Apply for a U.S. Visa

The U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan understands that many non-immigrant visa applicants have paid the visa application processing fee and are still waiting to schedule a visa appointment. We have restored all routine visa operations as of December 2, 2020. For non-immigrant visa receipts valid on or after March 19, 2020 or purchased between March 19, 2020 and December 2, 2020, the U.S. Mission extended the validity of your payment (known as the MRV fee) until December 31, 2021, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment with the already paid fee. Fees paid on or after December 2, 2020 are valid for one year from the date of payment.

Immigrant Visas: The Consulate General in Almaty has resumed processing immigrant visa cases for applicants who are exempt from the Presidential Proclamation titled “Suspension of Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants who present a Risk to the US Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak” issued on June 22, 2020.

The National Visa Center (NVC) is scheduling interview appointments for new applicants for IR1, CR1, IR2, and CR2 visas. U.S. Consulate General Almaty continues to contact new applicants for K visas whose cases have been received from NVC with instructions for scheduling interview appointments, and is accepting appointment requests from boarding foil and returning resident permit applicants.

No appointments are available for other immigrant visa categories while this Presidential Proclamation remains in effect. Applicants for visas in the Family Preference (F) categories in which a dependent child will turn 21 (“age out”) before December 31, 2020, with an approved petition that is pending scheduling of an interview by the National Visa Center, may submit a request for an emergency appointment by emailing NVCExpedite@state.gov.

Replacing expired immigrant visas: The Consulate General in Almaty is processing applications to replace expired immigrant visas for individuals exempt from Presidential Proclamations 10014 and 10052. This includes individuals who possessed an immigrant visa that was valid on April 23, 2020 which subsequently expired before the individual was able to travel to the United States due to COVID-19-related travel disruptions.

These individuals must request a follow-up immigrant visa appointment through our online scheduling system. If the appointment request is approved, individuals should prepare the following documents to bring to the appointment:

- New visa fee;

- Passport with expired visa;

- Visa packet (if applicable);

- New medical examination;

- New police certificate(s);

- For relationship-based cases (IR1, CR1, K1), evidence of ongoing relationship with the petitioner from the time of previous interview to the present;

- Document delivery address confirmation letter.

Nonimmigrant Visas: As of December 2, 2020, the United States Embassy in Nur-Sultan and Consulate General in Almaty are providing all nonimmigrant visa services.

Visa renewals by interview waiver: As of December 2, 2020, the Embassy in Nur-Sultan and the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty are accepting interview waiver applications for qualifying renewal applicants in certain visa categories, including B1/B2. Until December 31, 2020, individuals with a currently valid visa or whose visa expired within the last 24 months may submit an interview waiver renewal application. Click here for more information.

While the Embassy and Consulate aim to process cases as soon as practicable, there is likely to be increased wait times for completing such services due to substantial backlogs. If you have an urgent need to travel, please follow the guidance provided at https://www.ustraveldocs.com/kz/kz-niv-expeditedappointment.asp. Note that submitting a request for an emergency appointment does not guarantee that your request will be approved. Requests should include a detailed explanation of your urgent need to travel.

On Monday, June 22, President Trump signed a proclamation suspending entry into the United States of certain immigrants and nonimmigrants who present a risk to the U.S. labor market following the coronavirus outbreak. Effective immediately, the proclamation extends the suspension of entry for certain immigrants (Presidential Proclamation 10014) through December 31, 2020. The new restrictions imposed by the proclamation are effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 24 and expire on December 31, 2020, unless continued by the President. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and aliens who are or were inside the United States or those holding valid nonimmigrant or immigrant visas on the effective date are not subject to the proclamation.

The proclamation suspends entry of nonimmigrants in the following categories: H-1B, H-2B, J (for aliens participating in an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program) and L, along with their spouses and children. No valid visas will be revoked under the proclamation. Presidential Proclamation 10014 and this proclamation provide exceptions to their restrictions for certain categories of immigrants and nonimmigrants. The full text of the presidential proclamations are available on the White House website at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/

Urgent information for visa applicants regarding novel coronavirus:

Entry of foreign nationals who were physically present within the following list of countries within 14 days prior to their entry or attempted entry into the United States is suspended, per Presidential Proclamations 9984, 9992, 9993, 9996 and the subsequent proclamation issued May 24, 2020:

- Brazil;

- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe;

- The Republic of Ireland;

- The 26 countries that comprise the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland)

- The Islamic Republic of Iran;

- The People’s Republic of China, not including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

There are certain exceptions to the suspension of entry, including exceptions for U.S. lawful permanent residents and certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, among other exceptions listed in the proclamations. If you reside in, have traveled recently to, or intend to transit or travel to the above listed countries prior to your planned trip to the United States, we recommend you postpone your visa interview appointment until 14 days subsequent to your departure from the subject country(ries). Additionally, if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, or believe you may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, you are strongly encouraged to postpone your appointment by at least 14 days. There is no fee to change an appointment and visa application fees are valid for one year in the country where the fee was paid. For questions about rescheduling a pending consular appointment, please contact us via support-kazakhstan@ustraveldocs.com or web site or call center +7 (727) 350 5703 for specific guidance.

Third country nationals residing outside of Kazakhstan: please review this page before purchasing your MRV fee in order to apply in Kazakhstan.

Please review this page if you or any of the applicants applying for a visa with you are under the age of 16.

Effective immediately, the U.S. Embassy in Nur-Sultan will no longer provide storage for laptops or other large electronic devices for visitors – including both visa applicants and U.S. Citizens seeking services.

In order to ensure that consular staff is able to prepare applications for interview, nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to fill and submit their DS-160 visa applications at least two business days prior to their interview date.