Advice for Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Applicants

NIV applicants are seen by prior appointment only on weekdays.  We are closed on U.S. and Indonesian holidays, and weekends.  Make appointments at https://evisaforms.state.gov/default.asp?postcode=JAK&appcode=3.

We must see all NIV applicants in person, except for applicants:

• for diplomatic (A) NIVs http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/consular/NIVDIPLOMATIC.html or

• younger than 14 or older than 79 years of age, who are not interviewed in person and do not come to the embassy.  An immediate relative (parent, spouse or child) may submit their complete NIV application and passport on their behalf.

Information is freely available on the internet.  We can only make a decision if you pay the fee and apply for a visa.  We have insufficient resources to simultaneously accept telephone inquiries and serve our customers.  We cannot take responsibility for information provided by telephone.  Please check the internet, read carefully the provided information and print it out for your reference.  Please see these web pages for more visa information:  U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), http://www.dhs.gov; immigration, http://www.uscis.gov; entry, http://cbp.gov/; U.S. Department of State (DOS), http://travel.state.gov; and U.S. federal government, www.USA.gov.

If you hold a passport from a country besides Indonesia please check the website of the U.S. Embassy in that country for visa information specific to your nationality.  A full list of U.S. Embassy websites can be found at http://usembassy.state.gov.  It is a grave error to believe that applying for a visa in Indonesia will be simpler or easier than applying in the applicant’s home country.  If you have no long term status in Indonesia the best place to apply for a visa is in your home country.  U.S. visa law is the same around the world and we give applicants without a long term, established connection to Indonesia extra scrutiny.

A visa application or appointment does not equal eligibility.  Certain visa applicants require additional, lengthy administrative processing, which may delay travel to the U.S.  Some visa applicants may simply be ineligible.  The applicant bears all responsibility for qualifying for a visa.  There is no prescreening, interim visa or expedited processing.  By seeking a U.S. visa you confirm that you understand, agree to, and accept full and sole responsibility for the outcome of your visa application.

There is no same day visa processing.  Successful visa applicants should expect that it will usually take two work days for a visa to be issued after all required administrative processing is complete.  Any required further administrative processing will be accomplished in Washington DC, not here, and we have no control over the pace or scope of administrative processing, nor do we have discretion to waive administrative processing.  We cannot that a visa will be ready in time to suit the traveler’s desires, so we urge visa applicants to apply early.

Please come to your appointment on time and fully prepared.  There is no chance to complete documents or take photos at the embassy.  Be prepared to be inside for 2 hours or more.  Applicants who come unprepared should expect to be turned away and must reschedule their appointments at https://evisaforms.state.gov/default.asp?postcode=JAK&appcode=3.

Special registration:  Travelers to the U.S. who are subject to special registration, such as the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), or require waiver of a visa ineligibility, must deal directly with DHS.  Please see www.ice.gov/pi/specialregistration/index.htm concerning special registration and www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/ports/ for a list of ports of entry.  DOS consular officers are unable to help with DHS matters.

U.S. entry:  A visa allows the bearer to seek entry into the U.S.  The decision to allow entry, and the terms of entry, rests solely with DHS immigration inspectors.  For complete documentary requirements for U.S. visas and entry please see www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/visa_info.htm and http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/ before proceeding to the U.S.  Entry advice is unavailable through the embassy, either by telephone or in person. 

Physical access to the consular section, due to security procedures and limited space, is only for:

• visa applicants with appointments, who are aged 14 and older and younger than age 80. 

• one helper or translator, who must bring a photo ID, for any visa applicant who is disabled or illiterate in English or Bahasa Indonesia;

All other interested parties, to include relatives, friends, travel agents, advisors and attorneys of applicants, must wait outside and away from the entrance.

In addition, we must limit telephone access to calls that we initiate or solicit.  We cannot accept unsolicited telephone calls from attorneys, visa applicants or other interested parties to any of our staff.  The embassy telephone operator has no information on visa or consular matters.  Attorneys and others may email inquiries to Jakconsul@state.gov.  We will individually reply in about 2 business days to only those email inquiries that we deem to be valid and need a specific reply from us. 

All applicants must undergo strict security screening prior to entry. LEAVE AT HOME AND DO NOT BRING:  electronic or battery powered equipment, cameras, cell phones, food, liquids or dangerous articles of any kind.  There are no storage facilities at the embassy.

EACH VISA APPLICANT IN JAKARTA, REGARDLESS OF AGE, GENDER OR NATIONALITY, MUST COME FULLY PREPARED AND BRING SEPARATELY:

• Your visa appointment letter.

• Passport or travel document valid for 6 months beyond your U.S. stay.

• Fully completed, printed out and signed visa application (electronic DS-156 only), at http://evisaforms.state.gov.

• Fully completed, printed out supplemental visa application (DS-157) at http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79964.pdf by males 16-45 years old. 

• Recent front view 5 cmx5 cm passport photo on white background stapled to DS-156’s lower right corner.

• Nonrefundable NIV application fee of USD 131 per applicant, paid in exact USD cash or exact equivalent in IDR.

• Students or exchange visitors (F, M, J):

  • DS-158 at http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79965.pdf,

  • I-20, I-20M or DS-2019,

  • SEVIS fee receipt, paid at www.fmjfee.com, and

  • proof of funds to pay for study.

• Temporary workers or transfers (H, L, O, P, Q):  notice of action (I-797).

• For any scientific or high-technology related travel:  a letter explaining what you do outside of the U.S., a letter of your intentions in the U.S, your current resume and list of your publications.

• If you were previously in the U.S. any documents attesting to your status, lawful or otherwise.

• Criminal/court records and extract of relevant law, pertaining to any arrest or conviction, all with complete English translation, even if later pardoned.

• Knowledge of your trip to, and intentions in, the U.S.

Citizens of Iran, Sudan, Libya, Iraq, North Korea, Cuba and Syria must apply in person, regardless of age or gender.

Visa Timing:  Average Wait Time (calendar days) before the next appointment is available.  Visa Processing:  Average Wait Time (workdays) after the appointment for approved visas to be prepared.  All applicants should be aware that the times noted above are AVERAGES and the processing time of a specific application can vary due to individual circumstances.  No prior assurance can be given that an applicant is eligible for a visa or an approved visa will be ready in time to suit the applicant's plans.

Expedited appointments may be available in genuine emergencies.  Please see our Visa FAQ page for procedures.  Such expedited appointments are very limited in number and their availability cannot be assured.

Student (F and M) and exchange visitor (J) visa applicants should identify themselves to us at Jakconsul@state.gov in advance of their appointment if they are within one month of their U.S. school’s start date. 

Still confused? Please check out our most frequently asked questions page. Or, for more information, please contact one of our visa assistants by phone at + 62 (21) 3435-9050 (between 13:00 and 15:30 WIB only), by e-mail at jakconsul@state.gov or by fax at + 62 (21)385-7189.