Applying for a Visa

How To Apply For A Visa at the US Embassy in Tanzania

Welcome to the Embassy of the United States Visa Application Page.

The United States seeks out and enthusiastically welcomes genuine travelers to our country to do business, to visit family, to explore our culture, to see our sights, to enjoy our natural beauty, to make new friends, to study at our schools, and to exchange ideas.

However, we need to protect our borders against those who intend to commit crimes, to reside illegally, and to do harm in the United States.

The two goals are best summed up by our policy: Secure Borders, Open Doors. Our aim is to balance these two goals in the best interests of both Tanzania and the United States.

Visa Waiver Program for nationals of specific countries

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A VISA?

To apply for a visa, you must follow these steps:

1. Start the application process at application page. There you will complete and print-out the online Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF). Please answer all questions. If a question does not pertain, type “none.” Applicants will be responsible for all the information on their form. The application must be dated and signed by the applicant. It is important also to print out the third page containing the “2D” bar code, which will track your application. Each intending traveler needs an individual application form, even small children included on their parents’ passports.
2. You will then be directed to the on-line application schedule where you will select your appointment date and time. All applications must be made in this format. Please follow the directions for using and printing the form. At the end of the process, you will print out a confirmation for your interview.
3. Complete a DS-157 (download Form DS-157) for each applicant.
4. Attach one recent photograph of each traveler to his or her printed form in the space indicated on the form. The photograph must:
       a. show full front view of face with both ears showing
       b. measure 5 cm (2.5 inches) square
       c. have a plain, white background.
   See the required photo format explained in Nonimmigrant Photograph Requirements.
5. Pay the visa application fee, $131, at Tanzania Limited Citibank (Peugeot House, 36 Upanga Road, Dar es Salaam; 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday - excluding gazetted Tanzanian holidays). The non-refundable application fee must be paid in Tanzanian shillings at the current exchange rate. A fee must be paid for each intending traveler, even small children included on their parents’ passports.
6. Appear at the Embassy (686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani) on the date and time of the appointment and be interviewed by a United States Foreign Service Consular Officer.

Note: Attempting to obtain a visa or entry to the United States by presenting false documents or misrepresenting the facts is fraud and will result in the permanent refusal of a visa. Fraud may be reported to the Tanzanian police.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

The embassy is committing to providing the fastest, most courteous, most efficient service possible. To this end, we are committed to keeping the wait times for interviews as short as possible. Usually, this means that applicants may schedule an interview on the next interview day. The wait time may increase during times of heavy demand. Click here for the current waiting period for a visa interview.

We recommend that applicants apply as early as possible. Keep in mind that the normal validity for Tanzanian citizens is three months (see below at “HOW LONG IS A VISA VALID?”), so applications should not be made more than 90 before the intended date of travel.

On the day of the interview, you can expect to wait from one to three hours, depending on the number of applicants scheduled for that day. At the interview, the interviewing officer will inform the applicant if he or she is eligible for the visa.

In the vast majority of cases, we will issue visas to eligible applicants on the next working day between 2:00 and 3:00 PM (between 9:30 and 10:30 AM on Fridays). Due to mandatory security checks, we cannot issue visas any earlier. Visas will not be available the same day as the interview. Applicants should plan accordingly.

In very rare cases, administrative processing will cause longer delays. The interviewing officer will inform the applicant at the interview if this is the case.

WHAT WILL I BE ASKED DURING THE INTERVIEW?

Consular officers do not have standard questions that they ask each applicant. They tailor their questions to fit each applicant's personal situation in Tanzania. The primary criterion for most visa categories is that you establish your intent to leave the United States and return to a residence in your home country. You should be ready to discuss in detail your job and income, your family situation, and reasons you must return to Tanzania after your visit to the United States. In assessing your credibility, the officer may ask about the why you are traveling, how you are financing your trip, and what your travel arrangements are.

WHAT DO I BRING TO THE INTERVIEW?

• Receipt from CitiBank Tanzania, Ltd., showing payment of the USD $131 (payable in TSH) non-refundable application fee.
• A passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival in the U.S.
• A completed Nonimmigrant Visa Application with 2-D barcode page (third page). If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must complete an application.
• A completed Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-157).

In addition, you are welcome to bring any documents that you feel will help answer questions about your personal situation here in Tanzania and your travel plans. However, presenting any or all of the documents listed below will not guarantee visa issuance. The Consular officer will base his or her decision on your overall credibility. Your willingness and ability to respond in detail to any questions will be much more important than any document you can present.

The following documents may be useful in some cases:

• Evidence of funds in the form of monthly bank statements showing transactions made over the last year. A single month's bank statement is not useful in establishing your overall financial situation.
• Letter from employer indicating salary and leave time; or evidence of self-employment.
• Invitation letter from host or contact in the United States especially if you will be attending any training or professional events or an organization will be paying your expenses.

Invitations, sponsorship letters, or other documents faxed or mailed directly to the Consular Section will not be retained. The applicant must submit all documents with the visa application at the time of the visa interview.

Click for further details on Documents Supporting Your Application.

Students and Exchange Visitors must bring additional documents. Click here to read all the requirements for Students or Exchange Visitors.

WHERE DO I GET APPLICATION FORMS?

Applications must be made though the Electronic Visa Application Form. The only means to do this is to follow the procedures at the application page.

WILL THEY TAKE MY FINGERPRINTS?

As part of the visa interview, a quick, ink-free scan will be taken of your ten fingerprints.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

All applicants must pay the USD $131 visa application fee, payable in Tanzanian shillings at the current exchange rate. This payment is mandatory and is not refundable under any circumstances. If the visa is refused or you abandon your application, the fee will not be refunded. If it is mistakenly paid twice, it will not be refunded. The Citibank receipt is valid for a period of one year.

Applicants for diplomatic visas (A, G, C-3, and NATO), bearers of diplomatic or official passports, and exchange visitors whose travel is paid directly by the United States government are exempt from paying the application fee.

If the visa is issued, there may be an additional visa issuance reciprocity fee. Reciprocity fees vary by type of visa and the nationality of the applicant. Reciprocity fees are based on what your government charges American citizens for an equivalent visa. Applicants pay any issuance fees at the Embassy at the time of the interview. Issuances fees may be paid in U.S. dollars, Tanzanian shillings, or by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card).

For Tanzanian citizens, examples of fees are:

Some examples of fees for citizens of other countries (all below are multiple entry)

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HOW LONG IS THE VISA VALID?

Every visa shows an expiration date. Unless canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. The validity of visa is determined by reciprocity. Reciprocity fees are based on what your government charges American citizens for an equivalent visa. Most visas issued to Tanzanians for business or pleasure are valid for twelve months. Student visas are valid for two years. Travelers must enter the United States before the expiration date.

If you have a valid U.S. visitor 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 United States.

HOW LONG MAY I STAY?

Your visa expiration date does not indicate how long a traveler may remain in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspector at the port of entry determines the authorized duration of stay.

When you go through Immigration at the airport or other port of entry, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspector will determine how long you are allowed to stay in the United States. At that time, the inspector will place an I-94 Form, Record of Arrival/Departure, in your passport. The I-94 Form will indicate the length of stay permitted; it is very important to keep the I-94 Form in your passport. Generally, tourist and business travelers are given a six month authorized stay. Students and exchange visitors are allowed to stay from the duration of their studies or program. Workers are usually allowed to stay up to three years.

When a traveler leaves the United States, the I-94 is collected by the airline and turned in to the DHS to record the traveler's departure. It is very important to give the airline your I-94 upon your departure so that you are not erroneously recorded as overstaying your time in the United States.

Visitors who wish to stay beyond the time indicated on their I-94 Form must contact the DHS to request an Extension of Stay. The decision to grant or deny a request for extension of stay is made solely by the DHS. Please read about entry procedures from Entry Procedures - US - VISIT.

SHOULD I HIRE AN AGENT TO HELP ME OBTAIN A VISA?

Applicants with limited English skills may ask a friend or family member to help them complete the application form. The Embassy has native Swahili speakers on staff to translate during interviews. Applicants for visitor visas should not find it necessary to employ persons to assist them in preparing documents or securing access to the U.S. consular office.

WHEN SHOULD I MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS OR BUY AIRLINE TICKETS?

We strongly advise you NOT to make any unchangeable plans prior to be issuing the visa such as buying a nonrefundable ticket. No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY VISA IS REFUSED?

Most visas are denied because the applicant failed to convince the interviewing officer that he/she will return to Tanzania after a temporary stay in the United States. U.S. immigration law requires officers to refuse visas to applicants who cannot demonstrate that their ties to their home country are strong enough to compel them to return after a short visit in the United States. Click here for more information regarding visa refusals.

There is no process for appealing a visa refusal. The interviewing officer's decision is final and will not be overturned based on phone calls, e-mails, or letters urging us to reconsider the decision.

However, most visa refusals are not permanent. If you feel that your situation has changed significantly or that you have additional information to present to the consular officer, you may reapply. To reapply, you must complete a new application form, select a new appointment date and time, and visit CitiBank to pay another US $131 non-refundable application fee.