Basic Documents and Photographs

Please do not fax or mail any supporting documents to the Embassy. Due to our limited filing space, we are unable to store them.

Visa applicants must provide:

• A passport with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the United States. Please note that under Serbian law and Montenegrin law, Serbian citizens and Montenegrin citizens are required to apply for a new passport once they marry, reflecting their new status and married name.
• A completed application form DS-156. Men 16-45 years old must also submit form DS-157. All F, J and M visa applicants aged 16 and over must also submit form DS-158. Please give clear, precise answers to each question; do not leave empty fields.

» Click here to find these forms.

• All applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of $131. The amount should be paid in Serbian Dinars to the Embassy's account at Raiffeisen Bank in Serbia, or (if more convenient) in Euros at the Montenegro Bank in Montenegro. The receipt will not be returned to applicant. Please note that it is not a fee for visa issuance. All applicants, regardless of citizenship, pay a non-refundable application fee.
• A photograph for Nonimmigrant Visas, which meets all of the following requirements:
  1. The photo, taken in last six months, must be securely attached to visa application;
  2. Dimensions – 5 cm square;
  3. Color or black-and-white photo;
  4. White or off-white background that is not patterned or busy;
  5. Face must measure 3cm from the top of the head to the chin;
  6. Applicant’s face must face camera directly and not be looking down or to either side;
  7. Both ears must be exposed;
  8. No sunglasses;
  9. No head coverings or hats, except for religious reasons. Even for religious reasons, head coverings or hats cannot obscure any part of an applicant’s face.
• Applicants must provide documents that demonstrate that they have ties that would compel them to leave the U.S. at the end of the temporary stay. The law places this burden of proof on the applicant. Strong ties differ from country to country, city to city, individual to individual. Some examples of ties can be a job, a house, a family, a bank account. "Ties" are the various aspects of your life that bind you to your country of residence: your possessions, employment, social and family relationships.

Photo Requirements For Visa Applicants

Each visa applicant must present a photo either in color or black and white that meets the following standard:

• Full face (not profile) looking directly at the camera.
• The full head, from top of hair to chin must be visible.
• It is preferable that ears be visible.
• Photograph must be against a white or almost-white plain background.
• Photo must have been taken less than 6 months ago.
• Photo should be printed without borders.
• Photo should be approximately 50 mm square, with the head centered in the frame.
• Dark glasses are not acceptable.
• Hats and head-coverings are not acceptable.

Approved visas require one day for processing. Visa recipients can pick up their passport with visa at 16:00 the next business day after the day of their interview, unless otherwise notified.

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