How to Apply
Step 1. Check the Validity of your Passport
- For nationals of the Kyrgyz Republic, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in the United States (e.g. if you plan to go to the United States for one month in March, your passport must be valid at least through October).
- Your passport must have at least one blank visa page.
If your passport does not meet both of these criteria, please apply for a new passport before making your visa appointment.
Step 2. Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160
Fill out the DS-160 Electronic Application Form.
All visa applicants must CAREFULLY check information entered on their DS-160 visa application form. Minor errors may be corrected on the day of the appointment, but if you notice a major error or have an update to your application (recent marriage, change in travel plans), please complete a new DS-160 form and bring the updated confirmation page with you to your appointment.
The Consular Section is not able to issue visas on the day of the interview. All applicants are encouraged to apply for visas well in advance of planned travel to the United States. The Consular Section strongly advises you to purchase tickets or book reservations only after you have received your nonimmigrant visa.
Expedited appointments are offered on a limited basis, primarily for medical and humanitarian emergencies. Travel for the purpose of attending weddings and graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant relatives, participating in an annual business/academic/professional conferences, or enjoying last-minute tourism does not qualify for an expedited appointment.
All applicants who wish to have an expedited appointment are required first to fill out an electronic application form DS-160 and follow the directions for requesting an expedited appointment here.
Step 3. Collect any Supporting Documentation
The following items are required for your visa interview:
- Valid international passport, with at least 6 months of validity from the date of your planned travel AND at least one blank visa page;
- Your DS-160 confirmation page and appointment confirmation page;
- A 5 cm x 5 cm color photo not older than 6 months;
- Payment for your interview. We request the exact payment amount for the interview, either in KGS or USD (crisp and unmarked), but not both. We do not accept credit cards for payment. Applicants whose visas are approved may be required to pay an additional reciprocity fee. Please check the Reciprocity Fee Schedule and plan accordingly for your visit.
Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified for the visa. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:
- The purpose of your trip;
- Your intent to depart the United States after your trip; and/or
- Your 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.
Step 4. Schedule an Interview Appointment
To schedule an appointment for a non-immigrant visa (NIV) interview, please go to the NIV Appointment System. Please have your DS-160 confirmation number available. It is located on your DS-160 confirmation page, in bold print.
Expedited appointments are offered on a limited basis, primarily for medical and humanitarian emergencies. Travel for the purpose of attending weddings and graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant relatives, participating in an annual business/academic/professional conferences, or enjoying last-minute tourism does not qualify for an expedited appointment. Applicants requesting an expedited appointment and/or applicants who are not resident in the Kyrgyz Republic should follow the directions provided in our online Navigator to make their request.
All applicants who wish to have an expedited appointment are required first to fill out an electronic application form DS-160 and follow the directions for requesting an expedited appointment here.
Step 5. Pay the MRV Fee
On the day of your interview, please pay the appropriate nonrefundable visa application fee(s), based on your visa type. Depending on your nationality and the visa category for which you are applying, reciprocity fees may apply. Please check the reciprocity fee schedule to determine if there is an additional fee related to the issuance of your visa.
All visa fees must be paid in U.S. dollars or Kyrgyz som based on the exchange rate established by the U.S. Embassy at the cash desk of the Consular section on the day of interview. Please note that this fee is non-refundable. Applicants should not pay this fee unless they are 100% confident that they want to apply for the U.S. visa.
NOTE: Payment for your interview is due at the time of service. We request the exact payment amount for the interview, either in KGS or USD (crisp and unmarked), but not both. We do not accept credit cards for payment. Applicants whose visas are approved may be required to pay an additional reciprocity fee. Please check the Reciprocity Fee Schedule and plan accordingly for your visit.
Step 6. Interview with a Consular officer
During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview.
Step 7. Pay the Visa Issuance Fee
If your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, depending on the type of visa issued. If you are a Kyrgyz national and you are issued a B-1/B-2 Tourism & Visit visa, you will need to pay an additional fee. Issuance Fee depends on your nationality. Please check the Reciprocity Fee Schedule for additional information.
Step 8. Return to Collect your Passport and Visa
If your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, depending on the type of visa issued. If you are a Kyrgyz national and you are issued a B-1/B-2 Tourism & Visit visa, you will need to pay an additional fee. Issuance Fee depends on your nationality. Please check the Reciprocity Fee Schedule for additional information.
Attention: Interviews for children under 14 or individuals over 79 years of age
For Kyrgyzstani passport holders and non-citizen permanent residents of the Kyrgyz Republic, some interview waiver options are available. Adults 80 years of age and over are not required to appear for an interview. Children under 14 years of age are not required to come for an interview with the consul if the following conditions are met:
1) The child is traveling to the US with his/her close relatives (such as parents or grandparents),
2) A relative with whom the child travels has a valid American nonimmigrant visa; and
3) The child has a personal travel passport.
The Consular section reserves the right to interview parents or guardians of minor children as they deem necessary.
Children between the ages of 14 and 17 may appear for an interview accompanied by an adult.
Case Status
You can check the status of your visa application on ceac.state.gov.
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.
If your visa has been denied, you may find useful information on Ineligibilities and Waivers on usvisas.state.gov.
If your application for a visa has been refused under Section 214(b) INA, there is no appeal process. Under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), applicants are presumed to be intending immigrants unless they credibly demonstrate, to the consular officer’s satisfaction, that their economic, family, and social ties outside the United States are strong enough that they will depart at the end of their authorized stay and that their intended activities in the United States will be consistent with the visa status.
While you are not prohibited from reapplying for a visa, unless you can show credible, new, and compelling ties outside the United States, and that your intended activities in the United States are consistent with the visa class, a different outcome is unlikely. If you decide to reapply, you must schedule a new interview and pay a new MRV application fee. Please visit How to Apply for further information and assistance.
After the Interview
Visitors are not permitted to accept employment or work in the United States.
We cannot guarantee that you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.
Entering the United States
A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States and determine how long you may stay. If you are allowed to enter the United States, the CBP official will provide an admission stamp or a paper Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Learn more about admissions and entry requirements, restrictions about bringing food, agricultural products, and other restricted/prohibited goods, and more by reviewing the CBP website.
Extending Your Stay
See Extend Your Stay on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to learn about requesting to extend your stay beyond the date indicated on your admission stamp or paper Form I-94.
You must depart the United States on or before the date indicated on your admission stamp or paper Form I-94, unless your request to extend your stay is approved by USCIS. Failure to depart the United States on time may also result in you being ineligible for visas in the future. Review Visa Denials and Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws to learn more.
Change of Status
While in the United States, you may be able to request that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) change your nonimmigrant status to another nonimmigrant category. See Change My Nonimmigrant Status on the USCIS website to learn more.
Requesting a change of status from USCIS while you are in the United States and before your authorized stay expires does not require that you apply for a new visa. However, if you cannot remain in the United States while USCIS processes your change of status request, you must apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.