Non-Immigrant Visas
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Thank you for your interest in a U.S. non-immigrant visa.
In an effort to serve you better we have included some general information on the procedure, timing and costs associated with applying for a non-immigrant visa below. Please read the following to see if the information you are seeking is included. Additionally please visit the Department of State visa website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html for more information on specific visa categories and the legal standards by which visas are adjudicated. If your question does not involve one of the topics included below please contact us at usconsulkabul@state.gov and we will respond to your e-mail as soon as possible.
Before you apply for a visa
Q: Where do I submit my application and pay the fee for a U.S. non-immigration visa?
A: You can pay your fee for a U.S. non-immigrant visa at participating American Express locations in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore and at their satellite offices in Peshawar, Quetta, Sialkot and Faisalabad. A complete list of locations and contact information for these offices can be found at http://kabul.usembassy.gov/fee_services.html. The application can be submitted in person at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad; at the same time you will be interviewed by a consular officer.
Q: Where can I interview for a U.S. non-immigrant visa?
A: The U.S. Embassy in Kabul cannot interview visa applicants or issue visas, except official and diplomatic visas for which an interview is not required. All interviews for U.S. non-immigrant visas for Afghan nationals are conducted at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. As stated above, an applicant can pay the fee at seven different American Express offices throughout Pakistan.
Q: How much does it cost to apply for a non-immigrant visa?
A: There is a $131 or Rupee equivalent non-refundable application fee for all non-immigrant visa applicants which is payable at American Express. Unfortunately, there can be no refunds once an application has been submitted, regardless of whether a visa is issued or refused. Please note that this fee is only collected by American Express. Please do not pay any visa-related fees to anybody else.
Applicants for F1 student and J1 exchange visitor visas must also pay an additional $100 SEVIS fee. This is sometimes also called an I-901 fee. This fee is paid directly to the Department of Homeland Security not to American Express or the Embassy. The Embassy will verify payment of this fee at the time of the interview but cannot collect this fee.
Currently this fee can be paid by U.S. dollar check or international money order directly to DHS, by credit card online at www.fmjfee.com via Western Union, or by mail. Detailed instructions on how to pay the fee can be found at the following DHS website: http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/index.htm
Q: When should I apply for a non-immigrant visa? How long does it take?
A: Applicants for all categories of non-immigrant visas are encouraged to apply for a visa 45-60 days in advance of planned travel. Administrative processing in Washington may extend further the time required to process the visa application. Please plan accordingly.
Q: Can I apply for a new visa before my current visa expires?
A: Yes. If you have a specific or continuing reason to travel to the USA you are not only allowed but are encouraged to apply for a new visa before your old one expires within one year of expiry.
Q: Can I submit supporting documents and papers before my interview?
A: No, please do not send any supporting documents or papers to the U.S. Embassy before your interview. Please bring all supporting documents and papers to your interview personally. Neither should your family, friends or business associates in the U.S. send us any documents on your behalf.
Q: I believe that I am well qualified and have had several visas before, do I still need to wait for an appointment and come for an interview?
A: Yes. Regulations require that all visa applicants personally appear for an interview regardless of whether they have had prior U.S. visas, in part because all applicants must be fingerprinted and photographed.
Q: What are the standards for getting a U.S. non-immigrant visa? How can I qualify?
A: Under U.S. law an applicant for a tourist or business B-1 or B-2 visitor’s visa must be able to demonstrate a credible reason for traveling to the USA and must be able to demonstrate that they will return to Afghanistan at the end of their temporary trip to the United States. An applicant for an F-1 student visa or J-1 exchange visitor visa must also demonstrate this, as well as demonstrate their qualifications as a full time student and an ability to pay for their course of study.
There is no formula or checklist for qualifying. Successful applicants are usually able to show that they have strong ties to Afghanistan, such as work, family and/or social ties. It is important to note however that a visa officer will look at an applicant’s entire situation in determining qualifications for a visa and that no single thing will guarantee that an applicant will be found to be qualified.
No one else can establish your qualifications for a visa. While family and friends, both in Afghanistan and the USA may offer to guarantee your tourist intent, only you, the applicant, can qualify.
The standards for petition-based H, E and L visas are more detailed and different from those described above. Applicants for these types of visas should review the requirements at the State Department website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1275.html.
More information on all of the different categories of non-immigrant visas can be found at the Department of State website at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html.
Q: Have the standards for getting a non-immigrant visa become more strict in the past few years?
A: No. The standards under the law for qualifying for a U.S. non-immigrant visa have not changed for many years. The same standard is applied today as was applied ten years ago. Similarly, the same standard is applied to Afghanistan as is applied in every other country in the world. There have been new processing requirements implemented in the past few years that can make the entire process take longer but this is an administrative process that does not affect whether someone is qualified for a visa.
After your interview
Q: I was refused recently but the officer who interviewed me did not examine any of my documents, why not?
A: The most important documents you bring with you are your passport and visa application forms. This will provide the officer with much of the information needed to make a decision. You should take great care to complete your application form fully and accurately and bring all current and prior passports that you have in your possession.
Other documents are not always necessary to make a decision. Some applicants with few additional documents are found qualified and some applicants with many additional documents are found not to be qualified. This is because documents often only reinforce what is in the visa application and what an applicant tells the officer in the interview. Many times this is enough to make a decision under the law.
Unfortunately, it is also often the case that local documents are not reliable due to inconsistent and poor quality control. Additionally, some documents are fraudulent. Since we often cannot count on the authenticity of documents and do not have the resources to verify every document, officers must often base their decisions mainly on the application and from information obtained from the applicant during the interview.
Q: Why can’t I get a refund if I am refused?
A: A refusal requires almost as much processing as an issuance, and there is no provision for refunding the application fee.
Q: Can I appeal a refusal?
A: No. Non-immigrant visa decisions cannot be appealed. All applicants who are not issued visas are given a letter explaining the reason for their refusal. Please review the letter for more information about the reasons for the refusal. Most people are refused because they have not convinced the officer that they are a genuine tourist, student or other category of temporary visitor.
If you feel that your circumstances have changed or that you can meet the requirements for the non-immigrant visa you are seeking then you may reapply and we will make every effort to have a different officer interview you. However please note that the new officer will apply the same law to your new interview and will review the previous officer’s refusal notes. Therefore a new interview does not improve your chances of being issued and may result in another refusal.
Q: The officer told me that I needed administrative processing but my friend or relative does not. Who needs a security clearance and who does not?
A: Each case is different and we do not know who will need administrative and who will not until the time of the interview. Sometimes when people apply together, some members of the group will need administrative processing and some will not. Therefore you should anticipate the possibility of needing this processing and apply well in advance.
Q: I have been waiting for administrative processing for a long time, how much longer will it take?
A: We cannot say exactly. All administrative processing happens in Washington, DC. Some processing may only take a few weeks but other processing can take several months, although this is generally not the case. There is no way for the Embassy to predict or control how long this processing will take.
In some instances information that might negatively impact a visa application comes to light after we have called an applicant to inform them that we are ready to issue the visa. When new information has surfaced we are required to send the application through this process again. Until the administrative processing is again complete, we are prohibited by law from issuing a visa to them. Unfortunately, this sometimes creates long delays for our applicants.
While we do our best to process applications in a timely manner, these mandatory procedures sometimes prevent us from doing so. However, once we do receive your clearance we will contact you directly, and deliver your passport and U.S. visa to the American Express office where you originally submitted your application.
Q: Do I have to leave my passport at the Embassy while my administrative processing is taking place? What if I have to travel elsewhere in the meantime?
A: No, you do not have to leave your passport at the Embassy while you are waiting for your clearance. You may keep it with you if you wish. We will contact you when clearance has been received to bring your passport to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul for delivery to Islamabad for visa issuance.
Q: How can I get more information about visa categories and the legal requirements for visas?
A: You can get more information about visa categories and requirements on the U.S. Embassy’s website at the State Department’s visa website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html
After your visa has been issued
Q: Can someone else retrieve my passport for me?
A: It is strongly recommended that you pick up your passport and visa yourself. If you cannot pick up the passport yourself, please give the person picking up the passport your written authorization to pick up your passport. Additionally, please make sure that the person who picks up your passport has valid government-issued identification with them when they pick it up.
Once again, thank you for your interest in visiting the United States and applying for a U.S. non-immigrant visa.