Nonimmigrant Visas

Drop Box Requirements for Applicants under age 14

To qualify for drop-box processing, a child must meet all six of the following requirements:

• be under 14 years old
• be a Hong Kong or Macau national or resident. Proof of residency in Hong Kong or Macau is a HK/Macau ID or visa with "right to abode and work."
• be physically present in Hong Kong or Macau (not in mainland China) at the time of application
• not have been refused a visa
• not have an American parent (unless the parents can provide documentation of a formal finding by the American Citizen Services Unit that the child is not a U.S. citizen)
• not have a parent who is a Legal Permanent Resident (green card holder) of the United States

Parents or their representatives may drop off completed NIV applications for their children at the U.S. Consulate General Monday through Friday, 2-3 p.m., without making an appointment and without having the children appear in person for a visa interview. However, the consular officer has the discretion to call in the applicant for a personal interview if it is determined necessary. Parents or legal guardians are advised to accompany a minor child for the interview.

All children's drop-box applications must be completed using the online application form (DS-160) which can be filled out by clicking here. The DS-160 is only available in English. After completing the DS-160, the applicant will electronically transmit the application and will be provided with a confirmation page that includes some biographical information and a bar code. Parents or their representatives must bring this confirmation page with them to their children's drop-box applications.

Note: if the online application has not been completed fully and accurately, parents or their representatives will be requested to return with a new completed application. To view Frequently Asked Questions about DS-160, please click here.

Their applications must be accompanied by:

• a copy of 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 previous or still valid U.S. visa (unless one or both parents are nationals of a country whose citizens can travel on the Visa Waiver Program to the United States)

• a copy of the applicant's birth certificate

• a job letter from at least one parent (note: if parents are self-employed, please provide a copy of the business registration and parent's business card)

Note: Visa applicants are required to submit all previous passports, especially with a U.S. visa in it, even if expired.

Additional documents for drop-box applications for student visas (F/J/M) for applicants under age 14:

• proof that family has sufficient funds to pay for the first year of student's studies in the United States (for example, copies of bank books, bank statements, tax returns, etc.)

• all required student documents, including I-20 or DS-2019 and SEVIS fee receipt (see here for more details)

• note there is NO need to provide school or exam reports

• note there is NO need to submit a copy of a parent's U.S. visa for student visa applications

For all other children: At least one parent must come in to the U.S. Consulate to be interviewed. The child need not accompany the parent to the interview.

Please note: If parents are applying for visas themselves, they should simply bring the completed applications of their children aged 14 or under along with them to the interview. The children need not accompany the parents. We prefer to process applications for families together if possible and believe this is easier for parents as well. In this case there is no need for parents to drop off the children's applications separately during drop-box hours.

 

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Last modified: March 9, 2009