Non-Immigrant Visas

How to Apply

UPDATE: Application Fees for U.S. Non-Immigrant Visas to Increase Worldwide on January 1, 2008

See Application Fee increase press release announcements in English, French, and Creole. (PDF)

Persons who wish to apply for a nonimmigrant visa should:

1. Visit a participating branch of SOGEBANK in order to pay the $131.00 processing fee and obtain an appointment for a visa interview.  All branches offer Service except Lalue.  Currently, the service is available at: Place Geffrard 1, Place Geffrard 2, Rue du Quai, Lathan, Carrefour, Carrefour Feuilles, Petion-Ville (both branches), Delmas Nazon, Jacmel, Cap-Haitian, and Saint-Marc. 
   
2. Come to the Consular Section at the time of the appointment for a visa interview with a Consular Officer.

Because of seasonal demand, appointments may not be immediately available.  Please see the information below on visa appointment wait times.  

The $131.00 processing fee is non-refundable. The fee is waived for applicants for A, G, C-3 and some J-1 visas, and may also be waived for applicants intending to work for a foreign-based, tax-exempt organization engaging in charitable activities benefiting the poor and needy.

All applicants for a nonimmigrant visa must submit:

1. A completed online application form DS-156; and, if you are a male 16 to 45 years of age, form DS-157. 
   
2. A receipt showing payment to SOGEBANK of the $131 processing fee.
   
3. A valid passport. Passports should be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the planned entry into the United States. (Expired passports with prior visas should also be brought to the interview.)

Other Documentation

Applicants for most visa classifications must establish to the satisfaction of the Consular Officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States at the completion of a temporary stay. For specific instructions, please see the visa classification relevant to the purpose of travel. 

Some of the documents that may be needed on the day of the appointment include:

• Previous passports; 
• Original birth and marriage certificates as issued by the Haitian National Archives (Extrait des Archives Nationales);    
• Job letters;
• Bank statements;   
• Proof of personally owned business (Patente); and
• Proof of property ownership and original vehicle registration.

Important Note: We are serious about visa fraud. Please be truthful in the information and documents you provide. If you submit fake or tampered documents to the Consular Officer, you may become permanently ineligible for a visa to the United States. In addition, you could be subject to prosecution under Haitian law. Be wary of persons outside the Consular Section offering you documents, assistance or claiming a connection to the Consular Section who want to facilitate your visa application. If you are approached by such persons, please report it to the guards or a Consular Officer at the Consular Section. Only an American Consular Officer may decide who is granted a visa based on U.S. law.

Visa Appointment Wait Time

The average wait time between when an appointment is scheduled until the time of the scheduled interview frequently varies.  The following website contains realtime information on visa appointment wait times: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php

Please note: the listed processing times are averages. The timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. Many additional factors, such as the need for special clearances, incomplete applications, and fraud investigations may influence the processing of individual cases. Please plan accordingly to avoid delays.