Visas to the U.S.
How to Apply for a U.S. Visa
Please click for details or scroll down:
1. Pay the Visa Application Fee
2. Schedule your visa interview
3. Complete the Application Forms
4. Other Required Documentation
5. Have Your Photo Taken
6. Come to the interview at the scheduled time
7. Pick up your visa
1. PAY THE VISA APPLICATION FEE
The non-immigrant visa application fee is 65.50 Ls per person starting November 1, 2009. The fee is non-refundable even if it is determined that the applicant is not qualified for a visa. Once paid, the receipt is good for one year from the date of issuance.
Non-immigrant visa applicants must pay their application fee before their visa interview. It can be done in person at any SEB banka branch in Latvia or by bank transfer to the U.S. Embassy in Riga SEB banka account:
Bank: SEB banka
Beneficiary: MRV, Consular Section, American Embassy Riga
Account number: LV25 UNLA 0002 0464 6949 5
Registration number does not apply
We advise that you make the payment personally at a SEB banka branch in order to avoid difficulties scheduling your interview time (see Step 2 below for instruction on scheduling the appointment).
Applicants must submit an original payment receipt that shows the applicant's name as it appears in the passport along with their visa application documents (described in Step 3 & 4 below). Original bank stamp is required on online banking printouts.
Persons representing international organizations, diplomats, or other government officials going on official travel do not have to pay the visa application fee or schedule their visa interviews. Please submit your visa application (please see Step 4 for guidance) and supporting documentation to the Consular Section from 2 pm to 3 pm on any working day.
Please ask the SEB banka representative for a second copy of your payment receipt if you require an extra one for your own records or for your employer.
Receipts are not transferable between applicants.
2. SCHEDULE YOUR VISA INTERVIEW
All applicants must book their appointment time for a visa interview with SEB banka representatives upon paying the visa application fee.
If you paid the fee using online banking or you wish to reschedule your appointment please contact the call center of SEB banka at 8000-8009 or e-mail: info@seb.lv to have a new appointment made.
Visa interviews are conducted Monday through Friday 8:45 am – 11:30 am, except holidays.
In case of an urgent business travel or a family or medical emergency, please contact the Consular Section directly at +371 6703-6200, and we will schedule your interview appointment.
3. COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORMS
• Form DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application
All non-immigrant visa applicants must fill out electronically and bring to the interview form DS-156. Latvian and Russian translation of the FORM DS-156 is provided for explanatory purposes. You may print the translation to assist you in completing the electronic version. Note:
o Non-electronic DS-156 applications cannot be accepted.
o Your name must be written in English letters exactly as in your passport.
o National identification number is the personal code for Latvian citizens and non-citizens. Please write your full personal code without a dash or space in the middle.
o Write your answers in English letters, preferably in English.
o Provide answers to all questions to the best of your knowledge.
o Please make sure that by the end of the process you will have three (3) pages printed with a Bar Code number shown on the first and last page.
• Form DS-157 Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application
All non-immigrant visa applicants over 14 years of age must print, fill out, and bring to the interview form DS-157. From DS-157 is available also in Latvian.
• Form DS-158 Contact Information and Work History of Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants
Additionally to Forms DS-157 and DS-156, all student (F & M) and exchange visitor (J) visa applicants must print, fill out and bring to the interview form DS-158.
• Form DS-156E Nonimmigrant Treaty Trader/Investor Application
Additionally to Forms DS-157 and DS-156, nonimmigrant Treaty Trader Applicants E1 must print, fill out and bring to the interview form DS-156E.
4. OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
You may choose to bring documents regarding your employment, family and other ties to Latvia. This information may be helpful but is not mandatory. Visas are not refused for lack of documents. If an additional document is required you will be given a chance to provide the document before visa processing continues.
Student visa (F & M) applicants, additionally, must present Form I-20 issued by the educational institution they are going to attend and a proof of SEVIS fee payment. Please click SEVIS for more information. Please click here for information on other documentation applicants should be prepared to provide.
Exchange program (J) participants, additionally, must present Form DS-2019 issued by an approved Exchange-Visitor Program Sponsor selecting that person to participate in its Exchange-Visitor Program and proof of SEVIS fee payment. Please click SEVIS for more information.
Seafarers must present seaman's books and an original Employment Letter or Work Contract. Crewing agencies/Employers of seafarers are required to send an e-mail confirmation on the employment agreement at least one working day prior to the scheduled applicant’s visa interview. Visas for crew member cannot be approved if the e-mail confirmation is not received. The e-mail should be sent to AskConsular@USRiga.lv.
Trainee and internship exchange program participants applying for J1 visas must present the Form DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan issued by the exchange sponsor. Please click here for more information.
5. HAVE YOUR PHOTO TAKEN
Please bring 1 (one) recent photograph (5x5cm) of your full face, front view, eyes open against a light background taken within the last six months. Please click for more information on photo requirements.
6. COME TO THE INTERVIEW AT THE SCHEDULED TIME
Visa applicants are required to come to the Consular Section and submit their visa applications 15 minutes before the scheduled interview time. All the required documents described above and the photo must be submitted to the representative of the Consular Section upon your arrival.
During the visa interview all applicants from 14 to 79 years old will be fingerprinted.
If a visa applicant is a child under 18, both parents should also be present at the visa interview to confirm their consent for issuing a U.S. visa to their child. If a parent cannot be physically present at the time of the visa interview, a notarized statement should be brought to the interview giving the non-appearing parent's unconditional consent to the issuance of the U.S. visa for the child. Child’s parents are identified either through the child’s birth certificate or parent’s passports with the child’s name written in them, or other documents proving legal custody.
Minor children under 14 years of age are not required to be present for the interviews themselves.
Applicants over 80 years of age or another person on their behalf can submit their visa application documents and passport. The applicant must sign his/her application.
Please note that persons involved in visa fraud, such as misrepresenting their life situation and intent or submitting false documents, may become permanently ineligible to receive United States visas.
Notice for Visitors to the Consular Section
All persons accompanying visa applicants to the embassy should bring their passports or other proof of identity.
U.S. Embassy, Riga informs that for security reasons, no laptops, mobile phones, video or photo cameras are allowed in the Embassy's Consular Section. Visitors are reminded to leave their cellular phone with the security guards during the time of their admission to the Consular Section.
7. PICK UP YOUR VISA
If your application for a nonimmigrant visa is approved, you or a third party may collect your passport with a U.S. visa inside between 3 pm and 4 pm on the next working day after your interview.
Seafarers’ passports can only be picked up by their crewing agencies or delivered by a courier (see guidance below).
You may choose your passport with the U.S. visa inside to be returned to you by a courier service offered by SIA Lattrans-post. The courier service is safe and convenient. Your passport can be delivered to your work or home address anywhere in Latvia on the next working day after the visa is prepared. The cost of the service is 4.13 Ls payable upon the delivery.
Some visa applications require additional administrative processing before the visa may be adjudicated; therefore, please apply for the visa at least several weeks before your planned travel.
Visas cannot be issued on the same day.
