Embassy of the United States

Visas

Applying for a Visa

NOTICE: Effective immediately, the visa application fee must be paid in cash or by credit card in the U.S. Consular Section, on the day of the appointment.

All applicants age 14 and above must apply in person and need to schedule an appointment via our telephone-operated system before coming to the Embassy.   In all cases, the Consular Officer may request a personal interview, additional information or documentation as deemed necessary.

The consular section does not accept walk-in applications nor can you make an appointment by calling the consular section. All appointments must be made by calling 0032-(0)2-7881200. Calls cost 15 euros (see Step 1 below).

In case of an urgent need to travel to the U.S., i.e. only in case of a serious, documented medical emergency/death in the family/U.S., please call 0032-(0)2-7881200 (calls cost 15 euros) and inform the operator that you have a medical emergency. Please note that at the moment of the visa application interview, you will need to submit evidence of the medical emergency/death.

Applying For A Non-Immigrant Visa in four steps

Step 1: Schedule an appointment using the telephone-operated system.  Number: 0032-(0)2-7881200. Calls cost 15 euros (including VAT). more

Step 2: Prepare the required documents.  Once you have obtained an appointment, you should prepare the following documents:

• a valid passport with at least two blank pages.  The Belgian passport must be valid for the duration of the intended stay in the U.S.
  Some countries signed a contract with the United States by which their passports are recognized as being valid for 6 months beyond the expiration date mentioned in the passports. If you are not a Belgian citizen, click here.
  


• The EVAF (Electronic Visa Application Form) visa application form DS-156 must be used for ALL types of non-immigrant visas.  An electronic application form DS-156 with a barcode, duly filled out and signed.  Please click on the following link to the electronic visa application form. Complete the electronic form; form DS-156 must be completed in English. Press "continue" at the bottom of the screen and then print the form. Make sure that the third page, containing a bar code, is printed as well. Important : the bar code must be complete and must be clearly printed (see example below).
  
  

  Bar code OK	Bar code NOT OK

  
  Sign DS-156 form and present the completed and signed form, with other required documents, at the moment of your visa interview. Do not send this form to the American Embassy by email or fax.   Please note that only the online application forms DS-156 with a barcode, known as the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF), are accepted. Visa applicants without the EVAF are not accepted for the interview.
  



• for all male applicants between the age of 16 and 45: Supplemental Form DS-157. Please download form DS-157 in PDF format (click here: English / Dutch / French), complete the form and present it at the moment of your visa interview.
  


• Additional supporting documents which may vary according to the requested type of visa.  For additional documentation suggested, please click on the "Non-Immigrant visas" link to the left of this screen. 
  


• one recent color photo with a white background, taken within the last 6 months, with a clear full face and front view image. Photo size : 5 cm by 5 cm. This is larger than the standard Belgian passport photo size!  The image size, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair), should measure between 2.5 cm and 3.5 cm.  Please note that your visa application will not be accepted for processing if the photo dimensions are not correct. To check photo requirements and a list of photographers, click here.
  
  
• a receipt of payment of 91.70 euros (visa application fee) per applicant, payable IN CASH OR BY CREDIT CARD, IN THE U.S. CONSULAR SECTION, on the day of your appointment.  To avoid long queues, please arrive at the Consular Section 15 minutes PRIOR to your appointment to pay the fee.  This fee cannot be reimbursed, even if your visa application is not approved.
  
  Note: Some nationalities (but not Belgians) need to pay an additional visa issuance fee based on reciprocity between the United States and the country of nationality of the applicant. The visa issuance fee must be paid in the Consular Section in cash or with a credit card (Visa, American Express, Master Card, Discover) either in dollars or euros.


• a valid residence card for Belgium, if you are not a Belgian citizen.
  
  We can accept applications from persons who are physically present in our consular district but who are not resident here. However, you should be aware that language difficulties and interviewing officers' unfamiliarity with local conditions in other countries may make it more difficult to demonstrate your qualifications for a visa here than in your home district or at a post designated for your application.
  


• One self-addressed small POSTPAC envelope (229 mm x 152 mm) per person, with Belgian registered mail postage of 5.78 Euros.
  
• a Belgian registered mail receipt filled out with your name and address.  For future reference, please keep a copy of your registered mail tracking number.   
  -Please write your name and address on the envelope and stick the stamps on the envelope.
  
• Residents of the Netherlands and France, applying in Belgium, will need Belgian registered mail postage of 7.30 Euros on their self-addressed POSTPAC envelope (229 mm x 152 mm). 
  - Please do not use machine-printed meter tape, but regular stamps. For mailing in Belgium, please use only Belgian stamps for national mailing.  For mailing to the Netherlands and France, please use only Belgian stamps for international mailing. 
  - You will not receive your visa at the interview.   Delivery of registered mail usually takes 5 business days or less, but can take longer.   Residents of the Netherlands and France: please note that international mail delivery generally takes longer than 5 business days.  The Embassy cannot  held responsible for extra costs due to changing tickets or rebooking flights if delivery is delayed.  We therefore strongly urge you NOT to purchase tickets until you have received your visa and passport in the mail.   The U.S. Embassy no longer offers visa pick-up service.
  


• If all these requirements are not met, the Embassy will not accept the application for processing.

Step 3: Go to the interview.  You present yourself at the consular section with the required documents (see list above). The consular section will try to process all applicants as quickly as possible. However, you should be prepared for the possibility of spending several hours at the Consulate.

Step 4: Get your passport back via registered mail.

When the Consul has approved your visa application, your passport with your visa will be mailed to you by registered mail two days later(weekends and holidays not included).  Delivery of registered mail usually takes 5 business days or less, but may also take longer. Residents of the Netherlands and France: please note that international mail delivery generally takes longer than 5 business days.  Some employment-based visas will be mailed four days after the visa interview (weekends and holidays not included). Please note that some applications will be delayed because of further administrative processing.