LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
American
Embassy - Consular Section Thank you for viewing the consular section’s webpage. If you have a question that is not covered in the information below, please contact us at consularlapaz@state.gov 1. What is a visa? Tourist and other non-immigrant visas are issued to Bolivians and third country nationals with permanent residence in Bolivia who wish to travel to the U.S. for a temporary period of time. If a third country national with out permanent residence in Bolivia wishes to apply for a visa in Bolivia their application will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Applicants must interview at the US Embassy in La Paz and, if approved, the visa is placed in the applicant’s passport. It is important to note that the length of visa validity does not correspond to the length of time that the traveler may remain in the U.S. Length of visa validity refers only to the time within which the visa may be used for entry into the U.S. The U.S. immigration officer at the port of entry will decide the amount of time that the visa holder may remain in the U.S. The most common type of non-immigrant visa is the B-1/B-2 visa,
which is issued for tourism and short business stays. Other categories
of non-immigrant visas include religious workers, students, temporary
workers, performers, exchange students, airline crewmembers, diplomats,
inter-company transfers, journalists, and members of international
organizations.
Applicants for all B-1/B-2 and R Visas (That is for Short Business stays and/or tourism, Traveling to the U.S. for medical treatment, Domestic employees accompanying U.S. citizens employers on temporary U.S. assignments, Domestic employees (B-1) of foreign nationals in non-immigrant status, and Religious workers) must:
3. Who does not need to request an appointment date through DHL for a visa interview? Applicants in the following categories do not need to request an appointment date through DHL for an interview in order to apply for a visa:
5. The visa application fee is NOT refundable if a visa is not issued The US$100 application fee is used for the process of applying for a visa, not to print the visa and therefore the fee is not refundable your visa application is refused. Please do not ask Banco Bisa to return your money.
Yes. You are encouraged to fill out and print your visa application Form DS-156 online. To fill it out online click here, then print out the complete visa application. Bring the printed out visa application to DHL to be sent with your request for an interview appointment. If you are not required to apply for a pre-arranged appointment (see #3) bring the printed out visa application to the embassy when you go for an interview. Please be sure to fill out all questions on the form before you print it out. 7. Who needs to come to the interview? According to U.S. law, all applicants 14 years and older are required to be interviewed personally in order to obtain a visa. Although children younger than 14 do not need to attend the interview, their parents must attend with the parent’s personal identification and the child’s birth certificate. If only one parent can attend the interview, he or she must present the “Permiso de Viaje para Menor al Exterior” issued by the “Juzgado de Partido de la Niñez y a la Adolescencia” for each child signed by the other parent. Please note that a relative or family friend may not attend an interview for a minor in place of the parents.
Applicants should bring documents that help the interviewing officer understand the proposed purpose of travel and the applicant’s social, economic and family ties that compel him or her to return to Bolivia. Since everyone’s situation is different, there are no required documents beyond the application form, photo, and passport. Please remember that it is every applicant’s responsibility to prove his or her strong ties to Bolivia during the interview. Children and young adults may present documents pertaining to their parent’s situation in Bolivia. Required General documents for ALL non-immigrant visas:
9. The consulate is now taking fingerprints of visa applicants All visa applicants must now appear in person at the United States Embassy in La Paz for an interview and to be fingerprinted. The fingerprints will be collected through an inkless scanning procedure during the visa interview as the first step in a process that will continue through the port of entry into the United States until the traveler departs the U.S. Inkless fingerprint scanning is accurate and can add less than a minute to the interview process. Who is going to be fingerprinted? All visa applicants, including those who wish to revalidate their visas, with the exception of minors 13 years of age or younger and applicants 80 years of age or older, must appear in person at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz for fingerprinting. Exceptions The following applicants do not need to be fingerprinted
10. What is a Transit Visa (C-1)? Persons in transit through the U.S. to a third country now need a transit visa (C-1). In addition to the documents list in question 8, applicants for Transit Visas must also present at their visa interview: 1. their travel itinerary. These applicants do not need to apply for an appointment date through DHL for their visa interview. Instead they may come any day Monday through Thursday from 10:00 to 11:15am for their visa interview. However, these applicants need to make sure they bring all other required documentation when they come for an interview. 11. Additional requirements for business travel (B-1) In addition to the required and suggested documents list in question 8, applicants traveling for business meetings or training must also present at their visa interview.
They must follow the procedures for applying for a non-immigrant visa through DHL, detailed in question#2. For additional information visit http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/tempbenefits/BusPleasure.htm
In addition to the required and suggested documents list in question 8, applicants for students Visas must also present at their visa interview:
These applicants do not need to apply for an appointment date
through DHL for their visa interview. Instead they may come any
day Monday through Thursday from 10:00 to 11:15am for their visa
interview. However, these applicants need to make sure they bring
all other required documentation when they come for an interview.
13. Additional requirements for exchange visitor visas (J) In addition to the required and suggested documents list in question 8,
These applicants do not need to apply for an appointment date through DHL for their visa interview. Instead they may come any day Monday through Thursday from 10:00 to 11:15am for their visa interview. However, these applicants need to make sure they bring all other required documentation when they come for an interview. If an exchange visitor visas is issued, the exchange visitor may only use the visa to travel to the U.S. 30 days or less before the start date listed on their DS-2019. For additional information visit http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/tempbenefits/ExchVisit.htm
and http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_types_scholars.html
14. Additional requirements when traveling for medical treatment (B-1/B-2) If you need to travel urgently for medical treatment, please
contact the embassy immediately at consularlapaz@state.gov. 15. Additional requirements for crew visas (C-1/D) In addition to the required and suggested documents list in question
8, applicants for Crew Visas must also present at their visa interview: These applicants do not need to apply for an appointment date through DHL for their visa interview. Instead they may come any day Monday through Thursday from 10:00 to 11:15am for their visa interview. However, these applicants need to make sure they bring all other required documentation when they come for an interview. 16. Additional requirements for temporary workers (H1-b) and inter-company transfers (L-1) In addition to the required documents list in question 8 temporary
Worker or Inter-company Transfer applicants must also present
at their visa interview: These applicants do not need to apply for an appointment date through DHL for their visa interview. Instead they may come any day Monday through Thursday from 10:00 to 11:15am for their visa interview. However, these applicants need to make sure they bring all other required documentation when they come for an interview. For additional information visit: http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/tempbenefits/TempWorker.htm and http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/h1b.htm and http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/questsans/h1bchang.htm
In addition to the required and suggested documents list in question
8, Employees of companies that are members of the AmCham must
also present at their visa interview: These applicants do not need to apply for an appointment date through DHL for their visa interview. Instead they may come any day Monday through Thursday from 10:00 to 11:15am for their visa interview. However, these applicants need to make sure they bring all other required documentation when they come for an interview.
In addition to the required documents list in question 8, applicants
for Religious Worker Visas must also: They must follow the procedures for applying for a non-immigrant visa through DHL, detailed in question#2.
Diplomats, Officials and Employees of International Organizations may use a messenger to apply for A & G Visas. No fingerprinting, fee, or interview is necessary. However, if they wish to apply for a tourist visa they need to some to the Consular Section (between 4-5pm Monday through Thursday or 9-10am on Fridays. The following documents must be presented to apply for the visa: 1. Diplomatic, Official or regular passport, current duly and
signed, valid for at least six months. Please also bring expired
passport if you have been issued previous visas.
In addition to the required and suggested documents list in question
8, Domestic Employees Accompanying U.S. Citizens Employers on
Temporary U.S. Assignments must also, at their visa interview:
In addition, the U.S. citizen employer must satisfy the consular officer that he or she: 1. is normally employed outside the United States and is subject to frequent international transfers lasting two or more years as a condition of his or her job, as confirmed in a letter directed to the consular section by his or her employer. 2. is returning to the United States for a stay not to exceed four years. 3. has employed the domestic employee for at least six months prior to the date of the employer’s admission to the United States; or the employer can show that while abroad he or she has regularly employed a domestic servant in the same capacity as the visa applicant. 4. will (a) be the only employer of the domestic employee in the U.S.; and will (b) provide the employee room and board at no cost and a round-trip air ticket under the terms of the employment contract. Applicants must follow the procedures for applying for a non-immigrant visa through DHL detailed in question#2. NOTE: U.S. legal permanent resident aliens ("green card" holders) may not take domestic servants to the U.S. on non-immigrant visas.
In addition to the required and suggested documents list in question
8, Domestic Employees of Foreign Nationals in Non-Immigrant Status
must also, at their visa interview: In addition, the Employer must satisfy the consular officer that
he or she: 2. has (a) employed the personal or domestic employee abroad for at least one year prior to the date of the employer’s admission to the United States; or has (b) regularly employed (either year-round or seasonally) personal or domestic employees over a period of several years preceding the domestic employee’s visa application for a non-immigrant B-1 visa. 3. will (a) be the only employer of the domestic employee in the U.S.; will (b) provide the employee minimum or prevailing wages, whichever is greater, and room and board at no cost under the terms of the employment contract. 4. will pay the personal or domestic employee’s initial travel expenses to the United States, and subsequently to the employer’s onward assignment, or to the employee’s country of normal residence at the termination of the assignment. They must follow the procedures for applying for a non-immigrant visa through DHL, detailed in question#2.
In addition to the required documents list in question 8, applicants
for Treaty Trader or Investor Visas must also present at their
visa interview the: These applicants do not need to apply for an appointment date through DHL for their visa interview. Instead they may come any day Monday through Thursday from 10:00 to 11:15am for their visa interview. However, these applicants need to make sure they bring all other required documentation when they come for an interview.
In addition to the required and suggested documents list in question
8, Foreign Media, Press and Radio must also present at their visa
interview the: These applicants do not need to apply for an appointment date through DHL for their visa interview. Instead they may come any day Monday through Thursday from 10:00 to 11:15am for their visa interview. However, these applicants need to make sure they bring all other required documentation when they come for an interview.
If a visa is approved, the applicant’s passport must be kept so the visa can be printed and inserted into the passport. The passport with the visa will then be sent to the DHL office nearest to applicant’s home. The DHL office will then contact the applicant who must pick up the visa at the DHL office. The passport should be available for pickup 2-3 days after the interview. 25. How long can I stay in the United States? The U.S. immigration officer at the port of entry will decide the amount of time that you may remain in the U.S. for your specific visit. If your visa allows multiple entries, each time you travel to the United States the U.S. immigration officer will decide how long you may stay in the United States for that visit only. It is important to note that the length of visa validity does not correspond to the length of time that the traveler may remain in the U.S. Length of visa validity refers only to the time within which the visa may be used for entry into the U.S.
The United States Government no longer issues “indefinite” validity visas. If the visa in your passport is a B-1/B-2 visa originally issued for multiple applications “indefinitely”, it is now only valid for ten years from the date of issuance. The last year the U.S. Consulate in Bolivia issued “indefinite” visa was 1993. Therefore all “indefinite” visa issued in Bolivia reached their 10-year maximum validity in 2003 and have now expired. Therefore, holders of “indefinite” visas issued in Bolivia must apply for a new visa to travel to the U.S.
Bolivians may travel to the United States using both an expired Bolivian passport that contains a valid U.S. visa and a valid Bolivian passport without a U.S. visa provided that all documents contain the same biographic data. Both documents must be used in order to travel. 28. Can my dependents apply for a visa in my passport? No. Each applicant, even dependants and children, must have their own passport to apply for a visa. 29. Can my minor children use their visa even though it is in my passport? 1. Minor children whose visas are included in their parent’s passport can still use their visas if they are traveling with the passport holder. 2. Minor children whose visas are included in their parent’s passport may not travel without the passport holder. If they need to travel alone or with other family members, they need to apply for a new visa via DHL Courier. 30. What is the process for renewing a visa? If your visa expired and you would like to renew it, you must follow the same procedure as those who are applying for a visa for the first time. Please see How do I apply for tourist and other non-immigrant visas? 31. What do I need to do if my passport and U.S. visa have been lost or stolen? If your passport with a U.S. visa has been lost or stolen, please immediately contact Bolivian Police authorities to make a report. If you are applying for a new visa, bring a copy of the report with you to the non-immigrant visa interview. If you have no immediate plans to apply for a new visa, please send a copy of the report to the consular section of the embassy at: Consular Section If you returned home with your Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) departure record Form I-94 (white) or Form 1-94W (green) in your passport, it means that your departure was not recorded properly. It is your responsibility to correct this record. You must provide the Legacy INS (DHS) sufficient information so we can record your timely departure from the United States. This will close out your earlier record of arrival to this country. If you do not validate a timely departure from the United States, or if you cannot reasonably prove otherwise when you next apply for admission to the United States, the INS may conclude you remained in the United States beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, the next time you apply to enter the United States, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin. In particular, visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States under the Visa Waiver Program cannot reenter the United States in the future without obtaining a visa from a United States Consulate. If this occurs and you arrive at a United States port-of-entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, United States immigration officers may order your immediate return to a foreign point of origin. To validate departure, the INS will consider a variety of information, including, but no limited to: · Original boarding passes you used to depart the United States · Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing you photograph.), and · Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as: · Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States · Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after your left the United States · School records showing attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States · Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above. You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. The INS cannot return original materials after processing. To help us understand the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. You must send your letter and enclosed information only to the following address: ACS – INS SBU Do not mail your departure Form I-94/ I-94 W or supporting information to any United States Consulate or Embassy, to any other Legacy INS (DHS) office in the United Sates, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to INS records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future. 33. Hours Consular Section is open The Consular Section schedules non-immigrant visa interview appointments Monday through Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30am. All applicants must begin the process at window 1 in the consular section waiting room. 34. U.S. and Bolivian holidays (Consular Section and Embassy closed) The consular section will be closed on the following American and Bolivian holidays during 2004 and 2005: U.S. Independence Day July 5 Monday DHL charges $12.00 per application for the cost of receiving visa applications and sending them to the Embassy in La Paz. The cost is the same in all parts of the country. After the Embassy assigns an interview date to the applicants, all forms will be delivered to the applicant’s home by DHL. If the visa is approved, the applicant’s passport and visa will be returned via DHL. DHL will call the applicant within 2-3 days of the interview and the applicant must pick up his or her passport at the DHL office closest to his or her home. The cost of this service is $5.00. For security reasons, DHL cannot return passports with visas by mail. La Paz Oruro Potosí Sucre Tarija
La Paz Santa Cruz Cochabamba Oruro E-mail: consularlapaz@state.gov Visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs for additional information
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