FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Q1: Where can I apply for a nonimmigrant visa to the United States?  How much does it cost?

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.

Click here for specific requirements based on the type of visa you desire. 

All nonimmigrant visa applicants must pay a nonrefundable application fee of 40.5 KD (US $131), which may be paid at any branch of Burgan Bank.  Citizens of certain countries may be subject to additional fees at the Embassy once their applications are approved.  Please refer to our visa reciprocity table for more information concerning these fees.

 

Q2: When should I apply for a visa? 

The Consular Section strongly suggests that applicants apply well in advance of their intended travel date.  For most of the year, appointment wait times are less than two (2) weeks.  During the summer travel season, however, the appointment wait time can exceed four (4) weeks.  The Embassy issues most visas within 24 hours.  However, some applications require additional processing, which can last from one week to two months. 

Applicants requiring urgent medical travel to the U.S. may request an expedited appointment.  Please visit this web page for instructions on how to Request An Expedited Appointment.

Q3: What are the criteria for receiving a visa? 

Consular Officers must apply the provisions of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in determining visa eligibility.  For most visa categories, INA Section 214(b) is governing.  This section of the INA states that, "Every alien shall be presumed to be an intending immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the Consular Officer, at the time of the application for a visa ... that he is entitled to nonimmigrant status...."

During the interview process, Consular Officers evaluate the strength of an applicant’s economic, family and social ties, as well as their intent to return to their home country.  Proof of these ties may come in many forms, but interviewing Officers must ultimately conclude that an applicant will return to their country of residence after a temporary stay in the United States.  Because of the volume of applications received, Officers must decide after a brief interview whether an applicant is qualified to receive a visa.  Applicants should therefore be prepared to present their case clearly and concisely.

 

Q4: What are some examples of adequate ties to Kuwait?

Consular Officers consider factors including, but not limited to, employment, family ties financial circumstances and real estate holdings. These factors generally bind an applicant to their country of residence and increase the likelihood that they will return home after a brief stay in the United States.  For younger applicants who have not yet established these ties, an Officer may evaluate at his/her specific intentions, familial relationships, educational status, academic achievement and future prospects.  Every situation is unique, and there are no set criteria for establishing adequate ties.

 

Q5: Why are visa interviews so short?

The visa application forms generally supply most of the relevant information for a visa interview.  Consular Officers review thousands of these applications every year and often only need to ask a few supplemental questions to determine an applicant’s eligibility.  In addition, high demand compels Officers to adjudicate applications as expeditiously as possible.  In order to be fair to all applicants and to provide everyone with an equal opportunity to establish eligibility, we must work quickly and efficiently.

Q6: Is a denial under Section 214(b) permanent?  When can I reapply?

No, applicants may reapply for a visa at any time.  However, in order to avoid a subsequent denial, applicants should postpone reapplying until their overall circumstances have changed substantially.  In addition, previous visa refusals should be disclosed on the visa application form.

Q7: I presented all the documents I was told to bring, but my application was refused anyway.  What else should I bring? 

Documents can be helpful in assisting Consular Officers to evaluate an applicant’s overall situation, but they are not essential.  Ultimately, applicants are evaluated based on the totality of their circumstances, regardless of the documents they do or do not bring to their interview.  Remember, U.S. immigration law presumes that an applicant is an intending immigrant until they establish to the satisfaction of the Consular Officer that they have a residence abroad which they do not intend to abandon.

Q8: I have heard that it is better to say that I am going for business than for tourism or to see relatives.  Is this true?

Applicants should always be truthful during a visa interview.  If an applicant misleads a Consular Officer, the Officer will determine that the applicant is not credible and that they do not overcome the presumption of being an intending immigrant (INA Section 214(b)).

Q9: Do student visa applicants still need to overcome INA Section 214(b)?

Yes.  Students must prove that they intend to pursue a full course of study, and that they will leave the United States after completing their education.  If a student visa applicant's primary purpose of travel is to facilitate an indefinite stay in the United States and not to pursue education, the application will be refused.

Q10: What do I do if my passport is expired, but my U.S. visa is still valid?

You may travel to the United States with a valid visa in an expired passport as long as the visa’s biographic information (name, date of birth, nationality, etc.) matches the information in your new passport.  This applies to all visas issued before September 11, 2001 as well.  You should also ensure that the visa is not damaged in any way. 

 

Q11: How may I register a comment or complaint about the visa application process?

The U.S. Embassy actively strives to ensure that all visa applicants receive courteous, efficient and consistent treatment.  Customer service is very important to us.  If you have a comment or complaint about your experience at the U.S. Embassy, please send us an email at consularkuwaitm@state.gov. We will promptly investigate your concerns and take corrective action, if necessary.


If you have other questions which are not answered here, please visit the Department of State website.   You may also email your question to the Consular Section at consularkuwaitm@state.gov.