If you are travelling on your Icelandic passport it must be valid for the duration of your stay int he United States.  If you are travelling on a passport from another country your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States, unless exempt by country-specific agreements. If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.

• Completed Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160

Please note that you must answer EVERY question on the application forms. If the answer to a question is “none,” please write “none”(Do not leave it blank). Incomplete/incorrect forms will be returned and will require you to schedule a new interview appointment. Each applicant needs his or her own DS-160 form, including minor children

Important! Many of our visa applicants are completing the DS-160 incorrectly, causing us to postpone their planned visa interview dates.

All Student Visa (F-1/M-1) and Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1) applicants should collect the following:

• A valid passport
• DS-160 confirmation page
• A 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inch) color photo not older than 6 months – with a light or white background. You cannot wear glasses.
• The forms listed in Step 2
• Student (F-1/M-1) visa applicants should also bring their Form I-20.
• Exchange Visitor (J-1) visa applicants should also bring Form DS-2019, and Form DS-7002 if participating in the J-1 Trainee and Intern categories.
• SEVIS Payment:  Proof of payment of SEVIS fee, which is required for anyone entering the United States on a student visa.  Check with your school administrator if you are unsure if you have paid the fee.  Payments can be made online at the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service website.  You need your I-20 or DS-2019 form in front of you to complete the payment process.
• Children/Spouses:  Original or certified copy of your marriage certificate if your F2/J2/M2 spouse is applying.  Original or certified copy of birth certificate for each minor child applying.
• Proof of Funds:  Original copies of loan papers (e.g., LIN) or bank statements which indicate a balance, scholarship letters, or other proof of how you will pay for your education in the United States.

Additional Documents – Student Visa Applicants:
Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of your academic preparation, such as:

• Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended; and
• Standardized test scores required by your U.S. school;
• Your intent to depart the United States upon completion of the course of study; and
• How you will pay all educational, living and travel costs. Original copies of loan papers (e.g., LIN) or bank statements which indicate a balance, scholarship letters, or other proof of how you will pay for your education in the United States.
• SEVIS Payment:  Proof of payment of SEVIS fee, which is required for anyone entering the United States on a student visa.  Check with your school administrator if you are unsure if you have paid the fee.  Payments can be made online at the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service website.  You need your I-20 or DS-2019 form in front of you to complete the payment process.
• Children/Spouses:  Original or certified copy of your marriage certificate if your F2/J2/M2 spouse is applying.  Original or certified copy of birth certificate for each minor child applying.

Additional Documents – Exchange Visitor Visa Applicants:
Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:

• The purpose of your trip;
• Your intent to depart the United States after your trip; and/or
• Your ability to pay all costs of the trip.

To schedule an appointment for a non-immigrant visa (NIV) interview, please consult the Embassy’s online NIV Appointment System. Please have your DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form Confirmation Number handy. It is located on your DS-160 confirmation page, in bold print.

New Students – F-1 and M-1 student visas can be issued up to 120 days in advance of your course of study start date. However, you will not be allowed to enter the United States in F-1 or M-1 status earlier than 30 days before your start date.

Continuing Students – May renew their visas at any time, as long as they have maintained student status and their SEVIS records are current. Continuing students may enter the United States at any time before their classes start.

Exchange Visitors – Exchange visitors beginning new programs may not enter the United States more than 30 days before their program start date.

Please submit your documents when you come to your visa interview including your completed DS-160 confirmation sheet, forms listed in Step 2, a 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inch) color photo not older than 6 months, and a valid passport.

Each applicant needs his or her own DS-160 form, including minor children.

On the day of your interview, please pay for Student (F-1 /M-1) and Exchange Visitor (J-1) visas. the following visa application fee: $185

PAYABLE IN CASH ONLY with U.S. Dollars or Icelandic Kronur

Credit cards, debit cards, and smart phone payments are not accepted for the visa fee.  Please note that this fee is non-refundable application fee and will not be returned to you if your application is denied.

NOTE: U.S. government sponsored exchange visitor (J visa) applicants and their dependents are not required to pay application processing fees if participating in a Department of State, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), or a Federally funded educational and cultural exchange program which has a program serial number beginning with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7 printed on Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. U.S. government sponsored exchange visitor (J visa) applicants and their dependents are also not required to pay applicable issuance fees.

• As of November 12, 2019, there is an additional reciprocity fee for F-1 and F-2 applicants.
• F-1 and F-2 using an Icelandic passport must pay an additional reciprocity fee of $138.
• The total amount is $323.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING ELECTRONIC DEVICES:

The U.S. Embassy does not permit laptops, tablets or large electrical/electronic devices to be brought into the consular waiting room.  Please do not bring your electronic devices to your appointment with the Consular Section.  The Embassy provides no storage for your electronic devices and customers coming to their appointment with a prohibited item(s) will not be permitted to enter the Embassy. It is not allowed to bring backpacks into the U.S. Embassy. 

During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.

Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process.

DO NOT BUY NON-REFUNDABLE PLANE TICKETS UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR VISA. PROCESSING DELAYS OCCASIONALLY OCCUR AND THE EMBASSY CANNOT GUARANTEE NEXT DAY VISA ISSUANCE.

If your visa is approved, you may also have to pay a country specific visa reciprocity fee.

• As of November 12, 2019, there is an additional reciprocity fee for F-1 and F-2 applicants.
• F-1 and F-2 will have to pay a reciprocity fee of $138.
• The total fee is $323

You must bring an envelope and a registration sticker from Pósturinn for direct delivery of your passport with the approved visa. Applicants no longer pick up the passport and visa at the embassy. Passports with the visa go to Pósturinn on Tuesdays, excluding holidays. For example, if your visa is approved on a Wednesday, your passport will be shipped on Tuesday the following week. If your visa is approved on a Monday, the passport and visa will be shipped on the following day. PROCESSING DELAYS OCCASIONALLY OCCUR.

YOU SHOULD NOT BUY NON-REFUNDABLE PLANE TICKETS UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR VISA.