Non-Immigrant Visas

As of April 29, 2009 all consular services will be provided at new Embassy location at: American Embassy Skopje Str. "Samoilova" Nr.21                  1000 Skopje Republic of Macedonia Phone: +389 2 310-2000 Fax: +389 2 310-2299

 

 

 

 

 

What is a non-immigrant visa?

A non-immigrant visa is permission to apply to enter the United States. A visa is issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate and entitles the holder to travel to the United States and apply for admission. A Consular Officer decides whether an applicant is qualified for a visa. The visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a port-of-entry in the United States, such as an international airport, seaport or land border crossing. At the port-of-entry, an officer of the Department of Homeland Security decides whether to allow the applicant to enter and how long he/she may stay. For more information on visas please visit the Consular Affairs website http://travel.state.gov/.

Citizens of certain countries may be able to travel without a visa on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if they meet certain conditions.  All VWP travelers should be aware that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced implementation of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which began to accept voluntary ESTA applications starting on August 1, 2008.  ESTA is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.  ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States, and VWP travelers are encouraged to apply for authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States.  ESTA will become mandatory for VWP travelers from newly admitted VWP countries on November 17, 2008, and for VWP travelers from all VWP member countries on January 12, 2009.  Learn more about ESTA, including how to apply for authorization, on the DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.  Review the Interim Final Rule on the DHS main website.

Non-Immigrant Visa Processing

The U.S. Embassy Skopje is designated as the venue for U.S. nonimmigrant visa services to citizens of Kosovo. To request an appointment for an interview, please purchase a personal identification number at Raiffeisen Bank. Once the pin is activated call 038-247-973 to schedule an appointment. Provide your full name, passport or travel document number, purpose of travel and proposed date of travel. 

Interviews are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Applicants should arrive prepared, and with the following documents:

1. A valid passport or travel document (valid for at least 6 months after your planed date of arrival in the U.S.),

2. A online bar-code generated and signed application form DS-156 that must be completed at http://evisaforms.state.gov  and then printed,

3. A form DS-157 available at http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/;

4. One 5x5 cm, white background, full face color photo, receipt from “Raiffeisen Bank” showing payment of the $131 application fee; and

5. Documentation showing economic and other ties to Kosovo, which will motivate the applicant's return after a temporary stay in the United States.

Applicants for (F) or (M) student visas should have a valid I-20 issued by the accepting school and proof of ability to pay tuition and living costs. 

Applicants for (J) visas (academic and cultural exchange visitors) must present a valid form DS-2019.  Applicants for student visas, work/study, or cultural exchange visas must complete the Form DS-158 also available at  http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/  in addition to the DS-156 and DS-157.

Yugoslav Passports

The Serbian government officially announced that Yugoslav passports can continue to be used as valid travel documents until the end of 2010. The visa section of the U.S. Embassy in Skopje will issue visas to qualified applicants in any valid passport. According to current law in Serbia, Yugoslav passports will not be valid for travel after December 31, 2010. Therefore, the U.S. Embassy can issue U.S. visas in Yugoslav passports until the end of 2010.

However, please note that when you enter the U.S., U.S. immigration officials will not grant permission to stay beyond the expiration date of your passport in most cases. That means they will not give you permission to stay in the U.S. after December 31, 2010, at the latest, if you enter on a Yugoslav passport.

If you are planning a trip later in 2010, we strongly encourage you to get a new passport now. If you already have a valid visa in a Yugoslav passport, please read the message below.

Valid Visas in Old Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Passports for Kosovo Citizens:

Kosovo citizens with valid U.S. visas in an expired or cancelled Yugoslav passport may travel with their old Federal Republic of Yugoslavia passport only together with a new Serbian passport. Please note: the dates of validity of the U.S. visa in the old passport must be current and there should be no cancellation stamps or holes punched through the visa itself. The biodata information (name, date and place of birth, etc.) in both passports must match exactly. When traveling to the United States, you must show both your new Serbian passport and your valid U.S. visa (in your old passport) to airline officials and U.S. border inspectors.

If you wish to travel with a new Kosovo passport you must apply for a new U.S. visa. You also must bring your valid U.S. visa in your old Federal Republic of Yugoslavia passport with you to the visa interview so that the old visa may be cancelled by the Consul. Issuance of a new U.S. visa is not automatic. You must apply and qualify for a brand new visa, and bring all required documents to the visa interview. Please see the following link for instructions on applying for a new U.S. visa: http://macedonia.usembassy.gov/apply_niv.html.

UNMIK Travel Document

While you as a Kosovo citizen can continue to use UNMIK travel document to apply for a US visa, we strongly encourage you to get a new Kosovo passport if you are planning a trip later in 2009. The validity of the UNMIK travel document is a maximum of two years, which means they will most likely no longer be valid as of July 2010. Please note that when applying for a U.S. visa, the travel document must be valid for a minimum of six months after the planned arrival date in the United States.

If you already have a valid visa in a UNMIK travel document please read the message below.

Valid Visas issued with UNMIK travel document:

Kosovo citizens with valid U.S. visas issued with an UNMIK travel document that has expired or cancelled may travel with their old UNMIK travel document and new Kosovo passport together, ONLY/ONLY if the nationality in the valid visa is KSV (Kosovo). If the nationality in the valid visa is SRM (Serbia/Montenegro) then you must apply for a new visa with your new Kosovo passport. Please note: the dates of validity of the U.S. visa  must be current and there should be no cancellation stamps or holes punched through the visa itself. The biodata information (name, date and place of birth, etc.) in both the UNMIK travel document and the Kosovo passport must match exactly. When traveling to the United States, you must show both your Kosovo passport and your valid U.S. visa, along with your UNMIK travel document to airline officials and U.S. border inspectors.

If you wish to apply for a new visa, you must bring your valid U.S. visa together with your UNMIK travel document with you to the visa interview so that the old visa may be cancelled by the Consul. Issuance of a new U.S. visa is not automatic. You must apply and qualify for a brand new visa, and bring all required documents to the visa interview. Please see the following link for instructions on applying for a new U.S. visa: http://macedonia.usembassy.gov/apply_niv.html.