How to Apply
Domestic Employees (Maid)
All domestic employees must obtain a nonimmigrant visa (B-1) prior to arrival in the United States. Minor children included in a parent’s passport require their own application. Note: Travelers born in the United States and those with U.S. citizenship must enter and depart the United States with a U.S. passport and do not require a visa.
Personal interview: Visa applicants ages 14 through 79 must appear in person before a Consular Officer for an interview and to scan their fingerprints for biometric identification. Note: Applicants with passports from Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria: if you are 14 years or older, you must fulfill the interview requirement.
Applicants should request an interview at the Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their area of permanent residence. For example, those applying in Kuwait City should be Kuwaiti citizens or hold legal Kuwaiti residency and be able to demonstrate strong economic, familial and/or social ties to the country.
During the visa interview, employees will be expected to discuss their work history and current terms of employment. The employee’s sponsor should appear for the interview as well and should expect to discuss the terms of employment, in the United States and Kuwait, with the adjudicating Consular Officer. The employee must have at least one (1) year of employment with his/her current sponsor in order to qualify for a B-1 visa.
How to Apply?
1) Schedule an appointment: To begin the application process, visit https://evisaforms.state.gov/default.asp?postcode=KWT&appcode=3 to schedule your visa appointment online. This website contains scheduling instructions and links to online visa application forms. When scheduling your appointment, please include your phone number and email address so that we may contact you if necessary.
2) Application requirements:
Documents: Complete the following documents in their entirety and bring them to your interview at the Embassy:
Nonimmigrant visa application (DS-156): Include the full address where you will be staying initially while in the United States. Effective October 1, 2006, you will be required to fill out this form online, print it and bring it with you to your interview. The Consular Section will no longer accept the DS-156 completed by hand.
Supplemental nonimmigrant visa application (DS-157): Only if you are: 1) a male applicant age 16 through 45 OR 2) an applicant (male or female) age 16 and older with a passport from Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.
Domestic employee contract: Signed by the employer and domestic employee and ensuring all employee rights and privileges as guaranteed under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) including payment of the hourly minimum wage ($6.55) or prevailing wage for the metropolitan area to be visited, whichever is greater. The contract must also specify a provision for overtime compensation (150% of normal wages) should the domestic employee work more than 40 hours a week. The employee must receive compensation for all hours spent on the premises of the sponsor. If the employee does not understand English, the employer must provide a certified translation of this contract in the employee’s native language. The sponsor and employee should understand the employee cannot be required to remain with the sponsor after working hours without compensation and the sponsor cannot withold the employee's passport.
Note: Incomplete or unsigned forms will not be accepted.
• Photograph: Provide one (1) photo with the following requirements:
• 5cm x 5cm in size
• Taken within the last six (6) months
• In color or black and white
• White background
• Display full face (looking directly at the camera)
• Wearing sunglasses is not acceptable
• Head coverings: Women: acceptable for religious reasons but may not cover any portion of the face including the forehead, jaw line, eyebrows and cheeks. Men: not acceptable.
• Military, airline or other personnel may not wear hats or uniforms
• Passport: 2 copies of your passport photo page. Your name and date of birth must be written in English by the issuing country (even for minor children included in a parent’s passport). The passport must have a minimum validity of six (6) months.
• Visa application fee: A Burgan Bank receipt, A Burgan Bank receipt, valid one (1) year from the date of issuance, for the $131 (40KD at current exchange rate) fee is required. Have your passport with you when paying the fee. This fee is nonrefundable even if a visa is not granted. This fee is waived for those traveling on diplomatic passports or on official government business.
3) Recommended documents: U.S. immigration law requires that nonimmigrant visa applicants present evidence of strong economic, familial and/or social ties to a residence outside of the United States to which they are compelled to return. Applications unable to demonstrate such ties will be refused. The Consular Section recommends providing the following documents that can demonstrate such ties:
a. Proof of employment
b. Salary certificate
c. Bank statement(s)
d. Previous passport showing prior international travel
For additional visa information, please visit the Department of State website or Destination USA.
Click here to watch a short video about the application process.
After reviewing the frequently asked questions, email us at consularkuwaitm@state.gov if you still have an inquiry regarding consular services.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE DAY OF YOUR INTERVIEW