Visa Services

Frequently Asked Questions About U.S. Visas

How much time does it take to get a visa?

U.S. Embassy Minsk accepts nonimmigrant visa applications by appointment only. A prospective applicant can make an appointment through the Internet using a link on our webpage. The wait for an appointment varies depending on the season: in October, for instance, appointments are generally available for the next visa day, but you would probably have to wait for at least a month if you come to get one in late May, as the closest available appointment might be for the end of June. To check current Visa Appointment wait times, click here. Successful applicants can receive their visas on the following day from 4:00 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. However, we suggest applicants plan to apply at least one month before any proposed trip, because questions may arise that need to be answered before a visa can be issued.

How long does the interview last?

An interview will last approximately 5 minutes. As the consular officer gives equal time to each applicant, you may expect to wait some time for your interview.

Is an invitation a must?
Is a fax copy enough?
What information must be there in the letter of invitation?
Should the letter of invitation be notarized?

The Embassy does not require applicants to provide an invitation from a party in the United States. If you choose to present an invitation or letter from your relative, friend, or business contact in the U.S., please bring it with you on the day of your interview.  Please do not send invitations or letters directly to the Embassy. Since invitations are not required documents, they may be presented in any format, such as email or fax.  There is no need to notarize an invitation, and there is no standard format or requirements to its content.

What documents are needed to be issued a visa?

There are no specific documents required to be issued a visa. However, under U.S. immigration law, every person who applies for a nonimmigrant visa is presumed to be an immigrant who intends to remain in the United States. The applicant has the burden of overcoming this presumption. To do so, an applicant should be prepared to present evidence of strong family, economic and social ties that indicate they will return to Belarus. For example, an applicant might want to show that he owns an apartment, has a job, earns a certain salary, has a spouse or children by presenting documents to back up their claim. However, simply presenting a massive amount of documents does not mean an applicant will be qualified for a visa. The consular officer looks at the overall situation of the individual before making a decision.

For what period of time is a visa valid?

For example: "My visa is valid till October 10. If I enter the U.S. on October 9, how long can I stay there?"

American visa legislation is based on reciprocity, meaning the American Government is prepared to issue visas to certain country nationals for the period and the number of entries that the respective country's government is prepared to issue visas to American citizens.  Thus, the period of time for which a U.S. visa can be valid and the number of times it can be used (number of entries) depend on the reciprocity agreement between the U.S. and the country of citizenship of an applicant, and the class of the visa for which he is applying.  For example, a B1/B2 (visit for business/pleasure) visa issued to an Afghani national can be valid only for a single entry within a maximum period of three months.  The same kind of visa issued to an Armenian national can be valid for multiple entries within a maximum period of one year.  To a Belarusian national a B1/B2 visa might be issued for one year with multiple entries; to a Russian national for two years with multiple entries; to a Polish national for ten years with multiple entries, etc.  (Country Reciprocity Schedules are subject to change depending on changes in the U.S. visa policy and bilateral agreements between the U.S. and a respective state).  Applicants should note that a U.S. visa is only permission to apply for entry at a port of entry in the United States.  The visa validity period (period from the ISSUE DATE and the EXPIRATION DATE) means the visa holder must apply for entry during that period.  It does not mean the visa is valid for a three, six or twenty-four month stay.  It is the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service officials at ports of entry who determine if a person can enter the U.S. and, if so, for how long they may remain.  For instance, the standard maximum stay allowed on a B-1/B-2 visa is 6 months, which means that if you have a B-1/B-2 visa which is valid until October 10, you still can travel on October 10 and, if admitted, stay in the United States for a maximum period of six months.

What is the processing fee and the visa cost?

It costs $131 to apply for a visa, and this is not refundable, regardless of whether or not you qualify for a visa.  It is called visa application or MRV fee and has nothing to do with the cost of the visa.  The cost of the visa varies depending on the nationality of the applicant.  American visa legislation is based on reciprocity, which means that American Government will charge you for your visa as much as your country's government would charge an American citizen for the same kind of visa to your country.  For example, a B1/B2 multiple-entry, one-year visa would be free of charge if issued to a Russian national, while a national of Belarus would have to pay $100 dollars for the same kind of visa (see Reciprocity Schedule for Belarus).

What tourist agencies work with the Embassy?

Every applicant, whether traveling with a group or by himself, must appear for a personal interview. No visas are issued through tourist agencies.

Can a foreigner apply for a visa in Minsk?

Yes, a foreigner may apply for a visa in Minsk. They must have long-term residency in Belarus that is documented in their passport. As is required of every applicant, they must also demonstrate significant ties to Belarus that would bring them back to the country following a visit to the United States.

Does the U.S. Embassy issue immigrant visas?

The U.S. Embassy in Minsk does not handle immigrant visas. Applications for immigration should be filed with the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw.

How can I get a job in the U.S.?

See "Work Visas". If you are a student, you may be eligible to participate in summer exchange programs that are designed to provide students from all over the world with an opportunity to earn some money working at seasonal jobs (3 months), which could then be spent during the so-called gratuity period touring the U.S.A. getting familiar with U.S. culture (1 month). For further details of such programs and their operators in Belarus, please contact the Consular Section of the Embassy.

How many bottles of vodka can I bring into the United States?
Can I take some sausage and 'salo' as a treat for my relatives in the United States?
Can I bring fruits and vegetables from my own garden to treat my relatives in the U.S.?
How much money can I bring into the United States?
How can I bring my cat/dog into the United States?

You may bring into the U.S. (without duty/tax charges) one liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages if you are 21 years old, if it is for your own use or as a gift, and if it does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive. Federal regulations allow you to bring more than one liter of alcoholic beverage for personal use, but you will have to pay duty and Internal Revenue Service tax. You MAY NOT bring fresh, dried or canned meats or meat products from most foreign countries. Also, you may not bring in food products that have been prepared with meat. It is best not to bring fresh fruits or vegetables into the United States. If you plan to do so, visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/travel/ or www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits for information.

Cats must be free of evidence of diseases communicable to humans when they are examined at the port of entry. If the cat does not seem to be in good health, the owner may have to pay for an additional examination by a licensed veterinarian. If you are bringing your cat to the U.S. on an airplane, you should check with the airline about their requirements for transporting animals. Many airlines require a certificate of health from a veterinarian. Dogs, too, must be free of evidence of diseases that could be communicable to humans and may require rabies vaccination. Please visit the U.S. Customs question and answer page for more information.

You may bring into or take out of the country, including by mail, as much money as you wish. But if it's more than $10,000, you will need to report it to Customs. Ask the Customs officer for the Currency Reporting Form(CF 4790) (PDF). The penalties for not complying can be quite severe.

If you have any questions about U.S. Customs regulation visit U.S. Customs Web Page www.customs.gov.

I have just come from the U.S. where I was on an exchange program sponsored by U.S. Government. My J-1 visa says "Subject to a two-year residency requirement". Does it mean I cannot travel to the US for 2 years?

"Certain J-1 exchange visitors are subject to the 2-year home country residence and physical presence requirement of INA 212(e). These exchange visitors must reside and be physically present in their country of nationality or last place of residence abroad for an aggregate of at least two years following departure from the United States. These exchange visitors are not allowed to change their nonimmigrant status or be admitted to the United States under the H or L nonimmigrant category, or acquire permanent residence status until they have complied with the foreign residency requirement. In determining whether a former exchange visitor has resided and been physically present in the country of nationality or last residence for an aggregate of at least 2 years following departure from the United States, all time spent in such country is cumulative and need not be continuous."

The above extract from the Foreign Affairs Manual means that you CAN visit the United States, for instance, on a B1/B2 or J-1 visa before you have accomplished your 2-year residency requirement. However, you are not eligible to apply for and enter the U.S. on a work visa (H or L – see "Work Visas") or immigrate to the United States before you accomplish your physical presence requirement in accordance with INA 212(e).

Denials

The Consular Officer spoke to me only for two minutes and then denied my application for a visa. How can one get any impression of a person in such a short time?

Unfortunately, due to the large number of applications, the consular officer cannot devote more time to interviewing applicants and reviewing visa applications. Therefore, you have to try to present your case in a most concise and, at the same time, comprehensive manner. Furthermore, your documents are being reviewed from the moment you file your application and pay the consular fee. In other words, before your application reaches the officer's desk, it has been pre-processed and reviewed by other people.

Can my American friends, relatives or business partners help me to get a VISA?

Your friends, relatives or business partners may provide a letter of invitation or support. However, this cannot guarantee visa issuance. Visa applicants must qualify for the visa according to their own circumstances, not on the basis of an American sponsor's assurance.

Who can influence the Consular Officer to reverse a decision?

Immigration law delegates the responsibility for issuance or refusal of visas to consular officers overseas. They have the final say on all visa cases. Neither the Head of the mission, nor other state officials and governmental bodies can influence the consular officer's decision. Their intervention can be only of a recommendatory or informative nature. The U.S. Department of State has the authority to review consular decisions, but this authority is limited to the interpretation of the law, as contrasted with the determination of facts. Assessment of ties abroad is a factual issue, and thus is not the authority of the U.S. Department of State.

I had all the documents about my job, property and relatives.  I think I have very strong ties. Why was I denied?

According to Section 214 (b), "…every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status." In other words, the consular officer has to get enough evidence that the applicant has strong ties to the country of his residence and does not intend to immigrate to the United States. If you were denied a visa, the information you presented was not enough to convince the officer of your strong ties to Belarus.

Miscellaneous Questions

Does the U.S. Embassy assist people in finding their relatives in the U.S. or solving legal issues like tracing inheritance, etc.?

The U.S. Embassy in Minsk has neither the authority nor the means to perform such services. We suggest you contact Belinyurkolegia lawyers(+375-17-234-45-08 or 234-46-93) and/or the Belarusian Red Cross Office (+375-17-221-72-37).

Does the U.S. Embassy provide apostiles?

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Minsk cannot provide apostiles, which can be obtained only in the U.S. The Consular Section can provide information on how to obtain apostiles from individual states.