FAQs

1. Can I apply for a visa in Malaysia if I am not a Malaysian citizen or a permanent resident of Malaysia?
   
   
2. Do Malaysians need 6 months' validity on their passport?
   
   
3. My passport has expired, but my visa is still valid. Can I still use my visa?
   
   
4. How can I transfer/renew/extend my visa?
   
   
5. Are visas issued before 9/11 still valid?
   
   
6. Are Indefinite or Burroughs-type visas still valid?
   
   
7. Must I do my visa application form electronically?
   
   
8. Can I mail in my completed visa application?
   
   
9. Can I use the visa application drop-box?
   
   
10. How long does it take to obtain a visa?
    
    
11. How long before my planned departure should I apply for a visa?
    
    
12. What are "strong ties"?
    
    
13. How soon will I know whether I qualify for a visa?
    
    
14. Can I arrange to get my passport and visa back earlier?
    
    
15. Can I accompany a visa applicant to his/her interview?
    
    
16. The consular officer told me during my interview that I need to have a full set of my fingerprints taken. Why?
    
    
17. The consular officer told me that my visa application requires additional administrative processing. Why?
    
    
18. What should I do if my visa is lost or stolen?
    
    
19. I have been told to obtain a Malaysian Certificate of Good Conduct. What do I need to do?
    
    
20. I am going to Guam. Do I need a visa?
    
    
21. How long can I stay in the United States?
    
    
22. Can I use my Malaysian driver's license when I visit the United States?
    
    
23. Which food products can I take to the United States?
    
    
24. I forgot to turn in my I-94 when I left the United States. What should I do?
    
    
25. I am a domestic helper. Can I accompany my employer to the States?
    
    
26. I did not appear for my interview appointment, can I use the same Alliance Bank fee receipt to schedule again?
    
    

Can I apply for a visa in Malaysia if I am not a Malaysian citizen or a permanent resident of Malaysia?

While you have the right to apply for a non-immigrant visa at any U.S. Consulate, you should apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over your place of permanent residence. It may be more difficult to qualify for a visa when applying outside your own country of permanent residence. If you choose to apply in Malaysia, it is on the understanding that you may be refused because it is harder for the consular officers to determine whether you have sufficiently demonstrated strong ties to your home country. Remember, the application fee is non-refundable whether or not the visa is issued. Note: Because the United States has no diplomatic relations with Iran, the majority of Iranian nationals go to Dubai or Ankara to apply for non-immigrant visas.

Do Malaysians need 6 months' validity on their passport?

No. Your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your trip, including your return home. DHS may limit your initial period of stay in the United States to the duration of your passport's validity. For non-Malaysians, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your visa is issued, unless your country has an agreement with the United States. Click here to see if you are exempt from the 6 months' validity rule.

My passport has expired, but my visa is still valid. Can I still use my visa?

If your visa has not expired, been cancelled or damaged, simply carry your old and new passports together when you go to the United States. If you prefer to have a visa placed in your new passport, you will need to apply for a new U.S. visa. Remember, there are no guarantees that a new visa will be issued.

How can I transfer/renew/extend my visa?

A visa cannot be transferred, renewed or extended regardless of its type. You will need to apply for a new one.

Are visas issued before 9/11 still valid?

Yes, provided it has a future expiry date and is not an indefinite validity visa (see FAQ on Indefinite visas). The main change since 9/11 is that upon entry into the United States, you will be fingerprinted as part of the US-VISIT program.

Are Indefinite or Burroughs-type visas still valid?

No. All Indefinite and Burroughs-type (without a photo) visas became void after March 31, 2004 and cannot be used for entry into the United States. If you possess either one of these U.S. visas, you must apply for a new one.

Must I do my visa application form electronically?

Yes you will need to fill in the DS 160 and carry the CEAC confirmation copy when you go for your Interview at the US Embassy. DS- 160 form click here.

Can I mail in my completed visa application?

No.

Can I use the visa application drop-box?

Only applicants who are age 13 and under OR 80 and over; or are applying for diplomatic/official visas can use the drop-box.

Drop Box

Note: Applicants for student/exchange visas (F, M or J) who are under age 14 must come to the Embassy to be interviewed.

How long does it take to obtain a visa?

The majority of applicants receive their visas the next business day after the interview. Some applications can take longer to process-about 4 weeks on average. Additional factors such as the need for special clearances, additional documents or incomplete applications may affect the processing time of other individual cases. Applicants will be told at the time of their interview whether the visa can be issued and collected the next business day or whether additional processing time will be needed. Sometimes factors beyond our control may delay our release of visaed passports. Remember, it is always best to apply early!

How long before my planned departure should I apply for a visa?

We recommend that you apply as far in advance as possible or at least 2-3 months before your travel date. While most applications can be processed within 24 hours, occasionally a case will require additional processing time of several weeks.

What are "strong ties"?

Visa applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficiently strong family, social, or economic ties to their place of residence to ensure that their projected stay in the United States will be temporary. It is impossible to specify the exact documents visa applicants should bring since each applicant's circumstances vary greatly. Visa applicants should bring to the interview whatever documents they think will help their visa applications. Under U.S. law, it is the applicants' responsibility to show that they have strong enough ties to their place of residence to qualify for a non-immigrant visa. Third party guarantees do not represent sufficient evidence of strong ties to receive a visa.

How soon will I know whether I qualify for a visa?

The interviewing officer will inform you of the outcome of your visa application at the conclusion of your interview.

Can I arrange to get my passport and visa back earlier?

No, except in the case of a genuine humanitarian emergency. Applicants are urged to apply as far in advance of their travel date as possible.

Can I accompany a visa applicant to his/her interview?

The applicant is the only person allowed into the Embassy for a visa interview. Relatives, friends, co-workers, employers, lawyers, etc. will not be allowed into the building. Parents or legal guardians are advised to accompany any minor child (age 14-18) to the interview if the child is applying for a tourist visa. Children 13 and under do not need to appear in person. However, if the child is not present, only the parent or legal guardian of a minor child can apply for a tourist visa on behalf of that child. Parents or legal guardians must provide proof of relationship or legal guardianship status such as an original birth certificate or other court documents. Please note that applicants for student visas (F, M and J) who are 13 and under must be interviewed.

The consular officer told me during my interview that I need to have a full set of my fingerprints taken. Why?

When applicants apply for a visa, they are routinely checked against available records of people who are ineligible for visas or whose applications require additional review by several U.S. Government agencies before a visa can be issued. If your name or a close variation of it indicates further investigation of your application is needed, further steps such as fingerprinting will be required.

Please note: Even if you have no criminal record in the United States, the only way to proceed with your visa application is to have your fingerprints taken. You may withdraw your visa application at any time if you do not wish to have your fingerprints taken.

For full-fingerprinting, you will be scheduled an appointment and be charged USD 85 (or RM equivalent) payable in cash or by credit card at that time.

Fingerprinting results usually take 3-4 weeks to arrive, but the time can vary considerably. Please allow ample time for processing before your travel date.

Even if you bring court records relating to your past violations of U.S. law, you must still follow this fingerprinting procedure. We must determine whether the incident that you have reported reflects your entire criminal or legal record in the United States. Additionally, please note that some types of violations may cause you to be ineligible for a visa. It is only after the consular officer receives the results from the fingerprinting that he or she can determine whether you are legally qualified to receive a visa.

The consular officer told me that my visa application requires additional administrative processing. Why?

When applicants apply for a visa, they are routinely checked against available records of people who are ineligible for visas or whose applications require additional review by several United States government agencies before a visa can be issued. If your name or a close variation of it indicates further investigation of the application is needed, your visa application will require additional processing time. However, we do work diligently to minimize any impact on your travel plans.

Visa applications for persons to study or work in certain sensitive scientific and technical fields are also subject to an interagency clearance in Washington, D.C. Since 1998, this Visas Mantis clearance process has been used to screen against the illegal transfer of technology. Once the clearance process is completed and a visa is issued, the individual may apply for admission at a U.S. port-of-entry.

The Department of State and DHS have made steady progress in improving the clearance process for technology-related visa cases throughout the past year. We have added staff, invested in systems, and improved interagency cooperation, which has resulted in significant declines in processing times. Most cases are processed in two to four weeks, although clearance time varies from case to case.
We will contact you at the telephone number or e-mail address you listed on your application as soon as we receive notification that we can finish processing your visa. Please understand that this waiting period is necessary as we strive to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the United States for all, including foreign visitors.

What should I do if my visa is lost or stolen?

If your visa is lost or stolen, it is very important that you report the loss of the passport and visa to the Malaysian police and that you obtain a police report in order to help protect yourself from identity theft. We also ask that you send a fax addressed to the Fraud Prevention Unit at 60-3-2148-5801 including the following information:

1. Your name, date and place of birth, and nationality;
2. Your address and phone number;
3. A photocopy of the lost visa, if available, or the date and place of issuance, if known;
4. A photocopy of the bio-data page of your lost passport, if available. If not, the nationality and number of your lost passport as well as the issuance and expiration dates, if available; and the
5. Circumstances of the loss: when and how your passport was lost or stolen.

I have been told to obtain a Malaysian Certificate of Good Conduct. What do I need to do?

The Certificate of Good Conduct application form is available from the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' web site at http://www.kln.gov.my/?m_id=8&c_id=38

I am going to Guam. Do I need a visa?

To find out, go to Visit Guam (www.visitguam.org), a web site that has information about which nationalities qualify for the Guam-only visa waiver program and which airlines are signatory carriers of this program.

For visa denials, the law requires that almost all visa applicants be informed verbally and in writing the basis for the denial. This explanation always relates to a specific section of the INA.

Traveling to/from the United States

1. How long can I stay in the United States?
2. Can I use my Malaysian Driver's license when I visit the United States?
3. Which food products can I take to the United States?
4. I forgot to turn in my I-94 when I left the United States. What should I do?

How long can I stay in the United States?

Upon arrival in the United States, you'll present your passport (with your U.S. visa) to an immigration official, who will then determine how long you can stay, up to a maximum of 6 months. Remember, the validity period of your visa is NOT the length of time you may stay--it is simply the period that the visa may be used to apply for admission to the United States. Holders of multiple entry visas may enter the United States as many times as they like during the validity of the visa. Those with single entry visas may only enter once. A Non-Immigrant who remains in the United States beyond the period for which s/he has been granted permission to stay may become subject to deportation.

Can I use my Malaysian driver's license when I visit the United States?

Visitors who wish to rent cars and drive in the United States must have a valid driver's license from their own country. In some cases, an international driver's license may be required. You can contact individual car rental companies directly for specific information. Driver's licenses accepted in the United States are:

1. Any license issued by any U.S. state, territory or possession.
2. A license issued by a Canadian province.
3. A license issued by a country that participated in the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or the 1943 Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automobile Traffic (Both Hong Kong and Macau are signatories to the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic).
4. A license issued by a country that has a reciprocal agreement with the United States.

Which food products can I take to the United States?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) establishes criteria for the admissibility of plant, dairy and meat products returning with travelers and determines what may be admitted into the United States.

All travelers entering the United States from a foreign country must declare all:

1. Fruits
2. Vegetables
3. Plants and plant products
4. Meat and meat products
5. Animals, birds, and eggs

Your declaration may be oral, written, or both, and must cover all items carried in your baggage and hand luggage. If you are returning from abroad, you will be given a Customs Declaration form on which to declare your agricultural products. You will also be asked to indicate whether you have visited a farm or ranch outside the United States. USDA officers inspect passenger baggage for undeclared agricultural products. Failure to declare any items may result in delays and fines of up to USD 1,000.

Agricultural products of U.S. origin, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and birds taken out of the United States, cannot always be brought back into the country. These items should be declared upon returning. Consult in advance with USDA inspectors. The USDA also can be contacted at 00-1-301-734-8896 for information about the admissibility of plant or plant products.

I forgot to turn in my I-94 when I left the United States. What should I do?

Turn in I-94

More FAQs on non-immigrant visas

I am a domestic helper. Can I accompany my employer to the States?

Under certain limited circumstances, a B-1 visa may be issued to a personal servant accompanying or following to join the employer on a temporary visit to the United States.

B-1 Information

I did not appear for my interview appointment, can I use the same Alliance Bank fee receipt to schedule again?

Applicants who fail to appear for their scheduled interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy are 'NO SHOW' applicants.

For a 'NO SHOW' applicant to schedule a new appointment:
You will need to wait a minimum of 2 working days after your scheduled interview appointment date to reactivate your Alliance Bank fee receipt. To reactivate:

1. Visit our VFS Application Center—be sure to bring your current passport and valid original Alliance Bank fee receipt.
2. Pay a service charge of RM 32 (32 Ringgit) per applicant--cash only (includes 5% GST). This fee can only be paid at the VFS Application Center—NOT at Alliance Bank or at any other location.
3. After paying the reactivation fee, you will be able to use your Alliance Bank fee receipt to schedule a new interview appointment. Remember—the fee receipt expires 1 year from the date of its purchase. If you do not appear for your interview within 1 year and still want to travel to the United States, you will need to purchase a new fee receipt.