Country Reciprocity Schedule

Latvia Reciprocity Schedule

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Visa Classification	Fee	Number of Applications	Validity Period
A-1	None	Multiple	60 Months
A-2	None	Multiple	60 Months
A-3 1	None	Multiple	24 Months
B-1	None	Multiple	120 Months
B-2	None	Multiple	120 Months
B-1/B-2	None	Multiple	120 Months
C-1	None	Multiple	60 Months
C-1/D	None	Multiple	60 Months
C-2	None	Multiple	12 Months
C-3	None	Multiple	60 Months
CW-1 11	None	Multiple	12 Months
CW-2 11	None	Multiple	12 Months
D	None	Multiple	60 Months
E-1 2	None	Multiple	60 Months
E-2 2	None	Multiple	60 Months
E-2C 12	None	Multiple	24 Months
F-1	None	Multiple	60 Months
F-2	None	Multiple	60 Months
G-1	None	Multiple	60 Months
G-2	None	Multiple	60 Months
G-3	None	Multiple	60 Months
G-4	None	Multiple	60 Months
G-5 1	None	Multiple	24 Months
H-1B	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
H-1C	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
H-2A	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
H-2B	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
H-2R	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
H-3	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
H-4	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
I	None	Multiple	60 Months
J-1 4	None	Multiple	60 Months
J-2 4	None	Multiple	60 Months
K-1	None	One	6 Months
K-2	None	One	6 Months
K-3	None	Multiple	24 Months
K-4	None	Multiple	24 Months
L-1	None	Multiple	24 Months
L-2	None	Multiple	24 Months
M-1	None	Multiple	60 Months
M-2	None	Multiple	60 Months
N-8	None	Multiple	60 Months
N-9	None	Multiple	60 Months
NATO 1-7 10	None	Multiple	60 Months
O-1	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
O-2	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
O-3	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
P-1	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
P-2	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
P-3	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
P-4	None	Multiple	24 Months 3
Q-1 6	None	Multiple	15 Months 3
R-1	None	Multiple	24 Months
R-2	None	Multiple	24 Months
S-5 7	None	One	1 Month
S-6 7	None	One	1 Month
S-7 7	None	One	1 Month
T-1 9	N/A	N/A	N/A
T-2	None	One	6 Months
T-3	None	One	6 Months
T-4	None	One	6 Months
T-5	None	One	6 Months
TD 5	N/A	N/A	N/A
U-1	None	Multiple	48 Months
U-2	None	Multiple	48 Months
U-3	None	Multiple	48 Months
U-4	None	Multiple	48 Months
U-5	None	Multiple	48 Months
V-1	None	Multiple	120 Months
V-2	None	Multiple	120 Months 8
V-3	None	Multiple	120 Months 8

Documents

"Apostille" certification must be obtained from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia (link http://www.am.gov.lv/en/service/legalisation/) for any documents issued by Latvian authorities that will be used in the United States. The apostille is not required for documents submitted for non-immgirant and immigrant visa application purposes.

People residing in other countries may contact the nearest Embassy of the Republic of Latvia for assistance in obtaining documents from Latvia, such as civil records, police, court, and military records, etc.

People permanently residing in Latvia who require documents from abroad should check the applicable reciprocity information. They may choose to contact the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia for assistance in their matters.

Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Certificates

Available. Civil records up to 1910 should be requested from the State History Archive (16 Slokas St., Riga, LV-1048, telephone (371) 676 13118 or (371) 676 12406).

References and duplicates of civil records prepared in Riga City after May 1, 1921 till now should be requested from the Riga City Civil Registry office (86 Brivibas St., Riga, LV-1010, tel. (371) 673 12 114).

References or duplicates of all other civil records are available through local district or city Civil Registration offices (their location may be specified at the Civil Registration Department of the Ministry of Justice) or the Archive of the Civil Registration Department (38a A.Caka St, Riga, LV-1011, tel. (371) 678 30677, (371) 678 30682). Note: Until 1921 only churches registered birth of a child, therefore a person must know the name of the church when requesting data.

Adoption Certificates

Available at the local court which issued the adoption decree or the Central State Archive (1 Bezdeligu St., Riga LV-1007, tel. (371) 674 62317).

Police and Prison Records

Available from the Information Center of the Ministry of Interior (72b Bruninieku St., Riga, LV-1009). Non-immigrant and immigrant visa applicants who require a police clearance letter from Latvia may submit the application to the Information Center in person, through an Embassy of the Republic of Latvia abroad or electronically indicating that it is required for U.S. visa application purposes. The letter will be issued in English language in a sealed envelope.

Note: Police Clearance Letters obtained through the Embassies of the Republic of Latvia will be issued on their letterheads instead of letterheads of the Information center.The service is subject to a fee. Processing time for application made in Latvia is 5 days. Expedited service is available at an extra fee.

Under Latvian law, almost all records are routinely "cancelled/expunged" after several years. The length of time depends on the nature and scope of the legal punishment imposed. After the criminal record is officially expunged from a person's record the ex-offender is not normally obliged to indicate his/her conviction, for example, when applying for a job or when involved in criminal or civil proceedings. Cancelled/expunged records remain in the Punishment Register and are available if the person specifically authorizes disclosure of the entire record. The police clearance letters issued for U.S. visa application purposes contain the entire record (including convictions that are considered expunged). Note: The Punishment Register contains complete information on criminal offences committed in the territory of Latvia both before and after regaining independence of the country in 1991.

Military Records

Available.

12 months military service was obligatory until December 31, 2006 for all men, Latvian citizens, between the age of 19 and 27. The law provided a number of exceptions, for example, for people with health problems, under criminal proceedings, students enrolled in universities, or having families with at least two small children. Latvian non-citizens were not subject to the obligatory military service. They cannot serve in the National Armed Forces of the Republic of Latvia.

During the Soviet era, military service was recorded in military service books. People who are unable to present the book to confirm their military records should attempt to obtain a written reference from the following institutions:

records on Latvian citizens if they are 18 to 55 years of age at the time when applying for a reference letter - the NAF Selection and Reserve Personnel Registration Center (55 Hospitalu St., Riga, LV-1013, tel. (371) 2646-3784);
records on Latvian citizens who retired from NAF after January 1, 2007 - the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia (10/12 Kr.Valdemara St., Riga, LV-1473, tel. (371) 6733-5123);
any other records - the Central State Archive (1 Bezdeligu St., Riga LV-1007, tel. (371) 674 62317) or regional archives;
records about military service in the Soviet armed forces in the territory of Latvia (if unavailable from the previously listed institutions) - the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation (74 Kirova St., Podolsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia, 142100). Latvian permanent residents may contact the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia for assistance requesting documents from abroad.

People who served in other countries should check the applicable reciprocity information on obtaining the required references.

Court Records

Court records can be obtained at the corresponding local court archives at the request of participants in the trial. Contact information for courts in Latvia is available at http://www.tiesas.lv.

Residential Records

Information on a person's prior and present place of residence in Latvia may be obtained at the Population Registry of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs at Ciekurkalna 1.linija 1, K5, Riga, LV-1026, tel. (371) 678 29710, (371) 678 29711, e-mail: ird@pmlp.gov.lv.

Passport and Other Travel Documents

Latvian citizens and non-citizens residing abroad can apply for a Latvian passport or travel document through the nearest Embassy of the Republic of Latvia. In Latvia, passport applications are accepted at any branch of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP). Contact information for the PMLP is on the website: http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/lv/

The Government of Latvia issues Citizen and Non-citizen (Alien) passports. It also issues Diplomatic and Service passports, and travel documents. Both, Latvian Citizen and Non-citizen, passports are valid for issuance of U.S. immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Diplomatic and Service passport are valid for issuance of non-immigrant visas. The Latvian/U.S. reciprocity schedule should be followed when issuing non-immigrant visas to bearers of any these passports.

Validity for Latvian passports issued to people 60 years old and older at the time when the passport application was made was 50 years if the passport was issued as follows:

Citizen passport issued between July 1, 2002 and November 19, 2007;
Non-citizen (Alien) passport issued between April 10, 1997 and November 19, 2007.

These passports will be valid for travel ONLY in Schengen zone countries after November 1, 2010.

Latvian citizen passports issued before June 30, 2002 are invalid for international travel. All other types of Latvian passports are valid for international travel.

As of November 20, 2007 Latvia issues biometric passports. Validity of the biometric passports:

1 year - issued to minors below the age of 5
5 years - issued to persons from 5 to 60 years of age
10 years - adults over 60 year of age.

Biometric Latvian Citizen passports are valid for applying to travel visa free to the U.S. benefiting from the Visa Waiver Program.

An exit stamp from the Latvian authorities for international travel is not needed. The Latvian passport may also include information about the individual's children and the passport holder's ethnic origin. The passport holder may request that in addition to the name spelling in Latvian, his/her name spelling in other languages is also included in the passport.

The Government of Latvia issues a Stateless Person's Travel Document to those Latvian residents who hold neither Latvian citizenship nor resident alien status, nor have nationality of another state. This document is valid for immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance. The document cover is brown with the seal of Latvia and the words 'Latvijas Republika Celosanas Dokuments'. The Stateless Person's Travel Documents are valid for up to two years from the date of issuance and can be renewed until the document holder acquires Latvian citizenship or that of another state's.

Detailed information about different types of Latvian passports and their security features is available at http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/pakalpojumi/pases.html .

Visa Issuing Post

Riga, Latvia (Embassy) -- Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas

1 Samnera Velsa Street, Riga, LV-1510, Latvia

Tel: (371) 6710-7000

Fax: (371) 6710-7001

E-mail: askconsular@usriga.lv

Visa Services

All visa categories for all of Latvia.

Visa Category Footnotes

The validity of A-3, G-5, and NATO 7 visas may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the person who is employing the applicant. The "employer" would have one of the following visa classifications:
- A-1
- A-2
- G-1 through G-4
- NATO 1 through NATO 6
An E-1 and E-2 visa may be issued only to a principal alien who is a national of a country having a treaty, or its equivalent, with the United States. E-1 and E-2 visas may not be issued to a principal alien if he/she is a stateless resident. If the spouse and children of an E-1 or E-2 principal alien are stateless, or if they are nationals of a country which does not have a treaty with the United States, they may be accorded derivative E-1 or E-2 status. In these cases, the reciprocity schedule of the principal alien's nationality is used.

Example: John Doe is a national of the country of Z that has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the U.S. His wife and child are nationals of the country of Y which has no treaty with the U.S. The wife and child would, therefore, be entitled to derivative status and receive the same reciprocity as Mr. Doe, the principal visa holder.
The validity of H-1 through H-3, O-1 and O-2, P-1 through P-3, and Q visas may not exceed the period of validity of the approved petition or the number of months shown, whichever is less.

Derivative H-4, L-2, O-3, and P-4 visas, issued to accompanying or following-to-join spouses and children, may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the principal alien.
There is no reciprocity fee for the issuance of a J visa if the alien is a United States Government grantee or a participant in an exchange program sponsored by the United States Government.

Also, there is no reciprocity fee for visa issuance to an accompanying or following-to-join spouse or child (J-2) of an exchange visitor grantee or participant.

In addition, an applicant is eligible for an exemption from the MRV fee if he or she is participating in a State Department, USAID, or other federally funded educational and cultural exchange program (program serial numbers G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-7).

However, all other applicants with U.S. Government sponsorships, including other J-visa applicants, are subject to the MRV processing fee.
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadian and Mexican nationals coming to engage in certain types of professional employment in the United States may be admitted in a special nonimmigrant category known as the "trade NAFTA" or "TN" category. Their dependents (spouse and children) accompanying or following to join them may be admitted in the "trade dependent" or "TD" category whether or not they possess Canadian or Mexican nationality. Except as noted below, the number of entries, fees and validity for non-Canadian or non-Mexican family members of a TN status holder seeking TD visas should be based on the reciprocity schedule of the TN principal alien.

Canadian Nationals

Since Canadian nationals generally are exempt from visa requirement, a Canadian "TN' or "TD" alien does not require a visa to enter the United States. However, the non-Canadian national dependent of a Canadian "TN", unless otherwise exempt from the visa requirement, must obtain a "TD" visa before attempting to enter the United States. The standard reciprocity fee and validity period for all non-Canadian "TD"s is no fee, issued for multiple entries for a period of 36 months, or for the duration of the principal alien's visa and/or authorized period of stay, whichever is less. See 'NOTE' under Canadian reciprocity schedule regarding applicants of Iranian, Iraqi or Libyan nationality.

Mexican Nationals

Mexican nationals are not visa-exempt. Therefore, all Mexican "TN"s and both Mexican and non-Mexican national "TD"s accompanying or following to join them who are not otherwise exempt from the visa requirement (e.g., the Canadian spouse of a Mexican national "TN") must obtain nonimmigrant visas.

Applicants of Iranian, Iraqi or Libyan nationality, who have a permanent resident or refugee status in Canada/Mexico, may not be accorded Canadian/Mexican reciprocity, even when applying in Canada/Mexico. The reciprocity fee and period for "TD" applicants from Libya is $10.00 for one entry over a period of 3 months. The Iranian and Iraqi "TD" is no fee with one entry over a period of 3 months.
Q-2 (principal) and Q-3 (dependent) visa categories are in existence as a result of the 'Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998'. However, because the Department anticipates that virtually all applicants for this special program will be either Irish or U.K. nationals, the Q-2 and Q-3 categories have been placed only in the reciprocity schedules for those two countries. Q-2 and Q-3 visas are available only at the Embassy in Dublin and the Consulate General in Belfast.
No S visa may be issued without first obtaining the Department's authorization.
V-2 and V-3 status is limited to persons who have not yet attained their 21st birthday. Accordingly, the period of validity of a V-2 or V-3 visa must be limited to expire on or before the applicant's twenty-first birthday.
Posts may not issue a T-1 visa. A T-1 applicant must be physically present in the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or a U.S. port of entry, where he/she will apply for an adjustment of status to that of a T-1. The following dependents of a T-1 visa holder, however, may be issued a T visa at a U.S. consular office abroad:
- T-2 (spouse)
- T-3 (child)
- T-4 (parent)
The validity of NATO-5 visas may not exceed the period of validity of the employment contract or 12 months, whichever is less.
The validity of CW-1 and CW-2 visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (12 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest.
The validity of E-2C visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (24 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest.

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