Non-Immigrant Visas

How to Apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV)

**IMPORTANT NOTE:  Effective March 28, 2008, appointments must be made online through the U.S. Embassy Hanoi website. Applicants will no longer be able to book their appointments at Citibank**

* FILL OUT AND PRINT A DS-156 APPLICATION FORM

- You must complete and print a DS-156 application form (also known as the Electronic Visa Application Form or EVAF) for each applicant prior to making the appointment. The form is available at http://evisaforms.state.gov and all three pages must be printed on a laser-jet printer. Please note: Persons with handwritten DS-156 forms will not be permitted to submit applications. Click here to see an example of a properly prepared EVAF DS-156 (PDF file).

IMPORTANT: Each electronic form will have a barcode used for scanning the application when you appear at the Embassy for your interview appointment. Unacceptable barcodes (those that cannot be read by our scanner due to poor printer quality and other factors) will not be accepted. Applicants will be asked to exit the Embassy and return with a readable barcode.

Unreadable Barcode	Readable Barcode

- Be sure you have the correct photo attached to the DS-156. Click here for photo requirements.

- The DS-157 and DS-158, if required, may be downloaded here. These forms are also available free of charge at the entrance to the Consular Section.

• DS-157 is for all male applicants between ages 16-45.
• DS-158 is for students and exchange visitors.

* MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE
- In order to make your appointment online, you must first complete and print the DS-156.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

* PAY THE APPLICATION FEE AT CITIBANK

- Applicants need to show a valid passport and pay the non-refundable application fee of US $131 in cash (only US dollars accepted) at the Citibank office located at 17 Ngo Quyen St, Ground floor, Hanoi. Citibank is open from 8:30 – 11:30 in the morning and 1:00 – 3:30 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. 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 fee.

* COME TO THE U.S. EMBASSY FOR YOUR SCHEDULED INTERVIEW

- On the date of their scheduled interview, applicants must arrive 15 minutes prior to their appointment time with a completed application, their appointment confirmation letter (printed at the time the appointment is made online), Citibank fee receipt, current passport, and any documentation they wish to provide which demonstrates their ties to Vietnam and purpose of travel to the U.S. Please note: Applicants without the confirmation letter, fee receipt, application and passport will not admitted into the Embassy. Applicants who arrive more than 30 minutes after their scheduled appointment time will not be admitted into the Embassy and have to get another appointment online.

- A passport with at least six months’ validity remaining and sufficient blank pages as well as all previous and other current passports should be submitted. Students and exchange visitors must also present their I-20 or DS-2019 and proof that the SEVIS fee is paid.

We cannot issue a student visa more than 120 days prior to the start date or registration date as provided on the I-20. Moreover, we cannot issue a student/exchange visitor visa after the date of registration on the I-20/DS-2019 has passed. Generally-speaking, the immigration authorities in the United States will not admit students/exchange visitors more than 30 days in advance of their start dates. Student/exchange visitor visa applicants should consider these facts when making application and travel plans. Returning students/exchange visitors are not subject to this restriction.

In addition to the visa application fee, students (F1/M1) and exchange visitors (J1) must also pay an extra fee called a SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) fee. As of October 27, 2008, the SEVIS was increased to $200 for new I-20 SEVIS forms for students and to $180 for exchange visitors. Additional information about SEVIS fee procedures is available on the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (USICE) website at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm. Please note that the Embassy must verify that the SEVIS fee has been received and updated in the system before conducting the interview. In general, payment information is posted to the SEVIS and State Department systems after three working days.

- If your visa is approved, you will have your passports (with visas) returned via EMS courier service. EMS will deliver the passports directly to your home or business address within 48 hours for Hanoi addresses and within three (3) business days for most other locations in Vietnam. All successful applicants will be required to fill out an EMS courier form with their name, address, telephone number, and passport information. These forms will be available at the EMS desk, located inside the US Embassy Hanoi Consular Section.  An EMS representative will be onsite to help applicants fill out the courier forms.  Applicants will be required to pay a nominal courier fee charge of between 25,000 and 40,000 VND depending upon their shipping address. This fee is payable only in cash VND.

- If your visa application is not approved, your passport will be returned to you at the end of the interview.