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Visas

Effective October 20, 2009, all applicants for non-immigrant visas must pay the visa application fee of $131 at an ATF bank in tenge based on the exchange rate established by the U.S. Embassy. One copy of the receipt must be submitted with the visa application and sent via DHL Express. The second copy of the receipt must be presented at the time of the interview. After October 20, 2009, all applicants who have not submitted their consular fee receipt, visa application and passport via DHL Express will not be admitted to the Embassy for the interview.

Non-Immigrant Visas

 

Non-immigrant visas are required for travelers who wish to visit the United States temporarily for tourism, business, studies or cultural exchanges. Visa applicants must  appear in person before a U.S. Consular Officer in Almaty or Astana for a visa interview.  Interviews are by appointment only. The Embassy does not accept walk-in applications.

APPLYING FOR A VISA IN ASTANA OR ALMATY

To apply for a non-immigrant visa to the United States, follow these steps:

  • GATHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS -In addition to the General Documentation Requirements, you must determine which category of visa you are applying for. The visa category is determined by the purpose of your travel. Please refer to the Visa Category chart for information, including additional forms and documents required when applying for each specific visa category. For more detailed information regarding visa categories, see the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site.
  • SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT for an interview.
  • SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION VIA DHL. Visa applications are now accepted at the twenty-four DHL offices around Kazakhstan.  You can also get help filling out the electronic application form and scheduling an appointment at the main DHL offices in Astana and Almaty.  DHL Fees, Locations and Services.
    NOTE! Only applicants who submitted their application at the DHL offices can be accepted for an interview.
  • INTERVIEW with a Consular officer.
  • RECEIVE YOUR PASSPORT AND VISA VIA DHL. Visa applicants no longer need to make two trips to the Embassy.  Passports with issued visas are returned via express mail to any address in Kazakhstan within 2-4 days. If you are in a hurry, next-business day pickup is available at the main DHL offices in Astana and Almaty.

    NOTE! A visa applicant who has already provided ten fingerprints at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate may not need to return to the Embassy to be fingerprinted and interviewed for a subsequent visa. He may pay the fee at an ATF Bank office and submit his application through DHL. Please click here to learn more about this program.

AVERAGE WAIT TIME FOR APPOINTMENT AND PROCESSING TIME

To see the current average interview wait time, please click on the name of the city where you would like to have you interview:

Astana   Almaty

Please plan ahead and note that interview wait times may be significantly longer in the busy spring and summer months.
For routine applications, the visa will be delivered by express courier 2-4 business days after the interview, depending on the city of delivery.  Next-day passport pickup is available at the main DHL offices in Almaty and Astana. 

Please be aware that the processing and delivery times above are norms but cannot be guaranteed in every case. Factors beyond our control, such as the need for additional documentation, special clearances, incomplete applications, and fraud investigations may influence the processing of individual visa cases. Therefore, the actual processing time will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.

You should never pay for travel arrangements before having a visa in your possession. The U.S. Embassy Consular Section accepts no responsibility if you do so, nor will we expedite visa processing because you have fixed travel dates. If you need an expedited interview, please follow the instructions here.

GENERAL VISA INFORMATION

Some of the information printed on the visa is the category, the expiration date, and the number of entries allowed. The expiration date means the last day when you can ENTER the USA. Upon arrival in the United States, the U.S. Immigration officer at the port of entry determines the duration of your stay.

FEES FOR NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

There are two fees for the issuance of non-immigrant Visas:

  • VISA PROCESSING FEE: $131 for each applicant, including children
  • VISA ISSUANCE FEE for Kazakhstani citizens:

Type of Visa

Visa Processing Fee

Visa Issuance Fee

3 months, multiple visa

$131

$0

1-year, multiple entry visa

$131

$69

Children under 16, students

$131

$0

The visa processing fee must be paid at ATF bank prior to your interview, and the receipt must be submitted along with the visa application and passport via DHL Express. The visa issuance fee, if any, must be paid right after the interview in U.S. dollars at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy, before the visa will be issued. Visa Issuance fees for citizens of other countries are listed here.

All visa fees must be paid in U.S. dollars.

VISA DENIALS

If you are refused a visa, you can apply again as soon as the next day. However, we do not recommend re-applying without any additional or new information that can demonstrate your strong social and economic ties to Kazakhstan or changed circumstances of your life.

If you are denied a visa, the $131 Visa Processing Fee will not be refunded.

For more information about visa refusals under 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, please refer to Visa Denials at travel.state.gov.

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