Visa Questionnaire

• About the Questionnaire

  The IVO Questionnaire collects information on visa-related issues from the scientific community. The data collected through the questionnaire will be used to track trends and report urgent visa cases in the sciences to the U.S. Department of State.

  Please note:

  • Please do not complete the questionnaire more than once. Filling out the questionnaire multiple times simply causes confusion, and multiple copies of questionnaire responses will be deleted. Once your questionnaire is submitted, your case will be reported regularly.

  • Please send corrections or updates (i.e. if you received your visa, you canceled or are changing your travel plans, etc.) to visas@nas.edu with the applicant’s name, DS-160 confirmation number, and date of birth in the subject line.

  • If you have difficulty completing the questionnaire or have suggestions for its improvement, please email us at visas@nas.edu.

  • No personal information submitted through this questionnaire, including your email address or the name, will be used for non-visa related purposes. Your email address is required so that we can follow-up with you regarding your case.

  • Based on our experience, the IVO strongly recommends that applicants contact their consulate or embassy to begin the visa process as early as possible: at least four months prior to the event start date.

  DISCLAIMER: It is very important to note that the International Visitors Office (IVO) is not an office of the U.S. Department of State, which is in charge of all U.S. visa applications. The IVO is an office of The National Academies, a non-governmental organization with no control over U.S. visa regulations. Consequently, our office does not have the ability to expedite or control the visa application process.

• Eligibility Criteria

  You are eligible to complete the questionnaire if you are a student, scholar, or professional in the sciences AND:

  • You have applied for a B-1 or combination B-1/B-2 visa to attend a scientific conference, symposium, workshop, or other event related to professional development in your subject area, AND your visa has been undergoing administrative processing for at least 30 days since your visa interview.
    
    OR
     

  • You have applied for an F-1, J-1, H1-B, O-1, or other visa related to scientific work or study for science-related activities in the United States, AND your application has been undergoing administrative processing for 60 days since your visa interview.

  Individuals who have applied for a tourist visa (B-2) or a dependent visa (such as F-2 and J-2) should not complete the questionnaire. Individuals with a visa case that was denied, rather than delayed, also should not complete the questionnaire. Finally, individuals with cases that have been processing for over one full year should not complete the questionnaire, and should instead reapply for a visa if interested.

• Complete the Questionnaire

  
  Visa Questionnaire

  The IVO Questionnaire collects information on visa-related issues from the scientific community. The data collected through the questionnaire will be used to track trends and report urgent visa cases to the U.S. Department of State. Statistical data on the IVO program can be found at the bottom of this page.
  
  Complete the Questionnaire

• Questionnaire Statistics

  Total cases reported to IVO from Fall, 2002 through December 31, 2020: 15,615*

  • Total number of new science-related visa cases IVO reported to the U.S. Department of State in 2020: 518

  * Statistics only reflect cases reported to the IVO by visa applicants. For comprehensive figures, please consult the U.S. Department of State's visa statistics webpage.

• Who needs to apply for a visa?

  The purpose of the visit determines what type of visa will be needed. Visitors planning to visit or attend a meeting will most likely apply for a B1 visa. B1 applicants should contact their U.S. host or meeting organizer for assistance and information not included here. Sponsored visitors, such as students and researchers, will most likely apply for F1 or J1 visas.  Their university’s or sponsor’s international office is often the best resource. 

  • Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
    
    Citizens of VWP-participant countries do not need a U.S. visa for business or tourism visits of 90 days or less. However, if you will receive any compensation for your services or activities (i.e. lectures, presentations, etc.), you may need to apply for a visa.  Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country for more information.
    
    For additional details and updates on the Visa Waiver Program, see the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Waiver Program webpage.
     

  • Visa Interview Waiver Program (VIWP)
    The Visa Interview Waiver Program has been extended for certain circumstances through December 2023. These are case-by-case basis and more information can be found on the State Department website. (https://www.state.gov/extension-of-interview-waivers-for-certain-nonimmigrant-visa-applicants/)

   

  • Additional Information on Visas and Other Entry Requirements Related to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative 
    Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

• How do I apply for a visa?

  An overview of the U.S. visa application process can be found on the U.S. Department of State's website. As a standard part of the visa process, the U.S. Department of State is now requiring that consular officers interview almost every applicant. Some consulates may have a long wait for an interview. Applicants should contact the consulate to schedule an interview as early as possible.
  
  Furthermore, some visa applications are sent to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. to be reviewed by several agencies. Because of the high number of visa applications and the need for thorough security reviews, this process can take several months. Therefore, it is advisable for travelers to apply for their visas as early as possible (at least three to four months before the visa is needed).  Contact the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy in your country for details on visa application procedures at that post.

   

  More information on applying for visas can be found on these websites:

  • Visa application basics

  • Check your visa application status

• What is the visa interview?

  Each in-person visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate is just a few minutes long. In that time, the applicant must convince the consular officer that they have established ties to their home country, that they are traveling to the United States for the intended purpose, and that the applicant and the United States will both benefit from this visit.
  
  During the visa interview, it may be helpful to focus on answering the following questions:

  •  Who are you?

  • What do you want to do in the United States?

  • How are you going to fund it?

  • What do you intend to do after completing this activity/program in the United States?

• What causes visa delays and denials?

  Visa Delays

  Due to increased security measures, many applicants must now appear for a personal interview at the U.S. consulate.  Applicants should take this into consideration and start the process as early as possible. Scientists and students may experience delays due to a security review process known as Visa Mantis, which is required for applicants with a background in one of the sensitive technologies on the Technology Alert List. The Visa Mantis review is not a new procedure.  However, the number of applications being reviewed overall has increased significantly, leading to delays in the processing of applications.
  
  If your visa application is subject to further administrative processing, you may check your visa application status online at Consular Electronic Application Center. If you have experienced serious delays in your visa application process, you may be eligible to report your case to the IVO by submitting an IVO Questionnaire. Please consult the Visa Questionnaire for details on eligibility. 

   

  Visa Denials
  All visa denials must be accompanied by a written statement citing the reason for the denial. While the decision of the consular officer is final, in some cases, an applicant can reapply for a visa if he/she has additional information that was not provided earlier. For further information on visa denials and how to reapply for a visa after a denial, see the U.S. Department of State's webpage on visa denials.
  
  214(b) of the INA is the most common visa denial, which asserts that the non-immigrant applicant did not sufficiently prove their intent to return home after their activity in the U.S. The IVO advises all applicants, particularly those applying for a B-1 or B-1/B-2 visa to attend brief events and conferences, to bring documents to their interview that signify permanent ties to their country of residence. These documents could be related to ownership of property, dependents, career, and anything else that would require the applicant to return home. 

• Helpful government resources...

  • Bureau of Consular Affairs (Department of State): https://travel.state.gov/

  • EducationUSA (Department of State): https://educationusa.state.gov/

  • Study in the States (Department of Homeland Security): https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/

  • J-1 Exchange Visitor Program: http://j1visa.state.gov/

  • National Visa Center Hotline: 603-334-0888

  • Ask NVC! Online Submission for Questions: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/ask-nvc.html

FAQs

• How do I find my visa status?

  On the Consular Electronic Application Center website, you can check your U.S. visa application status: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.asp.

• Can the IVO assist me if my visa application is delayed or denied?

  A: The IVO is glad to assist in matters of visa delays related to scientific work or study, so long as the following criteria are met:

  • B-1 or B-1/B-2 conference visas must be pending administrative processing for at least 30 days, and must be pending within 14 days of the event start date in order to be reported by the IVO.

  • F-1, H-1B, or J-1 cases must be pending administrative processing for at least 60 days in order to be reported by the IVO.

  • The IVO is not able to assist in dependent or tourist visa cases.

  Unfortunately, the IVO is not able to report visa denials, as these decisions are made by individual consular officers. The IVO recommends that applicants reapply and reschedule an interview, making sure to bring along documentation that signifies permanent residence and intent to return home.

  
  When applicants interview for a non-immigrant visa, they meet with a consular officer who is looking for answers to the following:

  1. Who are you?

  2. What do you want to do in the United States?

  3. How are you going to fund it?

  4. What are your plans for after your program ends?

• What does the status "refused" mean?

  Refusal does not mean the visa is denied and it is important to continue to pay attention to additional correspondence from the consular officer. See specific details from State.gov below:

   “A visa refusal under section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) means the applicant did not establish eligibility for a visa to the satisfaction of the consular officer, as is required under U.S. law, specifically section 291 of the INA. When an applicant is refused under 221(g), it means the consular officer determined that the applicant was not eligible for a visa after completing and executing the visa application and any required interview. It is possible that a consular officer will reconsider a visa application refused under 221(g) at a later date, based on additional information or upon the resolution of administrative processing, and determine that the applicant is eligible. When a consular officer refuses a case under 221(g), she or he will convey to the applicant whether the applicant is required to provide any further documentation or information, or whether the case requires additional administrative processing.”