the embassy with him. His passport was not stamped nor was he given any paper indicating he was denied. Does it mean that he doesn’t have a record being denied? If I fill out a DS160 form for my son can i answer NO in the ‘have you ever been denied a US Visa’ question?
Thank you and God bless.
Mary, if your son previously applied for a visa, and the visa was refused, there is a record of this refusal. You should answer “yes” on the DS-160 when it asks if you have ever been denied a visa.
Hi. I am a holder of a Bi/B2 visa w/c is valid for the next 9yrs, multiple entry. I plan to visit my family in the US soon. While there, can i visit Canada for 3days w/o a Canadian visa? If not, where should i apply for Canadian visa – in the Phils or US? Thanks.
Liz, your concern does not fall under the jurisdiction of the US Embassy. You may wish to contact the Canadian Embassy regarding your inquiry about visa requirements to Canada.
Hi. I need your help. I’m trying to fill-out a DS160 form. My husband is currently working in Abu Dahbi, United Arab Emirates. In the family information: ‘spouse address’ field..what address will I indicate? Do I write his address in Abu Dahbi? or his address here in Philippines which is the same as my home address?
Thank you.
Rica, if your husband currently resides in Abu Dhabi, then you should indicate his address in Abu Dhabi. Thank you.
I am currently Holding a 2yrs multiple entry visa to the United State. There is a conference I will be attending in Oct and I want my wife to come along with me as we just got married recently (months). The challenge is that while i have a permanent resident permit in Sweden where i live, she just moved to Sweden to live with me. I have a job and I have been living in Sweden for 7 yrs. My wife like i pointed out just moved to Sweden. She has no job yet but she is studying. I want to travel with her to the united states, I really dont want to go alone. How do we get the best chances in securing her a visa. Any ideas????? ( we are not European citizens obviously)
Your wife will need to apply for a visa and will be evaluated by the consular officer. Unfortunately, we cannot give you advice about the best way to secure a visa. Your wife should answer all questions honestly, and the consular officer will make a determination about whether she qualifies.
What i am saying is this, having gotten my own visa, I want her to apply for her own. what is the best way to go about this to ensure that she stands a chance of getting the visa knowing that she just came to Sweden(two Months) without job ( but she is studying). Her ties are solely on me for now… Is it possible that the consular will issue her visa based on the fact that she will be traveling with me? How do we go about her application……
Hello. My parents are trying to apply for a tourist visa. Do they need to pay two separate application fees after filling up two separate DS-160?
Yes, each applicant must fill out his/her own application and pay the fee.
I am invited in the business season for few days in USA. My son is invited with me as a guest and I am interested in what kind of visa he must apply for B1 or B2.
Many thanks in advance
Your son can apply for a B1/B2 business/tourist visa.
Hi. I am applying for a B2 visa with my grandmother aged 75 needing assistance. My concern is that, is it possible that we get the same date and time of interview? I’ll have it scheduled on your website. Thank you.
Lyanne, depending on the availability of our appointment slots, you and your grandmother may get the same date and time of interview. To know the available appointment slots and to schedule your interview, please contact the call center at (02) 982-5555 or (02) 902-8930. The call center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, Manila time, except on U.S. and Philippine holidays. Appointments can also be booked online through http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph.
Good morning. My uncle invited me to visit him in US. He is a priest and he US citizen. Aside from passport, photo and DS-160 confirmation page what documents do i need to bring? I am a nurse and i don’t have a job right now and planning to take another examination here in the Philippines. i don’t have any documents to present like employment certificate. I will be applying this month or first week of September and planning to go US if I grant a visa. After I submit my application and payments is it possible can I have an interview a week after? Thanks
Sarah, the list of documents that you can bring is provided in our website. You can bring documents concerning the purpose and length of your trip and evidence of your ties to the Philippines that would compel return after a temporary stay in the United States. With regard to your inquiry about interview appointment, you can contact the call center at (02) 982-5555 or (02) 902-8930 to inquire the available interview dates. The call center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, Manila time, except on U.S. and Philippine holidays.
My L1 Visa application has been approved last July 18 2012 and i was told to expect my visa after a week. Then my passport just arrived yesterday, more than a month since my interview, and it didnt contain my L1 Visa. Shockingly, a blue paper has been attached to it inofrming me that my visa application has been rejected. How come this has happened? We do not even received prior notice.
Diana, you can send an email to the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit at ConsManilaNIV@state.gov to inquire about the visa refusal. Please include your full name, passport number, and date of birth. Thank you.
Im so frustrated with what just happened. We knew that the embassy is strict now in releasing visa that’s why i felt relieved after i passed the stressful interview. They even told me to wait for it the following week. But after more than a month of waiting, all the followups in your call center regarding its status, a blue paper instead of visa stamp was what i got. I really dont deserve this.
GOOD EVENING SIR/MADAM,
i just wanted to ask about my mom going here in USA for B2 visa and the purpose is to be with me when i am gonna give birth on my 3rd baby, i will be give birth this end of September and i am a CS, my husband that is active on army only have 10 days off to be with me and we really need my mom here in Texas where my husband deployed, because its hard for me specially after i give birth CS i need to have rest and need someone beside me specially there is still 2 little kids with me too, and wanted to do so that my mom will get visa… if i need to give my medical record or my medical record with the schedule of my CS so that my mom will be get visa..my husband and i tried to get my mom early schedule for interview but because of typhoon i get her schedule this September 11 2012. but its okay because i wanted to send my medical record about the schedule of my CS and i will get my schedule on my next appointment on September 7 for scheduling CS… Hope my mom will get B2 visa even for 8 weeks only until my surgery will get better.. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Hazel, your mother will need to follow the regular process for applying for a B1/B2 visa. The consular officer will evaulate her social, family, and economic ties at the time of the interview.
My father and mother applied for B1/B2 visa and had their interview just this morning. After the smooth interview, the consul took the passport of my mother and my father’s passport was given back to him, and said to wait for it within a week. The CO also gave a green paper (221(g) Letter) with ….further admin processing-box ticked. What will happen to my mother’s passport that was left in the embassy? Does it mean that hers was approved? What about my father’s passport?Why didn’t the Consul take also the passport of my father? This is so confusing. Because my father is the principal applicant.
Danie, your parents can send an email to the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Unit at ConsManilaNIV@state.gov to inquire on the status of their applications. They should include their complete names and passport numbers. They can also contact NIV at (02)301-2104 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, Manila time, except on U.S. and Philippine holidays.
- hello what requirements i need for nbi clearance for my visa? should i need 1st my passport,coz i ca get it on sept 11.and im planning to go get nbi clearance earlier while passport is its ok? and how much? is it hard to get nbi for visa? thanks and godbless!
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
You may wish to contact NBI at (632) 523-82-31 to 38, regarding your concern. The NBI website is http://www.nbi.gov.ph.
I went to the states as a teenager and had no issue in getting a visa,but about 4 years ago I applied for a holiday/tourist visa and it was denied.
For the life of me, I can not remember why. It was either a family thing, seeing that at that stage I wasn’t really in contact with my family,or a financial thing. Now a couple years later and my finances look better and my family ties are great,what reason should I put on the DS 160 form regarding the reason for denial,as I can’t remember the form and what it said?
Regards.
Damian (South African)
Damian, most likely your visa was denied under 214(b), a lack of family, social, and economic ties to a country outside the United States.