Nonimmigrant Visas

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Welcome to the Nonimmigrant Visa Units of the U.S. Embassy & Consulate General in Vietnam. To start your application for a nonimmigrant visa, please click on the How to Apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa button below.  This button will take you to the USTravelDocs website where you can find detailed instructions about the nonimmigrant visa application process.

How to Apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa

If this is your first time applying for a nonimmigrant visa, you will need to have an interview at either the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, or at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. Please see below for additional information on nonimmigrant visas.

Please see the Department of State’s website for the latest information on fees.

 Attention All Applicants

  • The barcode on your DS-160 must match the barcode on your appointment confirmation page. If you come to your interview with an incorrect DS-160 barcode (for example, from a previous interview) you will not be allowed to enter, and will need to make a new appointment using the correct DS-160 barcode.
  • For assistance updating your profile with the correct barcode, please click here or contact the Call Center at 19006444 (Vietnamese and English available) in Vietnam or +1-703-665-7350 internationally.
  • Please do not send your passports or any other original documents directly to the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate by postal mail unless you are requested by our office to provide such documents.  Nonimmigrant visa applicants renewing their visas should follow the instructions here and submit their applications via our designated courier service.  Do not submit passports for visa renewal without following these instructions. Our offices are not responsible for any loss or damage to passports or other documents sent to us without following these instructions.

Waivers of the Interview Requirement for Certain Nonimmigrant Visas

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has authorized consular officers through the end of 2023 to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain temporary employment nonimmigrant visa applicants who have a petition approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.   This new authorization applies to temporary workers applying for H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q visas who meet certain conditions, including that they are applying for a visa in their country of nationality or residence.  Under this authority, consular officers have discretion to waive the visa interview requirement for individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q applicants who were previously issued any type of visa, and who have never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived, and who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility; or first-time individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q who are citizens or nationals of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), provided they have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility and have previously traveled to the United States using an authorization obtained via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) .

In addition, the Secretary extended previously approved policies to waive the visa interview for certain students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists (F, M, and academic J visa applicants) through the end of 2023.  One change to the previous policy is that applicants eligible for the waiver authority because they are citizens or nationals of a VWP participating country must have previously traveled to the United States using an authorization obtained via ESTA to qualify.  Applicants must apply for a visa in their country of nationality or residence.  Like the policy for certain individual petition-based visa applicants, consular officers have discretion to waive the interview for  F, M, and academic J visa applicants who were previously issued any type of visa, and who have never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived, and who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility; or first-time F, M, and academic J visa applicants who are citizens or nationals of a country that participates in VWP and who have previously traveled to the United States via an ESTA authorization, provided they have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility.

The previous authority allowing for waiver of interview of certain H-2 (temporary agricultural and non-agricultural workers) applicants has also been extended through the end of 2023.

Applicants renewing any visa within 48 months of expiration are also eligible for interview waiver.

Requirements for Chinese Citizens

As of November 29, 2016, Chinese citizens with 10-year B1, B2 or B1/B2 visas in Peoples’ Republic of China passports are required to update their biographical and other information from their visa application through the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) before travelling to the United States. This update must be done every two years, or upon getting a new passport or B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa, whichever occurs first.

EVUS enrollment is available here.  There is currently no fee for EVUS enrollment. Until a fee is implemented, travelers can enroll in EVUS without charge. The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will keep visa holders informed of new information here.

If you have questions regarding the nonimmigrant visa process, scheduling appointments, or other routine services, please click here or contact our Call Center at 19006444 (Vietnamese and English available) in Vietnam or +1-703-665-7350 internationally. Agents are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. You may also contact our visa services website via e-mail, Skype, or chat services.

For questions about a specific case, please contact us via our Nonimmigrant Visa Inquiry Form.

Please note that we will not respond to inquiries sent by postal mail or fax.

 

Location and Contact Information

The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam are located at the following addresses: 

U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam
Address: 2nd Floor, Rose Garden Tower
170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi
Website: https://vn.usembassy.gov/ 

U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Address: 4 Le Duan Boulevard
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Website: https://vn.usembassy.gov/

Non-immigrant visa interviews are conducted at either the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City at the following address:

  • Hanoi :

Hanoi Consular Section

U.S Embassy in Hanoi

Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh

Hanoi, Vietnam

 

  • Ho Chi Minh City:

U.S. Consulate General

4 Le Duan Blvd., District 1

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

When you make your appointment you will have the option to choose either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. We only receive visa applicants with an appointment. If you are applying for a no-fee visa, please see below.

You may now qualify to renew your visa by mail if your prior visa expired no more than 48 months ago, and you meet all the other requirements for renewal without interview.  For more information and step-by-step instructions, please click here.

The Department of State treats allegations of fraud or malfeasance in visa processing very seriously.  The information you provide to our office will remain confidential and will only be seen by Consular Officers and other U.S. Government employees working on a person’s visa case.  We ask that you be honest and as concise in your statement as possible.  If you have specific information about an incident of fraud or malfeasance, please email us at either HCMCFPU@state.gov or HanoiFPU@state.gov.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), launched a revamped Guide to Studying in the States. This updated educational tool allows users to create a customized guide with information on the international student life cycle specific to their visa type (F-1 or M-1) and education level. Each guide contains information about preparing to enter the United States, traveling, studying, student benefits, change of status and departing the United States. Users can skip directly to a specific section in each guide or print a custom guide based on their selections.

If you are interested in studying in the United States, please contact one of our EducationUSA Advising Centers. 

EducationUSA is funded by the U.S. Department of State.

Locations:

EducationUSA will not be able to answer any question regarding U.S. visas.  For detailed information about applying for your student visa, please click here.

 

The average processing time is two business days.  If approved for a visa, applicants usually receive their visas within 1-3 business days if located in metropolitan areas and 3-5 business days if located in provinces.

Some visa applications require additional, necessary administrative processing after your interview with a Consular Officer.  You will be advised of this requirement when you apply.  When additional, necessary administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.  We remind you to apply for your visa well in advance of your anticipated travel date.

Important Notice: Before making inquiries about status of additional, necessary administrative processing, you or your representative will need to wait at least 180 days from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents, whichever is later.

Please keep in mind that your electronic and/or bio-metric signature during the visa application process on any visa application form is your guarantee that all information you provide is true and correct.  You are personally and legally responsible, even if a travel agent or someone else prepares your documents for you.  Any fraudulent documents or misleading statements may result in your permanent ineligibility for any future visa.

You are not allowed to bring electronic devices, including mobile telephones, into the Embassy or Consulate General. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your cooperation.

As is standard practice around the world, we do not permit third parties to attend Non-immigrant visa interviews.  This rule also applies to third parties who are U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents.  If a third party has an interest in your case, please have them write a letter stating their interest and bring it to your interview.  Minors under age of 17 MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to the interview.  Additionally, in cases where the applicant is disabled, the parent/guardian of the applicant may attend the interview.  Your interview can be conducted in Vietnamese or in English, as you prefer. If you speak neither Vietnamese nor English, you may bring an interpreter.

No assurance regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance.  Please do not make any binding travel plans until you have received your visa.

Medical treatment and hospital care in the United States can be expensive, foreign medical insurance is generally not accepted inside the United States and visitors and temporary residents are required to pay their own medical costs.  If your insurance policy does not cover you outside of your home country, it is a good idea to consider purchasing a short-term policy that does.  There are health insurance policies designed specifically to cover travel.  Many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred in the United States.  If you have a recurring medical condition, or anticipate the need for medical care during your stay in the United States, please plan accordingly by obtaining the appropriate coverage prior to your departure.

Legal Rights and Protections for Certain Employment or Education-based Nonimmigrants – Notice: Informational Pamphlet is Now Available!

The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Re-authorization Act (WWTVPRA) of 2008 was signed into law on December 23, 2008, by the President.  The Act makes several changes to Non-immigrant visa classification criteria, visa processing requirements, and the grounds for inadmissibility under INA section 212(a)(2)(H).

The changes under this provision of this law, relate to the legal rights of certain employment or education-based Non-immigrants under Federal immigration, labor, and employment laws.  Additionally, this law outlines the information to be provided to certain Non-immigrants about their rights, protections and available resources.  When working or studying in the United States temporarily, we want to ensure each Non-immigrant visa recipient is aware of his/her rights, as well as protections and resources available.  To learn more, review the Non-immigrant Rights, Protections and Resources pamphlet. Information on this topic is also available to Non-immigrant visa applicants in the employment and education-based visa webpages on this site.

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