2. What if I enter on the Visa Waiver Program and then decide I want to stay longer than the 90 days?

You CANNOT extend your stay on the Visa Waiver Program.  The 90 day limit also includes time spent in Canada, Mexico and adjacent islands after first entering the U.S.  Therefore, you should not expect to be able to cross the border into these areas for a short time and then expect to return for another 90 days.  You can however ask for re-entry on the Visa Waiver Program if you have visited a country outside of the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands.

3. Can I apply for a visa in New Zealand if I am not a New Zealand passport holder or a permanent resident here?

Yes, an applicant has the right to apply at any U.S. Consulate abroad.  However, it may be harder to qualify for a visa when applying outside your country of primary residence.  If you choose to apply in New Zealand, please understand that you may be refused, and the application fee is non-refundable if the visa is not approved.  You will need to demonstrate that you have strong ties to your place of residence and that you will depart the U.S. after your temporary visit. 

4. I want to apply for a C1/D (or B1/B2) visa to work as crew on a plane/ship (or private yacht.) What do I need?

A letter of employment on the company letterhead submitted with all other requirements for the non-immigrant visa. The Consular Officer will determine if you will be issued with a C1/D crew visa or a B1/B2 business/tourist visa.

5. I was arrested/convicted years ago. Do I need a visa?

Anyone convicted of or punished for a crime involving moral turpitude (regardless of how long ago or if the conviction was not recorded) is ineligible for the Visa Waiver Program and  must apply for a visa.  If there is any doubt regarding the nature of the offense, you should apply for a visa. 

You will need to submit court and/or police records which show the details the arrest or conviction, such as the court date, the type of offense, and the outcome. If the police certificate says "no recordable convictions" but you know you have been convicted of a crime, you must seek out the original court documents. 

6. I had a single drunk driving conviction.  Do I need a visa?

Applicants with any drink driving charges are advised to apply for a visa and not use the Visa Waiver program.  Applicants must present their Criminal History Report at the time of interview and may be referred to the Consulate panel physician for evaluation by a Consular Officer.

7. Is there an age limit for applying for a work visa?

No.

8. My DS-2019/I-20/I-20M form hasn't arrived from the U.S. Can I apply for the visa with a photocopy?

No, we need original DS-2019 or I-20s.  We cannot issue an F, M or J visa based on photocopies.

9. Can I present a copy of my I-797 approval notice for my work visa?

Yes.  Please bring any documentation you have with you to the interview.  The approval notice still must show up in our electronic database before we can issue the visa, which may take an additional working day or two, so please apply early.  However, a copy of an I-797 may help us to locate the electronic record.

10. My company is sending me to our U.S. office for training. Do I need a visa?

The Visa Waiver Program allows you to attend short, in-house training courses of less than 90 days.  You should carry a letter with you on the company letterhead stating the purpose of the trip, the approximate length of stay, and that your salary will continue to be paid by the New Zealand company.  If your company has affiliated offices in the United States, you must be able to show that you will not be providing services during your training period.  If your trip is planned for more than 90 days, you must obtain a visa before travelling.

12. Do I need individual bank cheques/postal money orders for the application fee for each family member's visa?

No, you may bring one bank cheque or one postal money order for the total amount of all applicable fees.  If you pay at a Post Shop, however, they will issue individual receipts for each application fee paid.

13. How long can I stay in the U.S. after my study/exchange visa expires?

On a study (F, M) or exchange (J) visa you may enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before the official start of the program.  On a J or M visa, you may stay 30 days after the official end of your program.  On an F visa, you may stay for 60 days after the conclusion of your studies.

14. How long can I stay in the U.S. after the end of my working visa?

On the E, H, L, O, P, Q, and R you may enter the U.S. 10 days before the official start of your work and you may stay 10 days after the official end of your work.

16. Can my relative in the U.S. sponsor my employment?

Only an employer can petition for a work visa for you.

17. How do I apply for a 'sportsperson' visa?

The P visa covers athletes. Alternatively, the B2 tourist or Visa Waiver Program allows participation in contests as amateurs or for prize money only.  If you are sponsored by a company in the U.S., and they are paying you sponsorship fees, you must have a P visa.

18. I have an indefinite visa. Is it still valid?

Indefinite validity visas are no longer issued.  They are valid for only 10 years from the issue date.  If the visa was issued longer than 10 years ago you need to apply for a new visa unless you are eligible to use the Visa Waiver Program.

20. What happens if I give false information on a visa application?

Attempting to obtain a visa by fraud, which is defined as the wilful misrepresentation of a material fact, will result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States.

21. I was refused a visa.  When can I reapply?

You may apply again, and pay a new application fee, as soon as you feel you have additional evidence to present that shows you may qualify for the visa which you did not have at your first interview.  However, if you do not have any new evidence to present, you should not expect a different answer than you received the first time.

22. My old passport has expired, but it still has a valid visa in it.  Can I use it?

Yes, even if your old passport has expired, if your visa has not yet expired, it can still be used for travel to the U.S.  However, you will still need to travel with both your current passport and the old passport containing the visa and present both to the Immigration Officer at the border for inspection.

23. How long can I stay in the United States?

If you are traveling on the Visa Waiver Program, your stay is limited to no more than 90 days.  If you are traveling on a visa, your period of stay in the U.S. is determined at the port of entry by the Immigration Officer.  The validity of the visa does not indicate the length of time you may stay in the U.S.  It represents the date by which you must use the visa to apply for entry.  The Immigration Officer will stamp your passport and I-94 card to indicate the date until which you may remain in the U.S. on that particular trip.

25. Can a VWP traveler be readmitted to the United States following a short trip to an adjacent island, Canada, or Mexico?

Generally, VWP applicants admitted under the VWP may be readmitted to the United States after a departure to Canada or Mexico or adjacent islands for the balance of their original admission period. This is provided they are otherwise admissible and meet all the conditions of the VWP, with the exception of arrival on a signatory carrier, in which case the inspecting officers have the discretion to grant the applicants entirely new periods of admission.

26. What are the "adjacent islands"?

The adjacent islands are:

Anguilla	Antigua	Aruba
Bahamas	Barbados	Barbuda
Bermuda	Bonaire	British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands	Cuba	Curacao
Dominica	Dominican Republic	Grenada
Guadeloupe	Haiti	Jamaica
Marie-Galante	Martinique	Miquelon
Montserrat	Saba	Saint-Barthelemy
Saint Christopher	Saint Eustatius	Saint Kitts-Nevis
Saint Lucia	Saint Maarten	Saint Martin
Saint Pierre	Saint Vincent	Grenadines
Trinidad	Tobago	Turks and Caicos Islands
Other British, French and Netherlands territories or possessions bordering on the Caribbean Sea.

27. Still have questions?