Nonimmigrant Visa

How to Apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV)

All NIVs are for temporary stays in the U.S. NIVs are not for a traveler to enter the U.S. quickly, then seek a longer term or permanent stay. All NIV applicants are seen by prior arrangement only, either appointment made online, a special program for Business (BVP), Crew (CVP) or Students (SVP). Most eligible NIV applicants normally receive their NIV within 4 working days after their interview. But some cases may take much longer to process. NIV appointments fill up early and we usually issue multiple entry NIVs so apply well in advance of anticipated travel. Do not delay making an appointment. Failure to plan is not an emergency and we usually cannot accommodate last minute appointment requests. For information on NIV classifications please see http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html.

Use of the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) is mandatory. Once completed, the information in the DS-160 will be electronically transmitted to us. The DS-160 is not your appointment and we have no access to its data until you make an appointment online, see below. The applicant must print the DS-160 Confirmation that includes some biographical information and a bar code confirmation number from a high resolution printer so the bar code can be scanned.  Applicants must bring the printed DS-160 Confirmation to their NIV appointment. While you are working on your DS-160, often “save” a copy on your hard drive. Fill out all required information completely and correctly, including selecting the appropriate visa type. Your online DS-160 will be checked by our staff when you check-in for your appointment. If your DS-160 is incomplete, or if it contains more than two errors, your appointment will be cancelled. There is no way to correct or add data to an incomplete DS-160 here.

Frequently asked questions for the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160).

Please go online to fill out the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) and print out the confirmation page to carry to your appointment.

1. Please complete the DS-160 with care. Please remember that an applicant whose DS-160 contains more than two errors will not be admitted to an appointment. Follow these suggestions to avoid common errors:
   
   
   • Do NOT enter a space between the letter and digits of your Indonesian passport number. Passport numbers must be entered as R000000, NOT R 000000 (note the incorrect space in the latter).
   • Use the dropdown menu for the full/correct name of the city where your passport was issued as it is listed exactly in your passport, e.g. Jakarta Pusat or Soekarno Hatta, NOT Jakarta.
   • Choose the correct visa class, i.e. if you are a student you are likely an F1 visa applicant. See our Visa Types page.
   • Please note if you have been refused a U.S. visa previously.
   • If requested, please fill out your complete education history. Submit all of your education information, starting from junior and senior high school and including any college or university studies.
2. Pay the NONREFUNDABLE NIV application fee, currently set at USD$140 per applicant, in Indonesian Rupiah at STANDARD CHARTERED OR PERMATA BANK UP TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT. The current Embassy exchange rate is 9,000 rupiah to the dollar. Click here for Step By Step Procedure of US Embassy Visa Fee Payment in  English (PDF, size 307KB) or in Bahasa Indonesia (PDF, size 308KB). Pay each fee individually and do not combine payments for a family onto one receipt. Pay no other U.S. consular or visa-related fee at Standard Chartered or Permata Bank. Pay at no other bank. Bearers of diplomatic passports applying for any visa, and applicants for A, G, C-3, NATO and J visas (only participating in official U.S. Government sponsored exchanges) do not pay an application fee.
   
   Always check here for most up to date fee information: http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_1341.html.
   
   The basic visa application fee increased on June 4, 2010 to USD$140 for most visas, including B, F, and J visas. Fees for H, L, O, P, Q, and R visas increased to USD$150, fees for K visas increased to USD$350, and fees for E visas increased to USD$390. The difference between basic fees and H, L, O, P, Q, R, K, and E visa fees must be paid at the Embassy.
3. Log on to our online appointment system to schedule an appointment by clicking http://www.ustraveldocs.com/id/. Go to Schedule Appointment and follow instructions from the website.
   
   Applicants may only schedule 1 appointment.  Appointment times are staggered; applicants should arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before their appointment. You will waste your time if you come early. NIV applicants younger than 14 years old or 80 years old or older do not need to interview in person. An immediate relative (parent, spouse or child) may submit the complete NIV application and passport on their behalf. Others who are not applying themselves and will not be representing immediate family members will be denied entry for space and security reasons, unless specifically invited.
   
   Appointments are popular at certain times of the year and we are limited by our capacity to see applicants. If no appointments are available that means we have no more resources and have reached our capacity. Most NIVs are valid for multiple entries within a 5-year period so there is no need to wait until you have a firm travel date. Apply early if you may have a need to visit the U.S.
   
   Print your appointment confirmation and bring it with all your applications to your appointment.
4. Report to U.S. Embassy Jakarta on the date of, and no earlier than 30 minutes prior to, your visa appointment. All NIV applicants must appear in person at their NIV appointment and be fingerprinted (except A1, A2, G1, G2, G3, G4, NATO and C3, those under age 14, and those 80 years of age or older). If you do not have an appointment that is scheduled online with us, or if you do not have an invitation from us, then please do not come to the Embassy. We have intercepted a number of applicants with false appointments. The applicant alone is responsible for the appointment and application. If you rely on someone else’s word you may not have a true appointment and you will not receive a visa.
   
   Documents. Each NIV Applicant, Regardless of Age/Gender/Nationality must bring separately:
   
   
   • Appointment letter printed from our website or a specific, emailed invitation from us.
   • Passport or travel document valid for 6 months beyond your U.S. stay.
   • Receipt of Standard Chartered or Permata Bank payment for each visa applicant’s fee.
   • Fully completed DS-160 and printed confirmation page.
   • Must bring one recent front view 2”x2” passport photo on white background. See Photo Specifications.
   • Students or exchange visitors (F, M, J):
     • I-20, I-20M or DS-2019,
     • SEVIS fee receipt, paid at Student and Exchange Visitor Program: SEVIS I-901 Fee,
     • Proof of funds to pay at least the first year of study and living costs.
     • Temporary workers or transfers (H, L, O, P, Q): notice of action (I-797).
     • For any scientific or high-technology related travel or study above undergraduate level: a letter explaining what you do outside of the U.S., your intentions in the U.S, your current resume and list of your publications.
   • If you were previously in the U.S., any documents attesting to your immigration or visa status.
   • Criminal/court records pertaining to any arrest or conviction anywhere, even if you completed your sentence or were later pardoned.
   • Spouse and children must provide birth or marriage certificate, and copy of spouse or parents' valid U.S. visa.
   • Your clear understanding of, and ability to quickly explain, your purpose in going to the U.S.
   The following documents are suggestions only, are not required by regulation, but may assist us to evaluate your application more quickly. Do not procure documents solely for the purpose of qualifying for a visa. If you choose to bring documents, please bring originals and not special letters or extracts.
   
   
   • Current proof of income, tax payments, property or business ownership, or assets ;
   • Letter from employer detailing your position, salary, how long you have been employed ; any authorized vacation; and the business purpose, if any, of your U.S. trip;
   • Travel itinerary and/or other explanation about your planned trip;
5. Your visa interview with an American consul is the last step in your appointment. Please remember that the consul assumes legal liability for his or her visa decision, therefore we may ask for a lot of information. When you leave the embassy you will have one of these 5 pieces of paper in your hand:
   
   
   • White ticket, stating that you, or your representative with a permission letter from you, can generally return after 2-4 days to pick your visaed passport or;
   • Green, stating that you are invited to return with more information or;
   • Yellow, stating that we will do additional processing and tell you when it is complete or;
   • Pink, stating that you are currently ineligible for your desired NIV.
   • Blue, if you come unprepared, without a prepaid fee or photo or confirmation page, or if your DS-160 contains more than two errors, given by our intake staff, before your interview, to return later when you are prepared.
   There is no same day visa processing, even for expedited appointments. Some applications must undergo additional processing, by electronic means elsewhere, over which we have no control.

WHAT YOU DON’T NEED TO BRING:

• Your nervousness. Our goal is to politely and efficiently process your NIV. Most Indonesian applicants qualify for NIVs.
• Impatience. Because of the many steps in NIV processing, you will be here for 2-3 hours. Your appointment time is the time for you to appear at our gate for processing, your interview will follow. Some applicants require additional processing that requires us to electronically send your application to the U.S. We have no control over the pace or scope of this additional processing. It always best to apply well before your intended travel to the U.S.
• A letter of guarantee. Under U.S. law, no one in Indonesia, the U.S. or elsewhere, regardless of their relationship to the applicant or their rank, can guarantee you to us for a visa. Each applicant is considered on his or her own situation.
• False documents or statements. Each applicant is personally responsible for the entire NIV application, documents or statements, even if another person helps prepare your application. Making false statements to a U.S. government official is a felony and leads to blacklisting from ever getting a U.S. visa. We turn over to the Indonesian police any NIV applicant who gives us false documents.
• An intention to use a visa for an unlawful purpose. A visitor (B) visa is only for a short, temporary stay in the U.S. It does not give the applicant the right to work, study, reside or change to some other status. There are specific visas for other purposes, and U.S. law requires that you enter the U.S. with the correct visa in your hand.
• A fixer or facilitator. We have found some unscrupulous persons pass themselves off as agents to unsuspecting applicants to get an appointment, which turns out to be false. If so, the applicant is ineligible for a visa.

Security at the Consular Section: Security regulations do not permit you to carry the following into the U.S. Embassy:

1. All battery operated or electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, digital diaries, digital watches, pagers, cameras, audio/video cassettes, compact discs, MP3's, floppies, laptops, palmtops or portable music players.
2. All ladies hand bags/purses. Only a small ladies pouch in hand will be permitted.
3. All bags such as travel bags, back packs, briefcases, suitcases, leather, jute or cloth bags and zip folders. Only a plastic bag containing your application related papers would be permitted.
4. Any food item.
5. Sealed envelopes or packages.
6. Cigarettes / cigars / match boxes / lighters.
7. Any sharp objects such as scissors, pen knives or nail filers.
8. Weapons or explosive material of any kind.

The list provided above is not finite. Other items may be prohibited based on security staff discretion. There is no facility at the Embassy to store prohibited items. You will have to make alternate arrangements to store these items before you enter the Embassy. Due to security considerations, there is no information window for walk-in visitors at the Embassy. Only those with scheduled interviews will be admitted to the consular section.

To inquire about the status of your NIV application, please email support-indonesia@ustraveldocs.com. If you have further question regarding your application or appointment, please call our call center: 007-803-601-5235, hours of operations 7a.m.-7p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding US holidays and Indonesian holidays.