UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Embassy of the.Address : 1201 Roxas Blvd., Manila 1000 PSC 500, Box 26 FPO AP 96515‐00 (Consular Section)
Tel. Nos. : 301‐2000 Extension 2555, 2246
Fax : 302‐2017
Website : http://www.manila.usembassy.gov
Email: consmanilaniv@state.gov
Office days : Monday to Friday
Office hours : 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
Ambassador: HARRY K. THOMAS. JR
Non‐immigrant Visa Application
ALL APPLICATNS, 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 non‐immigrant visa applicants and applicants who were
previously issued a non‐immigrant 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) non‐immigrant 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
WHO MUST APPLY FOR A VISA
If you are not a citizen of any of the countries mentioned above and do not meet the VWP additional
requirements, you must apply for a visa. ALL nonimmigrant visa applicants (first time applicants,
previous visa holders, applicants who have an expired visa, and applicants who have lost their visa) must
comply with the application procedures provided below in order to travel to the United States. Please
note that an approved petition (Notice of Action, I‐797 Form) is not a visa. It may not be used in place of
a visa. The approval of a petition does not relieve the nonimmigrant visa applicant of the burden of
establishing visa eligibility. Temporary workers (H, L, O, P, and Q) must still apply for a visa.
To pay the fee, the applicant must have his or her passport number available. The applicant’s passport
number 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 at any branch of the Bank of the Philippines Island (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 Employee of A and G visa holders (A3, G5)
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.
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 in the
blank provided) Contact Person and Contact Address in the United States, Father’s Complete
Name, and Mother’s Complete Maiden Name.
2. Passport – Signed passports must be valid for at least six months from the date 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 passport must present their original
Philippine residency permit.
3. Photo One “2x2” standard photo. The photo must be:
a. In color
b. Sized such that the head is between 1” and 1 3/8 “ (22mm and 35mm) 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.
c. Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
d. Taken in front of a plain white or off‐white background.
e. Taken in full‐face view directly facing the camera
f. With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
g. Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
i. Uniforms should not be worn in your photo. Except religious clothing that is
worn daily.
ii. 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 shadows on your face
iii. Headphone, wireless hands‐free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in
your photo.
iv. If you normally wear glasses (without tinted lenses), a hearing device or similar
articles, they may be worn in your photo
v. Dark glasses or glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable.
vi. 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.
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.
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 Types of
Visa page and view the details for each visa class.
SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW
Book an appointment by calling 982‐55555 and 902‐8930 for calls within the Philippines and other
countries aside from mainland United states or (214) 571‐1600 for calls from mainland United States.
The Call center is open from 8am to 8 pm Monday through Friday, manila time except on U.S. and
Philippine Holidays. Appointments can also be booked online through http://www.ustravledocs.com/ph
Three or more applicants applying for the same purpose of travel or visa classification, and will travel on
the same date are encouraged to apply together as a group. To request a group appointment, follow the
step in our Group Appointment Website Examples of groups include but are not limited to sports them,
school groups, groups travelling for competitions, and service organizations. Family members traveling
together do not qualify fir 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.
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.
GO FOR THE INTERVIEW
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 2x2” photo and all prior passports and U.S. visas, if
available. It is helpful to bring a government‐recognized photo ID (in additional to the passport) to
present upon entry.
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
non‐immigrant visa applicants to the interviewing area.
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. If the applicant is not present at the time of the
delivery of the passport, the government‐recognized photo ID for both representative and applicant.
Both the applicant the representative must sign the authorization letter.
VISA REISSUANCE PROGRAM
As of July 25, 2011, some visa applicants may be eligible for an appointment through the U.S. Embassy in
Manila’s Visa Reissuance Program (VRP). If qualified for a VRP appointment, applicants need only to pay
the fee, fill out the form, schedule an appointment, appear at the embassy at the appointed time, and
then have the application screened and give 10‐print fingers cans. No need for an interview, and
appointments are available within a few days!
To qualify for the VRP, you must be able to answer “yes” to all of the following:
1. I am Philippines passport holder.
2. I have previously been issued, in Manila, a full‐validity B1/B2 visa (a visa good for five or ten
years).
3. My visa is still valid or it has expired within the last twelve months.
(if your answer is yes, your VRP appointment must fall within this twelvemonth period of expiry.
For example, if your visa expired on September 20, 2010, you visa appointment must be on or
before September 19, 2011
4. I have in my possession all of my passports covering the entire period of time since I received
that full‐validity visa
(if your answer is yes, you are required to bring these passports on the day of your VRP
interview.)
5. I have not been refused a U.S. visa in the last twelve months.
6. My visa is not annotated “clearance received”.
7. I have not ever stayed in the U.S. longer than 6 months (even if the Department of Homeland
Security approved the extension of stay)
8. I have not ever been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime, even if subject of a pardon.
9. I can provide the visa control number from my visa (located in the upper right hand corner of
the visa).
Important Reminders:
1. The U.S. Embassy in Manila reserves the right to interview any applicant. If an interview is
required, a representative of the U.S. Embassy will contact the applicant within two business
days of his/her VRP appointment.
2. If you schedule a VRP appointment, but are not actually eligible for a VRP appointment, you will
be turned away at the Embassy and asked to schedule a regular appointment. Please make sure
you are eligible for a VRP appointment based on the above criteria.
CALL CENTER HOURS AND CONTACT INFORMATION
The Embassy’s call center number for information and appointment scheduling are: (02) 902‐8930 and
(02) 982‐5555. For calls from the continental United States, dial (214) 571‐1600. The call center is open
from am to 8pm Manila Time, Monday through Friday.
Appointment can also be scheduled online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph
For concerns on appointment scheduling, please send an e‐mail to GSSManila@state.gov. This e‐mail
address is not an alternative way to secure an appointment, but we will respond to your questions
about scheduling as soon as possible.
DS‐160 Online Visa Application form
All non‐immigrant visa applicants are required to complete and submit an online visa application. The
DS‐160 Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application has replaced non‐immigrant visa paper application
forms DS‐156/157/158, and other related paper forms.
Applicants can access the DS‐160 form the Consular Electronic Application Center website or from the
link on the U.S. Embassy website in Manila.
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(s))
Applicant’s passport information (the passport used in filling out the form must be the same
passport presented on the day of interview)
Other name(s)(for married female applicants, type your complete maiden name)
Purpose of Trip to the U.S. (if the answer falls under “Other”, it is a requirement to specify the
purpose of travel in the blank provided)
Primary Occupation (if the answer falls under “other”, it is a requirement to specify the
occupation in the blank provided)
Contact person and Contact address in the United States
Father’s complete name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s)
Electronic Devices not permitted on Embassy Grounds
Depending on the volume of visa issuances of the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit, visa processing after the
interview usually takes at least one week*.
*‐Average Visa Processing Time: This means the number of working days it takes for an approved
applicant to receive his/her passport back from the Embassy with the U.S. visa at the address given to
the courier company.
All applicants should be aware that the one week processing time is an AVERAGE, and that the
processing time of a specific case can vary due to individual circumstances and other special
requirements.