Nestled in the Dutch-Caribbean region, Curaçao or officially recognized as the Country of Curaçao, is a small island country which is also a constituent member of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Renowned for its white sand beaches, extraordinary marine ecosystem, post-colonial architecture, water adventures and more, Curaçao is an attractive travel destination for international travelers. In addition to this, the country also has friendly visa policies for residents and citizens applying for a B1/B2 visa for the United States. In this article, we will guide you through the entire process of U.S. visa application from Curaçao.
What is a B1/B2 Visa?
This type of visa is a non immigrant type of visa that is temporary. With this kind of visa, an individual can travel to the United States for either business or as a tourist. While a B1 US visa is mainly used for business travels, a B2 tourist visa is generally used by tourists for visiting the U.S. for a vacation or for meeting friends and family.
Application process – How to apply?
Passport validity
For the first step of your application process, you will need to check your passport validity. All applicants need to have a valid passport for at least a minimum of six months after their stay period in the United States. This rule will not apply only if there are any country-specific guidelines. If you are including your family members or other dependents in your visa application, you will need to share their application form separately.
Submit the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application – Form DS-160
You need to complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application – Form DS-160 and share it with the respective authorities. This step is absolutely necessary and must be done for all visa applications (regardless of its type) to the United States. If you are unable to provide satisfactory answers to all the questions mentioned in this form, it can cause a delay in your visa application process. If you are a parent or a legal guardian of an applicant who is below the age of 14, then the form must be signed by you on his/her behalf. If you have taken the help of an entity to fill in this form, their contact details should also be shared on the form. Once you have completed the form, make sure to take a print out of the confirmation page and carry it with you without fail on the day of the visa interview.
Visa appointment
You need to check out the U.S. consulate’s online NIV Appointment System to block a date for your non-immigrant visa interview. For a smooth experience, keep your DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form Confirmation Number with you on the day of the interview. You can find this number on the confirmation page of the DS-160 online visa application form. Applicants must note that if their previous visa application was rejected in Curaçao itself, then they must reach out to the Consulate via email to schedule an interview when they are applying for the second time.
Documents needed
Make sure to keep these documents handy on the day of your visa application interview appointment.
- Completed DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form along with the confirmation page. Applicants must have this printed and share the hard copy. If there is more than one applicant included in your application, then each person will need to share their individual forms for their DS 160 appointment.
- A picture of the applicant in front of a white background. The size of the photograph should be – 5 cm x 5 cm.
- Legal residency proof of your island in Curaçao and proof of your identity.
- A valid passport that should remain valid for a minimum of six months after your expected date of entry to the United States.
- Passports that include all former U.S. visas. You will need to share them even if they have expired.
- You need to pay an application fee of $160 dollars in cash (non-refundable) on the day of your interview.
- You need to share your bank statements and other financial documents.
- You have to submit your school diploma/graduation certificate as proof of education.
- You need to share your employment details, such as salary slips, company credentials, a reference letter from your HR department, etc.
- You have to submit your covid-19 vaccination status or you can share a negative PCR or Antigen test that has been conducted within three days of the scheduled interview.
- Applicants must note that they will not be given entry to the United States Consulate building without a Covid-19 vaccine proof or a negative Covid-19 test. Moreover, individuals should also wear face masks at all times in the Consulate building area
Note that an applicant can take with them additional documents to support his/her visa application based on their personal state of affairs.
Applicants should keep in mind that the above mentioned documents do not guarantee the issuance of a U.S. visa. Individuals applying for the B1/B2 visa must be ready to share any additional documents required by the Consulate and be prepared to elucidate on the reasons to travel to the United States and explain when they will return to the island.
For the issuance of non immigrant visas, a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not required. Instead, your visa application to the United States will be dependent on your residence and relationships in the United States. Therefore any of these documents will not make any difference on the judgment of your US visa application.
Visa application fee
Applicants need to pay an application fee for their US visitors visa. The fee is non-refundable and can be paid in US dollars or Curaçao Guilders. Interested individuals must note that the fee needs to be paid in cash on the date of the interview for initiating your visa application process.
Citizens not belonging to the Kingdom of Netherlands must check the Visa Reciprocity Tables to know if they are required to make a payment for a visa issuance reciprocity fee. If they are eligible, they will need to pay the reciprocity fee at the visa counter on the day of their interview. The fee amount can vary from person to person as it is dependent on the category of the visa, nationality of the applicant and the number of years the visa will be valid for. Applicants can pay this fee in either US dollars or Curaçao Guilders.
Visa interview
Applicants for a B2 tourist visa or B1 US visa must not enter the Consulate building before 15 minutes of their scheduled time of interview. Make sure to not carry these following items when you enter the US Consulate in Curaçao.
- Food
- Guns or arms of any sort
- Liquids (beverages, hand sanitizers or any sort of gels)
- Electronics like a cellular phone, photo/video cameras, radio and computers
There is no safe space available in the building where you can keep the above mentioned items. So if you are found carrying any of these things, you will not be allowed to enter the building and will be asked to make a new appointment altogether.
Applicants will also be required to book a new appointment if they arrive at the U.S. Consulate after 15 minutes of the scheduled time of the interview. If you are an individual flying to the island for the interview, make sure to book your flight to Curaçao a little before the scheduled time of the appointment as a late arrival might cause significant delay in your visa application process.
You should note that it is very important to be completely honest during your visa interview process. Applicants found lying or forging documents can be permanently denied a US visa.
Collect your passport and visa
Your passport will be returned to you the next day (afternoon) after your visa appointment. You can collect it from the U.S. Consulate General in Curaçao. If you are not a resident of the island or not staying in Curaçao, you can choose to deliver your passport to your location through a commercial courier service like DHL. In this case, the applicant must pay for the cost of the delivery. Applicants can also issue a third-party authorization to collect the passport from the U.S. Consulate General Curaçao.
Interview day – How to go about it?
Time of arrival: Applicants must not arrive 15 mins before or after the scheduled time on the day of the visa interview. If you arrive 15 mins prior or 15 mins late after your designated time, then you will not be allowed to enter the United States Consulate building. In such circumstances, applicants will be required to book a fresh appointment for the visa interview.
Prohibited things: Things like luggage, food, guns, weapons, any type of liquids, or electronic equipment will not be allowed in the buildings.
Security Screening: Before you enter the consulate building, you will need to undergo a security screening process, like the one you see in airports. If an applicant denies to cooperate with the security procedures, he/she will not be allowed to enter the Consulate.
Interpreters: The visa interview is conducted in English as well as Spanish. If an applicant is unable to understand/speak any of the two languages, then he/she must bring along an interpreter to the interview.
Special Needs: If an applicant is old or is specially abled, he/she can bring a person along for assistance. If your medical condition requires you to use special things like a wheelchair, you can inform the personnel at the gates for assistance.
Accompanying Individuals: Applicants and parents of minor individuals applying for the visa only will be allowed to enter the Consulate building. Applicants 18 years and older will not be permitted entry to the building along with their spouses/parents/friends or other relatives. In addition to this, an applicant cannot bring their attorneys for the visa appointment.
Dress: Applicants need to dress according to the interview. Also, keep in mind the weather, as most of the waiting area is in the open.
Honesty: Applicants should answer all questions with the utmost honesty at every stage of the interview. You need to be transparent with the interviewer as much as possible. Incorrect or false information may lead to rejection of the visa application.
Application Fee: You need to pay the application fee inside the Consulate and to the Cashier. If anyone other than the Cashier demands any fee regarding the visa application, you need to inform the authorities during the time of your interview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will be qualified for a B1/B2 visa?
If you are planning to travel to the United States for a short period of time, either for business or for a holiday, you can apply for a B1/B2 visa. For the application, you need to share certain documents and might have to clarify when you are moving back to your home country.
What is the processing time for a B1/B2 visa?
A B1/B2 visa can take anywhere between two to three weeks to around three months (90 days or less) to get processed.
How much money does one need in the bank to apply for a US tourist visa?
If you are applying for a U.S. tourist visa and your stay period in the country is around 15 days, then you need to have $ 5,000-10,000 in your bank account.
Why is my B1 visa application getting rejected?
Your visa application might get rejected for various reasons. Some of them can be an incomplete submission of the DS-160 form, inadequate supporting documents or a criminal record.
Can I start working in the US on a B1/B2 visa?
No, you cannot do so. Although you can visit the U.S on a business trip, you cannot be employed by an employer based out of the United States. If you plan to work in the U.S. under a U.S. employer, you might consider applying for the H-1B visa.
For further information on the various US visa category, you can check out our following articles:
- EB5 Visa USA 2021 – The Ultimate Guide by Experts | GCS
- EB5 Investor Visa In The USA
- US Passport Visa Free Countries
