Filipino Travelog: REQUIREMENTS FOR US TOURIST VISA

A visa does not guarantee entry into the US. It permits a foreign citizen coming from abroad to travel to the US port-of-entry and request permission to enter the US. Furthermore, a permission to enter can only be given by a Department Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official. Remember, you cannot enter with an expired visa. It must be valid at the time you enter the US.

Here are the basic steps in applying for your tourist visa in the US.

1. Pay the application fee

2. Fill-in the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form (available online)

3. Make a schedule of your interview. Please provide the following:

a. Your passport number

b. Your application fee or MRV fee payment receipt number

c. The ten (10) digit barcode number found in your DS-160 confirmation page

4. Make a physical appearance at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate on the date and time of your visa interview. Remember to bring the printed copy of the following:

a. Appointment letter

b. Your DS-160 confirmation page

c. One (1) recent photograph

d. Your current passport including all old passports if your still have.

Reminder: Applications without of these important requirements will not be accepted. Please be on at the embassy 1 hour before your scheduled time. Be familiar with the location before you have a physical appearance to avoid being late or marked as no show. The embassy is very strict at the schedule.

Here are important requirements you have to provide before you undergo an interview at the Embassy/Consulate.

1. Philippine Passport

The passport should be valid at least 6 months. You may include all of your old passports showing your previous travels. Remember that your passport must be signed. To apply for your passport, please click DFA Philippine Passport Application

2. Personal e-mail

It’s always suggested that you must have a personal e-mail. For this reason, most of the transactions online these days require an e-mail for verification purposes. In case of US visa application for tourists, you need to provide the barcode of your DS-160 confirmation page which will be sent to your e-mail.

3. Visa Application fee (also known as MRV fee)

Visa applicants, including children, are required to pay the visa application fee before you can obtain the date and time of your visa interview. Remember that it is non-refundable, non-transferable whether the visa is issued (granted) or not. The amount of application fee varies depending on the type of visa, but for tourist visa application fee costs USD 160 (P8,000 +). Even though the fees are listed in U.S. dollars, payment can be made using the local currency. Remember that the fee varies in peso depending on the current exchange rate. You can pay your fee at any BPI branches. Please click Deposit Slip Page for bank deposit slip to be presented when paying for your MRV fee. Then click Deposit Slip - $160 MRV fee and print it. Make sure that the printout is clear.

Reminders:

- Don’t forget to bring the document sent to your e-mail. You have to provide this upon payment and you will receive a receipt after payment. This receipt is valid for one (1) year from the date of payment and allows you to make a schedule of your interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate. If you fail to make one within one year of paying of your fee, and your receipt will expire, you will not be able to schedule an interview, and you have to pay the fee again and start a new application once more. Applicants can reschedule their appointments but with a limited number of times; thus, plan appropriately so you are not required to pay another visa application fee.

4. Photo

Your photo must appear alone and face forward. It should have a standard size of 2 inches x 2 inches with white background without any border, designs, objects, and shading. The applicant wearing headbands, caps, eyeglasses, etc. are not accepted. Your facial expressions in photos must have general expressions not exaggerated and don’t let your hair obscure your facial features. Have a soft copy of your photo because will need to upload it after filling in DS-160 form. Some photo centers provide the soft copy of your photo especially when they heard it’s for US Embassy; hence, bring your USB or any external memory where you can save your photo.

5. Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form

DS-160 form is available in the US Embassy website. Please click Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) Form

Guidelines:

- The interview post you choose at the start of the DS-160 form must be similar with the post in the interview appointment schedule.

- All answers must be in English using English-language characters only, except your full name in your native alphabet.

- You have to upload your photo as a part of the DS-160 process.

- The alphanumeric barcode confirmation page is made once you have the completed DS-160 form. You have to present the printout of the confirmation page during the interview at the Embassy/Consulate.

- Once you have printed the barcode confirmation page, hit the “Back” button on your web browser and then email yourself a backup copy of the DS-160. The file is in PDF format.

Reminder: A new DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form and associated barcode must be submitted with each and every new visa application. A DS-160 and barcode from a prior visa interview or drop-off service will be rejected and result in a delay of your visa application.

- Handwritten or typed applications are not accepted and you are not allowed to attend your interview without DS-160 confirmation page.

- It is very important to double-check the accuracy and completeness of your entries and the answers in every question respectively. Signing the form electronically certifies that all the information are true and correct. Remember that misrepresenting any facts could render you ineligible to enter the United States.

6. Schedule of Interview

To make a schedule of your visa interview and enter your visa delivery address, you have to register and make a profile online. If you already have this, you don’t need to create one. You can always modify your existing profile by logging in using your user ID and password.

Once again, before making a visa interview, you have to provide the following:

a. Your passport number

b. Your application fee or MRV fee payment receipt number

c. The ten(10) digit barcode number found in your DS-160 confirmation page

To create your schedule, refer to Interview Schedule

7. Supporting Documents

These are only one of many factors a consular officer will consider during your interview. Each application is seen individually by consular officers considering professional, social, cultural, and other factors during adjudication (process). In addition, they look at your specific intentions, family situation, and your long-range plans prospects within your country of residence. Every case is examined individually and is treated every consideration under the law.

The following are the documents you may present.

a. Travel itinerary

b. Dates of your last visits or trips in the US and/or your international travel history for the last 5 years

c. Resume- you may be asked about your current and previous education and work history

For further information regarding the additional document, pls click DS-160 Frequently Asked

OTHER IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

* Each traveler must obtain his or her own required documents discussed above.

* Please prepare your travel plan or itinerary in the US for it is needed in your visa interview.

* Once the required application is completed, you have to check your email and download the file and print it. You are required to present this at the embassy/consulate.

* You are only allowed certain period of time to complete filling in the application form. If the applicant is not able to save the draft after 20 minutes, the filling-in process will stop automatically, then you have to start the process once more.

* The office reserves the right to withhold the reason for the disapproval of any visa application.

* If in case the application was declined after the review, the fees charged are NOT REFUNDABLE.

* DO NOT PRESENT FALSE DOCUMENTS. Remember that fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent visa ineligibility. The Embassy will not make the applicant’s information available to anyone and will respect the confidentiality of the information.

Visa Fee

Visa Types Application Fee

Visitor (Single Entry) USD 160.00

Note: For expedited appointment, please refer to this link

Expedited Appointment

Contact Information

Embassy Manila’s Visa Information and Appointment Service

Call Center

(+632) 976 8500

(+632) 981 8300

Open

Monday - Friday,