Installment Eighty – Sixth
Q: I am interested in visiting the United States this summer, how do I apply for a U.S. visitor visa?
A: We have tried to make the non-immigrant (tourist) visa application process as accessible as possible. Non-immigrant visa applicants may access the internet from their home computers or from an internet café and go to the US Embassy Georgetown’s website (http://georgetown.usembassy.gov) and click on Visas to obtain Interview Preparation instructions for Non-immigrant Visas.
Applicants need to pay the US$131 non-refundable application visa fee or the equivalent in Guyanese dollars at one of the locations of Demerara Bank before scheduling an appointment online.
Once you have paid the application fee, you must complete and print an electronic application form then use the Demerara Bank receipt number to schedule an appointment on our website.
Applicants must fill out the application online; the Embassy no longer accepts paper applications. Please remember to answer all questions on the form and to sign the completed application. Bring the fully completed application to the Embassy on the day of your appointment.
Q: What do I need to bring to the interview?
A: Please bring the following documents:
A: A passport with at least six months validity. Please make sure that your passport is in good condition and that your name is spelled properly.
A 2” x 2” color visa photo (see details below)
A complete and accurately filled out application form (DS-156)
Men between the ages of 16 and 45 must also complete the supplemental application form (DS-157)
Green fee receipt from Demerara Bank showing that you paid the $131 fee.
Q: How long do I have to wait for an appointment date?
A: Our current wait time for a non-immigrant visa appointment is approximately 6 days but that number can change as the demand continues to grow. Every summer our wait time grows as schools close for summer vacation and more young people wish to travel to the U.S during those months. Please plan ahead and try to schedule your appointment at least a month in advance of your proposed travel.
Q: What do I do if I need to travel immediately for an emergency situation?
A: Applicants can email visageorge@state.gov and explain why they need an emergency appointment. These requests are reviewed on a case by case basis. While we try to accommodate applicants with emergency travel, we have to review these requests based on our caseload and staffing resources. Therefore, we encourage applicants to plan ahead so that they will not have to miss an opportunity for their trip.
Q: I have lots of close family in the U.S. Am I required to mention this on my visa application?
A: Each applicant is responsible for answering all questions on his or her visa application truthfully and completely. Your signature at the bottom of the application confirms that the information you have provided is true and complete. Omitting important details, such as close family members being in the U.S., can result in your being refused a visa and can make you permanently ineligible for a visa. We strongly advise that each applicant personally review the answers provided on his or her application and ensure that all statements are accurate and complete.
Q: If I have been refused a U.S. visa in the past, do I have to wait to reapply?
A: No. There is no waiting period for reapplications. However, you will need to pay the $131 application fee again to re-apply. The Embassy discourages applicants from re-applying if there has been no material change in their circumstances.
“Ask the Consul” is a weekly column from the U.S. Embassy answering questions about U.S. immigration law and visa issues. If you have a general question about visa policy please email it to us at AskGeorge@state.gov. We select questions each week and publish the answers in Stabroek News and on our website at http://georgetown.usembassy.gov/guyana/ask_con.html. For more information about visas please see http://www.unitedstatesvisas. gov or http://georgetown.usembassy.gov/.
Other than the questions we select, we DO NOT respond to questions sent to Ask the Consul. Please contact the visa inquiries unit (email visageorge @state.gov or call 225-7965 between 8 am- 12 pm and 1 pm- 4 pm Monday through Friday) if you have questions about a specific case.
