APPLYING FOR A VISITOR VISA FOR BUSINESS OR TOURISM

All Vietnamese and other nationals who are seeking to travel to the U.S. temporarily for business, study, or pleasure can apply for a nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. Consulate General. In order to apply for a nonimmigrant visa, please follow the procedures below:

Complete the visa application forms

Form DS-156: All applicants, including children traveling on a parent’s passport, must complete the electronic DS-156 visa application form online; print ONE copy of the form and barcode page. The application form is available online at http://evisaforms.state.gov/. One 50-millimeter square “full face” photo with a white background must be glued to this application form. Please note: The online DS-156 form does not transmit any information to the U.S. Consulate electronically; persons with handwritten DS-156 forms will not be permitted to submit their applications on the day of the interview.

When completing the DS-156 EVAF on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_forms.html, please pay special attention to these areas:

To use the electronic visa application form, your Internet browser must support 128-bit encryption and you should use either an ink-jet or laser printer to print the completed application form. If you are using Windows Internet Explorer, the minimum version that will work with this site is version 5.0, with service pack. If you are using Netscape, the minimum version that will work with this site is version 6.2. You must also have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to download and print the completed application form. The minimum version that will work with this site is version 5. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, you may download a copy from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.
Sections 1-5 of the DS-156 EVAF must contain the correct name, passport number and issuance information, exactly as shown in the applicant’s passport.
Section 2 should only include the city of issuance for the passport. Do not select “Vietnam” for place of issuance, and do not include State/Province. Leave these two fields blank.
Sections 8-9 are only for other names or aliases of the applicant. Do not type the words “NONE” or “N/A” if there are no other names; simply leave this section blank.
Section 24 requires the address where the applicant will stay in the United States.
Sections 30 and 31 must contain information about each U.S. visa issued and each visa refused, including tourist and other types of visas.
The applicant must personally complete section 38 on the computer.
Anyone who helps an applicant to complete a visa application must also sign the application and include in Section 40 his or her name, address and relationship to the applicant.
Press “CONTINUE” and print the DS-156 EVAF and two-dimensional (2-D) barcode page.

Form DS-157: Only male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 are required to complete this form. The application form is also available online at http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79964.pdf. This form is non-electronic; it can be filled out manually.

Make an appointment online

In order to make your online appointment, you must first complete and print Form DS-156. Then, please go to http://evisaforms.state.gov/make_barcode.asp to schedule your appointment. After you have completed the online appointment process, the appointment confirmation screen will appear. Print this appointment confirmation page as you will need to present this paper on the day of your appointment to enter the Consulate. In addition, applicants will need to refer to this appointment confirmation page whenever they wish to change or cancel their appointments, which can be done online at anytime.

Pay the application

Applicants need to show a valid passport and pay the non-refundable application fee of US$131 in cash at the Citibank office located at Sun Wah Tower, Ground floor, 115 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Citibank is open from 8:30 – 11:30 in the morning and 1:00 – 3:30 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday.

At the time the visa application fee is paid, applicants will receive a receipt. Each applicant, including children traveling on a parent's passport, must pay the fee and have a separate fee receipt. The application fee is a one-time, non-refundable but transferable. If you wish to transfer the fee, please contact the Citibank office.

Prepare supporting documents

Because each applicant’s situation is different, there is no set answer as to what documents are specifically required. The following documents have proven helpful in the past in determining an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.

An itinerary for your visit to the U.S., including contact names, addresses, and telephone numbers in each city

(If your company is sponsoring your trip) Your labor contract or business license, information about your company, and a letter stating your position within the company, the length of time you have been employed, the nature of your business in the U.S., and who will be paying for your expenses in the U.S.

If an individual is sponsoring your trip, a letter from the sponsor regarding the purpose of your visit and financial evidence that he/she has sufficient funds to cover your travel and other expenses (for example, Form I-134 Affidavit of Support, tax returns, employment letters, pay stubs, bank account statements, etc.)

Information about your employment, education, social or family relationships, and personal property can also help to demonstrate your ties in Vietnam.

Interview

The applicant should appear at the U.S. Consulate General a half hour earlier than the time and date set in the appointment confirmation for the visa interview. Applicants must bring a valid passport (the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of your trip), completed and signed visa application forms with photo, one-page appointment confirmation letter (printed at the time the appointment is made online), and Citibank fee receipt, in addition to any supporting documentation. Do NOT fax or mail any documents to our office before your appointment.

If the visa application is approved: The applicant can usually pick-up the visa the next working day at 3 p.m. at the Information Unit Booth. Processing times may be longer depending on the personal circumstances of the applicant. In the event that you wish to authorize someone to pick up the visa on your behalf, you should state so with the interviewing officer at the time of your approval.

If the visa application is refused: The applicant will be given a letter explaining why the visa was refused. Most refusals of nonimmigrant visas are based on Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.

As is standard practice around the world, any nonimmigrant visa application, once denied under this section, will not be reconsidered unless the applicant re-applies. The proper procedure for appealing a visa refusal is to file a new application that will be adjudicated by a different consular officer. The applicant must pay the fee again and obtain a new interview. There is no limitation on the time and the number of reapplications. Please note that we always advise the applicants with more than one recent refusal NOT to re-apply unless his or her circumstances have changed significantly, because it is unlikely the outcome will change.

Further, NO assurance regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Please do not make any binding travel plans until you have received your visa.

Penalties for Misrepresentation: Please keep in mind that your signature on any visa application form is your guarantee that all information you provide is true and correct. You are personally and legally responsible, even if a travel agent or someone prepares your documents for you. Any fraudulent documents or misleading statements may result in your permanent ineligibility for any future visa.

Security Notice: You are not allowed to bring electronic devices, including mobile telephones, into the Consulate General. Please make arrangements to leave your electronic equipment in a safe location with the guards during your interview appointment. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your cooperation.

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