Non-Immigrant Visas

HOW TO APPLY FOR A NONIMMIGRANT VISA AT THE U.S. EMBASSY SKOPJE

A valid visa is necessary for most aliens who wish to apply for entry into the United States.  The most widely known nonimmigrant visa category is the visitor visa (B), which is used by aliens who wish to enter the United States temporarily for business purposes or for tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or similar reasons.  Other categories of nonimmigrant visas include those for persons who wish to enter as representatives of foreign governments (G), in transit (C), as crewmen (D), students in academic or language programs (F), temporary workers and trainees (H), journalists (I), and exchange visitors (J).

All applicants must pay a $131 visa application fee in advance at any branch of Raiffeisen Bank before submitting an application.  At the time of their interview, applicants must provide a receipt showing payment of the $131 application fee.

Appointment requests should be made approximately four to six weeks in advance of your proposed date of travel to the United States. The Embassy conducts non-immigrant visa interviews on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings only.

Visa Information Service - Appointment System

To call the Visa Information Service (VIS), applicants must first purchase a personal identification number (PIN) from Raiffeisen Bank in Kosovo for a small fee.  The introduction of VIS will streamline the process of scheduling and preparing applicants for their visa interviews.  Its dedicated teams of Albanian-, Serbian- and English-speaking customer service agents will be available from 8am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, except on holidays.

The PIN is activated one day after purchase and may be used multiple times, for up to a total of 7 minutes. The PIN can be used to make an appointment for the applicant and up to 4 immediate family members such as spouses, parents, children, or siblings. The PIN fee is non-refundable.

When calling Visa Information Service at 038-247-973, you must be prepared to provide the following information:

1. Full name, passport or travel document number.

2. Purpose of travel to the United States (tourism, study, work, etc.) and proposed date of travel.

Please note that all applicants must first pay the $131 visa application fee at Raiffeisen Bank before appearing for an interview.

All Visa Applicants must have the following documents in order to apply:

• A passport valid for at least 6 months after the applicant’s expected arrival in the United States.

• A bar-code online generated and signed application form DS-156 that must be completed at http://evisaforms.state.gov and then printed, and form DS-157 available at http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/ . Please note that only online bar-code generated DS-156 will be accepted.

• Applicants for exchange visitor visas (J) visas must also complete Form DS-158, available at http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/ and present a valid DS-2019. Applicants for student visas (F) must present a valid I-20.

• 5x5 cm white background, full-face color photo.

• Both copies of the receipt showing payment of the $131 fee as described above.

All visa applicants are required to appear for a personal interview in order to determine their eligibility for a visa.