Barcode Sample
NonImmigrant Visas
Non-Immigrant Visas
Business and Tourist Visas
According to U.S. immigration law, all applicants for tourist and business visas must prove that they are eligible for a visa. During your interview with a consular officer, you must demonstrate that you will return to Cameroon at the end of your trip and that you will not engage in prohibited activities during your trip. Do not rely on your documents to accomplish this. You should be prepared to explain your reasons for travel, previous international trips, and your social, economic, professional, and financial ties to Cameroon. Please note that your actual circumstances, not your documents determine if you are eligible for a tourist and business visa. The Consular officer may ask for your documents to support the information which you have verbally provided during the course of the interview. However, the consular officer routinely makes decisions based solely on information provided in your application together with your answers to questions raised.
Consular officers can consider visa eligibility only during the visa interview. Therefore, you should bring to the interview any additional information which may help to establish your eligibility, such as medical statements, employment letters, financial information, business documents and previous passports. Do not send documents directly to the Embassy!
Once you have an appointment date and time for your interview, please pay attention to these instructions. To be admitted for your visa interview, you must be present at the Embassy with all required online forms fully completed plus your photos and fees on that date and at that time. You may contact the consular section to find out the cost of fees. Latecomers will be denied entry and must make another appointment to pursue a visa application.
Please do not forget to bring the third and final page of the form which is identifiable by the large barcode (see sample barcode above left). Be sure that the barcode on the third page of the electronic application is clear.
If the barcode is not clear, you must reprint the application on another printer. If we are unable to read the barcode, we may not be able to process your application and you may need to reschedule your appointment. Please note that applicants who arrive at the Consular Section without their own completed application forms in hand will not be interviewed and will have to reschedule their interview appointments. This includes small children even if they are included in a parent’s passport. All people wishing to travel with minor children must bring their birth certificates and notarized parental authorization letter from both parents giving the minor permission to travel.
You must bring the following items to your appointment:
- A completed DS-156 or EVAF DS-156 application form.
- Males between the ages of 16 and 45 also need form DS-157 – available online at http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0157.pdf.
- A current passport valid for at least six months after your planned arrival in the U.S.
- One 5cm x 5cm photograph for each applicant with a white background.
- Non refundable application fee of USD $131 (or CFA equivalent).
- If your visa is approved, there is a USD $60 issuance fee (or equivalent in CFA) for Cameroonians to obtain a visa valid for multiple entries during a period of six months; a one-year multiple entry visa is USD $240 (or CFA equivalent).
Important Note: The Consular Officer will interview the applicant and seek clarification as needed. The Consular Officer may request employment documents, bank statements, property or business papers, previous passports as proof of prior travel, etc., in order to verify statements made on the application. All applicants will be electronically fingerprinted. Based on the interview and the documents the Consular Officer will determine the applicant’s eligibility for a visa.
A Special Note about Fraud: Please note that making false statement or submitting false or altered documents in support of a visa application can result in your visa being denied and/or your being declared permanently ineligible for a visa.
The visa application process is straightforward and there is no need to pay for additional services. Please inform the Embassy if someone asks for a bribe so that we can take appropriate action.
Helpful links for more information:
• Current Wait Times for NIV Interviews
• Visas for temporary visitors
• USCIS Temporary Workers for petition based employment visas
• USCIS forms
