Renew My Visa

On this page:

Overview

You may be eligible to apply for a visa without appearing in person for an interview. Please read the following instructions carefully.

NOTE: It is important to know that your visa may still be valid even though the passport it is in expires soon, or has expired already. As long as the page with the visa is not damaged or has been canceled, you can travel to the United States with your old passport containing a valid visa together with your new, valid passport.

Requirements

There are 3 different methods to qualify:

Category 1: Age Exemption

Some applicants are exempt from the fingerprinting process and may be eligible to apply for a visa by mail:

  • Travelers over the age of 80 with no prior visa refusals within the last two years
  • Certain children under the age of 14 whose parents have valid visas in the same category. A visa application for children should contain these items:
    • A copy of the child's birth certificate.
    • A written description of the child’s intended purpose of travel to the U.S.
    • Copies of the parents’ passport biographic information page.
    • Copies of the parents' current and/or previous U.S. visas, if available.
    • Please note, if a parent or parents are applying in-person for a visa at the U.S Embassy or Consulate General, not through the interview waiver, the parent(s) may also book an appointment in the child’s name and drop off the child's application at the time of their own interview.

IMPORTANT: Please note that even if you meet the qualifications above, you still may be required to come to the Embassy for an interview. You will be informed by e-mail if this is the case.

Category 2: Renewing a visa

Applicants whose personal data (such as name, citizenship, etc.) has not changed, whose passport with a previous U.S. visa has not been lost/stolen and who otherwise meet all of the following conditions:

  • Received a visa after January 1, 2008 and had their fingerprints taken;
  • F and M visa applicants:  Students are eligible for a waiver of interview, provided the applicant is renewing his or her visa either to: (a) continue participation in the same major course of study even if at a different institution; or (b) attend the same institution even if in a different major course of study.
  • J visa applicants: may only be renewed without an interview if the exchange visitor will continue participation in the same exchange visitor program, with the same Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) number from the previously issued visa.
  • Are applying for a visa in the same category as the previous visa;
  • Are applying for the new visa within 48 months of the expiration date of the old visa;
  • Are applying at the consular post of residence or the post designated for their nationality.

IMPORTANT: Please note that even if you meet the qualifications above, you still may be required to come to the Embassy for an interview. You will be informed by e-mail if this is the case. 

Category 3: Diplomatic and Government Officials/Employees of an International Organization

Please see this page to find more information on how to apply for a diplomatic/official visa.

How To Apply

Step 1

Determine your visa type by reading Common Nonimmigrant Visas. Each visa type explains the qualifications and application items. Choose the visa type that applies to your situation and gather the required items for your visa type.

IMPORTANT: If you fail to include all of the required application items in your mail-in application, the Embassy will not be able to process your case. You will be contacted by the Embassy and the missing documents will be requested. This will delay the application process. 

Step 2

The next step is to complete the DS-160 Form. Be sure to read the Guidelines for Completing the DS-160 Form carefully. All information must be correct and accurate. Once the form is submitted, you cannot make any changes. If you need assistance, please consult an immigration lawyer or translator. The Embassy and call-center cannot assist in completing your DS-160.

Step 3

Once you have determined the correct visa type, gathered the necessary items and completed the DS-160, you must pay the visa fee. The visa fee page lists the visa types and correlating visa fee in U.S. dollars and local currency. To pay your visa fee, read the Bank and Payment Options page. This page explains how to make your visa fee payment.

Step 4

Log-in to our online applicant system and create a profile to pay the visa application (MRV) fee. Once logged in, choose “New Application / 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. Answer the interview waiver questions carefully.

After you answer the questions, you will be prompted to pay the visa fee. Upon qualifying, you will receive an Interview waiver confirmation page. Please mail in your documents ONLY if you received an Interview waiver confirmation page from the system, and if you are sure you qualify based on the requirements above.

Step 5

When you are ready to submit the application documents, please follow the instructions received on the Interview Waiver Confirmation letter and register your document delivery address.

After the registration is done you will receive a prepaid address label from the DHL.

The cost of the document delivery to the Embassy is 380 NOK (per applicant), paid with a credit or debit card when registering the delivery address.

Step 6

A DHL courier will deliver your documents to the Embassy.

Step 7

At the end of the visa adjudication process, DHL will return your documents and your passport to you at the chosen document delivery location with the chosen delivery option selected in your profile when scheduling your appointment.

The cost of the document delivery from the Embassy is 460 NOK (per applicant), paid with a credit or debit card when registering the delivery address. If issued, your passport will contain your visa.

The average processing time at the Embassy is three days after you attended your interview in person. Please note that processing time for mail-in applications is currently 4 weeks.

For information regarding processing times, please visit this page.