Visitor Visas - Business and Pleasure

The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1), for pleasure (B-2), or combination of both (B-1/B-2) purposes.

Application Procedures

• Pay the Nonimmigrant visa application processing fee of $160 at any Banque Internationale pour le Mali (BIM). BIM receipt must be presented at the interview.
• Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160.
• Make an appointment online
• On the day of the interview, arrive at the Consular Section of the Embassy 30 minutes before your interview time.  Please plan on spending up to 3 to 5 hours at the Embassy.
• Bring all required documentation and additional documentation with you to the interview. 

Please note:  appointments can only be made 2 weeks in advance. 

If there are no appointments, available, please tray back another time.  Individuals with urgent situations may request an expedited visa appointment.

Required Documentation & Application Fees

• DS-160 confirmation sheet (this is obtained after completing and submitting the form)
• A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States
• One 2x2 photograph. See the required photo format explained in Nonimmigrant Photograph Requirements.
• BIM receipt showing payment of the NIV application fee.

 
Additional Documentation

Applicants must demonstrate that they are properly classifiable as visitors under U.S. law by:

• Evidence which shows the purpose of the trip, intent to depart the United States, and arrangements made to cover the costs of the trip may be provided. It is impossible to specify the exact form the documentation should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly.
• Those applicants who do not have sufficient funds to support themselves while in the U.S. must present convincing evidence that an interested person will provide support.
• Evidence to show that the applicant has a residence abroad to which he/she intends to return at the end of the stay in the U.S. This is generally established by evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to some country other than the U.S. sufficient to cause the applicant to return there at the conclusion of his/her stay.

Do not have supporting documentation faxed, e-mailed, or sent to the Embassy; it will be thrown away. Bring all supporting documentation with you for the interview.