Business Visa Program
What is the Business Visa Program?
What are the criteria for participating in the Program?
- We welcome your application regardless of whether your company is a U.S., Libyan, multinational, or third-country business.
- Your company must have ongoing business activity with the U.S.
How does a company apply to join the Program?
Companies interested in becoming Program members must submit the documentation listed below. The Consular Section will review new applications at any time. We will then inform the company whether it qualifies for the Program.
- A letter to the Consular Section expressing interest in the program, and stating the nature of the company’s business activity in the United States. In addition, please include the names, signature samples and e-mail addresses of two company executives authorized to vouch in writing for each visa applicant, as well as the names, signature samples and e-mail addresses of up to two alternative executives who may sign in the absence of the principal representatives. Note that each time an authorized executive signs a letter requesting a visa for an employee, he or she is giving the Embassy assurance that the employee will comply with United States immigration laws and return to Libya after the trip. The packet may be submitted to the Consular Section in person Sun-Thursday, 8a.m.-5p.m. or by e-mail (including scanned copies of the signatures) to TripoliConsular@state.gov
- Confirmed misuse of the business visa program will result in the immediate suspension of the company from the program.
- Refusal of a visa application for reasons beyond the knowledge of the company does not constitute misuse of the program.
What Does the Program Do?
A special e-mail address for business program inquiries will be provided when we accept the application. The Consular Section will respond to inquiries from business program members within 1-2 workdays from the day of receipt.
Program members may provide the names and passport numbers of their employees via e-mail. This information must be sent from one of the authorized e-mail addresses described above. This process is meant to safeguard against your company’s name being used to commit fraud. Once the information is received, the Consular Section in Tripoli will schedule special appointments to facilitate the application process.
Program members may contact us via e-mail to request a check on a visa case that has been pending for over 20 days, or if there is an emergency need to travel. If there is an urgent need to travel, please include that information in the e-mail.
What Can the Program Not Do?
Program participation does not guarantee visa issuance. While employment by your company does register in the applicant’s favor, it is still the legal responsibility of the applicant to establish to the interviewing consular officer that he or she will return home after his or her trip to the United States.
Program participants may not vouch for relatives, friends, or other persons not directly employed by the company unless they are traveling with an employee.
We cannot assure program participants that visa processing will be completed by a given date. While the State Department and the Embassy in Tripoli are committed to facilitating legitimate business travel, expediting required administrative processing of a visa case is not within our power. Applicants should always apply well in advance of any planned travel.
With the exception of the e-mail request to schedule an appointment for an employee, the Consular Section cannot accept documents for any application before the interview.