Non-immigrant Visas

All visa applicants, except for those going on official or diplomatic travel, must be physically present at the Embassy to apply. 

Please call our visa information center at 0900-87-8472 (Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 17:30; SFR 2.50/min), to make an appointment (no e-mails or faxes are accepted).  Every member of the family/party must have an appointment.  This number can only be called within Switzerland. You will need your barcode confirmation number to make an appointment.

Those who are physically outside of Switzerland can also access the Visa Information Service for Switzerland at +49-913-17722096. Each call costs a flat service rate of EURO 15.00 PLUS the international phone rate that your telephone provider normally charges. This service rate must be charged to either a Visa or MasterCard credit card. The service is available to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except U.S. and Swiss holidays. Your passport number will be required to schedule an appointment.     

Citizens and permanent residents of Liechtenstein (with a B or C permit) do not need to make an appointment. Simply arrive at the embassy Monday through Friday between 9:00 and 11:00 (except on Swiss and American holidays). 

Every visa applicant must pay an application fee (MRV) per visa in advance to the following postal account  30-39699-5.

Either use a pink payment form (Einzahlungsschein Giro/Versement Virement/Versamento Girata) available at any post office.

OR, as an alternative, the U.S. Embassy Bern will accept payments of the application fee through e-banking on the following conditions:

• The MRV fee must be paid in Swiss Francs
• The applicant must present a bank account statement proving that the amount has been debited

Please note that deposits into this postal account are not refundable for any reason and NO cash will be accepted. The amount of this fee may change without prior notice.

Please Read the Following Carefully:

All applicants for nonimmigrant visas must overcome the presumption in U.S. law that they are intending immigrants. To qualify for a nonimmigrant visa, you must demonstrate that you plan to remain in the United States for only a limited time, have sufficient funds for your stay, have a residence outside the USA, as well as other binding obligations, which will cause you to depart at the end of your stay in the United States. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consulate, it is more difficult to qualify for a visa outside your country of permanent residence.

To apply for a nonimmigrant visa, complete and submit the following documents:

Every Applicant:

• Your original passport, containing at least two blank pages, and any expired passports with previous U.S. visas. Since it is a requirement for some countries, we recommend that the passport be valid for at least six months from the date of departure from the United States.
• One recent photo 5 cm X 5 cm (in color only) for each applicant, including children and infants. Photo  Only Photos in the size 5 cm X 5 cm will be accepted.
• If you are not a Swiss citizen, your Swiss residency permit, border crossing card for Switzerland, or Carte de légitimation.
• One completed application form DS-160 for each person traveling, including one form per infant and/or child. Please print out the confirmation page and bring it along to the interview.
• The original postal receipt for the MRV application fee or a bank account statement proving that the amount has been debited.
• Self-addressed stamped envelope B5 (postage for express or registered mail). The embassy is not liable for lost passports. If there is insufficient postage the passports will be sent back according to the amount on the envelope (B-post instead of A-post and A-post instead of registered) and if insufficient to mail at all in any class, you will be called to come pick it up.  

Required Documents for Non-Immigrant Visa Categories

Tourism/Business (B1/B2-Visa):

There is no required documentation for visitors for tourism and business purposes. However, the Embassy recommends that the following be brought, as they may prevent any delays in the processing of your case:

• Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay (usually bank statements for the most recent 3 months).
• If traveling for business, a letter from your employer explaining the purpose and length of your stay in the US and who will pay your salary/expenses. 

Students (F/M-Visa):

• Original I-20 form received from the school in the USA. Please sign the form and include proof of funds to finance schooling and living expenses (bank statement, tuition receipt).
• An electronic Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) confirmation for the principal applicant as well as all dependents, from the school or exchange program institution. Primary applicants must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.
• The United States Department of Homeland Security regulations state that holders of F or M nonimmigrant visas will not be admitted to the United States until a date thirty days or less prior to the beginning of the program date, or start date, as given on your Form I-20 (for F/M-visa). Moreover, holders of F or M nonimmigrant visas may not stay in the U.S. any longer than 60 days (M-visas 30 days) after the end of the program date. Please consider these dates carefully when making your travel plans to and from the United States.

Exchange Visitors (J-Visa):

• Original DS-2019 received from the institution in the USA. Please sign on the bottom of page 1.
• If the institution requires applicants to fund their program, include proof of funds, i.e. most recent 3 months of bank statements or tuition receipt.
• An electronic Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) confirmation for the principal applicant as well as all dependents, from the school or exchange program institution. Primary applicants must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.
• The United States Department of Homeland Security regulations state that holders of J nonimmigrant visas will not be admitted to the United States until a date thirty days or less prior to the beginning of the program date, or start date, as given on your Form DS-2019 (for J-visa). Moreover, holders of J nonimmigrant visas may not stay in the U.S. any longer than 30 days after the end of the program date. Please consider these dates carefully when making your travel plans to and from the United States.
• For more information, please visit http://j1visa.state.gov/ 

Journalists/Media (I-Visa):

• Letter from your employer stating the nature of the work you will perform in the US, the duration of your stay and the source of income while you are in the US.
• A copy of your press card.

Work Visas:

• Your prospective employer in the USA must apply for your work authorization at the nearest Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office in the USA. You are not required (although you are welcome) to bring a copy of your approval notice (Form # I-797) to the interview. Copies are acceptable.
• Holders of L1 Blanket Petitions should be prepared to pay the Anti Fraud fee of USD 500 at the Embassy, either in cash or by credit card. If you want to pay by credit card you have to bring a photocopy of your passport.  Only L1 Blanket Petition holders need to pay this fee.
• In addition certain L1 Blanket applicants will have to pay a new Border Security Act fee of USD 2250 on behalf of their employers. The top of the petitioner's pocket cover letter should say whether the fee is or not required. If it does not, please contact your petitioner before coming in. If it does and you need to pay, you can do so at the Embassy (Visa, Mastercard, American Express or cash accepted).

Treaty Trader/Investor Visa:

• In order for us to begin processing your application you must submit the completed forms DS-156E and DS-160; all forms can be found on our website. Please find instructions and requirements on the 4th page of the DS-156E. Turn around time for an E-visa application procedure is approx. two months, from the moment you send your file to the moment your interview is scheduled, so please take this into consideration when you send your application package. Read the instructions very carefully. Incomplete or undocumented applications cannot be processed.
• Each E-Visa applicant must pay the application fee. This must be paid at any Swiss post office or via e-banking into our postal account: #30-39699-5. The original pink receipt of this payment or a bank account statement should accompany the application or can be hand-delivered at the time of the interview. (the amount of this fee may be changed without prior notice). You must submit the completed application forms and the supporting documents for both parts (Business Profile and Applicant part) of the DS-156E in English to the Visa Section.
• The complete file may be sent from outside of Switzerland by international courier. We will contact you if additional documentation is needed and/or to make an appointment when review of the file is completed. Please submit the missing information by mail before the scheduled appointment. You will need to bring your original passport to the interview on the date agreed. Primary applicants do not need to make an appointment through 0900 87 84 72. Dependants of E visa applicants can send their application along with the primary applicant’s and be interviewed at the same time. However if dependants wish to follow the primary applicant later, they can make an appointment with the call center. 
• The above procedure also applies if you are renewing and existing E visa or if you have an approved I-797 petition.
• If you wish to apply for an E visa for an employee in a supervisory or executive position or an employee with highly specialized skills please be sure to include the following additional documents: their employment contract, CV/resume, diplomas/certificates, US Tax Income Return of employing company, letter of support and organization chart with their position on it.
• You may contact us for further assistance and information at fax no.031-357-73-98 or by e-mail: bernniv@state.gov. Please indicate in subject line that it is an E visa inquiry. Please find more useful information on: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1273.html

Last Minute Checks

1)   Even if you uploaded successfully on DS-160, please bring one photograph 5 X 5 cm, in color, and with a full white background, full face; http://bern.usembassy.gov/photo_requirements.html

Please note that this requirement is very strict and any other photo size will not be accepted and may prolong the application process extensively or lead to postponing the appointment.

2)   The application form DS 160 confirmation page.

3)   Please staple the pink postal payment receipt at the bottom left corner of form DS-160 confirmation page.

4)   As the form DS-160 is completed online and generates a barcode on the confirmation page (which is needed to scan in the information), it is crucial for this barcode to be printed clearly! (no fragmented barcodes are accepted and will lead to postponing an appointment!)

5)  Every applicant should bring their individual stamped and addressed return envelope B5 (Sfr. 5.00 suggested for registered mail). If applicants prefer to pick up the passport(s), this would need to be stated clearly in the beginning of the data intake process!

6)  Supporting documents for individual visa type.

After security check, everyone will need to stand in line in front of the ‘greeter desk' and have their documents individually checked and then approach one of the three data intake windows (windows 6, 7, and 8). The application forms will be entered at these data intake windows and they will be asked to place four fingers of the left hand, the four fingers of the right hand and, finally, the two thumbs together straight on the fingerprint device. Thereafter they need to have a seat in the waiting area to be called by the consular officer for the final interview.