FAQ's Non Immigration Visa
FREQUENTLY ASKED KNOWLEDGE BASED QUESTIONS
To apply for a non-immigrant visa, how long does my passport have to be valid?
Your passport must have valid for travel to the United States with a six-month validity date beyond your intended period of stay in the U.S.
Am i eligible for the visa waiver program?
You are eligible for VWP if you are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country with a machine-readable passport. Also, travelling should be temporary business or a visit, and should not exceed more than ninety days. You have to meet other program requirements and have obtained authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Permanent residents living in VWP-eligible countries are not qualified for the Visa Waiver Program. We advise you to visit the Visa Waiver Program website before visiting the United States.
How much is the fee for ESTA, and who can pay it?
ESTA registration Fee is U.S$14.You can pay ESTA online. The fee can be paid using a debit or credit card. ESTA registration is required for all kinds of travellers to the U.S under the VWP (Visa Waiver Program)
Can I travel to the United States without ESTA approval?
The ESTA registration process takes a few minutes. You can get Authorization in a few seconds. ESTA is valid for two years unless the traveller’s passport expires within that two years. VWP(Visa Waiver Program) travellers who have not gotten approval through ESTA should expect to be denied boarding on any air carrier bound for the United States. If you are allowed to board, you can expect to face delays and denial of admission at the U.S. port of entry. In those cases, ESTA validity is limited to the passport’s validity.
If i am a third-country national living in India, can i apply for a non-immigrant visa in Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad or Kolkata?
You are advised to apply in your country of nationality. For example, suppose Anybody who is legally present in India can file for a visa in Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad or Kolkata. There is no guarantee for a visa. The Visa fee is not refundable If your visa application is denied.
Do all the Non-Immigrant visa applicants have to appear for an interview at the United States Embassy?
Most of the applicants have to come for visa interviews. There are only certain exceptions to the interview
The below applicants do not have to appear in person:
Children aged less than eight years are not required to attend appointments at U.S. Embassy. However, parents are required to attend these appointments, depending on the child's age and whether both parents hold valid visas.
Kindly contact F4 India Office for more information about children's visas.
My non-immigrant visa will expire soon, and do i need to go through the entire visa application process again for renewal?
Each applicant has to file DS-160 and pay the fee online. After that, the Consular officer will accept the renewal applications for expired visas or most valid ones without requiring a personal interview. Here are the few requirements below which you have to qualify for the renewal process:
Your interview with the consular officer will be waived, and your application will be evaluated internally if you are renewing per the above requirements.
My Non-Immigrant U.S. visa is valid till 2026, but my passport has expired. Do I need to file for a new visa?
No, you don’t need a new visa. If your visa is still valid, you can travel to the U.S with your old and new passport as long as the visa is valid and your passport is not damaged. It is the appropriate type of visa required for your principal purpose of travel. Your name and other personal details should be the same on both passports. Your nationality, as indicated in the new passport, must be the same as that shown in the passport bearing the visa
I have dual citizenship of India and the U.S.A. Which passport should I use to travel to the U.S.?
You must enter the United States using a U.S. passport.
Can I extend my U.S. Visa?
sa? You must apply for a new visa.The visa cannot be extended regardless of its type.
Is it compulsory to submit my visa application form electronically?
Yes, you have to file the DS-160, and when you go for your interview, you must bring a printed copy of the DS-160 confirmation page. >
How you explain Administrative processing?
Few visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after your interview with a consular office.
Is there a problem if my visa expires while I am in the United States.?
No. You may stay in the U.S for the period of time and conditions authorized by the DHS officer when you arrived in the United States, which will be stamped in your passport, even if your visa expires during your stay.
I have changed my name in my legal papers. Does my U.S. visa with my old name still valid?
The Department of State recommends that you apply for a new U.S. visa to make it easier for you to travel to and from the United States If your name has legally changed through marriage, divorce, or a court ordered name change, you will need to obtain a new passport.
Do I need to provide the information about social media while filling out my DS-160 form for a Non-Immigrant Visa?
The Department of State updated on May 31 2019 for immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms to request additional information, including social media identifies, from most U.S. visa applicants worldwide.
What is the validity of my DS-160?
The validity of the DS-160 form is one year from the completion date.
