Immigrant Visa applicants must register online in order to pick up their Visa and packets at DHL

Ask the Consul Installment 159

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce an initiative that will allow applicants more flexibility in picking up their visas and immigration packets.  Read on for more details related to these programs.

20150226ask the consulInitiative: DHL Pick-Up.

Q: Why does the U.S. Embassy have a new program for Immigration Visa Applicants to pick up their visas and immigration packets at DHL in Alberttown?

A: Previously, Immigration Visa applicants could only pick their passports and immigrant visa packets up at the Embassy one day a week at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.  Now, DHL provides this service with much greater flexibility for applicants.  After a short processing time, applicants can pick up their passports and immigrant visa packets at the DHL location at 50 E Fifth Street, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Q: What steps must applicants complete in order to pick-up their Immigrant Visas and packets?

A: Each applicant MUST register their Immigrant Visa case at: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gy/iv/facilities before they can pick up the visa package(s) and passport(s) at DHL. For passport security, DHL cannot pass back visas or packets to anyone who is not registered.

Q: How long does it take to register on the website?

A: It only takes a few minutes to complete the registration process on the website.

Q: What happens if applicants don’t register?

A: They will not be able to pick up their passports with immigrant visa packets.

Q: What else do applicants need to bring to DHL to get their passports with visas?

A: Applicants 18 years or older must present the Delivery Instruction Notice, which they will receive at the end of the immigration interview and their National Identification Card, to the DHL office within 30 days of visa approval.

Visas will only be delivered to applicants/passport owners.

For Minors (Applicants under 18): Parents who wish to pick up documents on their children’s behalf must provide proof of their valid relationship by presenting the following documents:

  • The child’s original birth certificate or adoption decree, with at least one of the parent’s full legal name displayed on the document.
  • The parent must prove their identity by presenting a national ID card or passport with a matching name on the child’s birth certificate or adoption decree.

Applicants can confirm if your visa is ready to be picked up by calling this number:  225-8732.

Q: Is the process different for travelers who are only tourists and visitors on holiday visas?

A: Travelers who are applying for other types of visas, for example the B1/B2 visa, commonly known as the “holiday visa”, already have to register on the website to get their interview, which includes free pick up at DHL.  This new process now adds immigrant visas to the other types of visas that applicants pick-up at DHL in Alberttown.

“Ask the Consul” is a regular 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 every other week and publish the answers in Stabroek News and on our website at http://georgetown.usembassy.gov/ask-the-consul.html.

Information about visas and travel can be viewed at http://georgetown.usembassy.gov, http://travel.state.gov, and at http://www.dhs.gov. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare their own documents and avoid third-party advice. U.S. Consular rules change frequently and non-US government advisors often provide inadequate or inaccurate information.

Other than the questions we select, we DO NOT respond to questions sent to Ask the Consul. Please contact the Visa Information Service on telephone number 225-8732 or 703-439-2359 if you have procedural questions or e-mail visageorge@state.gov for case specific information.