General Information on Visas

Do you really need a visa?

TRAVEL WITHOUT A VISA

Visit the "Travel Without a Visa" webpage
to check if you meet all requirements to travel without a visa

Many visitors will not need a visa to enter the United States, traveling under the "Visa Waiver Program".

VISA CATEGORIES

If you cannot travel under the Visa Waiver Program, you must apply for a visa.

There are several visa categories, according to the purpose of your travel.

NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS
	B1 / B2 visas	for business and pleasure
	F and M visas	as students
	J and Q visas	as researchers, students, or on education and cultural exchange
	H, L, O, and P visas	as workers, trainees, or specialty occupations
	C1 visas	transiting enroute to another Country
	C1 / D visas	as members of a ship or airline crew
	R visas	as religious workers
	I visas	as a media representative
	E visas	as treaty trader investors
	A, G, and NATO visas	as diplomatic and official travelers

IMMIGRANT VISAS
	Immigrant visas (including K and V)	visas to live permanently in the United States
	Diversity visas (DV-2010)	visas to live permanently in the U.S. as part of the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL NON-IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS

VISA INTERVIEWS

As a result of on-going reviews of visa processes as they relate to border security, the number of required visa interviews and the processing time for receiving visas have increased. Under new regulations, most applicants will be required to appear personally at a U.S. embassy or consulate before a visa may be issued to an otherwise eligible applicant. Appointments are required for visa interviews, and the wait for an available time can be substantial. Appointment procedures vary among the different consulates in Italy. In general, applicants will be placed on a access list to be allowed entry into the Consular Section. Only the applicant will be allowed in. Applicants should not bring cellular phones, large bags, or bulky items with them to the interview, as these items will not be allowed into the Consular Section, and there is no storage space for these items at the Consular Section. Information about how to schedule an appointment is included in each consulate's "application procedures" webpage. An interview is generally not required for the following applicants, but the consular officer reserves the right to request an interview at any time with any applicant:

under 14 years of age,
80 years of age or older,
Most applicants for diplomatic official visas (applicants for A-3, G-5, and NATO-7 must be interviewed)

VISA ISSUANCE, DENIAL, AND VALIDITY

Presentation of documents required does not guarantee issuance of a visa.
Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport, he or she may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States. Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States. If the consular officer should find it necessary to deny the issuance of a visa, the applicant may apply again if there is new evidence to overcome the basis for the refusal. In the absence of new evidence, consular officers are not obliged to reexamine such cases.

NON-IMMIGRANT VISA PROCESSING FEE

ATTENTION: Please see the Announcement at the beginning of this webpage concerning the increase in visa processing fee.
Applicants for U.S. non-immigrant visas for travel to the United States must pay a non-refundable visa processing fee of the equivalent of $131.00 in Euro, according to the Euro zone exchange rate set monthly. Applicants must include the receipt from the "Banca Nazionale del Lavoro" with their application to the visa section of Milan, Florence, Naples, or Rome. Please do not submit a visa application without obtaining a receipt first.

RECIPROCITY FEES

Nationals of certain countries, or recipients of certain types of visas, are required to pay visa issuance fees (called "Reciprocity Fees") in addition to the mandatory visa application processing fee. The additional amount must be paid directly to the Consulate itself. (Reciprocity Fees are not paid at the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro.) The Consulate will advise applicants directly whenever such fees are due. Payments will only be accepted in US dollars, euro and with credit cards (U.S. Consulate Naples is unable to accept credit cards at this time).

LENGTH OF STAY and IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES AT PORT OF ENTRY

A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has authority to deny admission.

A visa is issued based on the nature of the travel. The length of stay is determined by the DHS at the time of entry. At that time, DHS Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure, which notes the length of stay permitted, is validated. Those visitors who wish to stay beyond the time indicated on their Form I-94 must contact DHS to request Form I-539, Extension of Stay. The maximum length of stay for Visa Waiver Program travelers is 90 days, which cannot be extended.

Additional Information

You can find further information on nonimmigrant visas on these websites: