Required Documents for US Visa Online Application

As part of applying for a visa to enter the United States, gathering the necessary documentation is essential. After deciding which visa you need to apply for, you should research its prerequisites and begin gathering the necessary materials for your application.

If you want to get a visa from the United States, you’ll need to bring a few things with you to the embassy or consulate. At the time you submit your visa application, make sure you have all of these materials.

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What is Included?

Visa Requirements for the United States

This is a list of what you’ll need to apply for a visa to the United States:

The DS-160 Application for Nonimmigrant Status can be filled out and submitted online.
Authentic passport. For entry into the United States, your passport must be valid for six months at least, after your departure date. The United States requires all visitors to have a valid passport for at least the duration of their trip. In order to get a visa, you’ll need a minimum of one blank page in your passport.
Only one picture. Having a photograph suitable for use in a US visa application is a mandatory part of the application process. Include it with your DS-160 online application along with the photo. Please bring the photo with you on the day of your appointment if the upload fails. You should still bring the photo with you to the interview, though, just in case they ask to see it.
A receipt evidencing the submission of a fee of $160 for a US nonimmigrant visa application. The US visa application process differs from its European counterpart in that the application fee must be paid in full before an interview can be scheduled. Remember that the US visa application fee is non-refundable in the event that your visa application is denied or you cancel your appointment.
Specifics about one’s social networking profiles. Include your phone number, email address, and the past five years’ worth of social media activity, along with a list of the platforms you use and the names of your accounts there.

Any paperwork that isn’t written in English or the language of the country where your interview for visa will take place will need to be translated. A qualified translator’s signature is required on any translations.

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Check out this specific guide on how to obtain your US visa for Belgian citizens.

Form DS-160

To apply for a visa as a nonimmigrant to the United States, you must fill out Form DS-160 online. The Consular Electronic Application Center is where you can complete the DS-160 form online.

To back up the claims you make in your application, you’ll need to submit supplementary materials in addition to the primary documents.

Existing (Expired) US Visas

You should bring your old passport with you to the interview at the consulate or embassy if it was used on a previous trip to the United States. It is a requirement of the United States government that anyone applying for a visa must be able to provide evidence of prior entry to the country.

Invitation letter

A US visa invitation letter is a letter written by a US citizen or legal resident stating that they willingly host a foreign national with whom they have a close personal or familial relationship and that they have adequate housing accommodations available for the duration of the visitor’s stay in the US.

A plan for your trip

Travel plans, or an itinerary, outline exactly what you’re doing throughout your time in the United States. It consists of things like a flight reservation that you paid for that shows when you intend to enter and leave the United States. In-flight reservations, if available, can also be displayed.

You’ll need to show that you’ve found suitable lodging as well. Your US lodging plans (hotel, rented house, friend/family member’s house, etc.) must be detailed. But it can also serve as evidence that you have the resources to pay for a hotel room during your visit to the United States.

Also check: USA Visa Types, Processing Time and How to Apply

Sponsorship Documents

You’ll need to provide evidence that you’re being sponsored by a U.S. resident if you want to enter the country. All of the following must be provided by the sponsor:

Affidavit of Support Letter – This letter certifies that your sponsor has the means to cover all of your living expenses for the duration of your visit.
A letter from the sponsor’s employer attesting to the sponsor’s employment and detailing the sponsor’s compensation.
Three or four most recent pay stubs
Notification from the bank detailing the account’s opening date, the sum of all deposits made within the past calendar year, and the current balance.

Legal Documents Regarding Property

Please provide evidence that you own real estate, either in your own country or elsewhere. Possessing real estate is a major plus when going to apply for a nonimmigrant visa because it demonstrates that the applicant has strong ties to their home country and does not intend to permanently settle there.

When you go to your scheduled appointment, be sure to bring the following documents as proof:

Certificate of Title or other Proof of Ownership
Picture documentation of that residence
Declaration of Ownership Affidavit

These documents are important if you are getting a US visa for Brunei citizens.

Profession/Employment-Related Documents

If you are working, you must include a letter from your employer describing your job, salary, employment length, allotted vacation time, and reason for traveling to the United States.
If you’re retired, you can start looking at your pension book.
If you’re self-employed, please provide proof of company registration and tax returns.

Family Related Documents

Documents such as a birth or marriage certificate, photographs of immediate family members, adoption papers (if applicable), a decree of legal separation or death certificate for a spouse, etc.

Physician’s Letter

You need to make a medical appointment with a licensed doctor in the nation where your interview will take place. In order to enter the country, you will need to get checked out by a doctor who is recognized by the embassy. Other doctors’ examinations will not be accepted.

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Guidelines for Obtaining a Particular Type of U.S. Visa

Depending on the visa type you wish to apply for, you may need to provide additional documentation in order to obtain a US visa.

Criteria for U.S. Student Visas

The consular official reviewing your application for a student or exchange visitor visa to the United States will want to see acceptance letters from schools in the United States.

This school needs to participate in the Student Visitor Exchange Program (SEVP). In addition to the standard visa fee, you’ll need to pay the SEVIS I-901 charge and bring confirmation of payment to your interview.

Necessary Criteria for Obtaining a Work Visa in the United States

Some or all of the following may be required in support of your application for a work visa in the United States:

Your qualification certificates and diplomas must have been verified
Documentation of a Relevant Degree like of Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate
U.S. employer with a job offer in hand
Letters of recommendation or curriculum vitae from previous employers
Authorization From The State (if applicable)
Documentation of your exceptional skills
Costs, Payment Options, etc.

Capturing Fingerprints

Everyone applying for a visa to the United States must submit fingerprints. Your fingerprints will be collected either before or after the interview, depending on the consulate or embassy.

Fingerprinting is optional only in the following cases: