Embassy of the United States Chisinau, Moldova

APPLICATION PROCESS

Instructions for the Application form are available in Romanian and Russian. You may select "русский" or "română" in the "Select Tooltip Language" box at the top right corner of the page.

Step 1: THE APPLICATION FORM

Each visa applicant must fill out his or her own online Application Form (DS-160) in English. Even small children who may be included in a parent’s passport must have a separate application. Fill it out completely, answering all questions to the best of your knowledge.

As you complete the visa application, save a copy on your hard drive and click ‘save’ often. You may recover your application if you lose internet connection or have a system error. You will need to enter the application ID and provide identification information.

The Application Form requires a digital photo. If the photo you upload is not accepted as suitable, or is not a photo of yourself, you will be given the option to continue without a photo. In this instance only, where you have successfully submitted the application, you may bring a photo to your interview. The photo should be of the applicant’s full head, facing forward, on a white background. Blurry or distorted photos will not be accepted. The photo must not be older than six months. Please read carefully the requirements to upload your photo and the photo specifications at the following link http://travel.state.gov/visa/visaphotoreq/visaphotoreq_5334.html 

Print the confirmation page after you have completed the Application Form that includes some biographical information and a bar code confirmation number. The confirmation number on the confirmation page will be necessary to schedule an interview (STEP 2).

You must bring your clearly printed confirmation with you to the Embassy on the day of the visa interview. Once you have read the information above, follow this link to the visa application form (DS-160): https://ceac.state.gov/GENNIV/

Step 2: SCHEDULING A VISA INTERVIEW

Visa interviews are scheduled through the State Department’s online system only. Walk-in applicants are not accepted.

You will need to use the confirmation number on your completed visa Application Form (see STEP 1) in order to schedule an appointment. Please make only one appointment. If you made more than one appointment in the electronic system you may have all of your appointments canceled without notice.

To schedule an appointment, please click on the following link: https://evisaforms.state.gov/default.asp?postcode=CHS&appcode=3.

The system will not send a confirmation email with your appointment time. Print the webpage using the print button on your browser.

IMPORTANT: For petition-based work visa applicants (H, L, O, P, R), when making visa interview appointments, please send us an e-mail at Chisinau-CA@state.gov with your name and approved petition number. For example: Popescu, Ion; Petition No: EAC-08-123-45678.

Apply for a visa well in advance. In emergency cases, the Consular Section can provide expedited appointments for visa interviews. Some examples of applications that would qualify for expedited service include:

• Urgent medical cases

• Unforeseen business travel

• Students/Exchange visitors whose programs are about to start.

To request an expedited appointment or to schedule a group of 5 persons or more, please send an email describing your request to Chisinau-CA@state.gov with the words “Expedited Appointment” in the subject line.

Business Travel Facilitation Program Employees of members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Moldova may qualify for a special appointment program. For more information on the program, please contact the American Chamber of Commerce in Moldova or visit http://www.amcham.md/index.php?go=visa_program.

Step 3: VISA APPLICATION FEE

Once you have completed your application, you must pay a nonrefundable visa application fee, payable in lei at any branch of Moldova Agroindbank. The U.S. Embassy does not accept payments for visa application fees.

Effective April 13, 2012, the Department of State adjusts visa processing fees. The application fee for the majority of visa categories, including Tourist and Student visas (B, D, F, J, and I), is $160. The application fee for petition-based non-immigrant visas, including H, L, O, P, Q and R visas, is $190. The fee for fiancé(e) K visa is $240 and for E visa is $270.

Only applicants applying for diplomatic visas and applicants participating in exchanges sponsored by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs or USAID are exempt from this fee.

On the day of the visa interview appointment, you should arrive no more than 15 minutes in advance of your scheduled appointment with:

- The Confirmation Page

- 5cm x 5cm color photograph (only if failed to upload digital photo)

- valid passport - receipt for payment of the application fee from any branch of Moldova Agroindbank, and

- if you were previously arrested or have a criminal record, you must provide a copy of your court and/or arrest record (including cases that ended with an acquittal or pardon). You need to have an English translation of those documents. In the event that there was no trial, bring a letter in English that explains the circumstances of the arrest. Those who do not have arrest or criminal records do not need to provide these documents.

Third parties, including family, friends, or lawyers, are not allowed to be present at visa interviews, though exceptions may be granted for those people who need physical assistance.

Successful visa applicants normally receive their visas the next business day.

Applicants for student, exchange, and petition-based visas (such as work visas) may require additional documentation. For information on additional documents needed for student visa applicants (F or M visas), please visit the Student Visas page at http://moldova.usembassy.gov/student-visas.html.

For information on additional documents needed for exchange visa applicants (J visas), please visit the Exchange Visas page at http://moldova.usembassy.gov/exchange-training-visas.html.

For information on additional documents needed for work visa applicants (H visas), please visit the Work Visas page at http://moldova.usembassy.gov/work-visas.html.

Frequently asked questions may be found at http://moldova.usembassy.gov/general-questions.html.