Non-Immigrant Visas
Frequently Asked Questions
Application
Do babies need application forms?
Yes, all applicants must use a completed, dated and signed electronic visa application form.
Can relatives/friends accompany me to the Consular Office?
No, for the sake of space management and to safeguard the privacy of all applicants, ONLY visa applicants are allowed into the Consular Office. We allow one person to accompany children under 18 and people suffering from specific disabilities.
I have paid and submitted my application, but why must I wait so long to be interviewed?
While applications are submitted on a first-come-first-served basis, you need to make allowances for the time it may take to process your application. The waiting times may vary based on the day’s workload.
Appointment
How can I obtain an appointment?
Appointments can only be scheduled online. You can complete the application form and request an appointment at https://evisaforms.state.gov/default.asp?postcode=YDE&appcode=3
Can I come to the Embassy to book an appointment if I am unable to obtain it online?
No. If you are experiencing difficulties with the online appointment system please send an e-mail to YaoundeNIV@state.gov . We will assist with the online appointment system; however, we will not schedule an appointment request based on an e-mail.
What can I do if I am given an appointment after the beginning of my urgent business/studies/humanitarian action in the United States?
First, keep checking online to see if an earlier appointment becomes available. The schedule is frequently updated and an earlier appointment might become available. In addition, people traveling for business/studies/humanitarian reasons can request an expedited appointment as described in our expedited appointment policy.
Is my appointment time the same as my interview time?
No. Your appointment time is to submit your visa application. You will need to allow time from the submittal of your application to interview.
What if for some reason I have booked but cannot attend my visa interview?
Please go online to https://evisaforms.state.gov/default.asp?postcode=YDE&appcode=3 as soon as possible and cancel your appointment. This allows you to reschedule your appointment to another day and will allow someone else to book the appointment time which you cancel.
Can I come in before my appointment time?
No, although you are advised to arrive 30 minutes in advance to allow for security procedures, you will not be allowed into the Consular Office until your scheduled appointment time.
What if I come late?
Late arrivals will be required to reschedule an appointment for another date and time unless they can show very compelling extenuating circumstances beyond their control.
What Documents do I need to present for a medical emergency appointment?
In addition to all of the documentation requirements normally requested during a visa interview, applicants seeking to travel for medical treatment should provide the following additional documents:
- Medical diagnosis from a local physician, explaining in detail the nature of the ailment and the reason the applicant requires treatment in the United States and the proposed course of treatment.
- Letter from a physician or medical facility in the United States, expressing a willingness to treat this specific ailment and detailing the projected length and cost of treatment (including doctors’ fees, hospitalization fees, and all medical-related expenses).
- Statement of financial responsibility from the individuals or an organization that will pay for the patient’s transportation, medical and living expenses. The individuals guaranteeing payment of these expenses must provide proof of ability to do so, often in the form of bank or other statements of income/savings or certified copies of income tax returns.
Is it true that nationals of Chad, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea can be interviewed at the Embassy in Yaounde? Visa applicants who are nationals of Chad, Central African Republic or Equatorial Guinea may seek visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon, without appointment on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings – i.e. on a walk-in basis. Residents of Chad and Equatorial Guinea should normally apply in Ndjamena or Malabo, as the consular officers in those posts will be better able to evaluate ties in those countries and to approve qualified candidates. In addition, third country nationals who are normally resident in these three countries and can provide proof of their residency status as such can also apply for visas in Yaounde.
Students
What forms should I use to apply?
There are normally two forms all student applicants must use to apply for a visa. First, the DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form; secondly, the DS-158 Contact Information and Work History for Visa Applicants. In addition to these two forms, all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 must also complete the DS -157 Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form.
What should I submit as a returning student to the US after holidays spent at home?
As a returning student, you must reapply through the normal system – and are encouraged to plan ahead and book an appointment before leaving the U.S. Students must submit a new application and obtain another visa prior to returning to the Unites States. As paperwork, you need to submit only (1) the forms mentioned in the previous question and (2) an updated I-20 form. If this has not been updated, you will need to add (3) a letter from your university. It is also CRITICAL that you verify with your school that you remain a student in good standing and that you return to school within the timeframe they provide. Failure to do so can result in the termination of your SEVIS status — and result in students being refused entry at the U.S. border (airport) by immigration inspectors.
What is the SEVIS fee? Most student and exchange visitor visa applicants must pay a one-time SEVIS fee to the Department of Homeland Security, which keeps track of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they maintain their status while in the U.S. The fee is nonrefundable. You may pay this fee online at http://www.fmjfee.com.
As a returning student do I need to pay the SEVIS fee? As a returning student you should already be enrolled in the SEVIS program and have paid the fee. Check with your school or online at http://www.fmjfee.com to confirm your SEVIS status.
Do returning students qualify for the renewal program? Returning students who meet the requirements of the renewal program (link - http://yaounde.usembassy.gov/expedited_visa_renewal_niv.html) may choose to make use of the program.
How long does it take to get an appointment? While we will do our best to assist students to travel in time for the start of classes, we encourage you to apply as soon as you have all the required documents.
Will I be issued a visa? According to U.S. immigration law, applicants for student and exchange visitor visas must prove that they are eligible for a visa. That is, at the time of the interview, you must demonstrate your ability to pay for your studies and your intent to return home rather than stay permanently in the U.S. You must also show you will not engage in prohibited activities during your studies. You should be prepared to discuss your educational plans social, economic, professional and financial ties to Cameroon. Submitting all required documents does not automatically make you eligible for a student visa.
When can I enter the United States? You may enter the U.S. 30 days before you start classes.
What activities are permitted on a student or exchange visitor visa? Every visa is issued for a particular purpose and for a specific type of student. You are permitted to study at the institution specified on your visa. For more information about what you are permitted to do while in the U.S., consult your foreign student advisor once you arrive at your school.
What activities are not allowed on a student or exchange visitor visa? According to American law, students and exchange visitors may not engage in unauthorized employment. If you fail to enroll at your institution by the required date, fail to depart the U.S. after completion of the program, and for F-1 students, fail to maintain a full course load without authorization, you may be ineligible for future visas.
What happens after the interview? Qualified applicants will be issued visas. In most cases, visas will be ready within a few days. In some cases, administrative processing may be required. This processing may take several weeks; so we encourage you to apply for your student visa well in advance. If you are not eligible, you will be given a letter explaining the reasons for the refusal.
How long will my visa be valid? F visas permit you to remain at school in the U.S. for the time your status as a student continues. They only allow you to travel in and out of the United States for 6 months, after which time a new visa application must be filed to allow travel. The validity of F visas for other nationalities varies. The validity of J visas will depend on the length of the exchange program as indicated on the form DS-2019.
I have a valid student or exchange visa in my expired passport. Do I need a new visa? Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if you have valid student visa in an expired passport, do not remove the visa page from the expired passport. You may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the U.S.
My spouse and/or children want to go with me to the United States. Do they need visas? Yes. Your spouse and children should each submit the required visa applications and bring proof their relationship to you, such as marriage and birth certificates. We recommend that families apply for visas at the same time, but if your spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of your passport and visa, along with all other required documents that show their own motivations for returning after their stay.
Do you have any advice for student visa applicants? Honesty is the only policy! You may not be eligible for a visa now, but you can become eligible if your situation changes. However, if you present false information during a visa interview, you can be found permanently ineligible. Therefore, you should always be honest and provide accurate information during the interview. If you violate your student status, you may jeopardize your ability to remain in the U.S. and may be found ineligible for future visas.
Visas
I have obtained a six-month validity visa. Can I stay in the United States for six months?
The immigration inspectors in the US will determine the visitors’ length of stay. Typically, tourist and business travelers will be allowed a stay of up to six months, and MUST request an extension of that period if they wish to remain longer. Staying in the United States beyond the authorized time period without receiving written confirmation of an extension can make travelers ineligible to re-enter the United States for up to ten years.
Does obtaining a visa guarantee that I will enter the United States?
No, the visa issued by the US Embassy does not entitle you to enter the United States of America. Rather, it allows you to travel to the United States border in order to apply for entry. At the port of entry, an Immigration Officer will make a final decision about your entry.
Visa Fees
Why do I pay twice for one visa?
The first fee paid is the $131 MRV (Machine Readable Visa) application fee and is paid by all nonimmigrant visa applicants, except diplomats traveling for official purpose. Funds generated from this fee support border security enhancements in the US. In the case that your application is approved, Cameroonian applicants will be required to pay an issuance fee of $60 USD or FCFA equivalent for a six-month valid visa or $240 USD or FCFA equivalent for a twelve-month valid visa. This additional fee reflects the approximate cost to American citizens obtaining visas to visit Cameroon.
Why do some nationals of other countries not pay an issuance fee?
Unlike the MRV fee, the issuance fee varies for nationals of different countries based on the principle of reciprocity. If for instance American citizens are not required to pay any issuance fee or enjoy visa-free status to a certain country, nationals of that country are not required to pay the issuance fee for a US non-immigrant visa.
Will my MRV fee be refunded if I am refused a visa?
No. The MRV fee is non-refundable because it reflects the cost needed to process a visa application, whether or not that application is finally approved.
Visitors and Business Visas
My relative or business contact in the U. S. sent me an invitation. Does that make a difference? If you have a letter of invitation, it is a supporting document, and you should bring it to the visa interview. However, the interviewing officer may or may not wish to review the document and you are not required to have an invitation letter. Please do not send it to the consular section by post, fax or e-mail.
What activities are permitted on a visitor’s visa? Eligible applicants will receive a B1/B2-class visa, which allows temporary visits for business or pleasure. Authorized activities include tourism, family visits, personal shopping, buying merchandise, taking orders for shipment, and business meetings with potential partners and clients.
What activities are not allowed on a visitor’s visa? According to American law, visitors with B1/B2 - class visas may not engage in certain activities, including working (whether formally or informally), producing artwork, selling items, and performing. For these activities, applicants need an American sponsor to file a petition for them in the U.S., and a different type of visa (not a B1/B2) is necessary. Violation of visitor status may result in ineligibility for future visas.
What happens after the interview? Qualified applicants will be issued visas. In most cases, visas will be ready within a few days. In some cases, administrative processing may be required. This processing may take several weeks and rarely even months; so plan your travel and apply for a visa well in advance. If you are not eligible, you will be given a letter explaining the reasons for the refusal.
How long will my B1/B2 visa be valid? In most cases, eligible Cameroonian applicants are issued multiple entry visas valid for 6 months or 12 months. There is a USD $60 issuance fee (or equivalent in CFA) for Cameroonians to obtain a six month visa and a USD $240 (or CFA equivalent) for a 12 month visa. A visa only allows a person to travel to a U.S. port of entry (airport, seaport or land border crossing), where an immigration officer will decide whether to admit the traveler. If admitted, the immigration officer will also authorize the length of stay in the U.S. A 12 month multiple entry visa does NOT allow a 12 month stay in the U.S.
Can a U.S. Citizen sponsor my application for a visitor's visa? No. U.S. Citizens may not sponsor a visitor's application - a visitor must qualify individually for a U.S. visa, regardless of a concerned U.S. citizen's interest in the case.
Doesn’t it help my application if a U.S. Citizen is sponsoring my travel? Not necessarily. In general, there is no provision of law which requires a sponsoring U.S. citizen to pay your costs of travel or to ensure that you leave the United States at the end of your authorized stay. Because of this, the fact that a U.S. citizen is willing to pay for your travel does not necessarily help your application. You must still demonstrate, on your own, sufficient ties outside of the United States.
Do you have any advice for applicants? Be accurate, be honest and be realistic. First, follow directions carefully, and complete your application personally. If you are not eligible for a visa now, you may become eligible if your situation changes. However, if you present false information – or fail to present requested information on your application or during a visa interview, you can be found permanently ineligible. Therefore, you should always be honest and provide accurate information during the interview and your application forms. Finally, if you have been refused a visa and nothing substantial has changed since the time of your interview another application conducted using the same legal standards will typically result in an a brief and unsuccessful interview.
Denial
When can I reapply if I am denied a visa?
There is no time restriction for re-application following visa denial. However, unless there has been a significant change in your circumstances it is unlikely that a second application will result in visa issuance. Specifically, obtaining additional documentation following a visa denial does not alter the underlying facts, and is therefore unlikely to assist a re-application.
Can I appeal my refusal?
No, nonimmigrant visa denials cannot be appealed. However, you may reapply provided that your circumstances have change.
Why did the Consular Officer deny/approve my application without seeing all my documents?
If the interview and other basic documents have provided enough information about your circumstances, ties and the nature of your trip, the Consular Officer may make his/her decision to deny/approve your application without requesting any further documents.
Is there any secret reason why I have been denied a visa?
No. Consular Officers base their decision on the account provided at interview and supporting documents produced on the day of your application.
Does a denial mean I can never travel to the United States?
The vast majority of applicants are denied based on section 214b of the Immigration and Nationality Act which requires them to demonstrate to the consular officer that they are not an intending immigrant. Denials made on this basis do not reflect a permanent decision, and will not adversely affect future visa applications. If you reapply, a different Consular Officer will consider your application afresh and make his/her own decision. Applicants denied for fraud or other reasons will be informed in writing of their visa denial and the impact it has on future applications.
Departure Records
Departure record Form I-94 / I-94W. What should I do if my departure card was not collected when I left the U.S.? If you returned home with your Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) departure record Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) in your passport, it means that your departure was not recorded properly. It is your responsibility to correct this record. You must provide the Department of Homeland Security sufficient information so your timely departure from the United States can be recorded. This will close out your earlier record of arrival to the United States.
If you do not validate a timely departure from the United States, or if you cannot reasonably prove otherwise when you next apply for admission to the United States, the Department of Homeland Security may conclude you remained in the United States beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, the next time you apply to enter the United States, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your port of origin.
In particular, visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States under the Visa Waiver Program cannot reenter the United Sates in the future without obtaining a visa from a United Sates Consulate. If this occurs and you arrive at a United States port-of-entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, United States immigration officers may order your immediate return to your port of origin.
To validate departure, the Department of Homeland Security will consider a variety of information, including, but not limited to:
• Original boarding passes you used to depart the United States.
• Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph); and
• Photocopies of other supporting evidence such as:
o Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you were in another country after you departed the United States.
o Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States.
o School records showing attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States.
o Dated credit card receipts, showing your name (with the credit card number deleted), for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States.
Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above.
You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. The Department of Homeland Security CANNOT return original materials after processing. To help explain the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. You must send your I-94 together with the explanatory letter and accompanying information/documents only to the following address:
ACS Inc.
1084 South Laurel Rd.
London, Kentucky 40744
USA
Do NOT mail your departure Form I-94/I-94W or supporting information to any United States Consulate or Embassy, to any other Department of Homeland Security office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location can the necessary corrections to Department of Homeland Security records be made to prevent inconvenience to you in the future.
Fraud
What is a fraudulent document?
A fraudulent document is any document that does not give a truthful account of your circumstances or position.
What happens to applicants presenting fraudulent documents?
If an applicant presents fraudulent documents, we will deny the application, confiscate the fraudulent documents and we will cooperate with local law enforcement in the event we believe a violation of Cameroonian law may have occurred. Additionally, committing fraud can render applicants permanently ineligible to visit or live in the United States.
What should I do if some people offer me fraudulent documents?
We highly recommend that you reject such offers and if possible, please report them to the Consular Section and/or local authorities. Any report will be handled with the strictest confidentiality.
Visa Scams
What can I do if I suspect an e-mail/advertisement/phone call is actually a visa scam?
Please email all details to us via consularyaounde@state.gov and we will authenticate the information for you.