Visas

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for a non-immigrant visa?
2. How long do I have to wait to get a non-immigrant visa interview?
3. What should I bring with me to my non-immigrant visa interview?
4. Should I have my documents translated into English?
5. Is an invitation letter required?
6. Does a minor child need to come for his/her visa interview?
7. When do I find out the result of my interview?  When do I get my passport back?
8. My application was refused under Section 221(g).  What do I do next?
9. My application was refused under Section 214(b).  What do I do next?
10. Who may I call to discuss my denied visa application?
11. I have a visa that is still valid in my old passport, but the passport has expired.  Can I still use that visa, or do I need to get it transferred to my new passport?
12. I recently changed my marital status and now have a new passport that reflects my new name.  May I still travel with my visa in my former name?
13. Should I purchase my airline tickets in advance to prove that I really want a visa and to validate my destination?
14. How can I work legally in the U.S.?
15. Are there any special requirements when applying for a business visa?
16. How do I find out about educational opportunities in the U.S.?
17. May I apply for a U.S. visa in Bucharest if I am not a Romanian citizen?
18. May I apply for a U.S. visa in Bucharest if I am a Romanian citizen currently living and/or working in another country?
19. I didn’t turn in my I94 when I left the United States.  What should I do?

1. How do I apply for a non-immigrant visa?

With a few exceptions, all visa applicants must apply for a visa in person.  To schedule a visa interview, follow these steps.

• Pay the USD $131 MRV fee and get a PIN number (USD $11) at any Banca Transilvania.
• Call the Call Center at 0800-88-8472 or 021-202-9999 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday to Friday to schedule your interview.
• Applicants or their relatives located in the United States may call between 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (Romanian local time), Monday to Friday to schedule your interview.  The PIN fee will be paid over the phone using a credit card.
• The PIN number becomes active the next business day after 1:00 pm.

For more information about scheduling an interview, select the Visa Application Process link.

2. How long do I have to wait to get a non-immigrant visa interview?

Wait times vary depending on the time of year and demand for appointments.  To check the current visa wait times, click here.

3. What should I bring with me to my non-immigrant visa interview?

The following items are mandatory for all applicants regardless of visa type:

• a valid passport;
• the original MRV fee bank receipt from Banca Transilvania;
• one photograph (See Photo Requirements);and
• the DS-156 application form.

The following forms are required depending on your age and visa class:

• the DS-157 (Supplemental nonimmigrant visa application) for all male non-immigrant visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45; and
• the DS-158 (Contact information and work history for nonimmigrant visa applicant) for all F, J, and M visa applicants, including spouses and children applying for F2, J2, and M2 visas.

You should also bring any documents that demonstrate your personal and economic ties to Romania.  Examples include:

• proof of current employment and past work history;
• evidence of financial support (including bank statements, salary history or pension statements if retired);
• proof of property ownership (i.e. home, land, business); and
• business statements and accounts (if you own a firm).
• The following additional documents are very helpful for the consular officer:
• Proof of the inviting person(s) status you intend to visit in the US (such as copies or originals of visas, green cards or passports; and.
• old passports showing previous international travel.

Note - Depending on the type of visa for which you are applying, additional documents may be required.  For a list of required documents for each visa type, click one of the NIV visa links in the list under non-immigrant visas.

4. Should I have my documents translated into English?

It is not necessary to have your documents translated into English for a non-immigrant visa application.  Applicants must bring original documents rather than photocopies.

5. Is an invitation letter required?

One of the most common misconceptions regarding non-immigrant visas is that someone can act as a sponsor or offer to guarantee a person's return to their home country.  We receive many such well-intentioned letters; however, U.S. immigration law makes no provisions for any such guarantees.

The fundamental rule of applying for a visa is that an applicant must qualify based on his or her own circumstances.  If you wish to submit information to us in support of an applicant, please send it directly to the applicant.  The applicant can then share it with us during his/her interview, or can include it with his/her documents.

6. Does a minor child need to come for his/her visa interview?

Generally, any applicant under 14 years of age does not need to be present at the interview.  However, any visa applicant between the ages of 14 and 17 years old must be accompanied by at least one parent or legal guardian.  If only one parent is present at the visa interview, the consular officer will ask to see a notarized declaration from the other parent giving permission for the child to travel to the U.S. or an original custody agreement showing sole custody.

7. When do I find out the result of my interview?  When do I get my passport back?

In most cases, the consular officer will make a decision at the conclusion of the visa interview.  If an applicant qualifies for a visa, the visa and passport will be ready the following business day.  If the applicant does not qualify for a visa, the passport is returned at the conclusion of the visa interview along with a letter explaining the legal basis for the refusal.  In some cases, visa applicants are asked to come back at a later date with additional documentation.

8. My application was refused under Section 221(g).  What do I do next?

Applicants are usually ineligible under Section 221(g) because the applicant failed to bring some information or document to the interview required by the consular officer.  In some cases, additional administrative processing may be required.

If you were issued a 221(g) letter and asked to come back when you are prepared with all the required information or documents, you do not need to make another appointment.  You may appear at the Consular Section Monday through Thursday at 9:00 am.

If you have been requested to wait until the Consular Section contacts you, please do not make a new appointment.  Your case requires further administrative processing and the Consular Section will contact you once this has been completed.

9. My application was refused under Section 214(b).  What do I do next?

If your application for a nonimmigrant visa has been refused, you will be told why at the interview and provided with a written explanation.  Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration Law presumes that applicants for nonimmigrant visas are intending immigrants and must be denied visas unless they provide convincing evidence of family, social, and economic ties to a residence abroad.  Refusals under Section 214(b) mean that you have not overcome the legal presumption that you are an intending immigrant.

The fact that you were refused under Section 214(b) does not mean that you will be refused again in the future.  A refusal under Section 214(b) means that, at this time, under your present employment, social or other circumstances, the consular officer was not satisfied that you had met U.S. non-immigrant visa requirements.

Although anyone may re-apply for a visa, we recommend that you do so only if you believe there is a significant change in your circumstances or there is another compelling reason for a re-application.  If you reapply after being refused under Section 214(B) INA, you must complete a new application and pay another application fee.

10. Who may I call to discuss my denied visa application?

Immigration law delegates the responsibility for issuance or refusal of visas to consular officers overseas. They have the final say on all visa cases. By regulation the U.S. Department of State has authority to review consular decisions, but this authority is limited to the interpretation of law, as contrasted to determinations of facts. The question at issue in such denials, whether an applicant possesses the required residence abroad, is a factual one. Therefore, it falls exclusively within the authority of the consular officer at to resolve. An applicant can influence the post to change a prior visa denial only through the presentation of new convincing evidence of strong ties at the time of a new application.  However, if you would like to submit a comment or question about your interview, send an e-mail to VisasBucharest@state.gov.

11. I have a visa that is still valid in my old passport, but the passport has expired.  Can I still use that visa, or do I need to get it transferred to my new passport?

You can travel with both the old passport containing the valid U.S. visa and the new passport.  It is not necessary to get a new visa if the visa is still valid and has not been cancelled or damaged.  It is not possible to transfer a visa from the old passport to the new without making a new visa application.

12. I recently changed my marital status and now have a new passport that reflects my new name.  May I still travel with my visa in my former name?

Yes, you may; however, it is recommended that you reapply for a new visa in order to update your name.  Should you decide to travel with the visa in your former name, bring the original documentation that shows your change of marital status (divorce decree, marriage certificate, death certificate, etc.) in order to present it to the immigration authorities at the port of entry, in case such proof is requested.

13. Should I purchase my airline tickets in advance to prove that I really want a visa and to validate my destination?

No.  Do not purchase airline tickets before obtaining a visa.  Possession of pre-paid airline tickets to the U.S. will not be a factor in the consular officer’s decision.  The only exception to this is if you are applying for a transit visa and are traveling through the U.S. on your way to another destination.

14. How can I work legally in the U.S.?

In most cases, the employer in the U.S. must file a work petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to employ a foreign national in the U.S.  After the petition has been approved, the USCIS will inform the applicant in writing with a form I-797 known as a "Notice of Action."  Once the applicant has the I-797, he/she can schedule a visa interview.

15. Are there any special requirements when applying for a business visa?

Applicants traveling for business purposes, like other applicants, are required to demonstrate strong personal and economic ties to Romania that will compel them to return to Romania after a brief visit.  They must also demonstrate that they plan to travel to the U.S. on bona fide business.  This is often done by providing an invitation from a U.S. company as well as documents that establish an ongoing or proposed business relationship(s) between that company and the Romanian employer.

16. How do I find out about educational opportunities in the U.S.?

The best resource for researching educational opportunities in the U.S. is the Fulbright Educational Advising Center.

17. May I apply for a U.S. visa in Bucharest if I am not a Romanian citizen?

Yes.  Anyone who resides in or is physically present in Romania may apply for a visa at the Embassy in Bucharest.   If you do not reside in Romania, you should be aware that language difficulties and interviewing officers' unfamiliarity with local conditions in other countries may make it more difficult to demonstrate your qualifications for a visa here than in your home district or at a post designated for your application.  Even if an applicant qualifies for a visa, there can be visa processing delays ranging from several days to several months.  Therefore, you should also take into account whether you will be in Romania for a sufficient period of time to complete visa processing.

18. May I apply for a U.S. visa in Bucharest if I am a Romanian citizen currently living and/or working in another country?

Yes.  Anyone who is physically present in Romania may apply for a visa at the Embassy.  However, you should be aware that interviewing officers' unfamiliarity with local conditions in other countries may make it more difficult to demonstrate your qualifications for a visa here than in the country in which you reside.  If you are a resident of another country, we strongly recommend you apply at the Embassy or Consulate with responsibility over your consular district.  A complete list is available on the U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions page.  Even if an applicant qualifies for a visa, there can be visa processing delays ranging from several days to several months.  Therefore, you should also take into account whether you will be in Romania for a sufficient period of time to complete visa processing.

19. I didn’t turn in my I94 when I left the United States.  What should I do?

If you don’t turn in your I94 (or I94W) when you leave the United States, you may have serious problems.  Without evidence of your departure you may be identified in our records as overstaying your authorized legal stay.  This means that you may not be able to reenter the United States again.  If you haven’t turned in your I-94, please send the form – with any other evidence of your departure from the United States – to

DHS – CBP ACS INC.
1084 South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
USA

Documents that may prove your departure from the United States include your boarding ticket.  If you didn’t leave by air and you chose to cross the border by car it may be harder to check if you left at the date you mention.  If you have any document that proves your return to your country of residence (i.e. the entry stamp in your passport), you may send a copy.  If the above mentioned office doesn’t have any proof to support your statement that you left U.S. at a certain date, there is no guarantee that you’ll be registered as such.  Please keep a copy of everything you send to ACS Inc. in case the Immigration Officer has any questions regarding your admission into the country the next time you visit the United States.

If you would like to confirm the receipt of your I94 by ACS, please allow 4 months for processing the documents.  After 4 months you may send a letter to inquire about the status of your departure record.  If you did submit your I94 upon your departure from the United States, please do not ask for a confirmation.  This procedure is intended only for those who failed to turn in their I94 when they left the United States.

Your confirmation inquiry must include your name, date of birth, passport number, and departure date.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air Sea Passenger Operations, Room 5.4D, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington D.C.  20229.

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