Opening a US tourist/business visa in Kazakhstan: requirements, documents, and specifics

Planning a business or tourist trip to the United States? You probably know that you can only enter the country with a visa. Opening one is not as easy as it may seem. But it's all doable if you prepare all the documents in advance and are ready for an interview with a visa officer.

There are B-1 and B-2 visa standards. They are issued for short-term tourist and business trips to the United States. A B-2 visa allows entry into the country to receive medical assistance.

A B-1 visa is issued when the applicant travels to the United States for a conference or event, business negotiations, educational events, consultations, etc. A B-2 visa gives the green light for personal trips. With it, you can travel, participate in non-commercial events, visit relatives, and receive consultations from doctors.

To apply for a B1/B2 visa, you need to carefully review the requirements and, most importantly, meet them. Preparing for a meeting with a consul, the applicant needs to prepare as much evidence as possible that they do not plan to stay in the country and obtain immigrant status.

You will have a high chance of getting a visa if you show that:

• the purpose of the visit is to attend a short-term event related to one of the types listed above;
• you will be on the territory of the country for a certain period of time;
• you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses in America;
• you have a guarantor of your return to your homeland - these are both relatives (spouse, children, parents) and property (including business).

To submit an application for opening a visa to America for Russians first you need to pay the consular fee. You also need to provide a package of documents, consisting of:

• an electronic application, drawn up in the form DS-160;
• a foreign passport (its validity period must exceed the stay in America by at least 6 months);
• a photo 50x50 mm (taken no later than six months ago).
• a receipt for payment of the consular fee, which is non-refundable.

The process obtaining a US visa for Russians in Kazakhstan is accompanied by a number of features. Let's take a closer look at each.

1. The passport must meet the requirements
The document must have at least 1 clean page – the visa and stamps for entry and exit from the USA will be placed on it. The passport's validity period should exceed the date of the trip's end by at least 6 months – if you plan to return in April, the passport's validity should not expire before October of the current year.

2. Correct photo
When filling out the questionnaire, you will need to upload a photograph. It's also necessary to bring one printed photograph with you to the interview. Don't forget the following:

• format – 5cm x 5cm; photo studios usually know about this, so it's enough to simply say that you need a photo for submitting documents for an American visa;
• absence of unnecessary details – the photograph should be taken against a white background, and a headgear should be absent (unless you don't remove it due to religious beliefs, make sure that your face is clearly visible in the photo).

Do not submit a photograph if it was taken more than 6 months ago. It's better to take a new one immediately before contacting the embassy.

3. Questionnaire
It's officially known as Form DS-160. To fill it out, just follow the instructions. The form is publicly available on the Internet. When it's completed, be sure to print it out for yourself. Some people, due to excitement, forget the data they entered in the questionnaire. By printing it out, the information will always be at your fingertips.

4. Interview
Based on our experience, we advise you to schedule an interview for a US visa in Kazakhstan at least a month before your trip. If an unforeseen situation arises, you'll have time to resolve it. In some cases, it's possible to schedule an appointment on an urgent basis. This is relevant if:

• there is a need for urgent medical care that is not available in Russia;
• you have been invited to a farewell ceremony for a relative who died in the USA;
• you need to resolve a work issue quickly, and a trip to the States was not planned in advance by you or your employer;
• classes are starting in America within 2 months, and interview slots are already taken.

Documents are submitted at the US Embassy in Astana and the US Consulate General in Almaty. Choose the most convenient location for yourself, as there is no difference between them. We recommend arriving 15-20 minutes earlier.

5. Consular Fee
The consular fee is paid online through Halyk Bank before the interview. Save the receipt and bring it to the interview, as it is one of the main documents.

You will know the response of the visa officer immediately. If it is positive, the passport with the visa will be sent to you at the VFS Global delivery point in Astana. There is also a paid delivery service across the country. Consider this when choosing flights! The Consulate does not work on weekends and holidays. In case of refusal, the foreign passport is issued to you immediately after the interview.