15 July 2008
U.S. Embassy Belgrade Official Discusses Visa-Related Issues
Ask America webchat transcript, July 10
Nikolas Trendowski, chief consul for Visa Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade answered visa-related questions in a July 10 “Ask America” webchat.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Ask America Webchat Transcript
Guest: Nikolas Trendowski
Date: July 10, 2008
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT (1500 Belgrade)
Talk to the Consul Belgrade — Summer Travel and your Visa Questions
Moderator: Welcome to our webchat. The webchat will take place today at 15:00 Belgrade.
Nikolas Trendowski: Hello everyone and welcome to our chat about summer travel and your visa questions. I look forward to chatting with you. I see there are a lot of questions already so I'll start with answering those and we'll take as many as we can during this hour.
Question [dawn2]: I found that am pregnant last week, but I want to study in us what should I do?
Answer [Nikolas Trendowski]: Hello Dawn! We welcome students in the United States. If you are accepted to the school of your choice, the school will provide you with an I-20 form. You'll need this to apply for a visa. Also, if you have any dependents (like a spouse or a child) you'll get a form for them too. If your visa is approved, then they may qualify for a derivative of your student visa.
Q [Judy2]: Hello, dear Consultant, Please tell me what the materials are required for applying to visit US? Thank you.
Judy
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Thanks for joining our chat, Judy. To apply for a tourist visa, the most important form is the DS-156 application form. You fill this out online. You can find it on http://evisaforms.state.gov or through the Forms link on our Embassy's website, http://belgrade.usembassy.gov/consular/nv.html. You must fill it out completely, and then print it. The third page will have a bar code. There is an extra form, DS-157, for men age 16-45. To qualify for a tourist visa, in simplest terms, you must prove you'll return to your home country. Many people bring information about their school, their employment or their family to show why they'd return. Some more information about this is on our website mentioned above.
Q [Rachel2]: I wonder if I want to travel to America by myself, what should I do? And what documents should I prepare?
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Thanks for joining us, Rachel. Basically, the answer to this question is the same as above. Also, don't forget to include a 5 cm x 5 cm photo as shown on the application form. And of course, you do need a valid passport to apply for a visa. There's no particular difference in documents between those who want to travel by themselves and those traveling with others.
Q [peter2]: When I had already printed the DS-156 on-line, can I also revise the information in DS-156?
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Hello Peter! If you're still online, you can usually click the back button after printing the form to get back to it and make a change. But if you've already moved away from the page where the application form is, unfortunately it's not possible to go back to it. This information isn't saved anywhere. If it's just a minor change, like that you were born in September and not November, just make the change in pen on the paper and tell the staff about it when you come to your interview so we can fix it. If it's a lot of information you want to change, please go back and fill out the form again online.
Q [caroline2]: I am a visiting student and apply J-1 visa. And the beginning date on my DS-2019 form is August 15th, 2008. And if I go to USA later than this date, should I change DS-2019 form to change the beginning date?
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Hi Caroline! We can issue the visa based on the form so that you can enter up to 30 days before the start date of your program. And once your program begins, you can still enter. However, the officer at the border makes the final decision. If you plan to enter much later, then they might have questions about why you're so late. If it's just a few days, don't worry. If it's a lot, I'd suggest asking your sponsor organization for a new DS-2019 with the new dates.
Q [talal2]: Hi: I have an appointment in July/12 to renew my F1 visa, my wife and my kids except my Daughter because she was born in USA. I have outstanding academic records with no problems. I am wondering how long it takes to issue these.
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Thanks for joining us, Talal. I'm wondering if you have an appointment here in Belgrade or at another Embassy. Here, we won't be open on July 12, which is a Saturday. Here in Belgrade, if a visa is approved, it's generally ready to print the next business day (that's not counting weekends). In a very few cases, there may be a need for additional administrative processing that can take a while. That's why we always recommend applying early. Other Embassies may have other work arrangements and conditions, though. You can check these estimated times from interview to visa pick-up at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php
Q [CICI2]: I saw that visa officer who rejected me in my second interview conveying his prejudice to the both visa officers who interviewed me for the third and forth time, they rejected me without giving me chances to explain my situation. I think it's unfair and it is not consistent with what is presented on the official website: "all visa applicants are entitled to courteous, efficient, and consistent treatment." I am writing to ask whether his behavior allowed or illegal and what should I do.
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Hello Cici. I regret that you left a consular section with a negative impression. We do our best to explain the law with courtesy and understanding, taking extra care when we do have to deny a visa. We consular officers learn from each other and share information about visa law, country conditions and a lot of other topics. It's impossible to say what at any given time colleagues might be discussing. Consular officers have a difficult task, to decide in a matter of minutes whether a person has strong ties to his or her country, or not. If someone applies again after an application is refused, usually another officer would do the interview. We start fresh but also consider information from prior interviews. If the applicant's situation is such that it doesn't show strong ties to any country abroad, then the decision could very likely be the same at two different interviews. Or, if there's new information that really shows strong ties, the decision might be different.
Q [nik]: What are the work and education requirements for an unmarried son/daughter over 21 once the visa has become available, or does it matter if the person is married or not...the requirement is the same?
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Thanks for writing. There isn't a work or education requirement for any immigrant visa category except for the Diversity Visa program. And that applies to the primary applicant only. It's not completely clear if in the case you're talking about this son or daughter is the beneficiary of a petition (like an F-1 or F-2B immigrant visa petition) or a dependent of someone else who's a beneficiary. Dependents can "age out" but they must remain unmarried and sometimes the Child Status Protection Act means dependents over 21 may still be eligible to go on their parent's petition. This issue is complicated and can be resolved only at individual interviews for each person.
Q [nik]: koi su kriterijumi za imigracionu vizu podneta za sina-kcer preko 21. ako je viza jednom dostupna od strane NVC centra ? i u kom slucaju se viza moze odbiti ? hvala
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Hvala na vašem pitanju. Kao u prethodnom pitanju, nije potpuno jasno da li se radi o nekome, za koji je ta peticija, ili sin ili ćerka te glavne osobe u peticiji. Postoje sance prema jednom zakonu Child Status Protection Act kad ljudi koji imaju više od 21 godina se još uvek smatraju kao deca. Ali to je komplikovano i može da se reši samo na intervjuu. U tim kategorijama gde je određeni broj vize svake godine, može da se duže čeka. U svakom slucaju, neko koji se venča gubi status kao dete. Ali ipak može da bude kategorija, na primer postoji kategorija za venčanog sina-ćerka američkog državljana. Najbolje da se ceka dok poseban slučaj dođe za intervju da se vidi kakav je taj slučaj.
Q [Belgrade Chat Participant]: I am hired by the American School Foundation of Guadalajara (Guadalajara, Mexico) and currently in a process for the work visa. Since booking a flight for August is a big problem I was wondering is there any way I can travel via USA because the flights are cheaper that way. Is there some kind of transit visa? I have had F1 visas in the past while studying.
Thanks, Zorana
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Thanks for writing. You will need a visa to transit through the U.S. The process is the same as applying for tourist visas and all other non-immigrant visas (see our web site at http://belgrade.usembassy.gov/consular/nv.html). The consular officer will decide at the interview whether you qualify for a visa and if so, may issue you a transit visa or a tourist visa depending on the circumstances. Both would let you travel through the U.S. en route to your final destination.
Q [Belgrade Chat Participant]: Hello! I have lost my "old" blue Serbian passport with valid US visa in it...Beside informing the Serbian authorities, what further steps I have to take in order to block the visa from misuse and to be granted with the new one, after obtaining the new passport? Do I have to go throughout the whole process or there is another procedure for above mentioned case...? Thank you! (Boris Atanasovski)
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Thanks for writing, Boris. Actually, my colleague just got a call from you too. Thanks for letting us know! We'll enter your old visa in our system to prevent someone from misusing it. Unfortunately, though, you will have to apply for a new visa if you want to travel again. Please bring your police report about your lost passport, as well as the application form, etc. as described on our web site: http://belgrade.usembassy.gov/consular/nv.html about applying for a visa. If this happens to anyone else, please let us know by email at ConsularBelgrd@state.gov with your name and date of birth and maybe your passport number so we can put the right lost visa into the database.
Q [ellenzh]: I am Ellen, I was rejected for B1 visa on 2000. My husband and I got married on August 2007, he is now having H1b visa in USA. I am to apply for a H4 visa to join him. I would like to ask two questions as follows, 1. Will my last rejection affect current visa application? 2. Do I need to provide approved materials like my current employment, income, property like house, car, etc? Your response will be much appreciated- many thanks.
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Hi Ellen! Thanks for writing. The H visa category is a little different from some other non-immigrant visa categories because unlike tourist visas and others, there isn't a requirement for the applicant to show he or she is coming back to a country outside the U.S. For an H-4 you need to have your husband's petition number so we can find it, and your marriage certificate to show you're his wife. That's in addition to the basic application form, photo, passport, etc. as discussed above that are required from everyone applying for a non-immigrant visa.
Q [nadbiskup]: POSTOVANI, UKOLIKO JEDAN CLAN PORODICE PODNESE DV LOTTERY ZAHTEV SAMO ZA SEBE I DOBIJE,DALI TO ZNACI DA I NJEGOVA PORODICA (ZENA I DECA) AUTOMATSKI DOBIJAJU PRAVO ULASKA U SAD.
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Hvala na pitanju, nadbiskupe. Dovoljno je ako jedan član porodice podnese zahtev, ili na primer i jedan i drugi suprug može posebno. Važno je da može samo jedan put po osobi. Supruzi moraju obavezno da budu venčani sa tom osobom koji pobedi u lutriji pre intervjua. Suprug i deca mogu da dobiju vize istovremeno ili do kraja fiskalne godine, 30. septembra, ako taj glavni član kvalifikuje i niko ne ma nepogodnost po zakonu. Napominjem da jedini način da se podnese zahtev u DV lutriju je preko http://www.dvlottery.state.gov i samo tokom perioda prijavljivanja svake godine od oktobra do decembra.
Q [litton515]: Dear officer: I had my little finger broken when I was 10 years old. So I only press nine fingerprints. Will it bring any trouble when I make a visa interview? Thanks very much for considering my problem.
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Great question, thanks for writing. If you're missing a finger then we can mark it as missing and it will be clear in the system. If you have a finger but it's not level with the rest or curled, etc. we'll do our best to work with you to get a finger scan of all fingers while being sensitive to each person's own situation.
Q [Voja]: Moje ime je Vojislav Gasic i urednik sam magazina "PC Press" koji se bavi informacionim tehnologijama. Na poziv kompanije Intel, treba da prisustvujem konferenciji Intel Developer Forum u San Francisku od Avgusta 16 do Avgusta 22. U putnoj ispravi imam USA vizu koja vazi do Avgusta 29, pa su me iz kompanije Intel zamolili da proverim da li je putovanje moguce, s obzirom na cinjenicu da vaznost vize istice vrlo brzo nakon zavrsetka putovanja. Radi se o veoma velikoj i znacajnoj konferenciji, pa se unapred zahvaljujem na odgovoru. Srdacno, Voja Gasic
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Vojo, hvala na vašem pitanju. Viza važi sve do poslednjeg dana na njoj štampirana. To se ti?e samo dana ulaska, ne koliko možete da ostanete u SAD-u, sto odlu?i službenik na granici. Onda ako sletite 29. avgusta ili pre, ta viza važi.
Q [U.S. Embassy Belgrade]: Idem u posetu rodjacima u Njujorku u Novembru. Kada bi trebalo da dodjem na razgovor za vizu? Radivoje
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Hvala na veoma dobrom pitanju. Ja volim da kažem, nikad nije prerano da se podnese molbu za vizu. Tek kad po?nete da planirate put, onda je pravo vreme da zakažete intervju. Tako ?ete znati od po?etka da li kvalifikujete, što se može da odlu?i samo na intervjuu. Nikada ne pla?ate karte ni uradite kona?ne planove pre nego što saznajete da li dobijete vizu. Imamo slobodne termine sada od kraja jula sve do oktobra. Za sve formulare i drugo, molim da posetite našu web stranicu, http://www.dvlottery.state.gov.
Q [U.S. Embassy Belgrade]: I have cousin in Cleveland that gave me invitation for 6 months. How long can I go to America?
A [Nikolas Trendowski]: Thanks for this interesting question. When it comes to tourist visas, the law talks about reasons someone will return to a country outside the U.S., more than it does about the reason someone wants to visit the U.S. So, regardless of how long someone invites you to visit, what's important in terms of qualifying for a visa is, can you show that you have strong ties to a country outside the U.S.? Is it clear why you would go back after a visit? Most students or working people wouldn't have the time to visit the U.S. for more than a few weeks or maybe over the summer for a student, while pensioners, for instance, often have more time yet have reasons to come home after a longer trip. It all depends on your specific situation, and a consular officer will decide at an interview whether you qualify for a tourist visa. As for how long you can stay legally, if you get a visa, then go to the U.S., the officer at the border decides if you can enter and for how long.
Nikolas Trendowski: Thanks again to all those who took the time to participate in our web chat! Have a great summer! Hvala još jednom svima koji su u?estvovali našem web chatu. Poželim sve najbolje za ovo leto!
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