Select here to learn more about an important update on waivers of the interview requirement for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants.


All receipts for payment of Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fees issued before October 1, 2022, will expire September 30, 2023. There will be no extensions of fee validity. Applicants must schedule an appointment or submit an interview waiver application before September 30, 2023 to avoid paying a new fee. Please note that the interview itself does not need to take place before September 30, 2023, but an interview appointment needs to be made in the system, even if it is scheduled months into the future. Furthermore, applicants using MRV fees paid before October 1, 2022 to book an appointment are cautioned not to attempt to change their appointment dates on or after October 1, 2023. Doing so will result in forfeiture of both the original appointment slot and the MRV fee receipt. The applicant will be required to pay a new fee and submit a new application package.


The U.S. Embassy in Vientiane will change its consular exchange rate from US$1=20,000LAK to US$1=22,000LAK effective September 29, 2023.

All applicants who pay the visa processing fee on or after September 29, 2023, must pay at the new exchange rate of US$1=22,000LAK.

Applicants who paid the visa processing fee at the previous exchange rate of US$1=20,000LAK on or before September 28, 2023, may still use their receipt before it expires.


All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee. Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period. Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period. There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period. All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date.


Information about restrictions to travel under the Visa Waiver Program, including the requirement for an electronic passport, is available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html


Mount Rushmore - South Dakota

Welcome to the U.S. Visa Information Service for Laos. On this website you can find information about U.S. immigrant and nonimmigrant visas and the requirements to apply for each. You can also learn how to pay the required visa application fee, and book an interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane.

This is the official visa information website of the U.S. Mission in Laos.