2006 Press Releases

Student, Work and Tourist Visas

May 3, 2006

STUDENT AND WORK VISAS

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain announces an important change to its procedures for student visas. Please note that these changes do not apply to legal permanent residents, or “green card” holders.

Effective Monday, April 3, 2006, all applicants for student visas (visa categories F and M), may apply for their student visas 120 days prior to their start date on their I-20s.  Applicants for student visas must appear for their interview between 7:30-10:30 AM on any Monday through Thursday.  Applicants for these types of visas do not need to make an appointment but do need to pay the normal 100 USD application fee at any TT Post location.  Applicants for these visas categories must also complete their application forms electronically. These forms are available at https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp.

In addition, student and work visa applicants must also complete the DS-158 (Work History Form) online as well.  The form can be accessed at http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/12154.pdf. 

Male applicants between the ages of 16-45 must fill out the DS-157 Supplemental Form available at http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/7769.pdf. 

Please ensure that you fill out the application online and then print out the completed application form. Applicants must bring all printed pages of the application form, including the bar code on page 3, to their interview. Please do not send the application electronically to the Embassy.

Also, we would like to remind all student visa applicants enrolling in a new school after September 1, 2004 that the SEVIS I-901 fee should be paid prior to appearing for the visa interview. For information regarding this fee, please visit http://www.ice.gov/sevis or contact your school’s international advisor.

TOURIST VISAS

Please be advised that the wait for Non Immigrant (Tourist) visa appointments is now approximately 21 days.  As we approach the summer holiday season we strongly encourage all applicants to make their appointments now.

We urge all tourist visa applicants to complete their application forms electronically as well. APPLICANTS WHO FILL OUT THE FORM ELECTRONICALLY WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY PROCESSING AND SHOULD EXPERIENCE A SHORTER WAIT FOR THEIR INTERVIEW ON THE DAY OF THEIR APPOINTMENT.  Also, we would like to remind all visa applicants to bring only those items relevant to the visa application to their interview.  Please avoid bringing large bags, purses, backpacks, briefcases, etc.  Each item brought into the Consular pavilion must be searched; this causes an additional wait for your appointment Security requirements preclude bringing many personal items into the Consular pavilion.

Applicants are reminded to have their application form (DS-156) completely filled out prior to arriving for their interview.  Additionally, applicants are reminded they must bring their both copies of their TT Post receipts, 2 passport size photos with light or white color background, and all documents for their interview (job letter, bank statement, etc.).

In response to numerous inquiries, we remind current visa holders that U.S. visas remain valid even in an expired passport.  Simply attach the old passport with the valid US visa to the new passport.

DROP BOX

Effective April 1, 2006, the US Embassy will no longer accept "drop-box" tourist/business visa applications for children of any age.  All applicants between the ages of 2 and 79 must appear in person (after paying the application fee and making an appointment with TT Post) and children 18 or younger must be accompanied by at least one parent or legal guardian.  Personal appearance of children under the age of 2 is not required but their application must still be processed through the normal TT Post appointment procedures and at least one parent or legal guardian must represent the child.  The Embassy will continue to accept "drop-box" tourist/business visa applications for adults age 80 or older.  Applicants age 80 or older are not required to appear in person for their interview. 

Effective June 1, 2006, applicants age 14 and younger must present the new computer generated birth certificate issued by the Registrar General’s Office during their interview. Children's applications must also include a photo. 

For additional information, please visit our website at http://trinidad.usembassy.gov, or email us your question at consularportofspain@state.gov