US Visa Application process and info

For those who is required/needed to apply Business/Tourist US visa, i have some useful info here.

1. Make sure your passport is valid. Best is at least 6 months before your traveling date.



2. Prepare at least 2 pieces of recent photos (taken within 6 months). Background is WHITE. and you DO NOT smile while taking the photo.



3. Scan a copy of your photos in the dimension of 2-inch x 2-inch. Refer here for more info on the photograph specifications.



4. Purchase bank draft from Standard Chartered Bank over the counter/online banking (if you have an account with SCB). The application fees is USD140. This is a non-refundable and non-transferable application fees.



5. Go to Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) to start your visa application. Answer ALL the questions otherwise your application is not accepted.



**Reminder: Please save your form after complete each step. As after 20 minutes idle time, the session will end and you will need to re-enter all over again.



**Please write down your Application ID. This ID is important for you to retrieve your form and to continue your application after session logout.



**You can edit the entered information anytime before you click Submit button. Please make sure you review all the answers before you 'Sign your application' and click Submit.



6. After review and completed the form, please click Submit and you will get to the barcode confirmation page.



7. Print a copy of the CEAC-bar-coded confirmation page. You can choose to have another copy to your email account to keep as record.



8. Go to Apply for USA Visa web to schedule Interview.



9. For new User, you need to Click New User to create an account before you can schedule for an interview.



10. To schedule an interview, you need to provide them your Passport ID, Date/ID of the receipt (bankdraft that you purchase) and the barcode number in the confirmation page.



11. Select the date and time of the interview and print the schedule interview confirmation page

Before the interview, please prepare some supporting documents:

1. Invitation letter if you are going for a business trip


2. Employment letter from HR to show that you are employed.


3. Letter from Financial Controller


4. Latest 3 months Pay slips


5. If you are married, bring along your marriage certification



**Please bring along your IC, Passport, DS-160 Confirmation Page, Interview appointment confirmation page, Bank draft/receipt, Visa photos during the interview day.

On the day of interview:

1. Please go to the US embassy 20 minutes before your interview time.


2. Security Guards will give instructions on which queue you need to follow according to the interview time.


3. Please provide your IC and Interview appointment confirmation page security counter. You will be given a Visitor Card once you have report for interview.


4. All the electronics devices (camera, cell phones...etc), belongings, water bottles are NOT allowed to bring into the embassy premises. You have to leave them in the security guard house, and claim back when you leave the embassy.


5. Your bag and body will be scanned before you go to the waiting room.



6. After you have passed all the scanning, you can proceed to the main building of the embassy. Take a number and go the right hand side of the room to wait for your turn.



7. You will be called to proceed to the processing counter which located on the side of the waiting room.


First call:

8. You are required to pass your passport, 1 of your visa photo, bank draft/receipt of the visa application, and the bar-coded confirmation page to the counter.


Second call:

9. You are required to scan all your ringers print on a electronic devices. (the instructions will be shown on the LCD screen in the waiting room, please pay attention)


Third call:

10. You will be interview by a embassy personnel over the counter.


Please DO NOT mention trainings, knowledge transfer if you are applying for a business visa (B1/B2).



If your application is success, you will be given a WHITE Card on the spot and the date to collect your Visa. This white card need to be presented upon your collection of your passport. The method of collecting passport will be based on info you select in the DS-160 form



11. You can leave the main building and go to the security guard house to claim back your belongings.

**There is no dress code for the interview, but is advisable to wear formal attire.**

Hope this info helps.