Renew My Visa

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Overview

Whether you are applying for the first time, or renewing a visa, all applicants must complete a DS-160 application form. If your visa is still valid, but your passport has expired, you still may travel to the United States by carrying your still valid visa in your expired passport, along with your new, valid passport.  Additional details can be found here. 

Qualifications

You may submit your visa renewal application and proceed without a consular interview if you meet all of the following qualifications:

  • All ten fingerprints were scanned at a prior consular interview (Stockholm started with Ten-fingerprinting on June 15th 2007).
  • You are applying for the exact same type of visa as your current/previous visa.
  • Your current visa is either currently valid or has expired within 48 months of the date of your application
  • Your visa does not have 'Waiver Granted' annotated on it
  • You have never been arrested for any reason, anywhere in the world
  • You are not applying to replace a visa that has been lost or stolen
  • You are physically present in Sweden
  • If you do not have a Swedish passport, you must have legal residence in Sweden and provide proof of residence with your application (copy of residence card - do not send an original)
  • Your current passport will be valid for at least 6 more months
  • You will not need your current passport for 3 weeks following the date we receive your application

If one or more of the conditions do not apply, then you must schedule an in person interview in order to apply for your visa. 

Note: If you qualify for mail in renewal service, you must renew by mail. As we have very limited in person appointments available, we must reserve them for those applicants who must apply in person. If you qualify for mail in renewal and you make an in person appointment, your appointment will be canceled.

How to Apply

Step 1

Complete the non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

Step 2

Log-in to our online applicant system and create a profile to pay the visa application (MRV) fee. Once logged in, choose “Schedule appointment”. As you go through the process you will answer the interview waiver questions which will evaluate your eligibility to apply for a visa without an interview.

Step 3

After you answer the questions, you will be prompted to pay the visa fee. Upon qualifying you will receive detailed instructions of how to deliver your documents. You will need three pieces of information in order to register online:

  • Your passport number
  • The CGI reference number from your payment receipt. (Click here if you need help finding this number.)
  • The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page
Step 4

Gather your DS-160 confirmation page, MRV fee receipt, valid passport, photo, and a letter explaining your travel purpose and itinerary. Depending on the visa category, you may require additional documentation and a reciprocity fee. Please refer to your specific visa category page for additional required documents.

Step 5

Mail your documents to the US Embassy, or drop off in person at the VFS Global office per the instructions in the Interview Waiver confirmation. 

Once your application package is received by the Consular Section, a consular officer will make the final determination whether you qualify for visa issuance without a personal interview. In such a case, the Consulate will issue your visa and the passport will be returned to you by PostNord to the nearest PostNord service point of your address registered on the courier vendor's platform or, if you chose the personal pick-up option, you will be able to collect the passport at the VFS GLOBAL office in Stockholm.

Note that it is not possible to pick up or drop off your passport at the U.S. Embassy. Our standard processing time is 3 weeks, whether the application is mail or an in person appointment. If you are not able to leave your passport with us for 3 weeks, do not apply for your visa, either in person or by mail.