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We will continue to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services as resources and local conditions allow. Visa appointments remain limited.
Immigrant Visa Update: U.S. Embassy Tirana has resumed immigrant visa services for all categories of immigrant visas according to the Department’s prioritization framework.
Please note that appointment availability will continue to be limited due to resource constraints and the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We appreciate your patience. Immigrant visa applicants will be contacted directly once their case has been scheduled for an interview.
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport.
The Visa section of this website is about U.S. visas for foreign citizens and nationals to travel to the United States.
Visit Travel.State.gov for additional information.
Note: U.S. citizens do not need a U.S. visa for travel to the United States. When planning travel abroad a U.S. citizen may need a visa issued by the embassy or consulate of the country they wish to visit.
For short-term visits to the United States (for tourism, business, education, and more), you can go directly to the online application (form DS-160). For immigrant visas, which are issued to foreign nationals who intend to live and work permanently in the United States, you can visit the U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services site for the relevant forms. If you are unsure what type of visa you need, please use the Visa Wizard below.
Please visit our Global Support Services (GSS) website for complete information on applying for a nonimmigrant U.S. visa, including a directory of nonimmigrant visa categories: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-al/niv
International Organizations and NATO Diplomats and OfficialsInternational Organizations and NATO
To apply for a G or NATO visa, you and any accompanying family members should each complete an online visa application form: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/. Your government or international organization should then deliver to the U.S. Embassy your passport, one 5cm X 5cm color photo, and a diplomatic note/recognized international organization visa request letter.
To qualify for a diplomatic (A-1 or A-2 class) visa, you must be traveling to the United States on behalf of your national government to engage in official activities for that government. The only exception is for very senior officials, such as the presidents and prime ministers, who are entitled to diplomatic visas regardless of their purpose of travel.
To apply for an immediate relative or family preference immigrant visas, follow the steps on the Immigrant Visa Process on usvisas.state.gov. Once you have completed those steps, review the instructions given to you by the National Visa Center (NVC), along with the information presented on this website, for further guidance and instructions.
To apply for a fiancée visa, follow the steps on the Fiancé(e) Visa Process on usvisas.state.gov.
There is a limited period of time during which you can register for the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program during each fiscal year. Each year, the Department of State publishes detailed instructions for entering the DV Program. These instructions include the dates of the registration period during which you will be able to enter.
The steps to becoming a Green Card holder (permanent resident) vary by category and depend on whether you currently live inside or outside the United States.
A permanent resident (called lawful permanent resident or LPR) or conditional resident (CR) who has remained outside the United States for longer than one year, or beyond the validity period of a Re-entry Permit, will require a new immigrant visa to enter the United States and resume permanent residence.
oarding foil may be considered by the airline as evidence of your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States. It serves only to give notice to the air-carrier that the U.S. Government does not intend to issue a penalty under U.S. law (INA 273(b)).
If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) with a green card you may lose your LPR status by voluntarily abandoning it.
Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers
This pamphlet informs you of your legal rights in the United States as a nonimmigrant visa holder in certain employment- and education-based categories.
Rights and Protections for Immigrant Visa Applicants
This pamphlet informs applicants applying for K-1 visas, K-3, IR-1/CR-1 immigrant visas, and F2A immigrant visas of their legal rights in the United States relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
Official Visit the USA Website
Our goal is to inspire people from around the world to discover all the exciting travel possibilities in the United States.
Browse 180 pages packed with beautiful photography, detailed location descriptions and real travel stories.
No matter your destination or travel style, create a personalized, day-by-day itinerary that’s just right for you.
Watch our videos to learn about the diverse destinations and exciting travel experiences, all within your reach.
As your official guide, we’ll show you a diverse range of unique experiences that are all within your reach.
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