Basic Travel Requirements for Rwandans visiting
United States of America
Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to
apply for a American Visa.
- Passport /travel documents valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date with 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
- Completed visa application form.
- Passport-size photographs not older than 6 months taken in white background.
- Copy of the appointment letter issued during application
- DS-160 confirmation page
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of intending return to home country
- Proof of sufficient funds for stay and return
- Cover letter
- Financial documents (shares, property papers, etc)
- Application fee receipt
- Copy of travel itinerary
- Consular interview
United States Of America Visa for Rwandans
Facts about United States Of America
The United States of America is one of the main tourist destinations in the world. You cannot truly see all the country has to offer in one trip. If you have exhausted the things to see in a particular location, the next location brings up a fresh array of things to see. The country has beautiful scenery, entertainment options, magnificent architecture, great tourist sites and so much more. No matter what you are interested in doing, you are sure to get it in the United States of America. National Parks, casinos, beaches, historical sites, movie theatres, trade fairs, shopping malls, restaurants, nightlife are just some of the things you can do in the country. Make sure you enjoy the rollercoaster of fun during your time here.
Tourism in the USA is a large industry that contributes greatly to the American economy. The United States of America is the country that attracts the third-largest number of tourists behind France and Spain and this may be attributed to the fact that tourists stay longer in the United States more than they do in France and Spain. The country plays host to about 78 million tourists yearly. Since Donald Trump got elected, the number of tourist visits in the United States has dropped by 4% and has led to the loss of about 40,000 jobs.
Citizens of Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Caymans, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand, etc can gain entry to the United States of America visa-free for a certain period of time.
Types of United States Of America Visa
| Types of Visa | Processing Time | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | 14 days | 3 months |
| Business visa | 14 days | 6 months |
| Student visa | 14 days | duration of study |
| Journalist visa | 14 days | 1 year |
General Requirements for United States Of America Visa
- Passport /travel documents valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date with 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
- Completed visa application form.
- Passport-size photographs not older than 6 months taken in white background.
- Copy of the appointment letter issued during application
- DS-160 confirmation page
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of intending return to home country
- Proof of sufficient funds for stay and return
- Cover letter
- Financial documents (shares, property papers, etc)
- Application fee receipt
- Copy of travel itinerary
- Consular interview
United States Of America Tourist Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- The US tourist visa is also known as the B2 visa
- It is usually issued for tourism, vacation, and other recreational purposes
- The tourist visa can also be used to visit friends and families, receive medical treatment, and participate in contests as long as you will not be paid
- Studying towards obtaining a degree with this visa is prohibited, however, you can learn a skill or participate in short courses such as cooking courses
- As a holder of this visa, you are not allowed to perform before a paying audience
- The stay period of a US visa is 30 days but it is a multiple entry visa so you are allowed to visit the US several times for up to 10 years without applying for a new visa
- It is illegal to take up any paid or unpaid employment with this visa
- It is important that you prove to your interviewer that you intend to return to your home country at the expiration of your visa because the US considers every applicant as a potential immigrant
- If the consul is not convinced that you will return to your country, a visa might not be issued and the decision is irreversible
- You can prove to your consular interviewer that you will return to your country by presenting a letter from your employer stating that you will return to your job, showing that you are a student in your home country or submitting files that show that you have assets(houses, estates) in your home country
- If you are travelling for medical purposes, you have to show that you have sufficient funds to cover the medical bills
- Overstaying your visa can prevent you from further entering the US in the future
United States Of America Business Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- Business visa is also referred to as a B1 visa
- It is a short stay visa valid for a period of 180 days (6 months)
- It is also a multiple entry visa so you are allowed to travel to the US several times for 10 years without having to apply for a new visa
- However since the stay period per visit is 180 days, you are not allowed to stay longer than 180 days. In the case that more time is needed, you can apply for a visa extension before your current visa expires
- The visa can only be extended for an additional six months
- B1 visa is used to negotiate contracts, sign business documents, attend business meetings and conventions, interview and hire staffs or make researches
- It can also be used to compete in sports as long as the only money received is the prize money
- Holders of this visa are not allowed to manage a business located in the US neither are they allowed to study or be employed
- To obtain this visa, a consular interview is usually required. However, if you are below 13 years of age or above 80 years of age, this interview is not required for you
- The business visa does not require a letter of invitation or proof of support but you are advised to have sufficient funds for the duration of stay.
- It is important to submit a proof of your current status though (employed, self-employed, student, etc) as it helps the consulate to determine if you have the intentions of returning to your home country
- Getting a visa does not guarantee entrance into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have the authority to permit or deny entrance to the United States.
- If you are allowed to enter the United States, the CBP official will provide an admission stamp or a paper Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record
United States Of America Student Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- This is also known as the F or M visa
- It is issued for degree awarding courses in an educational institution or for vocational courses
- The student visa is typically valid for the duration of your course in the United States and a period of 60 days extra at the course completion to either leave the US or register for another course
- If you leave the US during the grace period and want to re-enter, you will have to re-apply for a new visa
- F visas are issued only in embassies or consulates outside the United States, however, in the case of an extension, it can be done in the US
- The institution you applied to must give you an I-20 form as it will be required during the consular interview
- If you are married or you have children that are still minors, a dependent visa called F-2 visa will be issued to them alongside your F-1 visa if they intend to live with you
- Your spouse with F-2 visa will however not be allowed to take up a full course in the United States and they are also not allowed to work
- In the case that they also get admitted into a SEVIS institution, they can change to an F-1 visa after obtaining the I-20 form but will have to apply for a new visa to re-enter the United States
- The institution you are applying to has to be a SEVP-approved school in the United States. After the school has accepted you, you will be registered for SEVIS and pay a fee different from the application fee
- Your spouse or child travelling with you also has to be registered for SEVIS but will not need to pay the fee
- If you cannot attend the consular interview in your country, you can attend it in another country. It is although more difficult to qualify for the visa outside your home country.
- Holders of this visa must be full-time students and are required to provide proof of financial means enough to last the duration of the course
- Your transcripts, test score from your US school or other similar documents might be required
- The student visa is usually issued up to 120 days before the start of the course, however, you will not be allowed to enter the US until 30 days before the course starts.
- Proof that you will return to your home county when you have completed your studies is required
- The officer at the port of entry also issues a Form I-94 with expiration date indicated as “D/S” (Duration of Status), which means that the student is in authorized status in the United States until the program end date indicated on the I-20
- A student with this visa is allowed to engage only in on-campus employment
United States Of America Journalist Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- Also known as I1 or I visa is issued to foreign media representatives or journalists who are visiting solely to practice their profession
- You cannot replace an I visa with a B2 visa
- Before you can be issued this visa, you have to prove during your interview that the purpose of your trip will benefit your organization
- A proof of your current employment which could be a letter from your employer is required
- Immediate family members are allowed to accompany you during the trip but they will also have to apply for an I visa. They are allowed to study with this visa but not work
- The visa is valid for a year and is a single entry which means you cannot leave the United States and re-enter with the same visa
- It is possible to extend your visa for an unlimited time provided you fill the necessary forms and pay the necessary fees. Extension of visa can be done in the United States
- Unless a visa is canceled, it is valid until the expiry date even if it is in an expired passport
- Visa application fee must be paid before the interview
- Since the issuance of a visa is not certain, it is advisable that you do not make finally trip arrangement or purchase plane tickets until you have gotten the visa
- You are allowed to take a vacation with this visa under the covering of your job
- It is illegal to work for a foreign media outlet with this visa
United States Of America Visa Fees
Tourist visa
160.00 (USD)
Business visa
160.00 (USD)
Student visa
160.00 (USD)
Journalist visa
160.00 (USD)
United States Of America Visa Application Centres & Embassies in
Rwanda
Kigali
2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kacyiru) P.O. Box 28, Kigali,Rwanda
rw.usembassy.org
(+250) 252 596 400