Ask The Consul

If you have a question for the Consul, look below to see if it has already been answered. We welcome questions, and regularly post good questions to this site for the benefit of others. If you would like to ask the Consul a question, write to Consularrangoo@state.gov and write "Ask the Consul" in the email subject line.

What should I bring to the interview?

The only required documentation for tourist and student visa applicants is detailed on this website under the section How to Apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa and the section Student Visas. Visa applicants may bring whatever other documentation they wish to support the application, but nothing else is required.

What currencies are accepted to pay the visa fees?

United States dollars and Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC) are accepted at the Consular Office.

My visa application was refused. Can I reapply? How do I reapply?

If your application for a nonimmigrant visa was refused, you may reapply at any time. However, if your circumstances have not significantly changed since your first interview, it is likely you will not qualify for a visa on reapplication. Those considering reapplying should contact the Consular Section. Reapplicants must follow the same procedures followed for the first application. You must schedule a new interview date, submit a new application, and pay the appropriate fees. Please note that a reapplication and new interview would be considered in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations, and that reapplying does not guarantee issuance of a nonimmigrant visa.

My visa was denied under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. What does that mean?

Please re-read the letter of explanation provided to you by the Consular Officer at the end of your interview. For additional information, click here.

What documents to I need for a visa to be approved?

No single document or collection of documents will guarantee issuance of a visa to the United States. All applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and all the information from the interview and the paper application are used to determine eligibility for a visa.

My visa was issued. How long can I stay in the United States?

Your visa does not determine how long you can stay in the United States. The Customs and Border Protection Agent (immigration official) at the port of entry will determine how long you may stay in the United States when you arrive.

What does Valid From and Valid To mean on my visa?

The validity dates on your visa are the dates between which you can enter the United States. The validity dates on your visa do not determine how long you can stay in the United States. You can enter the U.S. up to the Valid To date on your visa.

Can I answer "None" to question 10 on the DS-157: "List all countries that have ever issued you a passport"?

No. If you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa, you must have a valid passport. You must list all countries that have ever issued you a passport (not a visa) to answer this question correctly.

Can I submit the completed NIV application by email to Consularrangoo@state.gov?

No. The completed paper application must be submitted to the Consular Office with a valid passport one week before the interview date. You cannot submit the application over email. Remember, the DS-156 must be completed online, then printed, and all three pages of the printout must be submitted. The third page of the printout is a barcode.

After I complete the DS-156 online, is it automatically sent to the Consular Office over the internet?

No. After completing the DS-156 online, you must print out all three pages and submit them with the rest of the paper application to the Consular Office one week before your interview date.

What do I do if the barcode on the DS-156 printout is not clear, has a "shadow", or is otherwise not clearly printed?

The Consular Office can only accept clearly printed and readable barcode pages. If the barcode page of the DS-156 is not clearly printed, it cannot be accepted. If you are using a dot matrix printer, try printing the DS-156 on a laser printer.

Can I leave an answer on the application blank?

No. All questions must be filled in, and all responses must be truthful and complete. Incomplete or wrong information in response to a question will result in a refusal. Some questions can truthfully be answered with "None" or "Not Applicable". If you use this response to any question, the response must be true.

Do I need to list all my siblings in question 6 on the DS-158: "Full Names and Addresses of Children, Parents, and Siblings"?

Yes. Siblings are your biological brothers and sisters. You must list the information for all your living biological brothers and sisters (and children and parents) in question 6 on the DS-158. Even if you have not spoken to your brothers or sisters in years, you must include their information here. If your brothers or sisters have married and now live with their new families, they are still your biological brothers and sisters and must be included in the answer.