Welcome to the Consular Section of the American Embassy in Praia

Non-immigrant Visa Services

General Information

The Consular Section issues visas for Capeverdeans and residents of Cape Verde to visit the United States . A visa constitutes permission to apply for entry to the United States at the port of entry, where the immigration officer will determine admittance and length of stay. All Capeverdeans need visas to apply for entrance to the United States , including in transit. Please note that, effective October 1, 2003, and until further notice, holders of passports from all countries except those that are part of the Visa Waiver Program need visas to transit the U.S. Visas are issued in accordance with the Immigration and Naturalization Act, as amended, enacted by the United States Congress.

As of June 1, 2007, all visa applicants, except those applying for visas for diplomatic or official travel, must schedule their visa interview and complete their application on-line. Click on Schedule Your Visa Interview to complete your application and schedule your appointment. Visa Applicants between the ages of 14-79 are required to be digitally fingerprinted during the visa interview, and all those applying for all visa types other than visas for diplomatic or official travel must appear in person for the interview - this includes minor children.

All visa applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for their visa at least two (2) weeks prior to their intended date of travel.

Visas issued will generally be ready for pickup the next business day. Visas issued may be picked up between 4:00 and 4:30 Monday through Friday.

Address and Contact Information:
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy Praia
Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia
Email: praiaconsularsection@state.gov

Below are the basic steps you should take in applying for a non-immigrant visa at U.S. Embassy Praia:

Step 1: Learn more about the non-immigrant visa process, such as eligibility and frequently asked questions.

Step 2: Download and Complete the Visa Application Forms. All applicants worldwide must complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application on-line. For more information, be sure to read this section.

Step 3: Make an Appointment to interview with a consular officer at our Embassy in Praia .

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee at any branch of Banco Comercial do Atlántico.

Step 5: Have Your Photo Taken. The dimensions we require are different from those used by most photo shops, so be sure to review this section.

Step 6: Prepare for your interview. Gather the documents that you will need for your interview.

Step 7: Bring Your Application to the U.S. Embassy Praia .

STEP 1: GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

Citizens of a foreign country wishing to visit the United States temporarily generally must first obtain a non-immigrant visa. There are many types of non-immigrant visas depending on one’s reason for traveling to the U.S. For general information on non-immigrant visas for the U.S. as well as the various the types of non-immigrant visas, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Website: Temporary Visitors.

U. S. law requires that your eligibility for a non-immigrant visitor’s visa be determined on the basis of strong, well-established ties to a residence outside the United States , as well as on the basis of reasonable, credible plans for your visit to the United States . The consular officer’s decision is not made on the basis of any one single fact or document.

Students and Exchange Visitors

Every year many thousands of visitors come to the U.S. to study. There are special applicant requirements for studying in the U.S. so visitors should plan ahead before applying for a student visa. To find out more about how to apply for a visa to pursue studies in the U.S. visit: Student Visas. Students who have already been accepted into a U.S. college or university and will be starting school in two months or less should follow the procedures outlined in the section Expedited Processing for Urgent Cases and Critical Business Travel.

Journalists

If you are a journalist and you wish to come to the U.S. for your work, be sure to review the rules governing: Media visas.

Visa Waiver Program

Temporary Visitors from certain countries may travel to the U.S. without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Visitors must not only be citizens of a Visa Waiver country they must also meet the requirements of the program. To determine if you might qualify to travel to the U.S. under the VWP, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Website: VWP

Medical Cases

Applicants who wish to go to the U.S. for urgent medical care should contact the U.S. Embassy Praia at 260-89-00 or the Consular Section via email at praiaconsularsection@state.gov. The Consular Section will make every effort to schedule and process the applicant’s case as quickly as possible. Applicants who wish to receive non-emergency medical treatment in the U.S. should follow the standard Appointment Process.

Applicants with medical issues (even urgent medical conditions) still need to meet the legal requirements of a non-immigrant visa. In addition to paying the non-refundable non-immigrant visa processing fee of $131.00 (or the equivalent amount in CV Escudos) at any Banco Comercial do Atlantico (BCA) in Cape Verde and filling out the DS-156 form electronically, applicants with medical cases also need to provide:

· Documentation from a medical professional (doctor) clearly stating the nature of their illness or injury.

· Documentation from a medical professional (doctor) clearly stating what type of medical care is required.

· Evidence that the applicant (or a sponsor) can pay for his/her medical expenses in the U.S. This evidence may include but is not limited to:

· A declaration from the applicant’s employer regarding his/her employment status and monthly salary.

· A bank statement from the applicant of no less than one year.

· A thoroughly completed Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) from one or more sponsors in the U.S. with supporting tax documents (1040 and W2 from) the most recent tax year. For an electronic copy of the Affidavit of Support, click here: Form I-134.

Expedited Processing for Urgent Cases and Critical Business Travel

The Consular Section understands that there are times when applicants have urgent cases that need expedited processing. An urgent case may be one of the following:

· A death in the family.

· An urgent business matter.

· The need to attend a Court hearing.

· A student whose classes will start in the U.S. in less than two months.

Applicants with an urgent need to travel to the U.S. should contact the U.S. Embassy Praia at 260-89-00 or the Consular Section via email at praiaconsularsection@state.gov. The Consular Section will make every effort to schedule and process urgent cases as quickly as possible. Applicants should be prepared to present documentary proof that their case requires expedited processing. Depending on the type of case, proof might include:

· Death cases -- Death certificate (or letter from accredited U.S. funeral home).

· Urgent business cases -- Documents from a reputable U.S. business explaining the nature of the urgent business matter.

· Court cases -- Court summons (or other legal document explaining the need for the applicant’s presence in the U.S. ).

· Students – Documents from the student’s college or university, a form I-20, proof of SEVIS fee payment.

Drop Box Process

A Drop Box process is available for A and G visa applicants (Foreign Government Officials and International Organization official travel). However, A-3 and G-5 applicants cannot use the drop-box process. People that qualify for the Drop Box may deposit their completed visa application with the Consular Section every Monday from 8:00am until 9:00am. A and G visa applicants who qualify for the Drop Box must provide the following:

· A completed and signed application Form DS-156 filled out electronically.

· Men from the age of 16-45 must also complete Form DS-157.

· One (1) recent passport photograph, 1.5 inches square, for each applicant including minor children and infants. Photographs should be no more than 6 months old. Every applicant must have a full front face photo. Do not staple on the head or face of photograph.

· A passport valid at least six months beyond your expected arrival date. (Persons who are not a resident of Cape Verde should present their residence permits or passport with the applicant’s Cape Verdean residence visa).

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STEP 2: DOWNLOAD AND COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORMS

All applicants worldwide must complete their Nonimmigrant Visa Application form electronically at http://evisaforms.state.gov. Electronically completed application forms allow us to avoid having to manually enter your personal data into our system on the day of your appointment, thereby allowing the consular officer to interview you more quickly.

Please make sure to print all three pages of the DS-156 application (including the page on which the bar code is printed) and bring these with you to the Consular Section on the day of your appointment. Please note that the information on the forms cannot be submitted through the Internet. You must complete all of the following forms that are relevant to your circumstances, and bring them with you to the Consular Section on the day of your interview. Click on the form name below to find the forms you will need to submit:

Form DS-156: All non-immigrant visa applicants must complete this form.

Form DS-157: Only male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 must complete this form.

Form DS-158: Only applicants for F (Student), J (cultural exchange) or M (Vocational Student) visas and their dependents are required to complete this form.

Note: In order for the links above to function, you must have access to the Internet from this computer and you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your system. This program can be downloaded free of charge at Adobe's website.

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STEP 3: MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Department of State regulations require virtually all nonimmigrant visa applicants to appear in person at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate and interview with a consular officer. At U.S. Embassy Praia, all nonimmigrant visa appointments are scheduled through an online appointment system.

Please click here to schedule an appointment.

Once you have completed the online visa appointment process, you will be prompted to print a receipt page. Please print and bring the receipt with you on the day of your interview.

Emergency Appointments

If no appointment is available prior to the date the applicant must travel, please send an e-mail to praiaconsularsection@state.gov. Indicate “Emergency Appointment Request” in the subject line of your e-mail and specify the reason why you are not able to wait for your scheduled appointment. Please include a phone number so that a member of the Consular Section staff can reach you to schedule an expedited interview.

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STEP 4: PAY THE APPLICATION FEE

All applicants, with the exception of those noted below, are required to pay the non-refundable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee prior to submitting their application. The $131.00 fee must be paid in escudos at any branch of Banco Comercial do Atlántico (BCA) prior to your interview. The MRV application fee is non-refundable. The receipt remains valid for one year after the date of payment. Persons who are refused visas or choose not to apply after paying the fee will not receive a refund.

Applicants who do not pay MRV fee:

· Diplomatic visa applicants or applicants for “A”, “G” and “NATO” visas.

J visa applicants sponsored by the U.S. Government who are participating in programs which code begins with G-1, G-2, G-3 or G-7 and their derivatives.
U.S. Government employees traveling on official business.

Applicants whose original visa was not properly affixed or needs to be reissued through no fault of the applicant.

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STEP 5: HAVE YOUR PHOTO TAKEN

Please submit, along with your application, one photograph of each applicant. We regret that we are unable to accept photographs that do not conform to the following specifications (such as id photographs):

The size of the photo, including background, must be 2 inches square (roughly 51 mm square).
The photo must be unmounted, full face, taken within the last 6 months.
The applicant must be facing the camera, looking straight on, with the face covering approximately 50% of the area of the photo.
The entire face of the applicant must be shown. From the crown of the head to the tip of the chin, and from hairline side to side, with the ears exposed.
Photo should be in color and have a white background, without borders.

Applicants who arrive at the Embassy lacking the correct sized photographs will be asked to obtain new ones and may need to reschedule their appointment.

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STEP 6: PREPARING FOR YOUR INTERVIEW—GATHERING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Applicants should arrive at the Embassy at least 15 minutes before their interview time. During the interview, your verbal responses to the consular officer's questions will serve as his/her primary source of information about your case. This means that the burden of proof will be upon you (rather than on the documents you bring) to make the case that you qualify to receive a visa.

During your interview, applicants MUST present the following documents to the consular officer:

· A completed and signed application Form DS-156 filled out electronically at the following site: http://evisaforms.state.gov/instructions_Portuguese.asp ;

· Men from the age of 16-45 must also complete Form DS-157.

· Persons wishing to study must present a Form OF-156 (see above), a Form DS-158, and a Form I-20 issued by the school. The applicant must demonstrate the ability to speak English (if necessary for the coursework).

· A passport valid at least six months beyond your expected arrival date. (Persons who are not citizens of Cape Verde should present their residence permits or passport with the applicant’s Cape Verdean residence visa).

· The Non-immigrant visa processing fee receipt issued by Banco Comercial do Atlántico.

You should also be prepared to show the consular officer the following information:

· A current letter of employment showing job title, length of service and monthly salary.

· A bank statement going back at least 12 months.

· A current trade license and current audited financial statements for the past two years showing status of business.

· Passports of any immediate family members not traveling with the applicants.

· National Identification card or Residence card.

If your application is approved, you should be able to pick up your passport with the visa within two business days.

Please do not fax or mail documents to the Embassy. The Embassy will not accept responsibility for documents that have been faxed or mailed in support of a visa application.

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STEP 7: BRING YOUR APPLICATION

The final step in the process of applying for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa is to submit your application at the U.S. Embassy in Praia , and interview with the consular officer. Please bring all the documentation listed in the steps above to the Embassy on the day of your interview.

Questions?

The Consular staff answers questions about all consular issues on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00pm – 4:30pm.

Interested persons may:

· call the Embassy at 260-89-00 during the information hours

· send a fax to (238)-261-2551

· or send an email to praiaconsularsection@state.gov .

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