Non-Immigrant Visas
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long does it take to get a visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru?
A. Please see up-to-date wait times at the Department of State's Visa Wait Time Information Page. Due to the pre-interview document review involved in H1B and L visa cases, applicants for those visas should anticipate a one to two week processing time.
Q. Is there a special process for emergency travel such as to go to a funeral or to visit a family member in the United States who is ill?
A. We do have expedited appointments available for urgent travel needs. The fastest way to obtain an expedited appointment in case of urgent travel need is to call the Visa Appointment and Information Service at 705-3007 and purchase a PIN with a Visa or Mastercard. This PIN can be immediately activated. The applicant should then explain to the service the nature of the urgent travel in order to obtain the earliest appointment possible. Please note that all applicants, regardless of their purpose of travel, must schedule an appointment and appear in person with the required documents in order to be issued a visa.
Q. I have a valid visa but my passport expired. Do I need to have a new visa put in my new passport?
A. No, you do not. It is not necessary to renew the visa until it expires, and you may travel with both passports. However, if you wish to renew, you must make an appointment, pay the interview fee, and apply as if it were the first time.
Q. If I already had a U.S. visa and want to "renew" it, is there a special process for that?
Q. Who may accompany me to the visa interview?
A. Visa interviews are between the applicant and the interviewing consular officer, and third parties (e.g. family members, friends, business associates, attorneys, etc.) will be directed to take a seat during the course of the interview. At the discretion of the interviewing officer, third parties may be asked to provide information pertinent to the applicant's qualifications.
Q. How long will I wait in line for my visa interview?
A. On a typical day, the Embassy schedules 400-600 visa interviews. Our goal is to interview everyone within one hour from the time of entry onto the Embassy compound. For example, if you have an appointment at 8:00am, you will be permitted to enter the compound at 7:30 (30 minutes before the scheduled time), and we hope to complete your interview by 9:00. During this time, prior to the actual interview, your application will be reviewed for completeness and entered into a database and your fingerprints will be scanned by a digital reader. The wait time could vary - shorter or longer - depending on a variety of factors. The Embassy provides chairs and restrooms for those waiting in line.Q. How long is the average interview?
A. On average, the interview will last 3-5 minutes, but can vary depending on the complexity of the case. The interviewers must complete mandatory checks of the database (name and date of birth, fingerprints and photo recognition) for each applicant, and enter notes into the system. All interviewing officers are American citizens and commissioned officers of the Foreign Service of the United States. The point of the interview is to clarify or expand on the information provided on your application.
Q. How do I get my passport back?
A. Passports are returned through DHL courier service. It takes three to five business days to receive your passport and visa from DHL. Same day service is not available.
Q. Can I pick my passport and visa up sooner?
A. We do not make exceptions to the requirement to use DHL for return of the passport and visas except in cases of medical emergency or to attend a funeral. All other applicants must go through DHL to receive their passport back. For this reason, all applicants should schedule their visa appointments well before the date of intended travel. We recommend scheduling your appointment at least 6 weeks before the intended date of travel wherever possible.
Q. What do Consular Officers base their decisions on?
A. Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act creates the legal presumption that every visitor visa applicant is intending to immigrate. In order to be issued a visa, applicants must overcome this presumption. Applicants can overcome this presumption only by demonstrating to the consular officer that they have a residence abroad and compelling professional, financial and social ties to that residence. The consular officer must be convinced that the applicants’ ties to Peru are strong enough that the applicant will use the visa consistent with U.S. law and will return to Peru at the conclusion of a legally authorized stay abroad.
Q. But the officer did not look at my documents, how can they determine my ties to my country of residence?
A. Each applicant is given the opportunity to present the DS-156 Non-Immigrant Visa application form which details their personal information. The information on this form is critical, because the form contains an oath and signature line attesting to the truth of the information contained within. The Officer asks questions based on the information presented in the application. Officers generally ask for documents only when it is necessary to clarify or corroborate information provided by the applicant on the application form or in the interview. Consular Officers base their decisions primarily on the interview with the applicant and the information attested to on the application form and do not normally consider outside documentation.
Q. Someone I work with and who makes the same salary that I do has a visa, but I was turned down. Why?
A. An applicant’s economic circumstances are only one of the factors considered by consular officers during the course of an interview. In making their decisions, consular officers consider a number of factors including but not limited to how established the applicant is in their profession, family circumstances, the purpose of the applicant’s travel, the applicant’s history of travel and return to his or her country of residence, as well as the travel history of the applicant’s immediate family members.
A. The refusal of a visitor visa is not permanent, and applicants may reapply. However, we strongly recommend that individuals reapply only if they can demonstrate a significant change in circumstances since the last application. No guarantee can be made in advance of an application that a visa will be issued since so much depends on the interview. Nevertheless, you may be assured that all re-applications are accorded every consideration possible under the law.
Q. Can I appeal the officers decision?
A. Visa interviews are conducted by commissioned officers of the United States Government, and they have broad discretion in visa matters. Their decisions in visa cases, while subject to review by supervisory consular personnel, are final. There is no right of appeal. Refused applicants who believe they qualify for visa issuance may reapply, and all re-applications are accorded every consideration possible under the law.
Q. Why didn’t they tell me when I called that I would not get a visa?A. Each visa application is thoroughly examined and evaluated on its own merits. Since it is impossible to obtain all relevant facts without seeing your passport and completed application, we are unable to tell you by phone whether you will receive a visa. Our telephone information system, as well as information distributed on the Internet, is designed to give general information regarding the visa application process and suggest types of documents that might help demonstrate eligibility for a U.S. visa. However, in no circumstances is someone able to guarantee in advance that you will receive a U.S. visa.
Q. Why can’t I have my money back?
A. The fee that you paid is an application fee. Everyone who applies for a U.S. visa anywhere in the world must pay this fee, which covers the cost of reviewing your application. As the application form states, this fee is non-refundable regardless of whether you are issued a visa or not. If your application was refused under Section 214(b) and you choose to reapply for a visa, whether at this Embassy or elsewhere, you will be required to pay the application fee again.
Q. How do children qualify for visas?
A. The presumption in Section 214(b) of U.S. Immigration law applies to children as well as to adults. Children generally demonstrate that they are not intending immigrants by presenting compelling evidence of the economic, family and social ties of their parents or legal guardians. For this reason, though children under the age of 7 are not required to appear in person, both parents must appear in person on their behalf and be prepared to answer questions regarding family circumstances and economic, family and social ties. If the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have had a U.S. visa, they should bring the passport containing the visa and all passports obtained since the issuance of the visa to the interview for themselves and their immediate family members.
Q. I’m an American citizen and want to sponsor my family member or contact to come to the United States. If I pay for their trip and guarantee that they return can I get them a visa?
A. It is important to understand that it is the applicant who must establish eligibility for a visa by demonstrating their own compelling ties to their country of residence. Even in the case of a compelling reason for wanting to travel to the U.S., Consular Officers cannot issue visas based on the assurances of friends or family members. Officers make their decisions in the context of social and economic conditions in the country in which they work and the experienced rate of return of applicants from that country.
Q. I traveled to the U.S. on a student visa but then I transferred to a new school in the United States do I need to get a new visa?
A. So long as you maintain full time student status and have a valid up to date I-20 you do not need to return to Peru to obtain a new visa. You may use your initial visa for subsequent entries to the U.S. so long as youhave a valid I-20 and have continuously maintained student status since your initial entry to the U.S. as a student.
Q. I lost my I-20, do I really need this to apply for a visa?A. The I-20 is a required document for student visa applicants, as well as proof of payment of the SEVIS fee. We will not be able to process you application without these documents. We urge applicants to apply for studies in the United States well in advance of any intended studies.
A. All student visa applicants are subject to section 214(b) of U.S. Immigration Law which presumes them to be intending immigrants unless they can prove otherwise. Student visa applicants must demonstrate that they are bona fide students whose purpose in applying for the student visa is for a well thought out program of studies in the United States after which they intend to return to their country of residence.
Q. I lost my passport with my U.S. visa in it, what do I do?
A. Please see lost & stolen passports.
A. Passport holders from certain countries may travel without visas, so long as the passports meet certain requirements. For up to date on these requirements and other limited categories of travelers who may travel without a visa please refer to the State Department’s website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html.
Q. I have had difficulties during my travel screening at transportation hubs, such as airports and train stations, or crossing U.S. Borders. Whom may I contact?
A. If you have had difficulties with your travel screening, and possessed a proper visa at the time of your travel screening, you should contact the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP).