ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Talking Point
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Elections-2023
  • Contact
Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Login
Forum News
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Talking Point
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Elections-2023
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Talking Point
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Elections-2023
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Forum News
No Result
View All Result
Home ALL NEWS

“Ask the Consular Office” Column

FORUM NEWS SIERRA LEONE by FORUM NEWS SIERRA LEONE
2 February 2023
in ALL NEWS, EYE ON THE WORLD, LATEST NEWS
0
“Ask the Consular Office” Column
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Share on

Hello from U.S. Embassy Freetown! Welcome to our regular newspaper column to answer questions about obtaining a U.S. visa.  Today we will explain the two most common types of non-immigrant visas – B1/B2 visas for business and tourism and F1 student visas – and how to apply for them.

B1/B2 visas are for business and/or tourism. For example, you could go on vacation, consult with business associates, or attend a conference. You cannot study, work, or stay for longer than 6 months.

F1 student visas are for applicants hoping to go to school in the United States. With an F1 visa you can go to university or high school in the United States.

Qcell Qcell Qcell

How to apply for a U.S. visa

To apply for a B1/B2 visa, you’ll first need to visit this website: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/sl/index.html. Here you will first submit the DS-160 form online. Next, you’ll need to pay the $160 visa fee at GT Bank in Freetown. Once you have done those two things, you’ll need to book an interview appointment on the same website.

To apply for an F1 student visa, you’ll need to do all of the above and also take some additional steps including obtaining admission into a school in the United States, securing funding and obtaining a SEVIS number here: https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html.

On the day of your interview, you’ll need to come in with your passport, a passport photo, and your DS-160 and payment confirmation pages. If you’re applying for an F1 student visa, you’ll also need to bring in your I-20 (provided by the school you’ve been accepted into) and your SEVIS confirmation page. During the interview, you need to be able to talk about your travel or study plans and you need to explain how you will fund your trip. You will also need to explain why you plan to return to Sierra Leone after your trip.

Please do not give or send money to anyone claiming to be able to obtain a visa for you. The steps we’ve just outlined are the only way to obtain one. If someone says they can get a visa for you, please report them by email to ConsularFreetown@state.gov.

Please note that both B1/B2 and F1 visas are for temporary stays in the United States. Once you are finished with your business, vacation, or studies, you must return to Sierra Leone. To immigrate to the United States permanently, you must have an American family member submit an immigrant visa petition for you or you’ll need to win the diversity visa program and pass your interview. Please send in your questions! We will continue this column twice a month.

 

 

 

 

 

Post Views: 105
Previous Post

Ambassador Jalloh says the Saudi-Musaned Training on Recruitment Portal System will boost Youth Employment in Sierra Leone

Next Post

Andrew Bob Johnny Named as new Statistician-General

Next Post
Andrew Bob Johnny

Andrew Bob Johnny Named as new Statistician-General

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Forum News

FORUM NEWS, Sierra Leone in its push for independent journalism is in solidarity with the global campaigns in the fight against corruption, divisiveness....PEACE!

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • AGRIBUSINESS
  • ALL NEWS
  • BO
  • BONTHE
  • BOOK REVIEW
  • BUSINESS
  • CHINA – SIERRA LEONE
  • CRIME
  • CRIME & COURT
  • E-EDITIONS
  • EAST
  • ECONOMY
  • ELECTIONS-2023
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • ENVIRONMENT
  • EYE ON THE WORLD
  • FALABA
  • FOOTBALL
  • FORUM MINDS
  • FORUM TV
  • FREETOWN
  • HEALTH
  • INSIGHTFUL PEAK
  • INTERVIEW
  • KABALA
  • KAILAHUN
  • KAMBIA
  • KARENE
  • KENEMA
  • KOINADUGU
  • KONO
  • LATEST NEWS
  • LETTERS
  • MAGBURAKA
  • MAKENI
  • MEDIA WATCH
  • MOYAMBA
  • NORTH
  • NORTH-EAST
  • NORTH-WEST
  • OBITUARY
  • POLITICS
  • PORT LOKO
  • PRESS RELEASE
  • PUJEHUN
  • SOUTH
  • SPEECHES
  • SPORT
  • TALKING POINT
  • THE CONCH
  • TONKOLILI
  • TRIBUTES
  • Uncategorized
  • VIdeo Advertisements
  • WATERLOO
  • WESTERN AREA RURAL DISTRICT
  • WESTERN AREA URBAN

Recent News

Drug Scandal Rocks Sierra Leone… APC Demands Transparency and Accountability

Sierra Leone’s Census Dilemma: APC Raises Red Flags Over Delayed Digital Census Timeline

22 May 2025
Africell Reassures Customers: Weekly 1Mbps Removed, Daily Still Available at Same Rate

Africell Reassures Customers: Weekly 1Mbps Removed, Daily Still Available at Same Rate

22 May 2025
Statistics SL Announces Key Updates on 2026 Population and Housing Census

Statistics SL Announces Key Updates on 2026 Population and Housing Census

21 May 2025
QCell SL Launches Affordable All-in-One Bundle for its subscribers

QCell SL Launches Affordable All-in-One Bundle for its subscribers

21 May 2025
  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • TV
  • TV
  • VIDEO-ADVERTISEMENTS
  • Archives
  • TV
  • Home
  • Home

© 2025 Forum News Sierra Leone

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Talking Point
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Elections-2023
  • Contact

© 2025 Forum News Sierra Leone

×

Hello!

Click one of our contacts below to chat on WhatsApp

Forum News
Support Forum News

Forum News - Sierra Leone.

× How can I help you?