You Are In: AIT -> Visa Services -> Nonimmigrant Visa -> Home

Last
Updated: Monday, 02/22/2010

About AIT

In the News

American Cultural
Center

American Citizen
Services

Visa Services

Hot News

Nonimmigrant Visa
Informatio

Visa Wait
Times

Hours and
Location

How to
Apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa

Expedited
Appointments

Fees

Application
Forms

Detailed
Information on Nonimmigrant Visas

Returning of
Passports

Travel
Agent Corner

Contact
Information

Immigrant Visa
Information

Services to U.S.
Citizens

AIT
Holidays

Useful Links

The Bureau of
Consular Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State

US-VISIT

Study in the United States

Services in Southern
Taiwan

Agricultural
Services

Commercial
Services

Nonimmigrant
Visa

Expedited
Visa in Support of Haiti Relief Efforts: AIT will provide
expedited visa processing for members of charitable and government
organizations transiting the United States to Haiti for purposes of
supporting relief efforts in the aftermath of the January 12th
earthquake. Click
here for details

Important
Notice: As of July 1, 2009, AIT will require personal appearance of all
non-immigrant visa applicants under 14. These applicants will need to
make an appointment through the APC web site and must be accompanied by
their parents or legal guardians at AIT Taipei for an interview.

Important Notice: Visa Waiver Travelers Now Must
Register With ESTA Before Travel (The ESTA requirement does not
apply to Taiwan passport holders since Taiwan is currently not a VWP
participating country.)

Visa Wait Times ^TOP

Please visit the Application Processing Center’s (APC) web site to make
an appointment.

Click
here for information about the average appointment wait times for
nonimmigrant visas.

Click
here for average visa processing times. This refers to the number of
working days required for an applicant to receive his passport via the
courier service once a consular officer approves the visa.

All applicants should be aware that the times given above are
AVERAGES and that the processing time for any particular case can vary
according to individual circumstances and any other special
requirements. It is strongly recommended that applicants
schedule their appointments far enough in advance of their planned
travel dates so as to be reasonable sure of obtaining a visa in time.

Due to new biometric requirements for all visa applicants worldwide,
applications must undergo additional computer processing in the US.
Although this new process does not significantly increase average visa
production time, individual applications may be occasionally delayed.
AIT is unable to take action to expedite applications during
this process. We must wait for the results in our
computer system before a visa can be printed. This may delay
emergency travelers and those on short timelines. Please plan
accordingly.

In some cases - for example, applicants
with technical and scientific backgrounds, students and
scholars in scientific fields, and
applicants who are not from Taiwan - additional administrative
processing is required. For more information about the time required for
administrative processing, please refer to the Visa Wait Time page on
the State
Department website.

If you have submitted your application to
AIT and have been provided an administrative processing case number, you
can check the status of your case on the Visa Case Status Inquiry
page.  You will need to enter the administrative processing
case number and the verification code on the screen. Please check the
online status regularly as this will be the only means by which you will
be notified about the status of your case.  Once administrative
processing is complete, you must return your passport to AIT within
120 days.

Applicants can help make this process
go faster by being prepared for their visa interviews. They
should bring a copy of their resume or curriculum vitae (CV); a list of
their publications (if any); a summary of their past and future
research; information on their advisor or sponsor in the United States,
including an invitation letter detailing the applicant's planned
activities or specific study in the US; sponsor's mailing address and
telephone number (for example, a copy of his/her webpage); and a list of
references. Applicants who will be attending conferences in the US
should also bring information about the conference, including abstracts
of any presentation, if applicable.  This information should be in
English. Applicants should also be ready to answer specific questions
about their research plans in the United States.
Applicants who do
not bring complete information to the interview (e.g., a resume and
research summary) may have their applications delayed even further, or
may be refused a visa and asked to apply again. The more information and
documentation an applicant provides during the visa interview, the
better the application can be evaluated. If you are unsure about whether
or not to bring a particular document, please bring it with you in case
the interviewing officer wishes to review it.

Hours and
Location ^TOP

The American Institute in Taiwan (Taipei office) is located at

#7, Lane 134, Xin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei
106

The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit's Information Window is open from 8:00 am to
3:00 pm on each working day.

AIT wants to remind applicants that those arriving at the appointed
time will be allowed into the building with minimal delay. Due to safety
reasons and the large number of applications processed every day,
applicants who arrive before their appointed times will not be allowed in
early. To avoid an unnecessary wait outside the building please do not
arrive early for your appointment.

For AIT holidays and Consular Section closures, click here.

How to Apply for a
Nonimmigrant Visa ^TOP

All nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those who have previously
been issued a visa and wish to apply for a new one, must have their
application forms pre-processed by our appointment contractor, the Atos
Origin Application
Processing Center (APC). The APC service fee is NT$275 per applicant.
For detailed information on how to submit your application to APC for
pre-processing, please visit APC's web site at http://www.visaagent.com.tw/index_en.htm.

Any representative or travel agent may complete the pre-processing with
APC and make an appointment on the applicant's behalf. All applicants
under the age of 80 must make an appointment through the APC web site and
appear in person at the AIT, Taipei Office. Consult the following
information to find out how to submit your application to AIT Taipei after
your application is processed by the APC.

Applicants under the age of 80

Applicants who have not reached their 80th birthday must make an
appointment through the APC web site and appear in person at AIT
Taipei for an interview.  On the scheduled date and time, please
bring your appointment confirmation ticket, your application (which
has been processed either online
or at
the APC), your original passport (including old passport),  fee receipts,
and other supporting
documents to AIT Taipei for interview.

A parent or
legal guardian must accompany a child under the age of 18 to his/her
interview and must sign the child’s application form.  If both
parents (or legal guardians) have difficulty submitting the
application in person, they should write a letter authorizing a
representative to accompany the child for an interview.  AIT
strongly recommends that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of
applicants under age 18 and/or their representative(s) submit US visa
information on those accompanying applicants to the US.  AIT also
strongly recommends that applicants under age 18 traveling with a
non-custodial parent, relative or friend submit a letter of permission
for such travel from applicant's legal guardian(s).

Biometric enrollment:

Applicants who are older than 14 and younger than 80 are required
to have their fingers scanned in an inkless, electronic process at the
beginning of the visa interview. Applicants younger than 14 are not
required to be fingerprinted.

Click
here for the Announcement.

For Frequently Asked Questions on Biometrics, Click
Here.

For a video demonstrating the Interview and Biometric Process,
please click below:

The Interview and Biometric Process

Applicants 80 years old and older

Applicants who have reached their 80th birthday may have a
representative submit their applications to AIT/Taipei without
appointment. Applicants or the representative should bring the
application (which has been processed either online
or at
the APC), applicant's passport (including old passport), and fee receipts to
Nonimmigrant Visa Unit's Information Window between 8:00 am and 3:00
pm on any working day.

Expedited
Appointments^TOP

The American Institute in Taiwan will consider granting expedited visa
appointments to applicants with the following emergencies or
situations:

Emergency medical treatment, as well as persons
desiring to travel in support.

Family emergency, such as a death or critical
illness of an immediate relative.

Initial students and exchange visitors (F, J, and M
visa applicants) who have difficulty arriving at school before their
program starts – Such applicants must be in possession of an I-20 or
DS-2019 form.

Urgent business travelers with an unanticipated
business need.

Holders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Business Travel Card. 

*Members of the American Chamber of Commerce
(AmCham) in Taipei. If you are a member of the AmCham, please
contact the AmCham in Taipei for information about how to request an
expedited appointment for your visa application. * You do not need to
send us a request e-mail.

If you are traveling for one of the reasons listed above and wish to
request an expedited appointment, please send an e-mail request to [email-masked]. The e-mail
subject line should read: “Request for Expedited Appointment.”  An
officer will consider your request and respond as quickly as possible.
Please do not resend your request.  To qualify for consideration,
please include in your e-mail the supporting documents as
attachments.  These documents may include, but are not limited to,
the following:

Completed Form DS-156

A letter or other documentation from the U.S.-based physician,
hospital, employer, or business partner.

A letter or other documentation from the local physician, hospital,
employer, or business partner.

Additional supporting documents, such as trade show registration
information, work verification statements for the employees to be sent,
etc.

Form I-20 or DS-2019.

APEC Business Travel Card.

Please note that these requests will be considered on a case-by-case
basis and that we cannot guarantee that your request will be approved. We
recommend that you arrange an appointment through the regular procedures
as soon as possible and check back with the appointment web site
frequently as additional appointments sometimes become available due to
cancellations made by other applicants.

Fees ^TOP

Visa Application Processing Fee:

The visa processing fee for nonimmigrant visas is
US$131 per applicant.  Each visa applicant must pay
this fee except for certain applicants for diplomatic or official visa
classes and exchange visitor (J) visa applicants participating in a
program sponsored by the U.S. Federal Government.  This fee is
nonrefundable and should be paid in Taiwan currency at any branch of the
Taiwan post office. The current fee rate is NT$4,192.  (Last updated
February 22, 2010)  The exchange rate to calculate this fee will be
reviewed and may be changed every month. Applicants should pay the fee
before applying at AIT for a visa.  Our postal account number is
19189005. The account name is AIT Visa Processing Fee. The postal receipt
is valid for one year.  Please bring the postal receipt with you when
you come to AIT for your interview.  In order to assist us with our
record keeping, we ask that one receipt be presented for each individual
applicant. The receipt will be collected by AIT personnel at the time of
your visa application.  If you need to get a certificate for this
payment, please come to the Information Window with your courier receipt
or approved visa during office hours.  If you have been refused a
visa and wish to reapply, you must pay a new processing fee and submit a
new application form.

APC Service Fee:

The APC service fee is NT$275 per applicant. Each visa applicant
must pay this fee except for certain applicants for diplomatic or official
visa classes and exchange visitor (J) visa applicants participating in a
program sponsored by the U.S. Federal Government. Please pay this fee at
any branch of the Taiwan post office. The account number is 19832104. The
account name is Atos Origin (Taiwan) Ltd. Please bring the postal receipt
with you when you come to AIT for your interview.

SEVIS I-901 Fee:

Persons applying for F, J and M (student and exchange visitor) visas
with initial I-20 or DS-2019 forms issued on or after September 1, 2004
will require payment of the SEVIS fee before making a visa application.
Dependents of F, J or M visa applicants and certain continuing students or
exchange visitors do not have to pay the SEVIS fee. For detailed
information on how to pay the SEVIS fee, click here.
Please bring the SEVIS receipt with you when you come to AIT for your
interview.

Fraud Prevention and
Detection
Fee
Persons applying for
Blanket L-1 (intra-company transferee) visas under
Blanket provisions must pay a "fraud prevention and detection fee" of
US$500.This fee is non-refundable and can only be paid in US dollars at
the American Institute in Taiwan.

Visa Issuance Fee:

Some non-Taiwan passport holders may be required to pay an additional
fee for visa issuance. Visa issuance fees are based on what a country
charges U.S. passport holders for the same category of visa. This fee can
be paid in US or NT dollars at the American Institute in Taiwan.  To
check visa issuance fees for your country, click here.

Courier Service Fee:

If your application is approved, your visa will be delivered to you via
courier service together with your passport. The courier service fee is
NT$170, pay on delivery.

Application
Forms ^TOP

All visa applications shall be completed in English. NOTE: When
printing out visa application forms, please use standard, blank, white
paper. AIT will not accept visa application forms printed on any of the
following: colored paper, paper with watermarks, "recycled" paper (with
printing on the back side), and thermal transfer paper.

DS-156 (Nonimmigrant visa application):
Each visa
applicant must complete this form via one of the following ways. Take
the completed form to your interview.

On-line Application Form (Fill in the form and then
make an appointment on-line. No need to visit Application Processing
Center.)

Non-electronic Visa Application Form (PDF file)
(Print and complete this form. Take the form to the Application Processing Center and submit it for data
processing.)

Electronic
Visa Application Form (e-Form) (Applicants for diplomatic
or official visa classes should complete this form.  Exchange
visitor (J) visa applicants participating in a program sponsored by
the U.S. Federal Government whose program number begins with “G-1”,
“G-2”, “G-3”, or “G-7” should also complete this form.  These
applicants may come directly to the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit Information
Window from 8:00 to 10:00 am on any working day. No advance
appointment is needed.)

DS-156E: Nonimmigrant Treaty Trader / Investor
Application (PDF file)
(Print and complete this form. Take the
form to your interview.)
E-1, E-2 applicants must also complete this
form.

DS-157 (Supplemental nonimmigrant visa application)
(PDF file) (Print and complete this form. Take the form to your
interview.)
Male applicants between 16-45 years of age must also
complete this form.

DS-158 (Contact information and work history for
nonimmigrant visa application) (PDF file) (Print and complete this
form. Take the form to your interview.)
F, J, M (student and exchange
visitor visa) applicants must also complete this form.

You may obtain blank application forms at the AIT service window on
Hsin Yi road. You may also use a fax machine to obtain a faxed version
of the form. Please call 886-2-2547-4898 from a fax machine for more
information.

To view the file in PDF format, you either must
have Adobe's Acrobat Reader installed, or you must download Acrobat
Reader by going to Adobe's installation page at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html

Detailed Information on
Nonimmigrant Visas ^TOP

Business/Tourist
visas (B-1/B-2 visas)

Student
and Exchange Visitor Visas (F, J and M visas)

Temporary
Worker Visas (E, H, I, L, O, P, Q, R and TN visas)

Transit
Visas (C-1 visa)

Crew
Visas (D visa)

Domestic
Employees Visas (B-1)

Non-Taiwan
Passport Holders

Lost or
Stolen Passports

Passport
Validity and Expired Passports

Visa
Validity and Length of Stay Permitted in the U.S.

Fiance/Fiancee
Visas (K Visas)

Spouse
and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (V Visas)

Visa
Denial

Frequently Asked
Questions

Returning of Passports
^TOP

Visas and/or passports will be returned to visa applicants through our
courier service. Applicants should be sure to fill out the courier
application forms prior to submitting visa applications. The application
forms will be available in the waiting area of the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit.
After submitting visa applications to AIT personnel, please go to the
courier service window to complete the delivery processing. This service
will be provided by Chau Feng Express Company, Ltd. at the rate of NT$170.
Pay on delivery. Families may request to place up to four applicants’
passports in one envelope for one price of NT$170. AIT anticipates that
passports will be returned to applicants via courier service within
three working days once a consular officer issues
a visa.  Applicants may track the status of their passport delivery
via Chao Feng's web site at: http://www.express.com.tw/ All applicants should be
aware that the processing times for specific cases can vary according to
individual circumstances and any other special requirements. We recommend
that you apply for your visa well before the date you intend to
travel.

Travel Agent
Corner ^TOP

To encourage travel to the US, we would like to make information about
our rules and practices as clear as possible.  The following
questions and answers may help travel agents and applicants deal with
common concerns as they apply for US nonimmigrant visas.

The Visa Application Form

What should we keep in mind as we fill out the
application?

Be honest and complete.  Include names and information about
contacts in the U.S.  Make sure that all questions are answered
correctly, including those about marital status, previous travel, and
relatives in the US.  Include English names of applicants (check
their business cards and household registration records).

When you assist an applicant, you should write your own name, business
and phone number on Page Two of the form.

Is anyone ever denied a visa for incomplete information on the
form?

Yes.  Such refusals make everyone lose time and money.

Does signing the travel agent portion of the form make any
difference?

Yes.  This is an application requirement.  In addition, it
saves time and reduces misunderstanding at the visa interview.

Appointments

How do I make an appointment?

Please visit the Application Processing Center's web site.

What are the busiest times for visa interviews?

In the busy summer months (May through August), waiting times for
interviews are longer.  Holiday periods (December and Chinese New
Year) are also busy.  If your clients want to travel at these times,
please encourage them to apply well in advance of their travel dates.

Can I make group appointments?

Not in the new worldwide computerized system.  But when you have a
group and want to target a specific time, you may make individual
appointments for applicants throughout that time bloc.  The earlier
you plan and act, the easier it will be to find time slots open
together.

Interviews

How can I expedite matters for my large tour
groups?

Contact us in advance with the name of the function (such as a certain
business convention), names of the participants, and how the list is
determined.   (For example, does the sponsoring company require
incentive sales targets to be met?  Do spouses of staff
qualify?  Or is your own tour company sending several employees and
family members?)  As participants arrive for interviews we will check
them off the list.  When AIT knows the applicants’ status in the
group, the process is easier for everyone.

What should my applicants bring to the interview?

Any information that can show their life situation.  Examples of
evidence include proof of their job, earnings, savings (bank book), tax
payments, status, family, certifications, diplomas, grades, etc.

What are some common problems I could help my clients
avoid?

There will always be some unqualified applicants, but too many
applicants arrive unprepared for their interviews.  Therefore some
people are unnecessarily rejected.

Apply early!  Help your clients understand the rules, fill out the
form completely, and arrive prepared to demonstrate their situation.

General Issues

What is the current situation for U.S. tourist visa applicants
in Taiwan?

Tourists and students agree that the US is still one of the most
attractive destinations in the world.  AIT issues nearly 200,000
visas a year in Taiwan, making it one of our largest issuance
offices.  Taiwan also is one of the largest sources of foreign
students in the US.  Most applicants spend less than one hour
completing the visa application process at AIT.  In the end, most
qualify for a 5-year visa.

What groups exist to help travel agents, and where can I learn
more?

Try the Travel Industry Association of America (http://www.tia.org/), and the
Discover America Partnership (http://www.poweroftravel.org/).  For more
information reviewing obtaining visas, consult the State Department web
article "Deciphering the Visa Code".

Who can I contact?

We value your questions and comments regarding tourism to the US. To
ask questions or make suggestions, please send an e-mail to [email-masked].

Contact Information
^TOP

For recorded information on nonimmigrant visas, please call
886-2-2162-2000.

For information on appointments and how to submit your application
forms to the Application Processing Center, please visit the APC web
site at http://www.visaagent.com.tw/index_en.htm or call them
at 886-2-2709-5106.

If your question is not answered by this web site, please call AIT
at 886-2-2162-2400 (9:00 - noon and 1:00 - 3:00 pm except for holidays
and the first working day of each month) or send your inquiry to us by
fax at 886-2-2162-2211 or by e-mail at [email-masked].

AIT/Taipei: No.7, Lane 134, Sec. 3, XinYi Rd.,
Da-an District, Taipei City 10659, Taiwan TEL: +886
(02) 2162-2000
AIT/Kaohsiung: 5th Floor,
No.2, ChungCheng 3rd Rd., Xin-Xing District, Kaohsiung City 80052, Taiwan TEL: +886 (07) 238-7744

This site is managed by the Information Resource Center.

External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an
endorsement of the views contained therein.
Copyright Information | Privacy Statement | American
Institute in Taiwan, Since
1979