General Information

The U.S. Mission Kazakhstan advises all prospective nonimmigrant visa applicants that due to the high volume of Summer Work and Travel applicants who will be applying for visas, no non-Summer Work and Travel nonimmigrant visa appointments will be available during the following weeks: 

U.S. Consulate General Almaty: April 29-May 3 and May 13-17  

U.S. Embassy Astana: May 6-10 and May 20-24. 

The U.S. Mission Kazakhstan advises the public to please schedule your visa interviews accordingly. Applicants in need of an expedited appointment during those weeks, request consideration for an emergency appointment through their personal accounts or Call Center. Only those requests that meet our criteria for an emergency appointment will be granted an emergency appointment.

Visa Processing Fees to Change on April 13, 2012

Effective April 13, 2012, the Department of State will adjust visa processing fees.  The fees for most nonimmigrant visa applications and Border Crossing Cards will increase, while all immigrant visa processing fees will decrease.

The Department is required to recover, as far as possible, the cost of processing visas through the collection of application fees.  For a number of reasons, the current fees no longer cover the actual cost of processing nonimmigrant visas.  The nonimmigrant visa fee increase will support the addition and expansion of overseas facilities, as well as additional staffing required to meet increased visa demand.

Although most categories of nonimmigrant visa processing fees will increase, the fee for E visas (treaty-traders and treaty-investors) and K visas (for fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens) will decrease. 

Nonimmigrant Visa Processing Fees

Because of a reallocation of costs associated with immigrant visas, all categories of immigrant visa processing fees will decrease.

Immigrant Visa Processing Fees

The proposed fees were published in the Federal Register today, and will take effect in 15 days.  To view the interim final rule, visitwww.regulations.gov.  Comments will be accepted until 60 days after publication.  At that time, the Department will consider the public comments, and the published final rule will include the Department’s response to any comments received.

Fee information may also be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, travel.state.gov, and on the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates.

What is a visa?
 
A visa is issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. A visa entitles the holder to travel to the United States and apply for admission. It doesnot guarantee entry. An immigration inspector at the port of entry determines the visa holder's eligibility for admission into the United States and their length of stay.

Who needs a visa?

Kazakhstani citizens, like citizens of most countries, require a visa to enter the United States.  Citizens of certain countries may enter the United States without a visa if they are traveling for pleasure, business or in transit and they meet certain other requirements.  Click here for more information on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Types of visas
 
Non-Immigrant Visas are for people with permanent residence outside the United States, but who wish to go to the U.S. on a temporary basis - for tourism, business, medical treatment, temporary work, or study. Click here to apply now.
 
Immigrant Visas are required by anyone seeking to take up indefinite or permanent residence in the United States. Upon entry into the United States, an immigrant visa holder is processed for a Permanent Resident Card (I-551), commonly known as a Green Card.