Applicants must pay the difference in fees at the U.S. Embassy cashier on the day of their scheduled interview.  Applicants will need to present both MRV fee receipts from Bank of the Philippine Islands (payment of lower fee) and the Embassy cashier (payment of incremental fee) before proceeding to the pre-screening of applications.  Instructions on how and where to pay the incremental fee will be available once inside the Embassy premises.  Applications will not be processed unless the full MRV fee has been paid.

For nonimmigrant Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor visa applicants, no refunds will be available if paid prior to the effective date of the new fees.  All fees are valid for the usual one calendar year from the date of payment.

Please note that the demand for nonimmigrant visa appointments is high and appointment availability changes often.  Expedited appointment requests solely for the purpose of accommodating the validity of the old fee will not be permissible.

Last update: April 16, 2012

Important Rescheduling Procedures for NIV Applicants

Please be reminded that even though nonimmigrant visa fees are valid for one calendar year, options to schedule an appointment are limited.  The U.S. Embassy in Manila schedules hundreds of thousands of nonimmigrant visa appointments each year, and we must accommodate requests both for new appointments and for those applicants who need to reschedule their appointments for whatever reason.  Applicants are only allowed to reschedule twice (not including the initial appointment) without penalty.  If the second rescheduling attempt is canceled, an applicant will only be allowed to reschedule a new date after a waiting period of 90 days.  Please plan your visa application accordingly to avoid problems securing an interview appointment. [3/12/2012]

Notice to J-1 Visa Applicants

J-1 visa applicants are encouraged to schedule their visa appointments no more than two months before the start of their exchange visitor program, whose date is specified in the Form DS-2019.  J-1 visa holders may only enter the United States 30 days before the initial program start date.  The wait time for J visa appointments is generally short, so rest assured that your application will be processed in time.  If you have questions regarding this policy, please send an email to ConsManilaNIV@state.gov or call (02) 301-2104. 

Important Notice For Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants: The MRV fee that you pay before making your appointment for an NIV interview includes the cost of making the appointment and courier delivery of your passport after the interview. There are never extra fees for making an appointment or courier delivery. If someone asks you to pay an additional fee, please contact the U.S. Embassy in Manila as soon as possible at ConsManilaNIV@state.gov.

• Call Center Hours and Contact Information
• DS-160 Online Visa Application Form 
• Legal Rights for Workers in the United States 
• Electronic Devices Not Permitted on Embassy Grounds  
• Average Visa Processing Time and Delivery 

 CALL CENTER HOURS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

The Embassy’s call center numbers for information and appointment scheduling are: (02) 902-8930 and (02) 982-5555.  For calls from the continental United States, dial (214) 571-1600.  The call center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Manila time, Monday through Friday. 

Appointments can also be scheduled online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph.

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DS-160 Online Visa Application Form

All nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to complete and submit an online visa application form known as the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application. The DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application has replaced nonimmigrant visa paper application forms DS-156/157/158, and other related paper forms.

Applicants can access the DS-160 from the Consular Electronic Application Center website or from the link on the U.S. Embassy website in Manila.

In order to avoid delays in processing visa applications, visa applicants or their representatives must ensure that the following information is correctly provided:  

·   Applicant’s complete name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s))  

·   Applicant’s passport information (the passport used in filling out the form must be the same passport presented on the day of interview)  

·   Other Name(s) (for married female applicants, type your complete maiden name)  

·   Purpose of Trip to the U.S. (if the answer falls under “Other,” it is a requirement to specify the purpose of travel in the blank provided)

·   Primary Occupation (if the answer falls under “Other,” it is a requirement to specify the occupation in the blank provided)  

·   Contact Person and Contact Address in the United States  

·   Father’s Complete Name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s))  

·   Mother’s Complete Maiden Name (required format is Surname, First name(s), Middle Name(s))

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions for instructions about the DS-160.  

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Legal Rights for Workers in the United States

The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (WWTVPA) came into effect in December 2008.  The Act requires that an individual applying for an A-3, G-5, B1 domestic employee, J1, or certain H1B and H2B visas is made aware of his or her legal rights under federal immigration, labor, and employment laws. This includes information on the illegality of slavery, peonage, trafficking in persons, sexual assault, extortion, blackmail, and worker exploitation in the United States. Please read this pamphlet prior to your visa interview. You will be asked if you have received, read, and understood its contents.

For inquiries related to this matter, please e-mail us at ConsManilaNIV@state.gov.

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Electronic Devices Not Permitted on Embassy Grounds

For the safety and security of all applicants and employees, visa applicants are NOT PERMITTED to bring any kind of electronic and battery-operated devices (cellular phone, digital camera, laptop, music player, portable game consoles such as PSP, etc.) into the U.S. Embassy. Applicants who bring such devices will be denied entry.

Please make arrangements to leave your electronic equipment in a safe location off Embassy grounds BEFORE your interview appointment. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your cooperation.

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Average Visa Processing Time and Delivery

Depending on the volume of visa issuances of the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit, visa processing after the interview usually takes at least one week*.

After the one-week visa processing, the receipt of a passport with a visa may take longer, depending on the applicant’s delivery address.

 * – Average Visa Processing Time: This means the number of working days it takes for an approved applicant to receive his/her passport back from the Embassy with the U.S. Visa at the address given to the courier company.

 All applicants should be aware that the one week processing time is an AVERAGE, and that the processing time of a specific case can vary due to individual circumstances and other special requirements.