Welcome to the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit Homepage!

Thank you for your interest in traveling to the United States.  We hope that this website makes it easier for you to select and apply for the proper nonimmigrant visa.

The type of nonimmigrant visa you will need and the requirements to apply for that visa depend largely on your purpose of travel to the United States.

CALL CENTER HOURS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

The Embassy’s call center numbers for information and appointment scheduling are: (02) 902-8930 and (02) 982-5555.  For calls from the continental United States, dial (214) 571-1600.  The call center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Manila time, Monday through Friday. 

Appointments can also be scheduled online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph.

For concerns on appointment scheduling, please send an e-mail to GSSManila@state.gov.  This e-mail address is not an alternative way to secure an appointment, but we will respond to your questions about scheduling as soon as possible.

NONIMMIGRANT VISA FEES

Visa applicants need make only one payment (the current MRV fee based on the visa classification) for all of the following services:

·         MRV fee collection, either over the counter or online, at any branch of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), and online payment through Bancnet

·         Scheduling of visa appointments (through call center numbers 982-5555, 902-8930, or online appointment website http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph; from mainland U.S. call 214-571-1600)

·         Providing information on general visa inquiries

·         Delivery of passports for approved visa applications

Please visit the updated application procedures page for more detailed information.

Please also be informed of the following regarding fees:

·   Unused VisaPoint™ personal identification numbers (PINs) expired November 26, 2010.  If an applicant did not book an appointment before this date, the PIN was forfeited.  An interview must be scheduled following the instructions provided here.

·   MRV fee payments are not transferable.  When an applicant pays the MRV fee, the applicant’s passport (or a photocopy of the passport’s biographic page) must be presented to the bank teller.  The applicant’s passport number will be tied to the MRV fee paid at the bank.  The same rule applies to online payment of MRV fees. 

Please visit the updated application procedures page for more information.  Details are also available at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph.  If you wish to send an e-mail, you may contact us at GSSManila@state.gov.

DS-160 Online Visa Application Form
 

All nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to complete and submit an online visa application form known as the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application. The DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application has replaced nonimmigrant visa paper application forms DS-156/157/158, and other related paper forms.

Applicants can access the DS-160 from the Consular Electronic Application Center website or from the link on the U.S. Embassy website in Manila.

In order to avoid delays in processing visa applications, visa applicants or their representatives must ensure that the following information is correctly provided:

·   Applicant’s complete name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s))

·   Applicant’s passport information (the passport used in filling out the form must be the same passport presented on the day of interview)

·   Other Name(s) (for married female applicants, type your complete maiden name)

·   Purpose of Trip to the U.S. (if the answer falls under “Other,” it is a requirement to specify the purpose of travel in the blank provided)

·   Primary Occupation (if the answer falls under “Other,” it is a requirement to specify the occupation in the blank provided)

·   Contact Person and Contact Address in the United States

·   Father’s Complete Name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s))

·   Mother’s Complete Maiden Name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s))

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions for instructions about the DS-160.

Legal Rights for Workers in the United States

The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (WWTVPA) came into effect in December 2008.  The Act requires that an individual applying for an A-3, G-5, B1 domestic employee, J1, or certain H1B and H2B visas is made aware of his or her legal rights under federal immigration, labor, and employment laws. This includes information on the illegality of slavery, peonage, trafficking in persons, sexual assault, extortion, blackmail, and worker exploitation in the United States. Please read this pamphlet prior to your visa interview. You will be asked if you have received, read, and understood its contents.

For inquiries related to this matter, please e-mail us at ConsManilaNIV@state.gov.

Electronic Devices Not Permitted on Embassy Grounds

For the safety and security of all applicants and employees, visa applicants are NOT PERMITTED to bring any kind of electronic and battery-operated devices (cellular phone, digital camera, laptop, music player, portable game consoles such as PSP, etc.) into the U.S. Embassy. Applicants who bring such devices will be denied entry.

Please make arrangements to leave your electronic equipment in a safe location off Embassy grounds BEFORE your interview appointment. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your cooperation.

Average Visa Processing Time and Delivery

Depending on the volume of visa issuances of the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit, visa processing after the interview usually takes at least one week*.

After the one-week visa processing, the receipt of a passport with a visa may take longer, depending on the applicant’s delivery address.

* – Average Visa Processing Time: This means the number of working days it takes for an approved applicant to receive his/her passport back from the Embassy with the U.S. Visa at the address given to the courier company.

All applicants should be aware that the one week processing time is an AVERAGE, and that the processing time of a specific case can vary due to individual circumstances and other special requirements.