Required documents
Please go through the detailed list below. Verify whether any of the documents specified in points 6, 7 or 8 correspond to your visa application.
IMPORTANT: All visa applicants older than 14 years old will need to appear in person for their interview at the Consular Section. Minors up to 13 years of age are not required to appear in person. Parents may submit the children’s documents for them. In the case of family groups, please do not forget to submit the family book, birth certificate, or any other documentation that can certify bonds.
Documents to be submitted by each applicant, including minors:
1) A VALID PASSPORT with one empty page to stamp the visa.
2) PREVIOUS PASSPORTS if you have any. Put them all together with a rubber band in chronological order.
3) PROOF OF PAYMENT: Every visa applicant must submit an original bank receipt showing payment of the peso equivalent of the USD 131 visa application fee. You may pay this fee at any branch of Banco Ciudad de Buenos Aires or at any ATM that is part of the LINK network. The bank will let you know the current peso amount to be paid. Please remember that you must present the receipt that is labeled “Para la Embajada”. If you plan to do the payment through LINK ATMs, these are the steps you need to follow:
- Insert the card and enter your PIN
- Choose the option “PRESTAMOS Y OTROS SERVICIOS” on the screen
- Choose the option “PAGO VISADO PARA EEUU”
- Confirm the transaction.
The ATM will provide a ticket that the applicant will have to present at the interview.
IMPORTANT: Only the original receipt provided by the cashier at Banco Ciudad or the Link ATM will be accepted. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
4) ONE PHOTOGRAPH:Please pay attention to the photograph specifications:
- A photograph taken within the last 6 months (5 X 5 cm). It should be taken against a white background, with the applicant facing the camera directly.
- The face must be totally visible, ears exposed, there should not be any bangs covering the forehead.
- If you wear glasses, you will have to take them off. The head must be uncovered, without the use of caps, handkerchiefs or turbans unless the applicant‘s religion prohibits the absence of a head covering
- The face should cover 50 percent of the area of the photo from the neck up.
- The photo must be clear and sharp, with very good resolution. Unclear, blurred photos will not be accepted. Avoid the use of "homemade" photos that do not use photography paper.
- Please glue or staple the photograph to the DS 156 form following the instructions. Please place the staple as far away from the face as possible.
5) A DS-156 FORM for each applicant, regardless of age, must be completed electronically. If you present a hand written form, your application will not be accepted. Please follow the following instructions to fill the form:
- Access the web site http://evisaforms.state.gov
- Read the instructions carefully on how to complete the information requested on the DS-156 form. The 41 fields on the form must be completed without exception.
- You should use either an ink-jet or laser printer to print the completed application form to get a readable barcode. Forms printed with a low quality printer will not be accepted. Please verify that that the printed form is totally readable. Use only white paper with black ink.
- The applicant must print the DS-156 form, which consists of three pages, and present the completed form on the day of their appointment. The last page has a bar code that is mandatory at the appointment and will help expedite the process.
6) A DS-157 FORM All male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45, regardless of nationality, must fill out a DS-157. In addition, all applicants, regardless of gender, 16 years of age and older who are a native or citizen of the following countries must complete the DS-157: North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan and Iran. You may download the form by clicking HERE.
7) A DS-158 FORM should only be submitted by people applying for F1, M1, J1 and for dependants applying for F2, J2, M2 visas). This form must also be presented by all derivative applicants 16 years-of-age and older. You can download it at the following link: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79965.pdf
8) OTHER FORMS:
- If you are traveling for business, or to take part in a conference, training course or any purpose other than tourism, you will need to submit information to prove it. If the company you work for will cover the expenses of the trip, submit a letterhead indicating it.
- If you are applying for a crew member visa, you will need a letterhead from the company requesting the crew member visa, and indicating your occupation, seniority and duration of the contract.
- If you are applying for a journalist visa, you will need to submit a letterhead from the company requesting the journalist visa, and indicating your occupation, seniority, purpose and duration of the trip.
- If you are applying for a temporary worker visa that requires a petition approved by DHS (Department of Homeland Security), of any of the following classifications: H1B, H2B, L1, P1, O1 or R1, you will need to submit the following documents: the original or a copy of the I-797, the I-129 form if you have it, and the contract. In the case you are applying for an L1 Blanket Petition visa, you will need to submit three copies of the I-129 and you will also need to pay a $500 fee –or the equivalent in pesos- that could be paid in cash or with the following international credit cards: MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Diners, on the day of the interview at the Embassy. This is a fraud prevention and detection fee. Accompanying family members (spouse, child) of H1B, H2B, L1, P1 or O1 visa holders will need to submit a copy of the I-797 (or copies of the I-129 in the case of L1 Blanket Petition visa dependants) if you have it or copy of the principal alien’s visa and the family book that shows the ties with the principal alien.
- If you are applying for a student or exchange visa, you will need to submit the I-20 or DS-2019 form, respectively, and proof of SEVIS payment. Also, J-1 applicants in the intern and trainee categories, who present DS-2019 forms issued on or after July 19, 2008 need to provide a DS-7002 form (Training/Internship Placement Plan) when applying for a visa.
- If you are applying for a domestic employee visa, please visit the following link: http://spanish.argentina.usembassy.gov/domestic_employees.html. The interview will be conducted between the consular officer and the domestic employee. The employer will not be able to enter the Consular Section and take part in the interview.
9) DOCUMENTS BINDING TIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The officer will make a decision at the interview and is not obliged to review the documents. Nevertheless, the consul might request evidence that helps him make a final decision such as income, salary receipts, tax payments, AFIP papers, bank accounts, credit card statements, education, or the status of family members living in the US. Passports with a US visa of family members (wife/husband).
The Consular Officer will inform you if the visa has been approved at the interview’s conclusion. If approved, the officer will keep your current passport and give you a ticket with which you will pay $40 (pesos) for the delivery of your passport through DHL if you live in Capital Federal or Greater Buenos Aires, and $45 (pesos) if you live in a province. This cost applies for up to five passports belonging to a family group. Due to new processing requirements, the U.S. Embassy cannot guarantee expedited or same-day processing of visa applications. From the date of the interview, the average time for a visa to be cleared, printed, and delivered through DHL or our visa partners (Amcham and the Bi-National Centers) is approximately 3-4 days. Delivery times may be somewhat longer for applicants who reside in remote areas.
Important Note: Please arrive on time for your interview and be aware that the time of your appointment is when the process starts. In addition, 50-60 appointments have been scheduled at the same time, so the wait time at the Embassy could take up to 2 hours.
Security inspection: Do not bring backpacks, book bags, cellular phones, palm pilots, or any other electronic devices or liquids, as this will delay your entrance to the Embassy. The Embassy will not be responsible for any damage that these objects may suffer.