Non-Immigrant Visas

How To Apply

VISA APPOINTMENT SYSTEM

All applicants for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa from Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza are required to schedule their visa appointments at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem on the Internet. The website address is: http://VisaInfo.US-Visaservices.com.

This service also applies to applicants with expired visas, group appointments and applicants who were previously refused under section 214(b) of the law. 

While setting the appointment online, applicants also complete a visa application form (DS-156) that they must print out and bring with them to the interview.  ALL male applicants 16 years of age and older, regardless of nationality, must submit a completed DS-157 form, Supplemental Non-Immigrant Visa application, along with DS-156, the application for a Non-Immigrant Visa.  The application form DS-157 is available at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_forms.html.

The new service provides timely and accurate information to the public regarding how to apply for a visa to enter the United States of America and how to schedule an appointment for a nonimmigrant visa interview. Applicants are no longer required to schedule nonimmigrant visa appointments through travel agencies but now have the option to schedule appointments themselves using this service.

This service is available from within Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, as well as from the United States or anyplace in the world an applicant has a computer with Internet service. The website provides information in four languages: Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and English. The service is available to the public 24 hours a day.

The online visa information and appointment service requires a payment of $12 US. Applicants may pay through the website using an international Visa or MasterCard. Alternatively, applicants may purchase a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at Israeli Post Offices for $14 US or at the Cairo-Amman Bank for $12 US, so they can access the site. The PIN will allow access to the site for information and for scheduling up to 5 appointments for immediate family members who reside in the same household.

Immigrant visa appointments continue to be scheduled through the Consulate General separately from this appointment service.

To facilitate access to the Consular Section, applicants for any service, including American citizens, are requested to carry only those items that are absolutely necessary.  No weapons are permitted at any time.  Electronic items must be left at the reception desk, and this is a time-consuming process that will delay your entry.  Metallic items will cause delays during screening, and all bags must be x-rayed.

A Valid Passport or Travel Document

Your passport or travel document must be valid at least six months beyond the date you intend to return from the United States. If more than one person is included in a passport, each applicant must submit an individual visa application (Form DS-156 and Form DS-157) and pay the application fee.


A Color Photo

You must submit a recent photo of yourself. Photos should be approximately 2 by 2 inches (5 centimeters by 5 centimeters) on a white background and taken with a front view of the face. You should not wear dark glasses or a hairstyle or head covering that obscures your face. Photos cut from old passports or IDs are not acceptable. See photo requirement for more details.


Application Fee

Effective January 1, 2008, the Non-Immigrant visa application fee will be 131 U.S. Dollars.  Your application will not be processed if you have not paid the application fee.  You must pay the application fee at a branch of the Israeli Postal Authority (six locations) or at any branch of the Cairo Amman Bank in the West Bank (13 locations). Click here for locations. You can no longer pay the fee at the Consulate General. You must submit your receipt with your visa application.  

Persons with visa appointments after January 31 must have paid the 131 USD.  Persons holding unused receipts, that are less than one year old, for the old amount of 100 USD will be required to pay the additional 31 USD.  Applicants will be able to pay the additional amount at the same place they paid the original fee, and will receive and separate receipt for the additional payment.  (more)

The current exchange rate is $1.00 U.S.D = 3.8 NIS.

Evidence of Strong Ties to Your Place of Residence

As part of your visa application, you should submit evidence that you have established strong ties that bind you to your place of residence: your social and family relationships, employment, possessions.

Documents you may wish to submit include:

a letter from your employer indicating your position, your salary, the period of authorized vacation, and the date when you began working;

a letter from your accountant, if you are self-employed, indicating the nature of your business, how many years you have been in business, and last year's business income;

bank statements which indicate the balance in your accounts and demonstrate account activity;

real estate lease or deed;

tour registration and itinerary, if traveling on an organized tour;

business or conference itinerary if traveling for work; and/or,

a letter from your school or university indicating that you are registered and have paid tuition, the length of your program, and your expected date of graduation (if applicable).


Previous Passports and Visas

If you previously received a visa to the United States in an expired or cancelled passport, you should include your old passport(s) as part of your application. If a passport bearing an entry visa to the United States was lost or stolen, you should obtain a summary of travel exits and entries from the Israeli Ministry of Interior.


Parents' Passports

When applying for a visa for a child under the age of sixteen, both parents must submit their passports with the application.