Application Process | Embassy of the United States Manila, Philippines http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.

html

Embassy of the United States Manila, Philippines

A PP LIC A TI ON P ROCE S S

72

Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures

ALL APPLICANTS, REGARDLESS OF AGE (excluding those applying for diplomatic

visas), ARE REQUIRED TO APPEAR AT THE EMBASSY FOR AN INTERVIEW.

The application procedure for first time nonimmigrant visa applicants and applicants who
were previously issued a nonimmigrant visa is the same.

If you are not a first time applicant, you may be eligible for an appointment through the
Visa Reissuance Program (VRP). Please read this information to know if you are qualified.

Minor (unmarried 17 years old and below) nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to
appear with at least one parent for the interview. If the minor is an orphan or if both
parents are outside of the Philippines, then a legal guardian must be present during the
interview.

Application Process

1. Payment of Application Fee

2. Required Documents

3. Schedule an interview

4. Go for the Interview

5. If Issued a Visa

Step 1: Payment of Application Fee

Nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to present a U.S. visa application payment slip
to pay the machine-readable visa (MRV) application fee. Before going to the bank,
applicants must print the applicable U.S. visa application payment slip and take it to the
bank to pay the fee.

There is an expiration date on the payment slip. Bank agents will NOT accept payments
based on expired slips. Each slip has a unique receipt number. Applicants will not be
able to schedule an appointment without the receipt number. If paying for more
than one applicant, the payment slip cannot be reproduced nor used for lump sum
payment.

1 of 7 2/11/2014 2:56 PM
Application Process | Embassy of the United States Manila, Philippines http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html

Nonimmigrant visa applicants must pay the machine-readable visa application fee shown
on the schedules below. The fee is based on the purpose of the trip or visa category.

Visa Type Purpose of Travel MRV Fee

Non-Petition Based Nonimmigrant Visas (except E)

B-1 For general business purposes e.g. to participate US $160

in business meetings, negotiate a contract, to
appear in a court trial

B-1 For personal/domestic employees of B, E, F, H, I, US $160

J, L, O, P, and Q visa holders and U.S. citizens
temporarily assigned to the United States

B-2 For general pleasure, visit to friends and US $160

relatives, medical treatment, and amateur/unpaid
participants in cultural or sports events.

C-1 People transiting through the U.S. US $160

C-1/D Crew members US $160

F Students in Academic or Language Programs and US $160

Dependents

I Journalists and Members of the Media US $160

J Exchange Visitors and Dependents US $160

M Students in Vocational or other Non-Academic US $160

Programs and Dependents

TD NAFTA Derivative US $160

Petition-Based Nonimmigrant Visas

CW-1 Transitional Workers in the CNMI US $190

CW-2 Dependents of Transitional Workers in the CNMI US $190

H-1B Temporary Workers in Specialty Occupation US $190

H-2A Temporary or Seasonal Agricultural Workers US $190

2 of 7 2/11/2014 2:56 PM
Application Process | Embassy of the United States Manila, Philippines http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html

H-2B Temporary or Seasonal Non-Agricultural Workers US $190

H-3 Trainees other than medical or academic US $190

H-4 Dependents of Temporary Workers US $190

L Intra-Company Transferees and Dependents US $190

O Temporary workers with extraordinary ability US $190

P Athletes and Entertainers US $190

Q Cultural Exchange Visitors US $190

R Religious Workers and Dependents US $190

Treaty Trader and Treaty Investor Nonimmigrant Visas

E-1 Treaty Traders US $270

E-2 Treaty Investors US $270

E-2C Treaty Investors to the CNMI US $270

The payment will be activated four hours after the time the cash payment was made; 24
hours for on-line payment.

There are three ways to pay the MRV fee:

1. Pay in cash (prevailing Philippine peso equivalent of the machine-readable visa fee)
at any branch of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)

2. Pay through online bill payment option provided by BPI for their customers

3. Online payment through Bancnet

The following individuals and visa classifications are exempt from paying the machine-
readable visa application fee:

Diplomatic (A1, A2)

Official (G1, G2, G3, G4)

Personal Employees of A and G visa holders (A3, G5)

3 of 7 2/11/2014 2:56 PM
Application Process | Embassy of the United States Manila, Philippines http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html

NATO and NATO-7

Transit to and from the United Nations Headquarters District (C2)

Transit of Foreign Government Officials and Immediate Family (C3)

Applicants for J visas participating in official U.S. government-sponsored

educational and cultural exchanges

Replacement machine-readable visa when the original visa was not properly affixed
or needs to be reissued through no fault of the applicant.

A fee applies to only one visa classification/application. If an applicant wishes to apply for
more than one visa simultaneously, corresponding payment per visa class must be made.

Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. No exceptions will be

made to this rule. It is valid for one year after the date of actual payment; the interview
must fall within the one-year validity.

Step 2: Required Documents

All basic documentary requirements must be ready BEFORE an appointment can be made.
Additional documents may be required, so please read the information below carefully.

The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit does not accept documents BEFORE the interview except for
Treaty Trader (E1) and Treaty Investor (E2) visa applications. Any documents received will
not be returned and will be destroyed (except the passport).

Basic Requirements:

1. DS-160 ONLINE NONIMMIGRANT VISA ELECTRONIC APPLICATION – All

applicants must complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application.
Applicants can access the DS-160 from the Consular Electronic Application Center website.

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),
Applicant’s Passport Information (the passport used in filling out the form must be the
same passport presented on the day of the interview), Other Names (for married female
applicants, type your complete maiden name), Purpose of Trip (if the answer falls
under “Other,” specify the purpose of travel in the blank provided), Primary Occupation
(if the answer falls under “Other,” specify the occupation in the blank provided), Contact
Person and Contact Address in the United States, Father’s Complete Name, and
Mother’s Complete Maiden Name.

It is important to take note of the CEAC Barcode number of the DS-160 confirmation
page. Applicants can track their case status after the interview using their barcode
number.

2. PASSPORT – Signed passports must be valid for at least six months from the date

4 of 7 2/11/2014 2:56 PM
Application Process | Embassy of the United States Manila, Philippines http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html

of intended departure from the United States. The passport must be in good condition,
i.e., photo lamination is undamaged, and all passport pages are intact.

Applicants must also present all previously issued passports or notarized affidavits of loss,
if applicable.

Taiwanese passport holders who do not have Taiwan personal identification numbers listed
above the date of birth on the biographic data page in their passports must present their
original Philippine residency permit.

3. PHOTO

One 2" x 2" standard photo. The photo must be:

In color

Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm)
or 50% and 69% of the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top
of the head. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement
details.

Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance

The ears should be exposed, if local or religious custom does not prohibit.

Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background

Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera

With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open

Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis

Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is
worn daily.

Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless
worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the
head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.

Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable

in your photo.

If you normally wear glasses (without tinted lenses), a hearing device, or

similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.

Dark glasses or glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable.

Glare on glasses is not acceptable in your photo. Glare can be avoided with a
slight downward tilt of the glasses or by removing the glasses or by turning
off the camera flash.

Please click here for additional information on photo specifications.

Please ensure that your photo meets the requirements stated above. Failure to provide
the correct photo will delay your visa processing.

5 of 7 2/11/2014 2:56 PM
Application Process | Embassy of the United States Manila, Philippines http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html

4. EXTENSION OF STAY/CHANGE OF STATUS – Please bring copies of U.S. Citizenship

and Immigration Services (USCIS) approvals of extension of stay or change of status, if
applicable.

5. PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP (if applying with/for dependent/s)

Original marriage certificate printed on Philippine National Statistics Office security

paper, if applicable (if applying with a spouse and/or child)

Original birth certificate printed on Philippine National Statistics Office security

paper (for dependent/s)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Additional requirements are based on the visa class that a person is applying for. Please
look at the Types of Visas page and view the details for each visa class.

Step 3 : Schedule an Interview

Book an appointment by calling (02) 982-5555 and (02) 902-8930 for calls within the
Philippines and other countries aside from mainland United States or (703) 520-2235 for
calls from mainland United States. The call center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, Manila time, except on U.S. and Philippine holidays. Appointments
can also be booked online through http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph.

Five or more applicants applying for the same purpose of travel strictly under the B1/B2
classification, and will travel on the same date, are encouraged to apply together as a
group. To request a Group Appointment, follow the steps in our Group
Appointment website. Examples of groups include but are not limited to sports team,
school groups, groups travelling for competitions, and service organizations. Family
members traveling together and groups traveling on group tour packages DO
NOT qualify for group appointments.

Applicants who will book an interview online will be asked to create a profile which will be
used to access their appointment record and edit applicant information before their
interview date.
Please plan your visa application accordingly to avoid problems securing an interview
appointment. Even though nonimmigrant visa fees are valid for one calendar year,
options to schedule an appointment are limited. Applicants are only allowed to reschedule
twice (not including the initial appointment) without penalty. If the second rescheduling
attempt is canceled, an applicant will only be allowed to reschedule a new date after a
waiting period of 90 calendar days.

The call center and the online appointment website can also provide general information
about visa application procedures and technical assistance related to scheduling an
appointment.

Step 4: Go for the Interview

6 of 7 2/11/2014 2:56 PM
Application Process | Embassy of the United States Manila, Philippines http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html

All applicants must appear at the Embassy for interview, except government
officials traveling on official business and applying for A1, A2, G1, G2, or G4
visas. Applicants are requested to arrive at the Embassy gate 15 minutes before
the time listed on the appointment letter.

Applicants must bring all the basic application requirements including the interview
appointment letter, DS-160 confirmation page, valid passport, one 2” x 2” photo, and all
prior passports and U.S. visas, if available. It is helpful to bring a government-recognized
photo ID (in addition to the passport) to present upon entry. All kinds of electronic devices
are not allowed inside the US Embassy premises.

Embassy personnel are available to provide assistance at each stage. Applicants who
require interpreters must inform the interviewing officer on the day of their interview.
There is no need to bring a relative or a friend to act as an interpreter as the Embassy can
provide language assistance when an applicant requests for it.

Important note: American citizens and US Legal Permanent Residents are not allowed to
accompany nonimmigrant visa applicants to the interviewing area.

Step 5: If Issued a visa

A consular officer will inform the applicant at the conclusion of the interview whether
he/she qualifies for a U.S. visa. If a visa is approved, the passport with U.S. visa will be
delivered by the courier service at the address provided when the made the
appointment. Please note that the courier will deliver to Philippine addresses only. If
the applicant is not present at the time of the delivery of the passport, the applicant must
leave an authorization letter to a representative and a government-recognized photo ID
for both representative and applicant. Both the applicant and the representative
must sign the authorization letter.

To track the status of a nonimmigrant visa case, applicants can access the Consular
Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website, http://ceac.state.gov. Applicants will need
to choose from the drop down menu their interview location (Philippines, Manila), and
enter the CEAC Barcode (from the CEAC confirmation page submitted on the day of the
interview) to view the current status of case.

For more information about visa processing, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs) page.

This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State. External links to other Internet sites
should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained
therein.

7 of 7 2/11/2014 2:56 PM