Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal.

After you receive your visa interview appointment, complete each of these steps below.

If you do not complete each step before your visa interview appointment the consular section may require you to reschedule for a later date.

All applicants must follow the instructions below before going to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Step 1: Register Online

Before your visa interview appointment, register online. Registering lets us return your passport and documents to you after your visa interview. It also allows you to cancel or reschedule your interview if necessary.

Register Online >>

Step 2: Create a profile and upload all relevant documents in CEAC

All immigrant and diversity visa applicants must create a profile at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/np after receiving their appointment letter. This will allow applicants to process case inquiries, submit documents, and obtain updates about visa collection.

Step 3: Complete your pre-interview checklist

It is important that you bring all required original documents to your interview. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Please print the checklist below and bring it to your interview along with the listed documents.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 4: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.

Interview Guidelines >>

Step 5: Get a Medical Exam in Nepal

As soon as you receive your interview date, you must schedule a medical exam in Nepal. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” link below for a list of designated doctors’ offices. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa.  Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Embassy can perform this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with one of the doctors listed below before your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted.

Approved physician

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
IOM Migration Health Assessment Center (MHAC)
Lazimpat Sadak, Panipokhari (Opposite to the Embassy of Japan)
Ward-3, Kathmandu, PO Box: 25503, ZIP Code: 44600, Nepal
Open Monday - Friday 08:00 – 17:00, except national holidays.
Tel: (+977) 01 5970001

Items to bring to your medical examination

Bring the following items to your medical exam:

• Your visa interview letter,
• Your passport,
• Three (3) recently taken passport-sized color photographs,
• A copy of your immunization records,
• Previous chest x-rays if available, and
• Medical records for any chronic conditions you have or major medical/surgical treatment you had in the past
• DS-260 confirmation page.

The fee for children below 2 years is USD 65, for children between 2-14 is USD 130, for children between 15-17 is USD 88, for age groups between 18-24 is USD 123, for age groups between 25-44 is USD 93 and 45 years of age and older is USD 88. Any medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, must be paid directly to the examining physician in either U.S. dollars or Nepali rupees at the IOM exchange rate that month.

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During the medical exam

The medical exam will include:

• A medical history review,
• A physical exam,
• A Chest X-ray,
• Blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older),
• Gonorrhea testing (for applicants 18–24 years of age, or as needed)
• Tuberculosis testing (for applicants two years of age and older).

Your physician may request other tests as needed. Be prepared to discuss your medical history, the medications you are taking, and the current treatments you are receiving. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website.

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to get certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant visa vaccination requirements are available on CDC.Gov. There you can find information on what vaccines you need based on your age. You can also read Frequently Asked  Questions about our medical exam requirements at Travel.State.Gov.

After the medical exam

When your examination is complete, applicants should expect to receive the reports on the next working day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The doctor will send the abnormal reports directly to the Embassy. IF GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO CARRY TO YOUR INTERVIEW, DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE. Instead, bring it to your visa interview. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB). However, you must keep the x-ray images and take them to the United States as part of your permanent health record. The medical report must be less than six (6) months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

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Pre-Interview Checklist

Use the list below to determine the items that every applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview.

Any documents that are not in English or Nepali must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

For electronic cases: Only bring the original versions of each document. No photocopy is required.

• If you have already uploaded it in CEAC, bring the original document that was uploaded.
• If you have not uploaded it in CEAC, you must upload it in CEAC before the interview and bring the original to the interview.
• If you need to submit an updated document, email the consular section at consktm@state.gov to enable you to submit it before the appointment date.

Appointment Letter: A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).

Passport: Unexpired passport valid for six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located).

Photographs: Two (2) color passport-size photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch).  Please review our online photo requirements. If your photo does not meet these requirements, your appointment may be rescheduled and therefore delayed.

DS-260 Confirmation Page: Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv. Please ensure you have completed Form DS-260. The form should be complete and accurate. If you have to make a correction or update information after submission, please send an email to the Consular inbox at consktm@state.gov to re-open your form before the appointment date.

Birth Certificate: Your original birth certificate. Bring the original and a photocopy.

Additional Birth Certificates: Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying).

Medical Exam Results: Medical examination results in a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results)

If you need to submit an updated document, email the consular section at consktm@state.gov to enable you to submit it before the appointment date.

If the document was issued in a local language (not Nepali), you must upload the original translated document in CEAC and submit the original at the interview.

Applicants who fall into any category listed in italics below should bring these additional documents:

For family-based visa applications:

• Affidavit of Support (AOS): The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.
  
  Note: Visa applicants frequently experience immigrant visa processing delays because their petitioner or joint sponsor has completed the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support incorrectly or the income reported does not meet the poverty guideline requirements. An applicant who is likely to become primarily dependent on the U.S. government is inadmissible under section 221(a)(4) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
  
  
• Form I-864: If the petitioner cannot meet the poverty guideline requirement, a joint sponsor can complete Form I-864 and submit the latest tax returns. I-864 forms can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-864
  
  
• Form I-864A: If the joint sponsor wishes to include their spouse's income in addition to his/her own income, the joint sponsor and spouse need to fill out Form I-864A. I-864A forms can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-864a.
  
  
• Evidence of Relationship (Joint Sponsor): At the interview, a Consular officer should be convinced that there is a genuine relationship between the applicant and a joint sponsor. The joint sponsor may submit a personal letter explaining their relationship with the applicant and how they intend to support the applicant after they arrive in the United States.
  
  
• Evidence of Relationship (Petitioner): Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (such as photographs, letters, or emails).
  
  
• Proof of Status: Proof of the U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States (photocopy of both sides of the Lawful Permanent Resident card I-551, Certificate of Naturalization, or U.S. passport).
  
  
• Identification: For minors under 16, the applicant must be accompanied by a local guardian; the guardian must bring photo identification to be presented for the visa interview.

If you are married or have been married before:

• Marriage Certificate: Your original marriage certificate, a photocopy, and an English translation (if the document was issued in a local language other than Nepali)
  
  
• Divorce or Death Certificates: Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, a photocopy, and an English translation (if the document was issued in a local language other than Nepali).

If you are older than 16 years of age:

• Police Certificate: The original police certificate, a photocopy, and an English translation (if the document was issued in a local language other than Nepali). Provide a police certificate from: (1) your country of current residence, if residence exceeds six months, (2) your country of nationality, if residence exceeds six months, and (3) any countries where you have resided for more than one year since the age of 16. If you have ever been arrested, you must also submit a police certificate from the country where the arrest took place. Police certificates expire after one year, unless you have not returned to the country since the police certificate was issued. If all three of the following statements are true, you must bring a new police certificate to the interview:
  1.  You are older than 16 years;
  2.  You obtained a police certificate and submitted it to NVC more than one year ago; and
  3.  You still live in the country that issued the police certificate.

For employment-based visa applications:

• Employment Letter: Letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.

If you have ever been convicted of a crime:

• Court Records: Court and criminal records, English translation if the documents were issued in a local language other than Nepali, and a photocopy.

If you have served in any country’s military:

• Military records: Include an English translation if the documents were issued in a local language other than Nepali, and a photocopy.

If you are adopted:

• Adoption papers or custody documents, English translation if the documents were issued in a local language other than Nepali, and a photocopy.

If you are the petitioner’s stepchild:

• Marriage Certificates: The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, English translation if the documents were issued in a local language other than Nepali, and a photocopy along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.

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Interview Guidelines

Sending documents to the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu

For paper-based cases:

If you need to send us any documents, DO NOT mail them to us. Instead, submit them in person at a Collection Centre and include a pre-printed cover sheet. You can find instructions online at ustraveldocs.com/np/np-niv-documentsubmissioninfo.asp.

For electronic cases:

If you need to submit any documents, please DO NOT mail them to the Embassy. The documents must be uploaded in the appropriate document category at https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx. For instructions on how to upload documents please go to https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/PDF-other/Uploading%20to%20CEAC-instrucions.pdf

Submit the original documents and translations that you uploaded to the bank.

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

If you are unable to attend your appointment, email consktm@state.gov. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so attempt to attend the date already assigned. You must register online before rescheduling.

There’s no guarantee that a visa will still be available if you reschedule your appointment. Check the Visa Bulletin carefully before you reschedule your interview. If you’re applying for a Diversity Visa (DV), remember that visas are limited in number and must be issued by September 30 of the program year.

Note: Rescheduling is only possible on a date after your assigned appointment.

Security screening procedures

All visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu must follow certain security procedures. If you refuse to go through security screening, you won’t be allowed to enter. To avoid delays for yourself and others, only bring what you need for your appointment. You can read a detailed list of prohibited items online at ustraveldocs.com/np-np-niv-securityinfo.asp.

Accompanying Persons

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview. Only the following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English or Nepali well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Immigrant visa fees

If you have not paid all required fees to the National Visa Center, please be prepared to pay these fees on the day of your interview. All fees may be paid in cash in either U.S. dollars or the Nepali rupee equivalent. If you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded. A complete list of fees can be found travel.state.gov. DV fees are paid at the consular cashier on the appointment day.

Do not make travel plans outside of Nepal

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport to you later via the Nepal Investment Bank Ltd. The consular officer will give you information about the return of your passport and documents during your interview. If you have to travel within Nepal while your passport is still with us, please make sure you have a valid picture ID other than your passport.

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After Your Visa Interview

A consular officer can only decide on a visa application after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa.

If more information is needed

Sometimes a consular officer refuses a visa application to review additional documents or for administrative processing.

For additional documents:

• The consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents.
• The letter will include instructions on how to submit those documents to the embassy.

For administrative processing:

• This means the consulate needs more time to review your case.
• How long this takes depends on your specific situation.

Wait at least 60 days after your interview before asking about your application status.

What happens after visa approval

For paper-based cases:
Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We may also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, take them with you to the United States as part of your permanent health record.

For electronic cases:
Your visa should have the following annotation on it: “IV Docs in CCD.”  If your visa has this annotation on it, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will be able to view your paperwork electronically upon arrival at the port of entry in the United States. You only need your passport and valid visa; no paper visa packet is required.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are:  children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a fiancé(e) (K) visa.

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six months from the date of printing. Your visa cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21^st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives: Please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country. We also recommend you check with the airline to ensure you are in compliance with their rules. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custody papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication at “www.uscis.gov/newimmigrants”.

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Diversity Visa Applicants - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your visa interview and gather the required documents.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants.

Bring to your interview

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:

• Appointment information printed from the “Entrant Status Check” on the E-DV website.
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR have two (2) years of qualifying work experience in the last five (5) years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available at travel.state.gov).
• Payment in cash of the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee for each applicant.

Review your DV Program entry

Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status. If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).

Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes your natural children, your step-children (even if you are no longer legally married to the child’s parent and even if the child does not currently reside with you and/or will not immigrate with you), and children you have legally adopted.

Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa program will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. Failure to include a child who had already been born or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the diversity visa program is grounds for disqualification. You can review the eligibility requirements travel.state.gov.

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