Embassy of the United States Paramaribo, Suriname

• The U.S. Embassy goes Green
• The New Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form, DS-160
• Visa Application Fees to Change April 13
• U.S.-Bound Travelers from VISA WAIVER Program Countries must complete online travel authorization
• Important Pamphlet: For Certain Employment or Education-Based Nonimmigrants (Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Act)
• On-line Appointment System for Non-Immigrant Visas
• New Web Site Provides Info on Adopting Children from Other Countries
• French Temporary Passports and Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Travel
• The New Surinamese Passport and Your U.S. Visa
• Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
• Avian Influenza Virus

The U.S. Embassy goes Green

The Embassy of the United States of America is pleased to inform the Citizens of the Republic of Suriname of the following important future changes in consular procedures applying to visa applications:

The New Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form, DS-160

The United States Department of State has developed the electronic non-immigrant visa application form, the DS-160 , which incorporates all existing NIV applications into one interactive, online form.  The DS-160 replaces the three forms that made up the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF).  The DS-160 is required at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide.

This means that  the old DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158 will no longer be used to apply for a visa as the DS-160 replaces all other NIV application forms with the exception of individuals applying for a K visa, who should use the DS-156 and the DS-156K (see the Visa Categories Not Using the DS-160 section below for more information).

Visa Application Fees to Change April 13

On March 29, 2012, the Department of State published an interim final rule in the Federal Register to adjust visa processing fees. The fees for most nonimmigrant visa applications and Border Crossing Cards will increase, while all immigrant visa processing fees will decrease. The new fees are scheduled to go into effect on April 13, 2012. For more information, review the Press Release and Fees for Visa Services.

U.S.-Bound Travelers from VISA WAIVER Program Countries must complete online travel authorization

On the one-year anniversary of implementing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds U.S.-bound travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, including The Netherlands, of the ESTA requirement.  Beginning January 20, CBP will initiate a 60-day transition to enforced ESTA compliance for air carriers; VWP travelers without an approved ESTA may not be allowed to board a U.S.-bound plane. For more information, please visit Visa Waiver Program

Important Pamphlet: For Certain Employment or Education-Based Nonimmigrants (Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Act)

December 4, 2009

If you are coming to the United States to work or study, we are confident that you will have a pleasant and rewarding stay.  If you should encounter any problems, however, know that you have rights and can get help.  The U.S. Department of State's website contains an informative pamphlet that informs you of your rights as a nonimmigrant visa holder in certain employment- and education-based categories (specifically A-3, G-5, NATO-7, B-1 domestic employees, H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, and J-1 visa holders).  You can find the pamphlet and additional information at Travel.state.gov
 

A Pdf format version of the pamphlet is available (pdf 252KB) .

A print-ready version of the pamphlet is available (pdf 291KB) .

Visa applicants may access the On-line NIV Appointment System on the Embassy’s website under the “Visa to the US/Non-Immigrant Visas” tab. 

The U.S. Embassy brings to the attention that visa applicants should use the On-line NIV Appointment System on the U.S. Embassy’s website to schedule visa interview appointments.  All NIV interviews must be scheduled through the On-line NIV Appointment System.

The On-Line NIV Appointment System should improve customer service and shorten waiting times at the Embassy. The appointment system will provide applicants with an exact time during consular hours to be present for their visa interview. The Consular Section’s interview days are Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Applicants are reminded that they should apply for their visas several weeks in advance of their planned travel.  Same day visa issuance is not possible.  

The U.S. Government created this pamphlet at the prompting of a new U.S. law, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (Public Law 110-457), which reaffirms and strengthens the U.S. Government's commitment to fight human trafficking and labor abuses in all their forms.

On-line Appointment System for Non-Immigrant Visas

The Embassy reminds applicants to first fill out the on-line Electronic Visas Application Form  or visit the U.S. Embassy website

Questions about this procedure may be directed to the Consular Section at telephone 472-900, ext. 2236 between 2:30 – 4:00 pm.

New Web Site Provides Info on Adopting Children from Other Countries  

In recognition of National Adoption Month , the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has launched Adoption.state.gov , a new Web site devoted exclusively to intercountry adoption.

Last year alone, Americans adopted more than 17,000 children from abroad. Adoption.state.gov will provide adopting parents with the answers and information they need. The site includes step-by-step instructions for adopting a child from another country, and a new publication for adoptive parents, “Intercountry Adoption from A to Z.”

 
Adoption.state.gov provides a central resource for adopting parents, adoption agencies, and others involved in the intercountry adoption process. Prospective parents will find country specific information and background about the Hague Adoption Convention on the Web site. 

 
Adoption.state.gov also includes information such as who is eligible to adopt, from which countries Americans adopt children, what protections the Hague Adoption Convention provides families, when an organization needs to renew its accreditation, and advice to prospective parents about selecting an accredited adoption agency.  The site also provides information for foreign citizens who are interested in adopting American children.

The Department of Homeland Security has clarified that initial guidance pertaining to issuance dates of passports also applies to extension of the validity of passports beyond the date noted on the biographic data page and in the Machine Readable Zone field.  This means that the date that a passport is renewed or extended will determine the VWP biometric guidelines that apply to that passport.  Current VWP passport guidelines can be summarized as follows:

A) Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05 - no further requirements 

B) Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 - require a digital photograph integrated into the data page or integrated chip containing information from the data page 

C) Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/06 - require an integrated chip with information from the data page 

French Temporary Passports and Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Travel

No regular French passports issued since 10/26/05 are currently eligible for VWP travel; once e-passport production begins, passports with the digital photo (and chip) will be acceptable for VWP travel, and those without the digital photo will require a visa for travel to the U.S. 

The New Surinamese Passport and Your U.S. Visa

Do I have to have a new Machine-Readable passport to travel to the United States? No.  If you have a valid U.S. visa and any valid Surinamese passport you may travel to the United States.  You may travel using the old format of the Surinamese passport or the new Machine-Readable Surinamese passport. If I have the new Surinamese Machine-Readable passport do I still need a visa?
Yes.  All Surinamese citizens traveling to the United States need a valid U.S. visa. What should I do if my valid U.S. visa is in my expired passport and I have a new Surinamese passport?

If the visa in your expired passport is still valid, you should travel with both your new passport and your expired passport.  When you arrive in the United States you should present both passports to immigration officials.  Show your valid passport and the visa page in your expired passport.  Do not  remove the valid U.S. visa from your expired passport.

• Animated Video of Application Process

To view an animated video that shows the steps in the visa application process from application to entry into and departure from the United States click here . 

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

The U.S. Government launched a new travel initiative to better secure U.S. borders and to expedite travel to the United States. This initiative will require all travelers to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other acceptable travel document (as defined in the enclosures) to enter or re-enter the United States. For more deatails please click on the links below:

Avian Influenza Virus

If you would like to learn more about Avian flu, also commonly referred to as  “bird flu”, please click on the links below: