Apply for a U.S. Visa

Visas for Applicants under 14 and over 79 Years of Age

On this page:

• Qualifications
• Supporting Documentation
• How To Apply

Qualifications

You may be eligible to apply for a U.S. visa without an interview based on your age. 

Qualification for interview waiver based on under 14 and over 79 years of age:

• Children under 14 years of age, and applicants over 79 years of age, may apply through interview waiver for a B1/B2 visa if they have not previously been found ineligible for a U.S. visa.
• Please see below in “Supporting Documentation" to ensure the correct documents are included with the application.
• Applicants must be a citizen or resident of Hong Kong or Macau (proof of residency in Hong Kong or Macau is either a Hong Kong or Macau ID, or a visa with the "right to abode and work.").
• Applicants must be physically present in Hong Kong or Macau.
• Children under 14 years of age must not have a U.S. Citizen parent (unless the parents can provide documentation of a formal finding by the U.S. Consulate’s American Citizen Services Unit that the child is not a U.S. citizen) or a parent who is a Legal Permanent Resident (green card holder) of the United States.

Supporting Documentation

All Applicants must provide:

• Interview Waiver Confirmation letter
• The DS-160 application form confirmation page.
• A valid passport: Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States.
• Current and old passports with previous U.S. visa.
• A copy of your Hong Kong or Macau identity card or your visa with the "right to abode and work".
• One photograph: Two inches square (51mm x 51mm) color passport/digital photograph, less than 6 months old, against a white background, full frontal view. Detailed guidelines for taking and submitting a quality photograph are on the U.S. Department of State website here. Your application will be refused if your photograph does not meet the requirements.

PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT THE SAME PHOTOGRAPH THAT APPEARED ON YOUR PREVIOUS VISA.  Failure to submit a valid photograph will delay the processing of your visa application.

Specific Applicants:

Applicants under 14 years of age applying for a Tourist (B2) Visa must also include:

• A copy of the child's birth certificate.
• A copy of the photo page of both parents' passports and a copy of both parents' Hong Kong or Macau ID cards.
• A copy of at least one parent's valid U.S. visitor (B1/B2 or B2) visa.  If one or both parents is a national of a country whose citizens can travel to the United States on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), a copy of an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Please see ESTA - Electronic System for Travel Authorization for further information.  If neither parent has a valid U.S. visa or travel authorization, the child is not eligible for interview waiver.
• Passport containing the applicant’s previous original U.S. visa in the same category, if any.
• All passport issued between the time the applicant’s previous U.S. visa issued and the present, if any.  

*For all other children: Children under 14 years of age not qualified for interview waiver if any of the required documents are missing. If not qualified for interview waiver, an appointment is necessary for the child’s visa application.  At least one parent must come to the U.S. Consulate to be interviewed.  The child need not accompany the parent to the interview; however, the child must be physically present in Hong Kong or Macau at the time of the interview.

Applicants over 79 years of age applying for a Tourist (B2) Visa must also include:

• Proof of residency in Hong Kong or Macau (proof is a copy of the applicant’s Hong Kong or Macau ID, or a visa with the "right to abode and work");
• Any previously issued U.S. visa.

How To Apply

If you meet the requirements above, follow the steps below to create a profile and continue the application process.

Step 1

Complete the non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form. (You are required to upload a photograph taken within the last six months as a part of the DS-160 process. Detailed guidelines for taking and submitting a quality photograph are on the U.S. Department of State website here.)

Please note: for applicants who have a name in Chinese characters, you must complete the four-digit telecode in your DS-160 application.  The telecode question can be found at “Personal Information 1” on the DS-160, which asks “Do you have a telecode that represents your name?” Please click “yes,” then there will be space provided for you to fill in your telecode. If you do not know your telecode, you may wish to visit this website for details.

Step 2

Log-in to our online applicant system and create a profile to pay the visa application (MRV) fee at 7-11 or by credit card.  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.  If you are eligible to apply for a visa without an interview, you will print out the “interview waiver confirmation letter” which you will include with your visa application.

Please ensure you read and answer all the interview waiver questions carefully.  Only answer Yes to the questions if you fully comply with all points listed under every question.  In case you do not qualify for interview waiver and have wrongfully responded to any question, you will be requested to schedule an appointment for an interview, leading to a delay of 1-2 weeks in your visa issuance. Applicants can qualify for interview waiver based on past U.S. travel (if the applicant possesses a visa that expired within last 48 months) or based on age (under 14 or over 79 years of age).

Step 4

Gather your DS-160 confirmation page, interview waiver confirmation letter, current and previous passports, photo, and any other required supporting documentation. Depending on the visa category, you may also be required to pay a reciprocity fee. Please refer to your specific visa category page for additional required documents.

Step 5

Applicants under 14 or over 79 years of age do not require fingerprinting. To submit applications and documentation without fingerprints, please visit one of the following 5 collection locations:  

Take your interview waiver confirmation letter, DS-160 confirmation page and all the required documents for your visa class along with an A5 mailing envelope to enclose your documents to one of the collection facilities listed below.

Applicants can drop-off their Interview Waiver Application for free at The Hive, 3/F Chinachem Tower, 34-37 Connaught Rd Central, Central, Hong Kong (MTR Central,  Exit B or MTR Hong Kong station Exit C). Opening hours Monday to Friday 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

Effective March 1, 2023, applicants can drop off their Interview Waiver Application for a fee of HKD 195 at the following 4 locations:

• Buy & Ship (Kwun Tong) RM 109, 1/F, Block G, East Sun Industrial Centre, 16 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon (MTR Kwun Tong Exit B1). Opening hours Monday to Friday 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Saturday 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
  
  
• Buy & Ship (Tuen Mun) Room F ,7/F , Mai Kei Industrial Building, 5 San Hop Lane , Tuen Mun, New Territories (MTR Tuen Mun Exit A). Opening Hours are: Mon-Fri: 12:00pm-08:00pm, Saturday: 12:00pm-07:00pm, closed on Sundays and Public holidays.
  
  
• Buy & Ship (Mong Kok) Unit 15, 16/F, Gala Place, 56 Dundas Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon (MTR Yau MaTei Exit A2). Opening hours Monday to Friday 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Saturday 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
  
  
• Buy & Ship (Causeway Bay) Flat 1701D, 17/F, Causeway Bay Commercial Building, No.3 Sugar Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Exit D2). Opening hours Monday to Friday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm, Saturday 12:00 am - 7:00 pm. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Note: Please do not submit any documentation in a sealed envelope as this will be rejected by the U.S. Consulate.  If you use an envelope to submit documents, it must remain open at all times.

Step 6

The U.S. Consulate will keep your passport and application for processing and adjudication for approximately 7-10 working days.

Step 7

At the end of the visa adjudication process, the Consulate General in Hong Kong will return your original documents and your passport to you according to the document delivery option you have chosen (Pick-up or Delivery Service).  If issued, your passport will contain your visa.

Important Note: The use of the interview waiver does not guarantee visa issuance. In some cases, applicants may still be required to appear for a visa interview at the Consulate General Hong Kong, e.g., incomplete and/or inaccurate applications.

Apply for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa