1.
PASSPORT QUESTIONS
1.1. Why does the U.S. Embassy need to see my prior passports?
An applicant’s prior passport contains helpful information for the U.S.
Embassy officials. This document may help a Consular Officer to quickly establish
the applicant’s credibility, identity, and travel history. Applicants must
bring any and all passports to their visa interview.
1.2. How many blank pages do I need to have in my passport to be able
to use it to apply for a visa?
In order to use a passport for a visa, you will need to have at least
one blank page to place the visa.
1.3. Is it legal to leave Venezuela with a Venezuelan passport and enter the
U.S. with a European Community passport, taking advantage of dual nationality?
Venezuelans who have dual nationality may enter the U.S. using their European
Community passport. In this case, the traveler will need to comply with all
of the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program. To enter the U.S. under the
VWP, travelers must:
• Be a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country;
• Have a valid passport issued by the participating country that is valid for
six months beyond your intended visit;
• Have a machine-readable passport (MRP);
• Be seeking entry for 90 days or less, as a temporary visitor for business
or pleasure. You will not be permitted to extend your visit or change to another
visa category under the VWP;
• if entering by air or sea, have a round-trip transportation ticket issued
on a carrier that has signed an agreement with the U.S. government to participate
in the VWP, and arrive in the United States aboard such a carrier;
• Hold 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, travel agents, and at land-border ports-of-entry;
• 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. You must apply for a visa to the U.S.
In some cases, it may be necessary to apply for a visa, for example, if
the travelers intends to work, study, or stay in the U.S. for a period of longer
than 90 days.
1.4. I applied for a U.S. visa, and the Consular Officer asked me for
a new passport, why? What happens if after I apply for the visa, the U.S. Embassy
asks me to obtain a new passport? Do I lose the fees that I already paid?
In order for the U.S. Embassy officials to apply a visa to your passport,
it must meet certain security requirements. If your passport does not meet
these requirements, the Consular Officer may require you to obtain a new passport
to receive the visa. We will not accept passports that have not been renovated
at minimum of every 5 years (per the 5-year rule), passports where the applicant
does not resemble the original photo (often this is the case for children who
are now young adults and whose passports were issued when they were an infant),
or passports that are vulnerable to fraud due to their poor condition. For
children, Consular Officers will not accept passports without a secure current
photo within the biographical page of the passport. Renovations within passports
for children are not valid for the purposes of a U.S. visa.
If the applicant is asked to return with a new passport, they will receive
a letter indicating that they need a new passport and allowing them to return
to the Embassy. These applicants do not have to pay another application fee,
and should bring the notification letter with them in order to facilitate entry
to the Embassy.
1.5. My passport has expired, but I have a valid visa in it. Can I transfer
the visa into my new passport?
No, you cannot transfer the visa, but you may travel with two passports:
a new, valid passport and the expired passport containing the valid visa. Otherwise,
you may apply for a new visa by submitting a completely new application, including
payment of the application processing fee.
2. VISA INTERVIEW
2.1. How do I get an appointment for a nonimmigrant visa interview?
If you have had a visa valid for two years or longer, which has expired
within the last year and you are requesting a visa of the same classification,
you can apply for your visa through a travel agency. This option applies to
persons over 60 years old, or under 16. If you qualify, you will not need an
interview, but you will need to come to the embassy to have your fingerprints
taken if you are between the ages of 14-80. Although interviews under these
conditions are not required, a Consular Officer may request that you attend
a personal interview in order to clarify points that might not have been resolved
in your written application. You will not be required to make an appointment
for this interview; instead a letter will be enclosed with your passport, requesting
that you present yourself at the embassy any day that we are open for visa
processing.
Otherwise, you must pay $24 USD (or the equivalent in Bolivares at the
official exchange rate) at your nearest Banco Provincial to get a code number
to make an appointment. The instructions for this process will be given to
you when you pay. You may make appointments for up to five immediate family
members with one code number, otherwise you must buy a second code number.
Each number entitles you to 15 minutes with a live operator, who can give information,
make your appointment, and who will take some basic information for visa processing.
The phone number in Venezuela is 0-800-847-3388 and in the United States is
1-877-274-6682, but you will not be able to make your appointment unless you
have paid for the code number at the bank.
2.2. If my visa is approved, when will it be ready?
We will make every effort to have visas printed and ready for issuance
as soon as possible. However, increased security measures may lead to some
delays. Because of clearance and security measures required to process non-immigrant
visas, you should allow a minimum of three business days for the processing
and return of your visa.
Because of increased security requirements, the U.S. Embassy has less
flexibility to address cases that may have been considered urgent in the past.
In general, priority appointments will only be given for reasons of extreme
medical emergencies, certain types of work visas and students on a case-by-case
basis. Although we will try to return these types of visas as soon as possible,
we must still follow our security procedures and therefore may not be able
to hand back passports on the same day of visa issuance. Please keep this in
mind when preparing your travel plans. Applicants should never purchase plane
tickets before their interview. Having purchased plane tickets before your
visa interview does NOT make your case an emergency one.
2.3. Why was my visa denied?
Most visa denials are made under section 214b of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (INA) because the applicant has not convinced the interviewing Officer
that he or she has sufficiently strong reasons that would compel their return
after a visit of appropriate duration. According to the law, every applicant
is presumed to be an intending immigrant. It is the applicant’s sole obligation
to show otherwise.
Refusals under section 214b of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
can be overcome. Applicants may reapply whenever they believe their circumstances
have changed sufficiently, or if they have new evidence to present. People
refused under section 214b INA who wish to reapply must pay the nonrefundable
visa application fee.
Some cases are refused under section 221g INA and the applicants are asked
to return with additional information to assist in the adjudication process.
Persons refused under section 221g INA will be given a form letter explaining
what additional information is needed and when to reappear before the Consular
Officer. These applicants do not have to pay another application fee.
2.4. Why was I giving a yellow or blue letter that indicates that my application
has been retained to complete some internal administrative processing?
The reason is because your application needs to go through an extensive internal
administrative processing. We will get in contact with you as soon as the
processing has been completed. Please do not come to the Embassy prior
to receiving a
call from us. If your application has a period of four months and you haven’t
receive a call from us please write an e-mail to: consularcaracas@state.gov
2.5. Does purchasing a roundtrip ticket with confirmed travel plans support
my case for a visa?
No. Purchasing a roundtrip ticket does not demonstrate a person’s intention
to return to their home country. A roundtrip ticket does not provide any information
about the applicant’s social and economic ties to Venezuela. The U.S. Embassy
strongly discourages applicants from purchasing airfare or paying for nonrefundable
travel plans in advance of your visa interview. Instead, applicants should
wait to see if their visa if approved before they spend any resources.
3. FEES
3.1. What are the fees to be paid for a non-immigrant tourist visa?
If you do not wish to use a travel agency, you must pay $24 USD (or the
equivalent in Bolivares at the official exchange rate) at your nearest Banco
Provincial to get a code number to make an appointment. The instructions for
this process will be given to you when you pay. You may make appointments for
up to five immediate family members with one code number, otherwise you must
buy a second code number.
All visa applicants must pay a non-refundable $100 application processing
fee. In order to apply for a tourist visa all applicants will have to go to
their local Banco Provincial office and pay the $100 consular application fee.
You must have your application form with you when you go to the bank. The DS-156
can be downloaded from this site or filled out on-line http://evisaforms.state.gov.
The application form should be filled out, as well as dated and you must sign
the form. Your receipt of payment for the $100 application fee will be printed
directly on your DS-156 application form. You must submit this form with your
application as proof of payment of the fee. The applicant will not be allowed
to pay this fee at the Embassy.
Additional issuance fees (reciprocity fees) vary by visa class and nationality.
Citizens of countries other than Venezuela may have to pay an additional issuance
fee, depending on the reciprocity between the United States and the applicant’s
country of citizenship. This fee can be paid at the Embassy.
3.2. If the visa is refused, can I get my money back?
No. The application processing fee is not refundable if the visa is refused
or under any other circumstances, unless the result of an error made by our
office. The fees pay for data entry, support of records, and computer software,
etc.
4. STUDENT VISAS
4.1. What do I need to apply for a student visa?
All applicants for a student visa must provide:
• A original Form I-20 obtained from a U.S. college, school or university.
• An application Form DS-156, together with a Form DS-158. Both forms must
be completed and signed. Some applicants will also be required to complete
and sign Form DS-157.
• A passport valid for at least six months after your proposed date of entry
into the United States;
• One (1) 2x2 photograph.
• A receipt for visa processing fee.
• A receipt for the SEVIS registration fee.
All applicants should be prepared to provide:
• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended;
• Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such
as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.;
• Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you
have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the
period of your intended study.
4.2. Can I study in the United States with a B1/B2 visa?
If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but want to take a
short course of study of less than 18 hours per week, you may be able to do
so do so on a tourist visa. If your course of study is more than 18 hours a
week, you will need a student visa.
4.3. I am a foreign student currently studying in the U.S. I want to travel
outside the U.S., do I need any special documents to re-enter the United
States?
Returning students may re-enter the U.S. on their valid F-1 visa as long
as they have a valid I-20 with a SEVIS number even if the SEVIS number does
not match the number on their visa. The Immigration Officers at the port of
entry will check their system to make sure that the I-20 is valid. The only
reason a student should need a new visa is if their old visa has expired.
4.4. Is it required that I pay the first year tuition expenses in advance
and show a receipt from the university?
No, you are not required to pay for the first year of tuition in advance.
Paying the tuition expenses in advance is a good way to show proof of funds,
but it is NOT a requirement to pay in advance.
4.5. How do I prove that I can afford to attend school in the United States?
As the applicant, you must be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient
funds to cover the first year, plus a continuing source of funds to cover subsequent
years. Part 7 on the I-20 shows the amount of funding you must have available
to cover each year's expenses. The total amount includes tuition and fees,
living expenses, expenses of dependents (if applicable), and other expenses.
You must prove that you have immediate funds available to cover the first year's
expenses, and access to funds to cover the remaining years of study. For example,
if you are a prospective Master's student for a two-year program, and the total
cost includes $5,000 for tuition and fees, $5,000 for living expenses, and
$500 for other expenses (books and supplies, for instance), then you must prove
that $10,500 is immediately available to you. Additionally, you must show that
another $10,500 is or will likely be available to cover the second year.
While documents may assist you in your interview, the Consular Officer
relies primarily on the interview to determine your eligibility for a visa,
and only minimally on supporting documents. No specific documents prove a student
is able to pay for his/her education. Bank account statements, pay slips, income
tax return statements, employment letters, property documents and chartered
accountant statements are the most common documents used to show proof of funds.
However, these are only suggested documents. A visa is not assured if you have
any or all of these documents.
4.6. What is the SEVIS system and how does it affect me?
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) program makes
it easier for you, the school, immigration officials and the embassy or consulate
where you apply for a visa to make sure you are in lawful student status. SEVIS
is a web-based system to maintain information on international students and
exchange visitors in the United States. The SEVIS program requires schools
to verify the enrollment status of all continuing and new foreign students.
The SEVIS fee must be paid and fully processed before the applicant arrives
at the U.S. Embassy for the visa interview. Applicants should bring a SEVIS
fee payment receipt with them for the visa interview, or, for those that do
not need a visa, to the U.S. port-of-entry. For more detailed information on
the fee payment process, go to the SEVIS website at http://www.ice.gov/sevis.
