Visa Support

What is visa?

Ukrainian citizens require a visa to enter the United States. Citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) do not need a visa if their passport meets certain requirements.

How to use a visa?

A single-entry visa allows travel to the U.S. only once within the period of the visa’s validity. That is, once you travel to the U.S. and then leave the country, you may not reenter again on that same visa. A multiple-entry visa allows travel to the U.S. several times within the period of the visa’s validity. At the point of entry to the U.S., an immigration officer will indicate how long the visa holder is permitted to stay in the country.

We provide the following services:

Filling visa application form, which is needed at the US Consulate.
Interview registration at the US Consulte in Kyiv.
Preparation for the interview.
Registration at the conferences, held in the USA.
Organizaton of business meetings with US partners.

GENERAL APPLICATION PACKAGE

All applicants must bring the following documents with them on the day of their interview:

Valid international passport.
DS-156 (EVAF), with one picture stapled to the form (please click here to see picture requirements), for each applicant, including children

NOTE: The name spelling on the DS-156 (EVAF) application form should correspond with the name spelling in the travel document. Applicants must not include their patronymic name on line # 7. It must be recorded together with their first name on line # 9. If no other last names have been used, their last name must be then repeated on line # 8.
Proof of payment (voucher) from ProCredit Bank for the USD131 application fee for each applicant, including children. The voucher must be stapled to the application. Please click here for more information on the payment. DS-157 (if applicable)

VISA TYPES

F1/M1 STUDENT VISA OVERVIEW

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. The "F" visa is for academic studies, and the "M" visa is for non-academic or vocational studies. If your course of study is less than 18 hours a week and is incidental to your primary purpose of travel, you will not need a student visa

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND THEIR ORDER

General Application Package
DS-158
I-20 (original and a copy)
SEVIS Fee payment

PERSONS WITH EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY, ATHLETES, ARTISTS & ENTERTAINERS

O VISAS
The O1 visa category provides for the admission into the United States of persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business and athletics, or extraordinary achievement in motion picture and television production, who are coming to the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability.

The O2 visa category applies to an accompanying alien who is coming temporarily to the United States solely to assist in the artistic or athletic performance of an O1 nonimmigrant. The O2 visa category is not available to an alien accompanying an O1 alien in the sciences, business, or education. An O2 alien must be petitioned for in conjunction with the services of the O1 alien to whom he or she provides support and is not entitled to work separate and apart from the O1 alien.

The O3 category applies to the spouse and children who are accompanying or following to join an alien classified O1 or O2.

P VISAS

The P1 visa classification provides for admission into the United States of certain athletes, to perform at a specific athletic competition individually or as part of a group or team, at an internationally recognized level of performance, or to provide essential support to such athlete; or to perform with, or as an integral and essential part of the performance of, an entertainment group that has been recognized internationally as being outstanding in the discipline for a sustained and substantial period of time.

The P2 visa classification provides for the admission into the United States of an artist or entertainer, either an individual or group, involved in a reciprocal exchange program between an organization or organizations in the United States and one or more foreign countries which provides for the temporary exchange of artists and entertainers.

The P3 visa classification provides for the admission into the United States of an artist or entertainer, either an individual or group, to perform, teach, or coach under a program that is culturally unique.

The P4 classification applies to the spouse or children of P1, P2, and P3 visa recipients.

NOTE: For members of the entertainment industry, the visa is issued for a specific event only.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND THEIR ORDER

General Application Package
I-797 approval notices or approved I-129 forms are no longer required. The only requirement for making an appointment is provision of the receipt number of the approved I-129.

BUSINESS AND PLEASURE (TOURIST VISA)

TOURIST VISA OVERVIEW

The tourist visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B1), pleasure, or medical treatment (B2). If the purpose of travel is to consult with business associates, travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention or conference, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract, or if the purpose of travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, then travelers must apply for a tourist visa.

B1/B2 applicants must show that they qualify under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:

The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business, pleasure, or medical treatment;

They plan to remain in the U.S. for a limited period of time;

They have funds to cover expenses in the United States;

They have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will insure their return to their country at the end of the visit. There is no specific list of criteria that constitutes binding ties, and it is up to each applicant to explain those ties. Binding ties generally refer to family, social, economic, and other ties.

APPLICANTS TRAVELING TO THE U.S. AS DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES MUST PROVIDE:

General Application Package
Employment Contract which contains statements that the employer is guaranteed the minimum or prevailing wages, whichever is greater, and free room and board, and the employer will be the only provider of employment to the employee.
For B1 personal or domestic servant visa applicants: the printable version of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act (WWTVPRA) pamphlet. It can be found on here. NOTE: if you are applying for B1 personal or domestic servant visa, it is required to carefully read and become familiar with the pamphlet before the visa interview.
For additional documents, please see the conditions above.

RELIGIOUS WORKERS

R VISA OVERVIEW

The R1 visa is for ministers of religion and full-time religious workers. The requirements for the R1 visa are specific and may not be appropriate for many visitors even though their trip to the United States is for a religious activity. Visitors who do not qualify for R1 visas may qualify for business and pleasure B1/B2 visas.

NOTE: As of November 2008, the Department of Homeland Security requires that sponsoring employers file I-129 petitions for all R-1 applicants. Self-petitions will not be accepted. The only requirement for making an appointment is provision of the receipt number of the approved I-129.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND THEIR ORDER FOR R VISA

General Application Package
Receipt number provision of the approved I-129.
Certificate issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service showing the religious organization in the U.S. is tax-exempted or proof that it can qualify if it applied for tax-exempt status.
Letter from an authorized official of the religious organization in the U.S. affirming:
Affiliation between the U.S.-based organization and the overseas religious denomination
Duration of the applicant’s membership in the overseas religious denomination
Applicant’s authority to function as a minister of religion and/or the nature of the applicant’s responsibilities as a professional religious worker
Arrangements for remuneration for the applicant’s services in the U.S.
Name and location of the religious congregation or organization in the U.S. for which the applicant will be providing services
Evidence of a baccalaureate degree if the applicant is a professional religious worker
For spouses and children of religious visa holders - proof of relationship to the principal alien (i.e., original marriage certificate, original birth certificate of the child).

TRANSIT (C1) VISA

All travelers in transit through the United States require valid C1 visas unless they are a national of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Transit Visa holders may stay for a maximum of 29 days in the United States. C1 visa holders may not change their status to any other non-immigrant status and may not accept employment in the United States. In some cases, an individual who qualifies for a transit visa might also qualify for and receive a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa instead .

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND THEIR ORDER

General Application Package.
Permission (or a visa) to enter country/countries following transit through the United States, or satisfactory evidence that advance permission for such country/countries is not required.
Confirmed, onward tickets and hotel reservations or original tickets for the onward journey.
NOTE: Please note that the possession of a ticket does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.

For more information please visit the web-site of US Embassy in Ukraine http://kyiv.usembassy.gov