Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Step 1: Create a profile and upload all relevant documents in CEAC

All immigrant and diversity visa applicants must create a profile at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/np after receiving their appointment letter. This will allow applicants to process case inquiries, submit documents, and obtain updates about visa collection.

Step 2: Complete your pre-interview checklist

It is important that you bring all required original documents to your interview. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Please print the checklist below and bring it to your interview along with the listed documents.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 3: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.

Interview Guidelines >>

Step 4: Get a Medical Exam in Nepal

As soon as you receive your interview date, you must schedule a medical exam in Nepal. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” link below for a list of designated doctors’ offices. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa.  Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Embassy can perform this exam  It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with one of the doctors listed below before your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted.

Approved physicians:

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
IOM Migration Health Assessment Center (MHAC)
Lazimpat Sadak, Panipokhari (Opposite to the Embassy of Japan)
Ward-3, Kathmandu, PO Box: 25503, ZIP Code: 44600, Nepal
Open Monday - Friday 08:00 – 17:00, except national holidays.
Tel: (+977) 01 5970001

Items to bring to your medical examination

Bring the following items to your medical exam:

• Your visa interview letter,
• Your passport,
• Three (3) recently taken passport-sized color photographs,
• A copy of your immunization records,
• Previous chest x-rays if available, and
• Medical records for any chronic conditions you have or major medical/surgical treatment you had in the past.
• DS-260 confirmation page

The fee for children below 2 years is USD 65, for children between 2-14 is USD 130, for children between 15-17 is USD 88, for age groups between 18-24 is USD 123, for age groups between 25-44 is USD 93 and 45 years of age and older is USD 88. Any medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, must be paid directly to the examining physician in either U.S. dollars or Nepali rupees at the IOM exchange rate that month.

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During the medical exam

The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, and chest X-ray and blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older). The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants two years of age and older. Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available www.cdc.gov.

Children younger than 2 need a blood test called IGRA for TB infection. IGRA tests are done on all working day from 8:30 am to 9:30 a.m. Results will be available within 48 hours.

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant vaccination requirements are available vaccination requirements. You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements Travel.State.Gov.

After the medical exam

When your examination is complete, applicants should expect to receive the reports on the next working day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The doctor will send the abnormal reports directly to the Embassy. IF GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO CARRY TO YOUR INTERVIEW, DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE Instead, bring it to your visa interview. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB). However, you must keep the x-ray images and take them to the United States as part of your permanent health record. The medical report must be less than six (6) months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

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Pre-Interview Checklist

Please use the list below to determine the items that every applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview. Any documents that are not in English or Nepali must be accompanied by a certified English Translation.

A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).

Unexpired passport valid for six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located).

Two (2) color passport-size photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch).  Please review our online photo requirements. If your photo does not meet these requirements, your appointment may be rescheduled and therefore delayed.

Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv. Please ensure you have completed Form DS-260.  The form should be complete and accurate.  If you have to make a correction or update information after submission, please send an email to the Consular inbox at consktm@state.gov to re-open your form before the appointment date.

Your original birth certificate.

• For paper-based cases: Please bring the original and a photocopy.
• For Electronic cases: Please bring the original. No photycopy is required.
  • If you have already uploaded it in CEAC, bring the original document that was uploaded.
  • If you have not uploaded it in CEAC, you must upload it in  CEAC before the interview and bring the original to the interview. (see Step 1)

Medical examination results in a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results).

Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying).

If you need to submit an updated document, email the consular section at consktm@state.gov to enable you to submit it before the appointment date.

If the document was issued in a local language (not Nepali), you must upload the original translated document in CEAC and submit the original at the interview.

Applicants who fall into any category listed in italics below should bring these additional documents:

For family based applications:

• The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.
  Note: Visa applicants frequently experience immigrant visa processing delays because their petitioner or joint sponsor has completed the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support incorrectly or the income reported does not meet the poverty guideline requirements.  An applicant who is likely to become primarily dependent on the U.S. government is inadmissible under section 221(a)(4) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
  
  
• If the petitioner cannot meet the poverty guideline requirement, a joint sponsor can complete Form I-864 and submit the latest tax returns.
  
  
• If the joint sponsor wishes to include their spouse's income in addition to his/her own income, the joint sponsor and spouse need to fill out Form I-864A.  I-864A forms can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-864a
  
  
• At the interview, a Consular officer should be convinced there is a genuine relationship between the applicant and a joint sponsor.  The joint sponsor may submit a personal letter explaining their relationship with the applicant and how they intend to support the applicant after they arrive in the United States. 

• Proof of the U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States (photocopy of both sides of the Lawful Permanent Resident card I-551, Certificate of Naturalization, or U.S. passport).
  
  
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (such as photographs, letters, or emails).
  
  
• For minors under 16, the applicant must be accompanied by a local guardian; the guardian must bring photo identification to be presented at the visa interview.
   

If you are married: Your original marriage certificate and an English translation if the document was ussued in a local language other than Nepali.

• For paper-based cases: Your original marriage certificate and a photocopy. 

• For electronic cases: Your original marriage certificate. No photocopy is required.

  • If you have already uploaded it in CEAC, bring the original document that was uploaded.
    
    
  • If you did not uploaded it in CEAC, you must upload it in CEAC before the interview and bring the original to the interview.
    
    
  • If you need to submit an updated document, email the consular section at consktm@state.gov to enable you to submit it before the appointment date.
     

If you were previously married:  Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate and an English translation if the document was issued in a local language other than Nepali

• For paper-based cases: Your original divorce or spouse's death certificate and a photocopy. 

• For electronic cases: Your original divorce or spouse's death certificate. No photocopy is required.

  • If you have already uploaded it in CEAC, bring the original document that was uploaded.
    
    
  • If you have not uploaded it in CEAC, you must upload it in CEAC before the interview and bring the original to the interview.
    
    
  • If you need to submit an updated document, email the consular section at consktm@state.gov to enable you to submit it before the appointment date.
     

If you are older than 16 years of age: The original police certificate from: (1) your country of current residence, (2) your country of nationality if residence exceeds six months, and (3) any countries where you have resided for more than a year since the age of 16.  If you have ever been arrested, you must also submit a police certificate from the country where the arrest took place. Police certificates expire after one year, unless you have not returned to the country since the police certificate was issued.  If all three of the following statements are true, you must bring a new police certificate to the interview:

1. You are older than 16 years;
2. You obtained a police certificate; and submitted it to the NVC more than one year ago; and
3. You still live in the country that issued the police certificate.

   • For paper-based cases: Your original police certificate and a photocopy. If the document was issued in a local language other than Nepali, you must get it translated.

   • For electronic cases: Your original police certificate. No photocopy is required.

     • If you have already uploaded it in CEAC, bring the original document that was uploaded.
       
       
     • If you have not uploaded it in CEAC, you must upload it in CEAC before the interview and bring the original to the interview.
       
       
     • If you need to submit an updated document, email the consular section at consktm@state.gov to enable you to submit it before the appointment date.
        

For employment-based visa applications: Letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.
 

If you have ever been convicted of a crime: Court and criminal records,    English translation if the documents were issued in a local language other than Nepali, and a photocopy.
 

If you have served in any country’s military: Military records, English translation if the documents were issued in a local language other than Nepali, and a photocopy.
 

If you are adopted:  Adoption papers or custody documents, English translation if the documents were issued in a local language other than Nepali, and a photocopy.|

If you are the petitioner’s stepchild: The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, English translation if the documents were issued in a local language other than Nepali, and a photocopy along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.

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Interview Guidelines

Sending documents to the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu

For paper-based cases:

If you need to send us any documents, please DO NOT mail them to us. Instead, you must submit them in person at a Collection Centre and include a pre-printed cover sheet. You can find instructions online at ustraveldocs.com/np/np-niv-documentsubmissioninfo.asp.  

For electronic cases:

If you need to submit any documents, please DO NOT mail them to the Embassy. The documents must be uploaded in the appropriate document category at https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx. For instructions on how to upload documents please go to https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/PDF-other/Uploading%20to%20CEAC-instrucions.pdf

Submit the original documents and translations that you uploaded to the bank.

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please email consktm@state.gov. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please attempt to attend the date already assigned. For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, a visa became available within the month you were scheduled for an appointment by NVC. Diversity Visa (DV) applicants should be aware that visas are numerically limited and must be issued by September 30 of the program year. DV applicants should come for their interview as scheduled; if you do not come on the scheduled day or re-schedule your appointment, you might not receive a visa number even if qualified.

There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview. Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you decide to reschedule your interview.

Please note: Rescheduling is only possible on a date after your assigned appointment.

Security screening procedures

All visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu must follow certain security procedures. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Embassy security personnel will be unable to enter the embassy. To avoid delaying your entry and that of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview. You can read a detailed list of prohibited items online at ustraveldocs.com/np-np-niv-securityinfo.asp.

Accompanying Persons

Attorneys are not permitted to accopany clients into the waiting room or to their interview. Only the following persons may accompany a visa applicant ot their interview:

• Interpreter:  Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English or Nepali well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors:  Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Immigrant visa fees

If you have not paid all required fees to the National Visa Center, please be prepared to pay these fees on the day of your interview. All fees may be paid in cash in either U.S. dollars or the Nepali rupee equivalent. Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded. A complete list of fees can be found travel.state.gov. DV fees are paid at the consular cashier on the appointment day.

Do not make travel plans outside of Nepal

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport to you later via the Nepal Investment Bank Ltd. The consular officer will give you information about the return of your passport and documents during your interview. If you have to travel within Nepal while your passport is still with us, please make sure you have a valid picture ID other than your passport.

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After Your Visa Interview

A consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa. 

If more information is needed

Sometimes a consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents or the case requires further administrative processing. If additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the embassy.

Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after your interview. 

What happens after visa approval

For paper-based cases:

Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We may also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time.  Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, take them with you to the United States as part of your permanent health record.

For electronic cases:

Your visa should have the following annotation on it: “IV Docs in CCD.”  If your visa has this annotation on it, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will be able to view your paperwork electronically upon arrival at the port of entry in the United States.  You only need your passport and valid visa; no paper visa packet is required.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are:  children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a a fiancé(e) (K) visa.  

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six months from the date of printing. Your visa cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21^st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives: Please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country. We also recommend you check with the airline to ensure you are in compliance with their rules. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custody papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication at “www.uscis.gov/newimmigrants” .

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Diversity Visa Applicants - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your visa interview and gather the required documents.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants. 

Bring to your interview

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:

• Appointment information printed from the “Entrant Status Check” on the E-DV website
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR have two (2) years of qualifying work experience in the last five (5) years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available at travel.state.gov).
• Payment in cash of the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee for each applicant.

Review your DV Program entry

Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status. If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).

Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes your natural children, your step-children (even if you are no longer legally married to the child’s parent and even if the child does not currently reside with you and/or will not immigrate with you), and children you have legally adopted.

Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. Failure to include a child who had already been born or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the diversity visa program is grounds for disqualification. You can review the eligibility requirements travel.state.gov.

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