Consulate General Belfast

VISA SERVICES

Visa Information

This website contains comprehensive information on visa-free travel to the United States (U.S.) and both non-immigrant and immigrant visas for travel to the U.S. The U.S. Consulate General in Belfast is not open for walk-in visa enquiries. If you cannot find the visa information you require on this website, you may contact a live operator by telephoning our call center at 09042-450100. The lines are open Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 9:00pm, and on Saturday between 9:00am and 4:00pm. Calls are charged at £1.20/min from BT landlines. Some mobile and network providers may charge more. This number can only be dialed from within the UK.

Callers from within the United States who wish to obtain information should dial 1-866-382-3589. Callers are charged a fixed rate of $16:00 for up to 7 minutes which is payable by credit card (MasterCard, American Express or Visa). Please ensure that you have your credit card details available when making the call. You will not be charged for the call until payment has been taken.

If you have a question that has not been addressed on this website and with which the live operator at 09042-450100 or 1-866-382-3589 is unable to help you, you may email your query to consularbelfast@state.gov.

Visa-Free Travel under the Visa Waiver Program

Check that you and your passport meet the criteria for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program by using the Visa Waiver Wizard at http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/visa_wizard.html.

If you qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, you must apply for travel authorization at http://esta.cbp.dhs.gov before you go. You should apply for authorization well in advance of travel. Authorization once granted is good for up to two years.

Who Needs a Visa?

Anyone who is not eligible to enter the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program or is not exempt from the visa requirement is required to apply for a U.S. visa.

What Type of Visas are Available?

Non immigrant Visas: A nonimmigrant visa is required by anyone seeking temporary admission into the U.S. who is not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program, or is not exempt from the visa requirement. Nonimmigrant visas cover visits for tourism, business, work or study. The Consulate General in Belfast does not issue Treaty Trader/Investor (E) visas or Fiancé (K) visas. The Embassy in London is responsible for issuing E and K visas to residents of the United Kingdom.

For further information about the various categories of nonimmigrant visa (business, work, student, etc.), refer to http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/index.html.

Immigrant Visas: An immigrant visa is required by anyone seeking to take up indefinite or permanent residence in the U.S. The Consulate General in Belfast does not issue immigrant visas. The Embassy in London is responsible for issuing immigrant visas to residents of the United Kingdom.

Applying by Mail for a Non-Immigrant Visa in Belfast

Most visa applicants must arrange an appointment for a personal interview with a consular officer in order to apply for a visa. However, there are limited exceptions to the interview requirement. If you are a resident of Northern Ireland and you are currently physically present in Northern Ireland and any one of the following categories applies to you, you may submit your application by mail:

• You are a child under the age of 14; or
• You are an adult aged 80 or over; or
• You are applying for a diplomatic or official visa.

Within the above group, however, the following must apply in person for a visa:

• Anyone who answers yes to question 38 on the visa application form DS-156;
• Applicants aged 14 or over who were born in or hold a passport from North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan, Iran or Libya.

If you are eligible to apply by mail, send the following by Royal Mail Special Delivery to the Visa Section, U.S. Consulate General, Danesfort House, 223 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5GR:

• A completed visa application form DS-156;
• A current passport in good condition with at least one blank page;
• One passport photograph that conforms to our specifications;
• The visa processing fee is $131 (diplomatic and official visa applications are fee exempt). You may either submit a bank draft or international money order in dollars made payable to the "U.S. Disbursing Officer", or, a completed and signed "Credit Card Authorization Form" authorizing us to the charge the $131 to the signatory's credit card;
• Any documents you need to submit in support of your application; e.g. an official request for a diplomatic or official visa from a qualifying employer. Other applicants should refer to the below section Documentation Required in Support of a Visa Application for further information in this regard;
• A prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope for the return of your passport.
You should allow a minimum of five working days for visa processing; and
• Any applicable visa issuance fees. Please refer to the below section Additional Fees for further information in this regard.

Applicants must be physically present in the United Kingdom to apply for a visa by mail. We reserve the right to request any applicant to appear for interview after reviewing his or her visa-by-mail application.

Applying in Person for a Non-Immigrant Visa in Belfast

Every visa applicant apart from those very specific and limited exceptions indicated in the section above must apply for a visa in person. Any visa applicant who is physically present in the UK may attend a visa interview at the Consulate General in Belfast. Visa interviews are by appointment only.

Scheduling an appointment for visa interview in Belfast

Please telephone our call center at 09042-450100 to schedule an appointment for interview. The lines are open Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 8:00pm, and on Saturday between 9:00am and 4:00pm. The service is not available on British public holidays. Calls are charged at £1.20/min from BT landlines. Some mobile and network providers may charge more. This number can only be accessed from within the UK. If you are outside the UK, you may have a friend or family member in the UK call to book on your behalf.

Callers from within the United States can schedule an appointment by telephoning 1-866-382-3589. Callers are charged a fixed rate of $16:00 for up to 7 minutes which is payable by credit or debit card (Mastercard, American Express or Visa). Please ensure that you have your credit or debit card details available when making the call. You will not be charged for the call until payment has been taken.

The operator will ask the caller to provide the following information about each visa applicant(s): name; address; email address; date of birth; place of birth; nationality; passport number; visa category; and confirmation that the applicant has the necessary documentation to support the application. Students and Exchange Visitors will be asked to confirm that they have the necessary form I-20 or DS2019 and that they have paid the SEVIS fee. Exchange visitors will be asked to provide the program number from their form DS2019. Temporary workers will be asked to provide their petition number. Payment of the visa processing fee ($131 per applicant) MUST be made by credit or debit card (Mastercard, American Express or Visa but NOT Visa Electron) during the call.

The call center will email or mail each applicant an appointment letter, a fee receipt, instructions on the application process (including hyperlinks to the application forms each applicant must complete and hyperlinks to information about the supporting documentation each applicant must present), and instructions on how to locate the Consulate General.

If you have booked an appointment but have not received your appointment confirmation letter and MRV fee receipt, you can access both using your birth date and passport number at http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/appointment_letter_and_fee_receipt.html.

Please be sure to book in advance as the wait time for an appointment can be several weeks.   Click here for the current wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview in Belfast.

The Visa Interview

Visa interviews at the U.S. Consulate General in Belfast, are usually held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings between 8:15 am and 12:30 pm but this schedule is subject to change. Visa applicants will not be admitted to the Consulate General without a pre-arranged appointment. Only the visa applicant will be admitted to the Consulate except in the following circumstances: where the applicant is a minor (under 16); where the applicant needs an interpreter; or where the applicant is disabled and requires assistance.

Please note that there are no parking facilities for visitors to the Consulate General. Disabled applicants with the appropriate parking permits should contact us at consularbelfast@state.gov to make special arrangements.

Visa applicants can expect to be at the Consulate General for approximately two hours. Do not bring any of the following with you to your visa interview at the Consulate General: mobile phones; blackberries; i Pods; PDAs; large bags; backpacks; suitcases; packages of any description. Those applicants who bring any of the above will experience considerable delays at the security check point and will delay the entire process for themselves and others. You may wish to bring some reading material to pass the time. Our waiting room is quite small and applicants are sometimes required to queue outside, even in inclement weather. Please dress appropriately for Belfast's variable weather conditions.

FINGER SCANS:   We electronically fingerscan all visa applicants. We cannot finger-scan an applicant who has a cut or blister on any finger or thumb or who has a skin-condition that will prevent us from obtaining a good quality print. If you have a cut or blister on any finger or a condition that might prevent us obtaining a successful finger-scan, please reschedule your appointment when the cut or blister has healed or the condition has cleared up.

How long will it take to process my visa application?

The vast majority of visa applications can be processed to conclusion in 1-2 working days.

Some visa applications, e.g. for applicants who have been arrested cautioned or convicted of a crime, or who have previously been refused admission to the U.S., or who have previously violated the terms of a U.S. visa or of the Visa Waiver Program, can take several days, weeks, sometimes even months, to process depending on the specific circumstances of the application.

Other applicants who are advised at the time of the visa interview that their application will require additional administrative processing should allow at least 60 days and in some cases longer for this stage of the application to be completed.
Important Notice: Before making inquiries about status of administrative processing, applicants or their representatives will need to wait at least 90 days from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents, whichever is later.

WE CANNOT GUARANTEE VISA ISSUANCE IN ADVANCE NOR CAN WE PREDICT IN ADVANCE HOW LONG ANY APPLICATION IS LIKELY TO TAKE TO PROCESS. WE THEREFORE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR VISAS WELL IN ADVANCE OF TRAVEL AND THAT THEY DO NOT MAKE FINAL TRAVEL PLANS UNTIL THEIR VISA APPLICATION HAS BEEN PROCESSED TO CONCLUSION.

How will my passport be returned to me?

All passports are returned by mail. Visa applicants must provide a pre-paid (minimum postage paid), self-addressed, Royal Mail "Special Delivery" envelope with their visa application for this purpose. Envelopes should be purchased at a UK post office prior to the appointment date and submitted with the application at the visa interview. One envelope is sufficient for up to four passports. The U.S. Consulate General cannot return a passport without a prepaid Royal Mail “Special Delivery” envelope.

If you reside in the Republic of Ireland

Applicants residing in the Republic of Ireland must apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin. Application information can be obtained and an appointment can be scheduled by calling the Republic of Ireland Visa Information Service.

Documentation required in support of a visa application

Every visa applicant is required to present the following documentation at their visa interview:

• Appointment letter and receipt: If you have booked an appointment and have not yet received your appointment confirmation letter and MRV fee receipt, you can access them using your date of birth and passport number at http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/appointment_letter_and_fee_receipt.html.



• Application Form DS-156: A completed form DS-156 is required of all visa applicants. As well as the printed hardcopy of the 3-page DS-156 with barcode, applicants are advised to bring a saved copy of the DS-156 with them on disc or memory stick/pen. If you bring a saved copy of the completed form with you on disc or memory stick/pen and your hardcopy is unscannable, we will reprint the document for you. If your hardcopy is unscannable and you have no back-up, we will not be able to proceed with your interview.
  
  Important Note: Important Note: Applicants who check "yes"" on the visa application form (see question 38 of form DS-156) to any of the questions regarding specific categories of persons who may be inadmissible to the United States are required to supply explanatory documentation. Examples are: a police certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) issued within 6 months of the date of the visa interview, previous visas, immigration or medical records. Please note that the UK Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law. Therefore, even if your conviction is considered "spent" in the UK, you will be required to submit a police certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).


Visa applicants who have been arrested or convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) may be required to undergo a medical examination by a U.S. Government (USG) panel physician following their formal visa interview. At present, the only USG panel physician for the UK is based in London. After the visa interview, applicants who are required to undergo a medical examination will be provided with contact details for the clinic in London. An appointment for a medical examination can usually be obtained at relatively short notice. The fee for the medical examination is between £135 and £200 plus VAT depending on the tests carried out. Applicants who test positive for drugs and who therefore require Gas Chromatography will be charged an additional £140. It will take approximately four working days for the results of the medical examination to reach the Consulate General.

People who have been afflicted with a disease of public health significance, have a mental dis-order, or a history of drug abuse/addiction will need to submit a letter from a doctor, specialist and/or other professional person familiar with their case. Please refer to http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/add_mental.html for further information in this regard. Such applicants may be required to undergo a medical examination by a U.S. Government (USG) panel physician following their formal visa interview. See section above for details. Those who are HIV positive should refer to http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/add_hiv.html for information.


• Application Form DS-157: ALL male applicants aged 16 to 45 must also complete the form DS-157. This form is also required of any applicant (male or female) aged 16 or over who was born in or holds a passport from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria.



• Passport: British and Irish passport holders must present a passport valid for at least the duration of the trip. Other nationalities, except those listed at http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/sixmonth.html, must present a passport valid for at least 6 months. Passports must have at least one blank page and must be in good condition. Applicants who are not British, Irish or other E.U. citizens must submit proof of their U.K. immigration status.
  
  NOTE: Those flying to Northern Ireland from any other part of the UK should be aware that they will be required to leave their passport at the consulate for visa processing. Please check with your airline to determine what alternate form of ID will be acceptable to check-in for your return flight. We have an arrangement with Easyjet,Flybe and Manx2 whereby we can provide documentation for the return journey if no other form of acceptable ID is available.



• Photograph: One full-face color taken against a white or off-white background within the last six months is required of all applicants, including babies. The photograph must conform to our specifications. Affix the photograph firmly to the space provided on the DS-156. Place staples on the edge of the photograph, not in the middle of it, as the photograph will appear on the visa.



• Documentation demonstrable ties to a country other than the U.S.:

  ALL visa applicants except those applying for official (A or G), temporary worker (H1), intra-company transferee (L1), alien of extraordinary ability (O1), or religious worker (R) visas must provide evidence to show that they have a residence abroad to which they intend to return at the end of the stay in the U.S. This is generally established by evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to some country other than the U.S. sufficient to compel the applicant to return there at the end of a temporary stay in the U.S. Applicants resident in the UK will be required to show strong social and economic ties to the UK.

  Examples of such evidence might include: a letter from the applicant's employer indicating how long they have been employed, their position, their salary and accompanied by recent payslips and/or tax records; a letter from the applicant's school/college/university confirming that the applicant is an enrolled student with a confirmed place in the institution to return to; unemployed applicants might provide documentation to show how long they have been unemployed, and the extent of the benefits they receive e.g. income, housing, children's allowance, disability living allowance, etc.; other evidence might include proof of ownership of a business, property ownership, tenancy agreements, etc.

  Note: Although we accept applications from anyone physically present in the UK, as our consular officer has no way of verifying or evaluating information from other countries, applicants whose ties are to a country other than the UK may have difficulty meeting this requirement.




• Proof of previous travel: Prior, expired passports, including any that contain previously issued U.S. visas



• Stamped, addressed Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope: Passports are returned to the applicant by mail. Visa applicants MUST provide a prepaid, self-addressed, Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope for this purpose. No other form of delivery is acceptable. You must keep a record of the Special Delivery envelope reference number. These envelopes can be purchased at any UK post office. One special delivery will be sufficient for up to 4 passports.

There are also specific additional documentary requirements depending on the purpose of travel as described below.

• Business travelers: Those traveling to the U.S. on business must submit a letter from their UK employer and/or the inviting organization in the U.S. that states their name, date and place of birth and foreign address and which also contains information regarding the purpose, location, duration of, and source of funding for the business trip to the U.S. The letter should address in some detail the specific duties/activities to be undertaken by the employee in the U.S.



• Business on the Outer Continental Shelf: Those business travelers who will be performing services on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) must provide a letter from their employer naming the specific ship(s) on which they will be performing services, and a letter from the U.S. Coastguard confirming that the ship(s) named in the employer's letter have been exempted from the OCSLA regulations restricting the employment of non-Americans and non-resident aliens on the OCS. The employer's letter should also indicate whether the employee is a permanent employee or a contractor, and if permanent how long the employee has been with the company, and the duration of the employee's assignment on the OCS.



• Volunteers and Missionaries: Those traveling to the U.S. to volunteer or to undertake missionary work must submit a letter from the organization in the U.S. The letter should include the applicant's name, date and place of birth, address in the UK, and initial address in the U.S. It should also include information on the nature of the organization, whether the organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, the exact activities to be undertaken by the volunteer or missionary, and details of how the volunteer/missionary will be supported, e.g., an allowance from the organization or self-funding. If self-funding, the applicant will be required to furnish documentation to show that s/he has sufficient funds to support her/himself for the entire proposed duration of stay. The duties/activities of a volunteer must provide assistance to the poor, ill or needy, or must further a religious or charitable cause, or must traditionally be carried out by volunteers. A missionary must not engage in the selling of articles and/or the solicitation and acceptance of donations.



• Academics/Doctors/Researchers: Those traveling to the U.S. to attend a conference or to undertake research or training, will be required to submit detailed information on the conference (where, when, organized by, topic, etc.) including a conference brochure if possible, a complete CV/Resume, a list of publications, the names and contact details of three people who can provide a reference, a description of the subject to be discussed/researched/taught, a tentative itinerary, an abstract of any conference paper to be presented, a letter of invitation from the organization in the U.S. and information about funding for the trip, e.g. a letter from the UK institution if they will fund the trip, or bank statements if self-funded.



• Traveling to the U.S. for Medical Treatment: Those traveling to the U.S. for medical treatment will be required to furnish documentation from the medical facility in the U.S. describing the treatment to be received, the required length of stay in the U.S. and the full cost of treatment. They will also be required to furnish financial documentation to show that they have access to sufficient funds to cover all associated costs.



• Domestic Employees: This category of persons includes, but is not limited to, cooks, butlers, chauffeurs, housemaids, parlormaids, valets, footmen, nannies, au pairs, mothers' helpers, gardeners, and paid companions. Personal or domestic employees who are accompanying or following to join an employer who seeks admission to, or who is already in, the United States in nonimmigrant status will be required to submit a signed employment contract which contains statements that the employee is guaranteed the minimum or prevailing wage, whichever is greater (www.dol.gov), and free room and board, and the employee will be the only provider of employment to the employee. The employee must show that s/he has been employed by the employer for at least one year or that the employer has regularly employed domestic help over a period of years and that the employee has at least one year's experience as a personal or domestic servant.



• Student and Exchange Visitor (F, J or M) visa applicants: Those traveling as students or exchange visitors must bring a completed visa application form DS-158 and a form I-20 (for Fs and Ms) from their school/university or DS-2019 (for Js) from their program sponsor. Where the DS2019 indicates that the applicant is a "Trainee" or "Intern", the applicant must also submit a form DS-7002 from their program sponsor.

  Student and Exchange Visitor visa applicants are required to show that they have paid the SEVIS fee where such a fee is necessary. For information on who needs to pay, how much, and how to pay, please refer to www.fmjfee.com.

  Applicants should ensure, prior to interview, that the biographic data on their I-20 or DS-2019 are correct, i.e., name, date of birth (the U.S. date format is month/day/year rather than the British day/month/year), and country of citizenship. If traveling on a British passport, the country of citizenship should read GRBR or UK. If traveling on an Irish passport, the country of citizenship should read IRE.

  
  Additionally, F, M, and J visa applicants will be required to furnish financial documentation in support of their applications. Those whose I-20 or DS2019 shows that they are funding themselves or are being funded by family members will be required to furnish bank statements showing that they or their family members have access to the necessary funds. Those whose I-20 or DS2019 shows that they are being funded by a private sponsor or an organization in either the U.S. or the UK will be required to furnish documentation to show that this is the case, e.g., scholarship documentation, a letter from the funding organization, bank statements showing that the private sponsor has access to the necessary funds, etc. Students and exchange visitors who are enrolled at a UK school/college/university for the next academic year will be required to submit a letter from the institution confirming this.



• H, L, O, P, Q and R visa applicants: Those applying for a temporary worker (H), intra-company transferee (L), alien of extraordinary ability (O), athlete/artist/entertainer (P), international cultural exchange visitor (Q), or a religious worker (R) visa must be able to provide the receipt number of the approved I-129 petition. This number is provided by the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after the petition filed by the prospective employer to accord the alien H, L, O, P, Q or R status has been approved. Applicants will also be required to provide a copy of the petition and its supporting documents.
  Blanket L-1 visa applicants must submit the original and 2 copies of the form I-129S, and 3 copies of the supporting documentation, i.e. the blanket petition approval notice and the company letter describing the company (when established, number of employees, turnover, nature of business, etc.), the applicant's history with the company and his experience and qualifications, and the position the applicant will take up in the U.S.. Blanket L-1 visa applicants are required to pay an additional $500 Anti-Fraud fee prior to their visa interview. This must be paid at the Consulate on the day of the interview. We accept cash, dollars or sterling. We also accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express,Novus/Discover and Diners Club credit cards and debit cards that bear the Visa or Mastercard logo. We do not accept personal checks.



• Members of the Media: Those members of the media (definition includes but is not limited to members of the press, radio or film such as reporters, film crews, editors and persons in similar occupations) traveling to the U.S. to engage in the production or distribution of material that is informational or educational in content require an "I" visa. Such applicants must submit a letter from the foreign media organization stating the applicant's name, position in the organization, the purpose of the visit to the U.S., the intended duration of stay, and the nature of the material to be produced or distributed. Freelance journalists and employees of independent production companies will only be considered for the "I" visa if they are under contract to a media organization. Note: If the project is of a commercial or entertainment nature, rather than informational or educational, a "P" visa may be more appropriate (see above).

Additional fees

If your visa application is approved, it may be necessary for you to pay a visa issuance fee, based on reciprocity between the government of your country of nationality and the U.S. This fee is payable following your interview. We accept cash, dollars or sterling. We also accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express,Novus/Discover and Diners Club credit cards and debit cards that bear the Visa or Mastercard logo. We do not accept personal checks. Please note: If you are applying by mail and are subject to a reciprocity fee, you may either submit a bank draft or international money order in dollars for the appropriate amount made payable to the "U.S. Disbursing Officer", or, a completed and signed "Credit Card Authorization Form" authorizing us to the charge the appropriate reciprocity fee to the signatory's credit card.

back to top ^