Visa Services
How To Apply
November 2009
Note: Due to space limitations, only Visa applicants will be admitted in the waiting room of the Consular Section. Minors who are 13 years or younger do not need to be present at the interview.
To applicants who have been previously issued a non-immigrant visa to the United States: When your visa has expired and you wish to apply for another visa, please be prepared to demonstrate strong family, social, and economic ties to your country of residence at the time of your interview. Having been previously issued a visa does not guarantee that you will automatically qualify for another visa, i.e. there is no “renewal” or “renovation” of a non-immigrant visa to the United States. Just as each application for a visa is different, each time you apply for a visa you must satisfy the interviewing officer that you are entitled to the type of visa for which you are applying and that you will depart the United States at the end of your authorized temporary stay.
1. Customer Service Statement to Visa Applicants
2. Required Documents
3. Supplemental Documents
4. Student and Cultural Exchange Visas
5. DHL Distribution of Visas
6. Business Visas
7. Medical Emergencies or Death of Relative
Nonimmigrant visas applications may be made at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy, located in Building 783, Clayton. Nonimmigrant visa interviews are held by appointment only. Appointments will be obtained at a branch of Banco General. Applicants who arrive late for their appointment will not be interviewed and must make a new appointment. Each applicant must pay a non-refundable $131.00 nonimmigrant visa application fee at a branch of Banco General. The applicant will obtain two copies of the receipt; both copies must be presented at the Consular Section the day of the interview, which will be scheduled at the same time of payment. For additional information you may contact the Banco General at telephone number: 800-5000 or/and at the electronic address of the United States Embassy: Panama-visas@state.gov
The following documents are required when applying for a nonimmigrant visa:
1. Prior nonimmigrant visa appointment given by Banco General.
2. Valid passport or passport with at least 6 months of validity from the date of interview.
3. Parents applying for their children's visas must bring copy of their birth certificate.
4. Two Bank payment receipts for the $131.00 visa application fee.
5. Electronic form DS-156 Non-Immigrant Visa Application;and DS-157: Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application.
6. Students and Exchange Program Visa Applicants (F, M and J) MUST complete forms DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158: Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant.
7. Students from category F1 and M1 which are beginning their careers and/or changing careers MUST pay the SEVIS fee for an additional $100.00. J1 categories MUST make a payment of $35.00. Fees must be paid through Western Union or through internet.
8. One recently taken photograph (approximately 2”x 2”) with white background; forehead, chin and both ears must be shown. See photo example.
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Applicants may bring documents that show strong economic, family and social ties to this country, such as;
- Letter of Employment
- Social Security receipt (Ficha del Seguro Social)
- Previous visas
- Bank Documents
Returning students must present their school credits, etc.
APPROXIMATE WAITING TIME FOR NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT: 14 days
Please apply at least six weeks prior to your schedule departure.
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The Embassy of the United States of America has established a special schedule for interviews for visa applicants of student and cultural exchange visas. Students may apply Monday-Wednesday and Fridays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. without a previous appointment. Bank visa payment of $131.00 must be made at Banco General. This schedule is indefinite. For applicants to be accepted for this special schedule, they must fill out our electronic visa application form (EVAF). They may access this form at the following website: http://evisaforms.state.gov, if you decide not to fill out the electronic form, it would be required that you request a regular appointment at the Banco General.
For more information on student and cultural exchange visa applications, you may write to our e-mail address: Panama-Visas@state.gov
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The Embassy of the United States of America has established a courier pass back system for all approved non immigrant visas. DHL will provide home or office delivery for your passports with U.S. non immigrant visas. This service has been established to facilitate your visa application and avoid the inconvenience of returning to the Consular Section. This service will be available through DHL for a nominal fee of:
$3.75 for delivery service of your visaed passports at our branches: Costa del Este, Torre HSBC Banking Area, Ricardo J. Alfaro, Torre Metro Bank, Z.L. de Colon, Santiago, Chitre, David and Boquete. (One or more passports).
$5.00 + ITBMS Visa pass back services is available throughout the Republic of Panama including the surrounding cities: Panama City, Colon, Santiago, Chitre, and David
$7.00 + ITBMS for packages consisting of two or more passports with U.S. Visas delivered to the same address.
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In the interest of U.S.-Panama trade relations and to facilitate commercial interaction between our two countries, companies and businesses sending personnel to the United States may submit their business visa applications on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. For applications to be accepted for this special schedule, all applicants must fill out our electronic visa application form (EVAF) and present evidence of their need to travel on business.
This special schedule is indefinite.
Applicants may bring documents which show strong economic, family and social ties to this country, such as;
- Letter of employment
- Social Security Statement (Ficha del Seguro Social)
- Previous Visas
- Bank Documents
Applicants should bring a letter from their company which indicates the purpose, date and place of trip. And also present documents of contacts in the United States in order to benefit from this special schedule.
The trip should be for business in the United States.
The electronic form may be accessed through the following website: evisaforms.state.gov.
For more information related to this special business application schedule, you may write to our e-mail address: Panama-Visas@state.gov.
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- The Consular Section offers special appointments for medical emergencies or death of immediate family members (parents, children, spouses and siblings). To request these appointments, you should write to the following electronic address: panama-visas@state.gov. These messages are reviewed on a daily basis and will be responded to as soon as possible.
- You should use the word “Urgent” on the subject line.
- The date of planned trip of patient and/or escort should be indicated in the electronic e-mail.
- You should present a letter from the hospital or clinic in the United States indicating the nature of the illness, the approximate cost and time required for treatment and date of appointment.
- If it’s related to the death of your relative you should present documents from the United States as evidence.
- For this appointment you need to fill out our electronic visa application form, which you can access at the following address: http://evisaforms.state.gov.
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Visa Services
Consular Section
Limited Parking
How to Apply
Photo Requirements
Expanded Hours
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
Non-Immigrant Visas
