General Information

Non-immigrant visas are required for Turkmen citizens who wish to visit the United States temporarily for tourism, business, studies or cultural exchanges. Applicants must schedule an appointment and appear in person before a U.S. Consular Officer in Ashgabat for a visa interview. 

NOTE: As of January 1, 2013, all Turkmen citizens applying for U.S. visas must be in possession of a valid international e-passport. Domestic Turkmen passports will no longer be valid for travel to the United States. 

Applying for a Visa in Ashgabat

To apply for a non-immigrant visa to the United States, follow these steps:

• Complete the online application found at: https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/.
• Gather necessary documents – As of January 1, 2013, all Turkmen citizens applying for U.S. visas must be in possession of a valid international e-passport; During the interview the officer might ask to see one or more of the following documents, preferably translated into English:
  • An original, current letter of employment with job title, length of service, and monthly salary
  • Current letters of invitation from American companies or conference organizers
  • Personal bank statements for the last six months
  • Photocopies of current trade licenses or property deeds
  • Evidence which shows the purpose of the trip, intent to depart the United States, and arrangements made to cover the costs of the trip may be provided. Depending on individual circumstances, applicants may provide other documentation substantiating the trip's purpose and specifying the nature of binding obligations, such as family ties or employment, which would compel their return abroad.
  • Additional documents may be required, based on the type of visa for which you are applying, however, please be aware that documents only support a visa application. A visa is neither issued nor refused based solely on documentation.
• Schedule an appointment:
• Residents of Turkmenistan may schedule appointments online here.
• Non Residents (non-citizens of Turkmenistan who are not resident in the country): click here for special appointment procedures.

Click here for more on making appointments for visa interviews.

Issued visas not requiring additional processing will be ready for pick-up at 11:00 on the NEXT working day after your interview. Please plan ahead and note that interview wait times may be longer in the busy spring and summer months.

Some applications will require additional processing prior to issuance.  The amount of time required varies based on the individual circumstances of each case. Please do not purchase airline tickets before receiving a visa. 

General Visa Information

The expiration of the visa date is the last day when you can ENTER the USA. Upon arrival in the United States, the U.S. Immigration officer at the port of entry determines the duration of your stay.

Fees for Non-Immigrant Visas

All applicants must pay the non-refundable Visa Processing Fee: $160.00 (for all non-petition-based visas), $190.00 (for all petition-based visas) prior to the visa interview

• Approved applicants who wish to obtain visas with longer validity have the option of paying an additional issuance fee.  Issuance fees citizens of Turkmenistan are as follows:

Visa Issuance Fees for citizens of other countries are listed here. All visa fees must be paid in U.S. dollars.

Visa Refusals

If you are refused a visa, you may apply again. However, we do not recommend re-applying without any additional information to demonstrate your strong social and economic ties to Turkmenistan or changed life circumstances. If you are denied a visa, the Visa Processing Fee will not be refunded.

For more information about visa refusals under 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, please refer to Visa Denials at http://travel.state.gov/.