How to Apply
Temporary Worker
All temporary workers must obtain a nonimmigrant visa 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.
The visa classification depends on the work in which the traveler will engage in the United States:
H-1B: persons in a specialty occupation which requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge requiring completion of a specific course of higher education. This classification requires a labor attestation issued by the Secretary of Labor;
H-2A: temporary or seasonal agricultural workers;
H-2B: temporary or seasonal nonagricultural workers. This classification requires a temporary labor certification issued by the Secretary of Labor;
H-3: trainees other than medical or academic. This classification also applies to practical training in the education of handicapped children;
L: intra-company transferees who, within the three preceding years, have been employed abroad continuously for one (1) year, and who will be employed by a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of that same employer in the U.S. in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity;
O-1: persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or extraordinary achievements in the motion picture and television field;
P-1: internationally recognized athletes (individual or team) or members of an entertainment group;
P-2: artists or entertainers who will perform under a reciprocal exchange program;
P-3: artists or entertainers who perform under a program that is culturally unique (same as P-1); and
Q-1: participants in an international cultural exchange program for the purpose of providing practical training, employment, and the sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of the alien's home country.
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.
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.
Requesting an expedited appointment
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.
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 last six (6) months
• In color or black and white
• White background
• Displays 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: A copy 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.
Applicants with a valid $100 (30.5KD) Burgan Bank receipt purchased before January 1, 2008, do not need to pay the higher fee if they are interviewed on or before January 31, 2008. Starting February 1, 2008, applicants with a still valid $100 (30.5KD) Burgan Bank receipt must return to Burgan Bank and purchase a second receipt for $31. You can then present both receipts at the interview.
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) demonstrating sufficient funds for travel
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.
For interview inquires kindly send an email to visaapptkuwaitm@state.gov.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE DAY OF YOUR INTERVIEW