Summer Travel

Installment Sixty Two

Q: How can I prepare accordingly for summer travel to the United States?

As summer approaches and the schools begin to close many people are beginning to make plans for summer vacation, some of which may include travel to visit family or friends in the United States.  Ideally applicants should make their appointments at least two months before the date that they wish to travel.  If you are planning to travel this summer and do not yet have an appointment, you should make one soon.

Planning ahead will help avoid the disappointment and inconvenience of disrupted travel plans.

Q: What do I need to bring to the interview?

Applicants applying for holiday visas only need to bring their passport and application form.  The Embassy will NOT review any additional documents related to holiday visa applications, but will evaluate the applicant’s qualifications based on the interview alone.  We have found this policy allows for better consideration of the applicant’s qualifications.  Our overall approval and refusal rates have not changed since implementing this policy.  All applicants should come to their interview prepared to speak about their reason or reasons for visiting the United States, their ties to Guyana and the general circumstances of their lives.  Applicants applying for visas for other purposes, such as student or crewmember visas, SHOULD come prepared with all required documents.  A list of specific required documents for different visa categories can be found at the Embassy website.

Applicants should check their passports to make sure they have at least six months remaining validity and to ensure that their passports are in good condition and not damaged.  The Embassy cannot put a valid visa in a passport that is damaged or mutilated.

Q: What if I need an emergency (expedited) appointment?

The waiting period for an interview appointment varies with demand.  Typically, the Embassy is able to offer appointments within one to two weeks.  However, during certain times of year, like the busy summer season, the wait can be as long as several weeks.  Qualified applicants can ensure their ability to obtain a visa in time for their planned travel by requesting their appointments early.  Failure to plan ahead for non-emergency travel is not grounds for an expedited appointment; the consular section will schedule expedited appointments only in cases where a genuine emergency exists.

Applicants with emergency travel needs who have tried unsuccessfully to obtain a timely appointment through our on-line appointment system may contact the Visa Inquiry Unit by e-mail at visageorge@state.gov  or by calling 225-7965 or 225-7966 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM to determine if an expedited interview can be scheduled.

Q: If I am issued a Visitor Visa, when will the visa be ready?

Visa applications are subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past. All applicants require a personal interview as a standard part of visa processing. Most qualified applicants receive their visas on the following business day; however, some applicants may be informed at the interview that their applications require additional screening.  The time needed for adjudication of such cases is always difficult to predict.

Therefore, we recommend that individuals allow ample time before their planned travel date when seeking to obtain a visa.

“Ask the Consul” is a weekly column from the U.S. Embassy answering questions about U.S. immigration law and visa issues. If you have a general question about visa policy please email it to us at AskGeorge@state.gov.  We select questions each week and publish the answers in Stabroek News and on our website at http://georgetown.usembassy.gov/guyana/ ask_con.html.  For more information about visas please see http://www.unitedstates visas.gov or http://georgetown.usembassy.gov.

Other than the questions we select, we DO NOT respond to questions sent to Ask the Consul. Please contact the visa inquiries unit (email visageorge@state.gov or call 225-7965 between 8 am- 12 pm and 1 pm- 4 pm Monday through Friday) if you have questions about a specific case.