step by step to get the us visa

Step by step Obtaining US Visa (By Barbara Dingwall) 
"Destination USA"
Barbara Dingwall

Visiting the U.S. Government website frequently will keep you up to date on all current Visa Policy, Application Procedures and Forms: www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov 
It has sections titled: "Doing Business and Working Temporarily in the United States", "Studying in the U.S. and Coming on an Exchange", "Visiting the U.S." "Coming Permanently to the U.S.", and "Obtaining a U.S. Visa: A step-by-step outline of today s 
U.S. visa application procedures".
The main points and *FAQs Answers are given below:

[*FAQ=Frequently Asked Questions)
Obtaining a U.S. Visa from China - follow these steps, in this order: 
1 Visit the Internet Website (frequently to be sure of updates) - it publishes latest information and Forms to download, and to determine which kind of visa you need and how to obtain it. Or, if you have no Internet access, contact your nearest US 
Embassy/Consulate

2 Apply for your visa in the place you have been living for at least 2 years at time of application - to demonstrate ties and residency status - and where your case can be most easily checked. This way you stand a better chance of being granted a visa 
- applying from elsewhere strongly lessens success. As soon as you know the date that you need to travel to the U.S.:
a) request your visa application appointment with the Embassy/Consulate for your consular district (details below) for submitting your application and being interviewed. All private passport holders applying for a U.S. visa for the first time must be 
interviewed. Those living in US Embassy Beijing Consular District must call the Appointment Hotline (10) 6532-5305 to request this; it s open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. except Chinese/American holidays. [Procedures vary among other 
Consulates; depending on local circumstances, appointments can be requested by phone, mail, website, or in person]. Wait times for visa appointments range from a few days to several weeks. 
b) you will need to give your name and passport No. Be sure also to ask what fees are required and how they can be paid. Application fees are non-refundable and must be paid before your appointment. 
If you have traveled to the U.S. before, do you need an interview? Travelers on private passports who have been to the U.S. in past 5 years/repeat travelers can use participating CITIC Bank branches around China as a drop-off visa application point. 
Generally, in this case no interview is needed. This service is for Business travelers (B1), tourists (B2), exchange visitors (J), students (F), and temporary workers (H), applying to return to same school, institution or workplace. Applicants don t 
need to personally hand in applications - friends may drop them off for qualifying applicants. Most CITIC Banks charge a non-refundable service fee of RMB 200 or more in certain locations. 
Applicants living/working in Beijing Consular District, intending to engage in tourist activities, or attend an educational institution, attend meetings or conferences, or work temporarily in the US, may (should) apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy, 
Beijing. Its Consular District includes municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin, and provinces of Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Hubei, Hunan or Jiangxi. For questions not answered in this 
document or the website, contact the Consular Section information line on (10)6532-3431 ext. 5700.
Beijing US Consulate requires interview appointments to be scheduled in advance, however some consulates around China will interview applicants on a walk-in basis at specific, posted times. Check! If you have been living for 2 or more years in other 
than Beijing District s areas mentioned above, you need to apply to the appropriate Consular District Visa Office below (see Website for current addresses/telephone nos.): 

Chengdu - Chongqing, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan
Guangzhou - Fujian, Guangdong, Guangzhou, Guangxi, Hainan, Immigrant Visa Unit, Adopted Children Immigrant Visa Unit
Hong Kong
Shanghai - Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang
Shenyang - Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning

3 Get all your documentation ready before your Appointment Date. You will need to present:
· Correct application forms - obtainable free of charge at US Embassy/Consulate or downloaded from Website and also available at CITIC Bank branches. For non-immigrant visa from China, the following documentation is required: 
Two completed DS-156 and DS-157 (for applicants 16 years of age and older) forms, one in Chinese and one in English. When completing your application, include the standard telegraphic code number (STCN) identifying the Chinese characters for your name.

· A valid passport endorsed for travel abroad and valid for return to China or re-entry into another country. Business travelers, tourists, and other short-term visitors must have a passport valid for at least six months after the intended date of 
departure from the United States.
· Your expired passport, if any.
· DS-158 
· In addition, "you are advised to present" documentary evidence establishing
(a) social, economic, and other ties that would compel your departure from the United States after a temporary and lawful stay - either back home or to another country. 
(b) proof of your current residency status of a minimum of 2 years. 
(c) documents supporting your application showing fullest details about (i) intended employment or study. If you are applying for a visa to study, ask the U.S. academic institution, or exchange program sponsoring you, what forms/documents you need 
from them, (ii) any other reason for travel, and (iii) evidence of your financial status (your means of financial support during your stay). Remember, the visa officer may also require additional information or application forms.
Examples of (a), (b) and (c) are detailed below in "What are Strong Ties?" under item 5.
· Two recent color passport photos (375mm/1.5 inch square)
· Proof of payment of visa fees (Receipt). Applicants for non-immigrant visas must pay a non-refundable application fee of RMB 559 (plus CITIC s own fee) payable at designated branches of CITIC Bank. Both copies of CITIC Bank receipt must be included 
with visa applications. 
· GRE and TOEFL
· Transcripts
· Support letters from future advisor, future employer…. Even job agreement with future employer., if needed.
· Bank Statement, if needed
· Certificate of your ownership of some property in China, such as cars, house, company….

At this point, if you feel that practising your interview skills would help, now is the time to practise. 
4 Attend your Appointment and give in your full application (everything in 3) to the US Embassy/ Consulate. For security reasons, no cellular phones, beepers, briefcases, luggage or handbags are allowed into the visa interview. Your application will 
be reviewed by a consular officer and, in many cases, by officials in Washington, D.C. In most cases, visas are issued in within 20 minutes of your interview for approved applications. If printing your visa will take more than 30 minutes, a claim 
ticket identifying the date/time the visa will be ready will be provided. However, in some cases visas are issued only after a few weeks. Obtaining a visa is not guaranteed.
Note: Additional reviews may be required adding 4-6 weeks to processing time. Your information is checked in the world s foremost security database, holding information from both U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies worldwide. The USA is a nation 
where diversity is celebrated and people from all over the world are welcome, however recent events have required us to work harder than ever to identify and deny entry to those who mean harm to our country. 

Changes implemented after Sept 11 2001 terrorist attacks, for processing non-immigrant visa applications for the U.S., have caused delays. If an applicant s name, or close variations of the name for example, indicate security concerns when run through 
the database, additional interviews, fingerprinting or other information may be required.
How do they decide whether or not to issue a non-immigrant visa? Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Act intends that: Every alien shall be presumed to be a permanent immigrant, with no intention of leaving the U.S. after entry, 
until/unless (s)he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer that, at the time of application for admission, (s)he has concrete future intentions and involvements outside the U.S., so entitling her/him to temporary nonimmigrant status. 
Failure to meet this requirement results in refusal.
The most frequent basis of refusals concern the requirement that applicants possess a residency abroad that he/she has no intention of abandoning. Applicants prove this by demonstrating they have ties abroad that would compel them to leave the U.S. at 
the end of the temporary stay. The Law places the burden of proof on the applicant. 
What are strong ties? (Meant as already formed outside USA): The more you can list and prove on paper of these, the stronger your chance of being granted a non-immigrant status visa.
Strong ties differ from country to country, city to city, individual to individual. "Ties" are the various aspects of a person s life that bind them to their country or other place of established residence. Ties are things you have built somewhere and 
maintain as ongoing in your future life - keeping belongings and possessions there, having employment or other positions to return/go to, having social involvements and any positions there, having membership interests there, and family relationships 
there. Examples of ties can relate to a person s job, an income source, an interest in a property such as a house or apartment lease or ownership document, keeping a car there, close family relatives living there, keeping a bank account there, etc. 

Consular officers are trained to look at applications individually and consider professional, social, cultural and other factors. [With younger applicants who may not have had an opportunity to form many ties, consular officers will look at the 
applicant s specific intentions, family situations and long-range plans and prospects within his or her country of residence. Each case is examined individually.]

5 On arrival, remember a visa only allows travel to a port of entry in the U.S. On the plane you will complete a short arrival/departure form. When you deplane, follow sign directions for non-citizen entry. At the airport, a U.S. official will 
interview you and verify your paperwork. Once admitted, you will receive an immigration stamp and can then proceed to baggage claim and U.S. Customs.

Registration on arrival in the US is mandatory in many cases and can be required at any time regardless of country of origin. See Website for latest information on who is affected by this. You may be informed by the consular office in China if you 
will be subject to special clearance procedures. Some travelers may be directed to private workstations in the arrivals hall, where special registration, photos and electronic (ink-less) fingerprints will be taken. Additional interviews and 
verification processes may also be conducted.
Policies and regulations worldwide will continue to change as new security measures are put into place. Visit www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov on a regular basis for updates/changes that could affect your travel plans, also for a list of Web sites of U.S. 
embassies and consulates worldwide.

FAQs
Why does the U.S. have such strict visa laws? The United States is an open society. Unlike many other countries, the US does not impose internal controls on visitors, such as registration with local authorities. In order to enjoy the privilege of 
unencumbered travel in the United States, foreigners have a responsibility to prove before a visa is issued that they are going to return abroad. 
Is a denial under Section 214(b) permanent? No. If an applicant has new information which was not presented to the interviewing officer at the time of the first application, or if the applicant s overall circumstances have changed significantly since 
the last application, a visa may be approved. 
Must refused applicants wait 3 - 6 months before reapplying? There is no time restriction on resubmitting an application after refusal. If new information or supporting documents are available which further demonstrate your qualification status for a 
visa, application may be resubmitted. 
"I presented the documents I was told to bring, but my application was still turned down. What else should I bring this time?" The problem is not the documents. Rather, the applicant s current overall situation suggested by their documents - or lack 
of them - that can result in being not enough to overcome presumption that (s)he is an intending immigrant. Remember, U.S. law says applicants for nonimmigrant visas are intending immigrants until they show overall circumstances that would adequately 
compel their return home or "going elsewhere to ties" after visiting the U.S. 
Why are visa interviews so short? I was refused after only a couple of questions and the interviewer hardly looked at my documents? Visa officers handle thousands of applications every year. Based on this experience, they can quickly review an 
application and supporting documents in order to narrow the range in which questions may need to be asked. Remember, much of the necessary information required to make a decision is already supplied on the application documentation itself, so there is 
usually no need for the officer to ask more than a few additional questions. 
I have heard it is better to say I am going for business rather than tourism or to see relatives. Is this true? No. Tell the truth. If an applicant s provable ties to China are adequate to overcome presumption of immigrant intent (INA section 214b), a 
tourist visa will be issued. Problems arise when applicants mislead the interviewing officer as to their reason for visiting the United States. Once misrepresentation is made, it is difficult to believe other information supplied by such an applicant. 
When I applied for a visa, I told the officer I would return to China after a short stay in the US. Why didn t the officer believe what I said? Visa officers are required to evaluate the applicant s overall situation in reaching a decision. While 
verbal statements indicating an applicant s intention is to return to China are helpful, nevertheless, under U.S. law, verbal statement alone is not adequate to show that they qualify for a non-immigrant visa. 
I have been accepted by a U.S. school which issued me an I-20. Why isn t that enough for issuance of a student visa? The approved INS I-20 is just one piece of information the interviewing officer considers when deciding your overall intentions (and 
whether a student visa may be issued). Applicants must prove they will leave the US after the purpose for which they would go ended. In student visa cases, applicants do intend staying for many months and even years, pursuing a course of study. 
Consequently, visa officers must consider applicants overall circumstances and prospects. Student visas are denied if it appears that the applicant s primary purpose is not to obtain an education, but, rather, to facilitate an indefinite stay in the 
United States. The fact that a school has admitted a student to study and has issued them an I-20 is, therefore, only one factor considered. 
Why do many refused applicants get the same letter of explanation as to why they were turned down? For example, shouldn t the reason be different for a student visa applicant than a tourist visa applicant? No. In most cases, an applicant is denied a 
visa when they fail to show strong enough ties outside the U.S., to convince the officer that they will depart the US after a temporary stay. Many refused applicants believe there is a document - or a special way to answer questions - that will enable 
them to successfully reapply days or weeks later. However, the problem lies in their overall situation, and no magic answer or document exists that would prove satisfactory in all cases. Only after their overall circumstances have changed, are 
applicants encouraged to reapply. For example, an unemployed recent graduate might reapply following a sustained period of steady employment. 
"I will certainly return to China because my parents are here and I am their only son, so I need to return to take care of my parents". Why did the officer say I have insufficient ties to compel me to return? Experience shows that being an "only 
child" has not deterred/stopped many travelers from remaining indefinitely in the U.S. While this tie may be one among others relevant in a person s circumstances, it would not usually, by itself, be sufficient to establish eligibility. 
My company and my American friend have both written letters promising that I will return to China. Why isn t that considered to be enough proof that I actually will return? A promise letter, and all forms of written support for your application, will 
be considered by the interviewing officer. However, such a letter is not a legally binding guarantee and, by itself, does not establish the applicant s ties to permanent residence outside the United States. Similarly, pledges from highly placed 
persons that an applicant will return to China do not automatically enable the applicant to overcome section 214(b). This is because U.S. law does not permit visa officers to delegate to others their authority to evaluate the applicant s actual 
overall circumstances. 
Can I send or fax you a letter I have (or will get), so you can read it in advance of/or after my interview to help you understand my situation and strong ties to China? No. Every piece of information relevant to your visa application should be 
brought to the interview! Mailing information to the Embassy is not helpful. The interview is the proper setting for considering all information. 
Must applicants take tests like TOEFL, SAT, GRE and GMAT, in order to obtain a student visa? Is any particular score on these exams needed for a visa? Applicants are generally not required to take any particular tests to qualify for a visa. However, 
motivated, serious student applicants do take such tests for seeking admission to schools in the US. The fact that a student has taken one or more of these tests can help show their seriousness in study plans. 
If my visa application is denied, will it help to have a high ranking official or an American friend contact the interviewing officer? No. United States law assigns responsibility for issue or refusal only to consular officers and they have the final 
say on all visa cases. Additionally, United States law is designed to insulate decisions in visa cases from outside influences. An applicant can only influence a reversal of a prior denial through presentation of new convincing evidence of strong 
ties. 
Should I hire an (travel) Agent or other advisor to help me apply? The matter is a personal decision for each applicant. However, in most cases it is not necessary to hire an agent to assist with a visa application. Agents charge fees to obtain and 
fill out forms that are available for free. They also charge large sums on the promise of enabling the traveler to bypass the visa interview. Experience shows that many applicants are coached by intermediaries to provide answers which are misleading. 
When the truthful answer would not have harmed an application, the discovery of a misleading answer often puts the entire application in doubt. 
What can I do if I have a complaint about the application process or my case? All visa applicants are entitled to courteous, efficient, and consistent treatment. If an applicant feels they were treated improperly during the processing of a visa 
application, a letter should be written to the Consul General describing the circumstances. All legitimate concerns will be investigated and corrective action taken where justified. For Beijing and district, the US Consul s fax number is (10) 
6532-3178. 
Can my American friend speak with a visa officer about my case? To afford American citizens an opportunity to speak directly with a consular officer, the Visa Unit (for Beijing area) makes an officer available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4PM to 
5PM. Inquiries are entertained on a first-come, first-served basis. American citizens present by 4PM have an opportunity to speak that day. Inquiries from anyone arriving after 4PM are only entertained if time permits. No one is admitted after 4:30PM. 
For other regions of China, contact your local Consulate for their officer availability times. 
What if I have other questions about Applying for a U.S. Visa? Questions not answered on the above Website, or if you have no Internet access, may be faxed to the Non-immigrant Visa Unit at Beijing (10) 6532-3178 (or other appropriate District 
Consulate for where you live, show above). For additional information you can visit the US Department of State s web site at http://travel.state.gov or call the automatic recorded information phone number at Beijing (86)(10)6521-3431, ext. 5700.