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The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States, and for K (fiancé(e)) visas. Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.
Visa applicants must submit a completed DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application for all nonimmigrant visa categories, including applicants applying for K visas. ( Note: For K visa cases in process at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate prior to October 7, 2013, review the limited exceptions explained in the FAQs below.)
Review the Frequently Asked Questions for instructions about using the DS-160.
Access the online DS-160 by clicking: Consular Electronic Application Center website .
Important Notice to Visa Applicants: After you have completed the DS-160, you must take these next steps below:
- Print and keep the DS-160 barcode page. (You will not need to print the full application.)
- You must schedule a visa interview appointment. (The U.S. Embassy or Consulate does not schedule an appointment for you.) Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where you will be interviewed for country-specific instructions.;
- Pay the visa application processing fee . Review country-specific instructions on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.
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Visas for U.S. citizens traveling abroad
If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel abroad, you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. Learn how to find your destination's visa requirements.
While not all countries require visas for American travelers, many do. Look up your destination using the U.S. State Department's Learn About Your Destination search tool . On the country’s information page, you will find entry, exit, and visa requirements. You will also find travel advisories and a link to the country’s embassy.
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How To Apply For China's Tourist Visa: Easy Step-By-Step Guide
I had never been as frustrated with travel planning as when I was applying for my 10-year tourist visa to China this year.
I didn’t blame the fact that China required a visa, I blamed the confusing process of how to apply. The lack of a step-by-step guide for people in the USA mixed with the confusing lawyer-like language used in the China Embassy’s official documents = pure confusion on what to do.
After scouring the web to piece together the full process, I finally set out to apply for the 10-year tourist visa. In less than a week of applying online , I picked up my visa and was good to travel for the next 10 years!
Looking back on it, I’m glad I got it over with early on in my travel planning process. I would’ve hated to have to deal with all of this 1-2 weeks before my trip!
For reference, I applied for the 10-year tourist visa in April, but my trip wasn’t until November.
Once you figure out HOW to apply and actually submit your application, it’s really not too bad. Especially since I’ve created this easy-to-understand guide to walk you through all the steps you need to apply for your very own China tourist visa.
NOTE: This guide is for US citizens applying for the tourist visa (L) within the USA. I don’t have experience with any other countries/nationalities, thanks!
Before Applying For The China Tourist Visa: Things You Need To Know
- The first and most important thing I need to mention: there is no way of applying for a China visa completely online . You will need to physically provide your passport to a visa office at some point. There’s no way around this, and that’s because they need to stick your new China visa onto one of the pages in your passport.
- You must start by completing a visa application form to apply for a China visa. This can be done online or on paper.
- You’ll then need to submit your visa application form + supporting documents to a China Visa Application Service Center (this is a physical place). These are going to be at a Chinese embassy or consulate somewhere in the USA. There are multiple locations.
- You can’t just choose any location you feel like. You have to go to the one that services your state/area. More on this later.
- a recently-taken color photo behind a white wall (can be uploaded digitally if filling out the application online, or a physical photo if applying on paper application)
- a valid passport
- printed out visa application + confirmation letter
- other supporting documents (more on this later)
- You’ll need to visit the visa office twice: first to submit your application, then again in 3-4 days to pick up your passport (with your brand new China visa inside).
- You can apply in person for yourself, have someone else turn in the forms for you / pick up your visa for you, or pay a travel agency to do it all for you.
- That’s the general overview of the process. Let’s dive into the details a bit more.
Step 1: Find a consulate location that services your area.
The first thing you’ll want to do is locate which Consulate General location you’ll have to go to in order to apply for (and pick up) your visa. You can use this link to see all the current locations.
You CANNOT pick one randomly, you can only go to the one that services your area.
So how do you know which consulate you have to go to? Locate where you live on this list or this list . Your state/region will be listed under one of the consulates. That’s the one you’ll need to go to.
For example, I live in Northern California, so I had to go to the Consulate General in San Francisco . If you live in Utah, your assigned location is the Embassy in Washington DC.
Also, note that the area formerly serviced by the Houston consulate is temporarily being serviced by the Embassy in the United States (DC location) as the one in Houston closed down.
Step 2: Fill out the COVA application
Start your online application . Go to the China Online Visa Application (COVA) and fill out the application using your information.
You’ll be asked all kinds of questions: personal information, the type of visa you’re applying for, how long you want it for, names of family members (parents), work history, emergency contact info, where you’re going to be traveling to in China and on what dates, where you’ve traveled to in the last 12 months, etc.
I would allot 30 minutes of your time to fill out the whole application. It felt like forever when I was applying, but I think it took me about 30 minutes. You can always save your progress if you need to look up information and revisit the application process at a later time.
Just be sure to note your application ID so you can pull it up later.
I’ll give you some pointers on how I filled out my application because some questions were quite confusing.
- One of the first things you need to do is upload your passport photo. I took a selfie against a wall and used Lightroom to turn my gray background white. The system accepted the photo. (Background must be white!)
- For Given name(s), it should include your first name followed by any middle name(s). It needs to match the name on the passport.
- For National ID number, I applied with N/A
- For Type of Visa, I selected (L) Tourism. Here are the rest of the visa types for reference.
- For Visa Duration, I entered 120 months with a maximum stay of 60 days. I also chose “multiple” for the number of entries.
- For Itinerary information, I ballparked my travel dates from city to city (Hong Kong – Xi’An – Chengdu – Chongqing) as I had not yet booked my flights, but I gave the best estimate I could based on where we were in the trip planning process.
- Since they are no longer requiring flight confirmations and hotel confirmations, the trip itinerary section doesn’t need to be very detailed. Addresses of hotels didn’t seem to even be required fields (I filled out half of them for the ones we had already booked).
- For Work Experience info, I did the best I could but it’s okay not to be exact. For example, I included my previous employer’s general phone number instead of my supervisor’s number. You can also provide a quick description of your job duties (my example: “blogger/travel writer”). No need to go into detail.
Normally visa applications take 3-4 days to process, but you can specify in this application to expedite it (2-3 days).
I chose not to expedite my application. I applied on a Monday and received a pick-up date of Thursday .
How quickly do you need the visa?
- If you live in the area and can get to the visa office pretty easily, no need to expedite.
- If you’re traveling from out-of-state to apply, you’ll probably want to expedite to save on an extra night’s worth of hotel costs.
- If your trip’s departure is like next week, you’ll probably want to expedite to be on the safe side!
Should you apply for a 3-month visa or a 10-year visa? The visa process is the same regardless if you apply for 3 months or 10 years. Moreover, it’s currently the same price!
My entire family and I went for the 10-year option as we knew we’d be visiting China a lot once my parents retired!
Step 3: Print out/gather all your documents.
Once you finish filling out the application, you’ll get a confirmation letter that looks like it’s got QR codes on it. You’ll have to print this out along with a few other things to bring to the visa office.
Here’s the full list that was required of me when I was applying (April 2024). Be sure to check for the latest requirements !!!
- Confirmation letter – you need to print and sign this
- Completed visa application – you need to print and sign this (on the last page)
- Your physical passport
- Photocopy of your passport’s bio page (the page that shows the photo and the document number)
- Proof of residence documentation (a photocopy of your ID, bank statement, utility bill, etc.)
- I did single-sided printing and printed pages in color just in case.
- When you print the visa application, make sure to include the confirmation page as the first page.
- I did not bring a physical copy of my photo since I had uploaded it along with my online application. This was not asked for at the visa center either.
Step 4: Show up at the visa center.
At the time of writing, you can’t make appointments online. They are taking walk-ins only.
When you are looking for the address of where to go, look for the consulate’s Visa Application Office , not the general Embassy address.
For example, I GPS’ed to the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco . Once I got to the door (on Laguna St.), I saw a sign letting visa application visitors know that the Visa Application Office was on the street perpendicular to where I was (Geary Blvd.).
Depending on the time you visit, be prepared to wait.
I showed up at 9:15am on a Monday (15 minutes before they opened) and there were at least 70 people in line in front of me. Despite the crazy-sounding line, it didn’t take as long as I had anticipated! I was out of there by 10:55am.
PRO TIP: For the SF location, show up near closing time as opposed to first thing in the morning. I asked the security guard when the best time to visit was for the shortest lines, and he told me “at the end of the day, right before we close”.
This may vary by location, so take that tip with a grain of salt! But when I went to pick up my visa 3 days later, I showed up at 1:50pm (the visa office closed at 2:30pm) — and he was right — no lines! There must have been 10 people in the entire office compared to my initial visit where there were 100+ people waiting at the same time.
Once you’re there, hand all of your documents to the visa processer. He/she will look your application over (rather quickly) and make sure you have all the necessary docs. They will then take all of your documents (including your passport) for processing/approval.
If all looks good, you’ll get a slip of paper (pick-up slip) telling you exactly what date to come back to pick up your passport. You can come anytime on that date. Again, no appointment is needed.
My experience: For proof of residence, I had actually just brought my physical driver’s license instead of making a photocopy of it. The lady told me I had to go to make a photocopy of it, then go back to her window once I was done with that.
Luckily, the office had a set of photocopiers (costs $0.25 per page) as well as passport photobooths (for people who forget to bring photos for their applications). Bring quarters or some dollar bills in case you need to use the copy machine.
Step 5: Pick up your passport.
After a few days, it’s time to go back to pick up your passport. When you go to pick up your passport, you will pay for the visa at this time.
There’s a separate line that moves much faster for passport pick-ups. For my pick-up, I was in and out of the visa office in under 10 minutes.
Since a lot of people applying for China visas are from out of state, they often worry about how long it takes to pick up their passports.
Again, in general, your passport will be ready in 2-4 days, depending on if you choose expedited service.
Also, you don’t even need to be the one showing up at the visa office! Per the Los Angeles consulate site , “visa applications may be submitted in person by the applicant or someone else with the passport and all supporting documents”.
Once you flip through your passport booklet, you’ll find a brand-new visa glued to one of your passport pages. Viola ! You are ready to go to China!
Lastly, stay updated with the latest info!
The latest info/updates will always be on the China Visa Applications website . I know, it’s hard to read because of how outdated and simple the site looks, but there’s always useful info on there.
Like when I was applying, I was able to see that they had recently reduced the visa fee to $140, regardless of how long the visa’s duration is. And that at the end of 2023, they had actually simplified the visa application to not require flight confirmations, proof of hotel reservation, or invitation letters.
Meanwhile, all the other outdated websites and blog posts out there mentioned needing an invitation letter.
To be clear, as of April 2024 (when I wrote this), invitation letters are NOT required.
Always refer to the China Visa Applications website for the latest info!
Hope this step-by-step guide to applying for the China tourist visa was helpful. You can message me if you have any additional questions about applying for a tourist visa as a US citizen.
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Sri lanka launches new e-visa system: everything you need to know.
Sri Lanka launched an e-visa system, streamlining the visa application process for travellers. The initiative offers updated requirements, fees, and validity periods, enhancing efficiency and convenience for various nationalities visiting for tourism, business, or transit.
- Police Clearance report.
- If the applicant has stayed in another country for more than 6 months, a Police clearance from that country and a copy of the Visa.
- Certificate from a Sri Lankan guarantor & a photocopy of the guarantor's NIC.
- Affidavit from a Sri Lankan JP (Justice of Peace) or a Lawyer.
- Accommodation information (Place of stay).
- Visit the official website of Sri Lanka eVisa.
- Create an account or log in if you already have one.
- Fill out the online application form with accurate details.
- Upload the required documents, including a scanned copy of your passport, a recent photograph, and any additional documents specified for your eVisa category.
- Pay the eVisa fee securely online using the available payment options.
- Once your application is submitted and payment is confirmed, you will receive an acknowledgment receipt and a unique application reference number.
- Track the status of your eVisa application online using your reference number.
- Upon approval, download and print your eVisa to present to the Immigration officer at the port of entry in Sri Lanka.
- A printed copy of your eVisa approval letter issued by the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration.
- Your passport with a validity of at least six months from the date of entry into Sri Lanka.
- A return ticket or proof of onward travel from Sri Lanka.
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Want to work remotely in Italy? The country just launched its new digital nomad visa.
Remote workers with dreams of working from the rolling hills of Tuscany or the cliffs of Positano are now one step closer to making that reality. Italy launched a new digital nomad visa.
Two years after its announcement, the highly anticipated digital nomad visa officially became available for those eligible on April 4.
“Italian-style, everything happens slowly,” said Nick Metta, a lawyer for the law firm Studio Legale Metta , which has helped Americans relocate to Italy for decades. “Now there is a pipeline of people waiting just to file the application. It's been a long-awaited visa.”
Most of Metta’s clients would previously apply for a student visa, which allowed them to work part time in Italy.
Under the new visa, people will be able to work from Italy for one year, with the option to renew once their visa is due for expiration. Without a visa, U.S. travelers could only stay in Italy for up to 90 days without the ability to work.
Learn more: Best travel insurance
The launch makes Italy the latest European country to offer a digital nomad visa , which has already been available in Greece and Hungary.
Here’s everything we know about the digital nomad visa for Italy:
Destinations behind a paywall? What to know about the increasing tourist fees worldwide.
Who can apply for a digital nomad visa in Italy?
According to the official decree , the visa is meant for those who “carry out a highly qualified work activity through the use of technological tools that allow you to work remotely.”
The regulations define eligible applicants as “digital nomads,” self-employed freelancers, “remote workers,” or those employed by a company outside of Italy and can work from anywhere, according to Studio Legale Metta.
To qualify for the visa, the applicant has to meet certain requirements:
◾ A university or college degree or an accredited professional license.
◾ Six months of work experience in the industry, or five years for applicants without a university degree.
◾ An existing employment contract.
◾ A criminal record check.
◾ Proof of an annual income of 28,000 euros (about $29,880.06).
◾ Evidence of housing in Italy.
◾ Evidence of health insurance coverage.
Applicants can also apply to have family members join them on their Italian move, but the government has to give the final approval.
How do I apply for the digital nomad visa in Italy?
Thankfully, Metta said the paperwork for the digital nomad visa isn’t “too complicated.”
The first stop for interested applicants will be the Italian Consulate for their area. “Consulates are basically the front of the government to receive the applications,” Metta said. Interested applicants can book an appointment with the consulate and start gathering their necessary documents. People can also apply by mailing in their application. (However, Metta did mention consulate websites are often confusing and outdated, so working with a relocation service can make things easier.)
To apply, applicants will also need a passport with an expiration date at least three months after the end of the visa period and two passport-sized photos.
Relocation services can also help people navigate the sometimes complicated process of applying for a visa, such as negotiating early termination penalties with landlords in Italy.
These services also help people with state and tax planning, especially if people own assets in the U.S., like a house. Once in Italy, people need to register their residency with the town hall, which will determine what sort of taxes they’ll pay. People can speak to an international tax specialist to figure out their future taxes as well.
How much will the visa cost?
According to Studio Legale Metta, the application fee is 116 euros (about $123.78) per person.
How long will the application process take?
Not too long, actually. Metta estimates the process could take just three weeks if applicants are “well-organized and have all your tax documents filed.”
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .
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Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (visa category B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both ...
The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State. Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information. LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023.
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler's passport, a travel document issued by the traveler's country of citizenship. Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the ...
Nonimmigrant visas allow people to visit the United States for short periods and for specific purposes. If you want to move here permanently, please see the information below on immigrant visas. A foreign national traveling to the United States for tourism needs a visitor visa (B-2) unless qualifying for entry under the Visa Waiver Program.
The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa.
How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa. If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. Learn how to get and renew this type of nonimmigrant visa.
Apply for a U.S. Visa. At this website, you can learn about obtaining a visa, as well as applying for your visa. How to apply for your nonimmigrant visa for travel to the United States. What documents, photos and information you need to apply for your visa. How to access visa application forms and instructions.
You are a citizen or eligible national of a Visa Waiver Program country. You are currently not in possession of a visitor's visa. Your travel is for 90 days or less. You plan to travel to the United States for business or pleasure. You want to apply for a new authorization for one person or a group of applications for two or more persons.
Welcome to the official U.S. visa service for non-citizens traveling to the United States. This service will help you: Obtain general information on how to apply for a United States visa. Pay the required visa application fees. Submit your visa application to a U.S. embassy or consulate.
If you are applying for a visa for the first time, or are applying to renew a visa, you are required to take the same steps. Step One: Complete the online DS-160 and print the confirmation page for each person applying for a visa, regardless of age. Answer the questions to the best of your ability; we cannot assist you in completing the form.
The Visa section of this website is about U.S. visas for foreign citizens and nationals to travel to the United States. Visit Travel.State.gov for additional information. Note: U.S. citizens do not need a U.S. visa for travel to the United States. When planning travel abroad a U.S. citizen may need a visa issued by the embassy or consulate of ...
U.S. Travel Docs is our official visa service provider and the only private company that the U.S. embassy and consulates in Germany authorize to provide visa information and visa application services. U.S. Travel Docs Website: www.ustraveldocs.com. Email: [email protected].
The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States, and for K (fiancé (e)) visas. Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal ...
Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States. (Note: U.S. citizens don't need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad ...
Nonimmigrant Visas: Exchange Visitor Visa. The exchange visitor program's J visa is designed to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, and sciences. Before applying for a visa, all exchange visitor applicants are required to be accepted and approved by an authorized program sponsor.
Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States. (Note: U.S. citizens don't need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad ...
Note: U.S. citizens do not need a U.S. visa for travel to the United States, but when planning travel abroad a U.S. citizen may need a visa issued by the embassy or consulate of the country they wish to visit. For nonimmigrant visas, you can go directly to the online application for the DS-160 ; or for immigrant visas, directly to the USCIS ...
The K-1 visa permits a foreign-citizen fiancé(e) to travel to the United States and marry their U.S. citizen fiancé(e) within 90 days of arrival. Learn more about Fiancé(e) Visas Employment-Based, Diversity, and Other Immigrant Visas
If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel abroad, you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. Learn how to find your destination's visa requirements. While not all countries require visas for American travelers, many do. Look up your destination using the U.S. State Department's Learn About Your Destination search tool.
Please see our updated FAQs below before making travel plans. Pick the situation that applies to you for more information on U.S. travel requirements and visa processes at this time. If you have more than one traveler, please ensure you check the relevant situation for each individual traveler. Updated: May 5, 2023 at 09:00 GMT.
From April 10, 2025, citizens from Australia, Canada and the US will need a visa to enter the country. On the plus side, those traveling for tourism or cruise travel can apply for an evisa online ...
The first thing you'll want to do is locate which Consulate General location you'll have to go to in order to apply for (and pick up) your visa. You can use. this link. to see all the current ...
El costo de la solicitud es de $21.00 USD. Entre las formas de pago válidas están: MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover (solo JCB o Diners Club) y PayPal. También es posible que se solicite la siguiente información: Alias u otros nombres del viajero (de corresponder). Número de Identificación Nacional o de Identificación Personal ...
"Starting from April 10th, 2025, passport holders from Australia, Canada, and the United States will require a visa for entry into Brazil," the Brazilian Embassy in the United States said in a ...
Sri Lanka launched an e-visa system, streamlining the visa application process for travellers. The initiative offers updated requirements, fees, and validity periods, enhancing efficiency and convenience for various nationalities visiting for tourism, business, or transit. Making it much easier to ...
Italy launched a new digital nomad visa. Two years after its announcement, the highly anticipated digital nomad visa officially became available for those eligible on April 4. "Italian-style ...