Frequently Asked Questions: Non-Immigrant Visas
This guide answers some of the most frequently asked questions about U.S. Visas. If you have other questions not answered here, you may contact the Consular Section by clicking here.
-
1. What are visa processing times?
1. What are visa processing times?
On the day of your scheduled interview, you will know if your visa has been approved, denied, or require administrative processing. Approved applicants should have their visa and passports returned the following business day, except for holidays and weekends.Applications requiring additional processing may require some time to complete. At the end of the interview the applicant will have their passport returned, and given instructions on how to proceed.
If the application is refused, the passport will be returned at the end of the interview.
-
2. I don’t’ live in Qatar, can I apply there?
2. I don’t’ live in Qatar, can I apply there?
Applicants are strongly recommended to apply for a visa in an appropriate country according to your situation.
These countries include your home country, the country of current residence or at a US Embassy assigned to accept your application because they do not have a US Embassy in your home country. If you choose to apply in a country outside your place of birth or usual residence, it may be more difficult to demonstrate your qualifications due to the interviewing officers' unfamiliarity with your country’s local conditions.
As always, there is no guarantee that your application will be approved.
- 3. What are the procedures for nationalities other than Qatari?
- 4. Can I apply for two visas at the same time?
-
5. How long before I plan to travel should I begin the application process?
5. How long before I plan to travel should I begin the application process?
We highly recommend applying for a visa as soon as you are thinking of traveling. If for any reason an approved visa may expire before the date of travel, the application may be held pending for up to one year. This does not apply to applications held for administrative processing.
-
6. I am transiting through the United States for only a few hours, do I need a visa?
6. I am transiting through the United States for only a few hours, do I need a visa?
Yes, a person in transit requires a valid visa to travel to the United States regardless of the number of hours spent in transit. A person in transit may use a valid tourist visa, transit visa, or travel authorization as a Visa Waiver Program Participant.
- 7. My passport will expire in less than 180 days, should I renew it before applying for a visa?
- 8. My residence permit will expire before, during, or shortly after the visa process; should I renew it to apply for a visa?
-
9. What is the Visa Waiver Program and does that apply to me?
9. What is the Visa Waiver Program and does that apply to me?
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. VWP countries are required to obtain a travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before they travel.
Please visit the following link for more information: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html
If your travel authorization has been rejected, then you are required to apply for a visa to travel to the United States. Please visit our visa section on this website to apply for a new visa.
- 10. What is a travel authorization and do I need one?
- 11. How can I apply for a US visa from Qatar?
-
12. I am applying for a family temporary visa, what are the procedures?
12. I am applying for a family temporary visa, what are the procedures?
We do not have family visas. Each family member is required to have their own application, fee receipt, and appointment confirmation if applicable. However, if all family members are scheduled for an appointment on the same day, they may be interviewed together.
- 13. How do I renew my visa?
-
14. How do I transfer my visa?
14. How do I transfer my visa?
Valid visas cannot be transferred. A valid visa can be used in an expired passport, provided all the biographic information is exactly the same. Biographic information only includes your name, gender, date of birth, and nationality.Any changes to the information in your new passport will require you, by law, to apply for a new visa to reflect the changes. If all the information is exactly the same, you may travel and present both old and new passports at the time you arrive in the United States.
The other option is to apply for a new visa for your new passport. Please visit our visa section on this website to apply for a new visa.
Please visit our website for our application procedures. - 15. My passport is lost or was stolen with the U.S. visa in it; what are the procedures to replace it?
-
16. Are there specific application procedures for diplomatic passport holders?
16. Are there specific application procedures for diplomatic passport holders?
Diplomatic passport holders are not required to pay fees on any visa application. If a diplomat is traveling for official purposes, their application must be accompanied by an official letter from their employment stating their current position and the official business they will have in the U.S. to include itinerary. If a diplomat is traveling for tourism, an application and appointment is required.
-
17. I am trying to upload my photo and the application will not accept it; what should I do?
17. I am trying to upload my photo and the application will not accept it; what should I do?
The DS160 application form may not always accept the photo you uploaded. If you are testing the photo, please continue to complete your application. During the photo stage, it will still require you to upload your photo. Please try again and if it still does not load, on the bottom, click to continue without the photo. On the day of your scheduled interview, please bring your original photo on white background.
-
18. How do I retrieve my application?
18. How do I retrieve my application?
To retrieve your application, please proceed to the DS160 application form. Select the region and language for the application, then “Start Application”. On the next screen, scroll down to “Retrieve Application”. Answer the questions it prompts. If all questions are answered correctly, the last page completed on the application will appear. If a question is incorrectly answered, the application will not open and you will need to complete a new application.
-
19. In my family, more than one family member shares the same passport; what are the procedures?
19. In my family, more than one family member shares the same passport; what are the procedures?
Each family member should present their own passport during the application process. If you have an old passport where the mother shares the same passport with an infant, separate application procedures will still apply.
-
20. I have a hand written passport; do I need a machine readable passport to apply or travel to the United States?
20. I have a hand written passport; do I need a machine readable passport to apply or travel to the United States?
Only countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program should be concerned with having a machine readable passport. Other countries are allowed to use any valid passport from their country to apply for a visa or travel to the U.S. with a valid visa.
- 21. Is there a paper application to complete by hand?
- 22. I have completed my application and discovered a mistake, what should I do?
- 23. How long is the application valid for?
- 24. Do I need to print my complete application?
-
25. What additional documents should I bring to my visa interview?
25. What additional documents should I bring to my visa interview?
The application procedures list recommended additional documents to bring to the interview. If you are unsure of what to bring other than what is listed please bring in the documents you feel would support your application in the format you choose. Be advised we suggest documents to bring to the interview, but it is not mandatory.
If the interviewing officer feels your application needs a supporting document, you will be notified at the time of your interview.
- 26. What are the fees for a U.S. Visa?
- 27. Am I exempt from paying the visa fee?
-
28. I already have a visa and I am only applying for my child under the age of 14 years, are the application procedures the same?
28. I already have a visa and I am only applying for my child under the age of 14 years, are the application procedures the same?
A parent dropping off a child’s passport may arrive at the embassy any working day with the application, passport, fee receipt, and copy of the parent’s valid visas. If a parent does not have a valid visa, the parent will need to schedule an appointment for an interview.
- 29. Is an invitation from my U.S. sponsor required to apply for a visa?
- 30. I hold a passport from Canada; do I need a visa to travel to the United States?
- 31. I have a Canadian permanent resident visa; do I need a visa to travel to the United States?
- 32. How do I apply for a student visa?
- 33. I am a student and I want to take my family with me to the United States for the duration of my studies; what are the procedures?
-
34. How do I pay my SEVIS fee?
34. How do I pay my SEVIS fee?
Please visit the following link to pay your SEVIS fee: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm
- 35. How long is the Commercial Bank Receipt valid for?
- 36. I have paid the fee, and decided not to travel; how do I get a refund?
- 37. Is the visa fee transferrable to another person or to another U.S. Embassy?
- 38. My child was born in the United States; can I apply for a visa for them to travel to the U.S.?
-
39. Am I required to get an appointment for interview?
39. Am I required to get an appointment for interview?
Most applicants are required to schedule and confirm their own appointments online. Applicants applying for Student visas, exchange visitor visas, official government travel, and medical travel do not require appointments but will be asked for the appropriate documents to waive the appointment.
-
40. Something happened with my printer, and I was not able to print my appointment confirmation page, what should I do?
40. Something happened with my printer, and I was not able to print my appointment confirmation page, what should I do?
Appointment Confirmation pages are not required on the day of your schedule interview. When you arrive at the embassy, inform the consular staff at the front gate you have an appointment. If you name is on the list, you will be allowed entry for that day.
- 41. Is there anything I should not bring to the U.S. Embassy on the day of my scheduled interview?
-
42. Why was I refused a visa?
42. Why was I refused a visa?
Every applicant must qualify under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952, as amended, which contains a presumption, that nonimmigrant visa applicants are actually intending immigrants. They are ineligible to obtain nonimmigrant visas unless you can prove they have a permanent residence abroad which they have no intention of abandoning. This is normally established by demonstrating family, social, and employment, economic or other ties in another country, which will compel them to return there after a temporary stay in the United States.
Consular officers wish to facilitate travel to the United States. However, they are obliged to evaluate objectively the facts and circumstances surrounding each visa application and to judge whether the applicant has met burden of proof individually as required by law for issuance of a visa.
Ineligibility under section 214(b) is not permanent and may be overcome in future visa applications.
- 43. If I was refused when can I apply again?
- 44. How do I check my status online?
- 45. How often is the status updated on line?
-
46. I have been checking online for my visa status and it has not appeared. Am I refused or should I apply again?
46. I have been checking online for my visa status and it has not appeared. Am I refused or should I apply again?
The additional administrative process can take anywhere from two weeks to six months or more to clear. This process is not done here locally. Do not apply again during this time. Applicants found ineligible will be notified on the day of their scheduled interview.
- 47. When can I drop off my passport?
-
48. How long can I stay in the U.S. with my valid visa?
48. How long can I stay in the U.S. with my valid visa?
A visa allows an applicant to travel to the United States from the issue date until the expiration date listed. Once you arrive at the port of entry, the Immigration inspector will determine how long you are able to stay in the United States. There is no minimum requirement to use a valid visa. If your visa is for multiple entries, you may use the valid visa to travel for the same purpose until it expires. The visa must remain in good condition and the information must be clearly readable.
- 49. How do I know my visa is for multiple entries or for single entry?
- 50. In my given name “FNU” was entered on my visa; what does this mean?
-
51. I received my visa and noticed there is a mistake on the information provided, how can I correct that?
51. I received my visa and noticed there is a mistake on the information provided, how can I correct that?
Corrections can be made to visas. Please bring your passport any Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between 8:00 and 10:00 am (except holidays). The Consular Staff at the front gate will verify the correction to be made and will give you a date and time to collect the corrected visa.
-
52. The airline did not take my I-94 Card at the airport, how can I return that?
52. The airline did not take my I-94 Card at the airport, how can I return that?
Please visit the following link: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/752
- 53. I am traveling to the United States, should my passport have six month validity?
- 54. Can I use my visa to travel to the Guam, US Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico?
- 55. Can I use my U.S. visa to travel to Canada or Mexico?
- 56. If I enter a neighboring country, can I re-enter the U.S.?
- 57. I received a job offer, diversity visa lottery notification, or U.S Visa by email, is this real?
Fraud Prevention Unit (copy)
-
STOP SCAMS
Contact the Fraud Prevention Unit if you have information or questions regarding scams relating to documents, passports, U.S. Visas or U.S. Immigration. We are open Sunday thru Thursday, except official holidays, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Telephone: +974 4496 6000 ext. 6310
Email: FPMDOHA@state.gov