Apply for a Visa

Before booking an appointment, make sure you have the necessary documents required to be able to obtain your visa.

Our normal visa processing time is one week (from interview to the return of your passport with the visa in it). Due to administrating processing, visas cannot be printed on the same day as your interview. During our peak seasons (summer and Christmas/New Year), the processing time can be even longer than one week. If your application requires special administrative processing, the issuing process can be much longer still. Please keep these times in mind when you schedule your interview.

We strongly urge visa applicants not to make final and non-refundable travel arrangements before the passport with the visa in it has been returned.

Do not send anything to the Embassy. Please take the time to review this page carefully and bring the documents appropriate for your visa category.

Applicants under 14 and over 79 are exempt from interview and may mail in their application. See general information for more information.

All applicants must present the following documents at the interview:

Valid Passport: The original passport is required.
Old Passports containing US Visas (valid or expired)
One Photograph: Must be in color, less than six months old, approximately 5x5cm, against a white background, where you are facing the camera directly. This photo is in addition to the one you upload to your application form DS-160.
Original Receipt: paid into bankgiro 5452-8948. The receipt must state applicants’ names, amount paid, and bankgiro number and be stamped. Make sure that your bank issues something verifiable with the above information. Internet receipts will not be accepted. The cost of the visa application is determined by what visa you are applying for. If you are uncertain of what visa category you should apply for, please see the page about visa categories, found in the menu to the left. The fees are as follows:

(a) Non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa, such as student, tourist, media, crew, and au pair visas SEK 980

(b) Petition based (H, L, O, P, Q and R category) nonimmigrant visa SEK 1050

Visa application form DS-160. You only have to bring a print out of the DS-160 confirmation page to your interview, not the entire form.

The DS-160 confirmation page should not be confused with the APPOINTMENT CONFIRMATION PAGE that you will be able to print out by the end of the application process, after you have booked your appointment.

Envelope: Please bring a prepaid envelope for which you have purchased the online service 'Skicka Direkt' through the Swedish postal service (www.posten.se). Choose the weight of 100g for 1-2 passports, 250g for 3-5 passports. Please use the following From/Från address:

Företagsnamn: American Embassy
Namn: Non-Immigrant Visa Section
Adress: Dag Hammarskjöld väg 31
Postnummer: 115 89
Postort: Stockholm

The recipient (Till) should be the person and/or location to which you would like your passports to be delivered. We strongly advise that you purchase the REK-service for tracking and insurance. See posten.se for more information.

An additional option is to bring a self addressed envelope with stamps in the amount of 72 SEK for 1-2 passports and 84 SEK for 3-5 passports. The padded green prepaid A-class envelopes from posten only require additional 60 sek in stamps.

Please note that If you choose the option of using stamps, we cannot guarantee that there will be a mechanism to track the delivery of your passport. The option of using 'Skicka Direkt' as registered mail (rekommenderad post) costs less and you will obtain your tracking ID when ordering the service.

THE EMBASSY DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY FOR LOST OR DELEYED PASSPORTS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN POSTED.
Personbevis: Ask for a "120-personbevis med alla relationer" from the Swedish tax authorities (skattemyndigheten).
Court and Police Records: Persons who have been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime must provide police records 'Utdrag ur Belastningsregistret §9' in original and in an unopened envelope, and copies of any court records/prison records (even though subject of a pardon, amnesty, or other act of clemency).

NOTE! If you have not been arrested you do not need to submit any records.
Resident Permit Card: Non-EU citizens should bring proof of their residence in Sweden to the interview.

Depending on what visa you are applying for, you need to submit additional information. Please make sure you have the right documents required for your visa type:

Tourist Visa (B2):

Proof of Finance: A current bank statement or other evidence to show that you have sufficient funds to cover the costs of the trip. If someone else will be financing your trip, we need both a bank statement and a letter of consent from this person.
Employment Letter: Stating the type of contract, how long you have been employed for and for how long you have been granted vacation or leave. This only applies to people that have employers.
Travel Plan: Of places you intend to visit, people you intend to stay with, and approximate dates.
Invitation Letters: From family or friends with whom you intend to stay during your trip. What constitutes an invitation letter? Printed e-mails, original letters, faxes, whatever form your invitation letter was when you were invited to the U.S.

Business Visa (B1):

Employment Letter: With specific details about the purpose of your trip, the length, and who will be financing the trip.
Invitation Letter: If you will be attending a conference, or visiting a company. If you are going as a volunteer, a letter of invitation describing the organization you are going to work for should be brought to the interview.

Au pair/Student/Exchange visitor visas (All J, F or M visas):

Students should schedule their interview as soon as possible to ensure their timely arrival in the U.S.

Proof of Funds to Cover all Expenses: For example CSN letter, scholarship, or bank statement.
DS-2019: For J1 “Exchange Visitor” (includes au pairs) status you must include the original SEVIS DS-2019 form. Family members seeking J2 status need their own copies of the DS-2019 form.

or

I-20 FORM: For F1 and M1 students the original SEVIS I-20 form must be included. Family members seeking F2 and M2 status need their own I-20 form.
Please note that you will have either a DS-2019 or an I-20 form, not both. If you will be doing your OPT, please bring the OPT card with you. Make sure you sign all your documents.
Proof of payment of the SEVIS fee. All F-1, M-1, and J-1 student and exchange visa applicants must present proof of payment of the SEVIS fee. Instructions on how to pay can be found on the Department of Homeland Security website. Do not confuse the SEVIS fee with the applications fee listed earlier. Both fees must be paid.
DS-7002 (PDF 209 KB) - For J-1 Trainees and Interns Only. You can see on your DS-2019 item #4 "Exchange Visitor Category" if you are an Intern or a Trainee. If you are a J-1 exchange visitor of any other category, you do not need the form DS-7002.

Temporary Work Visa (H,L,O or P):

I-797 Work Permit: Applicants for H,L,O or P visas need to submit the "Notice of Action."

Blanket L Petition: Applicants with Blanket L1 petitions must submit 3 copies of the petition. For the blanket L visa an additional fee of $500 or SEK 4,000 will be charged at the time of the interview, payable in cash or with a credit card. Please note that you should have either a work permit or a Blanket L petition, not both. Dependants of work visa applicants need to submit a copy of one of the objects stated above, together with a copy of the principal applicant's visa and a Personbevis showing relation to principal applicant, if applying separately.

Treaty Investors/Traders (E visa):

Company Approval Letter: E-visa applicants need to submit a copy of the approval letter that notified the company of its treaty investor or treaty trader status or DS-156E/I-129 renewal letter.

Dependants of work visa applicants need to send a copy of one of the objects stated above, together with a copy of the principal applicant's visa and a Personbevis showing relation to principal applicant, if applying separately.
Completed DS-156E Application Form (Download DS-156E PDF 253 KB) Make sure you sign your document.

Crew visa (C1/D):

Guarantee Letter: Stating your name, occupation and length of employment.

Media visa ( I ):

Employment Letter: Stating employment status; whether your position is permanent or temporary, your purpose of travel and length of stay. Freelance media workers must also submit a valid contract of employment.
Proof of membership in a professional journalistic organization

Religious Worker Visa ( R-1 ):

I-797: Approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

Make sure that you have read and understood the instructions above and made sure to have all the required documents, both the ones for all applicants and the ones listed separately for my specific type of visa.

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