NEW: non-Immigrant Visas

New Online Appointment System Begins September 2, 2008 [English, Lao and Hmong]

Why is there a visa requirement?

The United States is an open society. Unlike many other countries, the United States does not impose internal controls on most visitors, such as registration with local authorities. In order to enjoy the privilege of unencumbered travel in the United States, aliens have a responsibility to prove they are going to return abroad and that they do not intent to break the law (e.g. by working without authorization), before a non-immigrant visa can be issued. The law places the burden of proof on the visa applicant. Our immigration law requires consular officers to view every visa applicant as ineligible for a visa until the applicant proves otherwise. Consular officers have a difficult job; they must decide in a very short time if someone is qualified to receive a non-immigrant visa. Most cases are decided after a brief interview and review of whatever evidence an applicant presents.

Hours

Non-Immigrant visa interviews take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. All applicants should appear at the Embassy at the time selected for their scheduled interview date. No applicants will be admitted after 10:00 a.m. Applicants not appearing during this time period must schedule a new appointment. To make an appointment, please see
“CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT”.  

Fees

Visa Fees/Payments: The application (Machine Readable Visa or MRV) fee for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa is $131. The fee must be paid in cash to the Consular Cashier and is non-refundable. There may be an additional reciprocity fee of $40 or $80 for the issuance of certain student or business visas to Lao nationals. Any such additional fees must be paid in cash to the Consular Cashier before a visa will be issued. A receipt will be provided for all payments to the Consular Cashier. See the Reciprocity Tables for information regarding issuance visa fees.

Visa validity

A U.S. visa allows the bearer to enter the United States one or more times within the validity of the visa. The visa does not determine how long you can stay in the U.S. When you arrive in the U.S., the Immigration officer at the port of entry will determine the length of your stay based on your travel plan. You must depart the U.S at the end of your authorized stay or request an extension from the office of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security.

The validity of a U.S. nonimmigrant visa, and whether single or multiple entries are authorized, will depend on the purpose of your trip, the specified visa classification, and reciprocal agreements between your country and the United States. The consular officer will determine the best validity for your circumstances when you apply for the visa. U.S. visas for Lao visitors are limited to a single entry. The validity of student, temporary worker, and diplomatic visas for Lao citizens is limited to three, six or twelve months, depending on the type of visa.

NEW: Online Appointment System

Effective September 2nd, 2008, all applicants in Laos who wish to apply for tourist, student, or other non-immigrant visas (NIV) to the United States must make an appointment online. The Consular Section will no longer accept walk-in visa applications. All requests for non-immigrant visa appointments should be directed to this website, click here.

All non-immigrant visa applicants must fill out an Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF) DS-156 Non-Immigrant Visa Application by accessing http://evisaforms.state.gov. Complete the form and print the application form on a laser-jet printer. Bring the three printed pages to the interview. The DS-157 and DS-158, if required, may be downloaded here.

There is no cost to access the visa application forms or make an appointment. Applicants need only pay for internet usage and printing when using a private internet services. All applicants are cautioned to read the following information on Visa Scams and Fraud.

All non-immigrant visa applicants should arrive for their interview on the time and date specified for their scheduled appointment. They should submit their passport and application, and pay the non-refundable application fee of $131 prior to the interview. Supporting documents should be brought to the interview by the applicant. Do not send supporting documents via mail, fax, or email to the Consular Section.

On the day of the interview, we request that family members, friends, or other persons not accompany the visa applicant to the Embassy. Applicants who speak neither Lao nor English may bring a translator. Applicants are generally interviewed in the order that they arrive, but should plan to be at the Embassy for several hours.

Passports with issued visas are generally available for pickup at 3:30 P.M. on the following business day. However, the Consular Section encourages visa applicants not to purchase plane tickets until after they have received the visa.

How to Apply

Appointments

Step 1: Fill out and print the EVAF DS-156 Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form and DS-157 Supplemental Non-Immigrant Visa Form and and and and and and and and and and and and and

• You must complete and print a DS-156 Non-Immigrant Visa 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.  The data you enter is compressed into a barcode format, which we can then quickly scan into our computer system. The barcode is located on page 3 of the EVAF.
  
• Important Note: Persons with Handwritten DS-156 Forms Will Not Be Permitted To Submit Applications.  Click EVAF-Information-Sheet in English or EVAF-Information-Sheet in Lao to see how to complete EVAF DS-156 (PDF file) online.
  
• Ensure that a correct visa photograph is attached or glued to the DS-156.
  
• When filling out the DS-156, please answer all questions fully. If you do not answer all questions, your application cannot be accepted. If someone completes the form on your behalf, he/she should print and sign his/her name at the bottom of item # 40. Persons providing “form filling” services should read all answers that you have provided for you to double check and ensure accuracy of the information. You are responsible for all information on the form.
  
• Click on DS-157 Supplemental Non-Immigrant Visa Application and DS-158 Contact Information and Work History for Non-Immigrant Visa Applicant, if required. These forms are also available free of charge at the entrance to the Consular Section.
  
• Photo requirement – One (1) 2”x 2” visa photograph (50mm x 50mm) with light background, please check acceptable and correct visa photos.
  

NEW Step 2: Make an appointment

• Once you have completed and printed your EVAF DS-156 (Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form), please click on the following link to make an online appointment for your visa interview. You will need the barcode located at the top of the box for the visa photo. It is located at the lower right hand corner of the first page of the Form DS-156. You cannot make an appointment without a proper EVAF barcode.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Visa Scams and Fraud Attention

The Embassy reminds all visa applicants to be careful of people who charge visa applicants extra fees claiming that they have special connections to obtain a visa. These claims are not true and these people are cheating visa applicants who sometimes pay hundreds of dollars and do not receive a visa. Visa applicants who wish to report suspected fraud or malfeasance may leave a message with the Embassy by telephone at: 856-21-267222.