Visa Reissuance Program

Certain applicants may renew an existing visa without having to attend an interview with a U.S. consular officer. If, when you last applied for a visa, you provided a complete set of your fingerprints and are now applying to renew the same category of visa, you may be eligible for the Visa Reissuance Program. To qualify, your previous B1/B2, C1/D, F, M, J, O or Q visa must still be valid or have expired within the past 48 months and issued after August of 2007. To renew your E, H, L, P and R visa, the visa must still be valid or have expired within the previous 12 months.

In addition, you must meet the following requirements:

• You are a permanent resident of Finland
• Your last visa was issued at the U.S. Embassy Helsinki
• Your previous visa was not lost, stolen or revoked
• You have never been arrested, convicted or imprisoned
• You have never been refused a U.S. visa or ESTA
• When you last applied for a visa, your application was not subject to additional administrative processing.
• You are physically present in Finland

Those qualified for the Visa Reissuance Program may send their application, photograph, MRV fee receipt, return envelope and other supporting documents to us by mail.  Visa processing takes about 48 hours once we receive all required documents in our office plus the time it takes for us to receive and return your passport through the postal system.

Please see our Application Requirements for more information about required documents for each visa category.

Please note: Some applicants will need to appear in person for their interviews after the Consular Section has reviewed their applications.

If you qualify for the Visa Reissuance Program, please complete the following steps:

Step 1:  Complete the online DS-160

Step 2: Pay the MRV fee and enclose the Receipt for MRV fee [the receipt must state the visa applicant's name (message field - viestikenttä) and the archive ID number (arkistointitunnus)]. 

Step 3:  Gather all required documents which are stated in our Application Requirements. Please scroll down to see the additional documents required for your visa class in the checklist.

Step 4: Please send your passport, DS-160 confirmation page, registered postage paid return envelope, and all required documents to us by mail:

American Embassy – Consular Section
Itäinen Puistotie 14B
00140 Helsinki

For questions about the Visa Reissuance program, please feel free to contact us at HelsinkiNIV@state.gov