U.S. Consulate General in
Bermuda

How to Apply

The U.S. Consulate General, Hamilton, Bermuda can only accept visa appointment requests from Bermudians,  Bermuda residents or individuals physically present in our consular district.  The provisions of 22 CFR 41.101(a) preclude acceptance or processing of a regular non immigrant visa application when the applicant is neither resident of nor physically present in this consular district at the time of application, including completion and submission of the DS-160.   

Please note, we are not accepting out of district visa appointments at this time. 

If your employment-based petition has been approved and you are in possession of the Notice of Approval (Form I-797) and we are able to process your visa application, then you must scan and email to us your I-797 (or I-129) and all supporting documents to HamiltonConsulate@state.gov.  Once the review and processing of the submitted documents has been completed, we will contact you with instructions regarding your appointment.

Please note – Some temporary worker categories are limited in total number of petitions which can be approved on a yearly basis.  For more information about the petition process, eligibility requirements by visa category, and numerical limits, if applicable, see Working in the U.S. and Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers on the USCIS website.

1. Check the Validity of Your Passport – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States, unless exempt by country-specific agreements.  If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
2. Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Please note that you must answer EVERY question on the application forms.  If the answer to a question is “none,” please write “none” (Do not leave it blank).  Incomplete/incorrect forms will be returned and will require you to schedule a new interview appointment.Important! Many of our visa applicants are completing the DS-160 incorrectly, causing us to postpone their planned visa interview dates.
3. Collect any Supporting Documents -You will need a valid passport, the DS-160 confirmation page (with the uploaded 2 x 2 inch color photo not older than 6 months, on a light or white background).

   You will also need:

   • copy of the I-797 (or I-129) – Notice of Approval from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS).
   • copy of the current work visa in the passport.
   • current employment contract
   • current contact information with a valid e-mail address and telephone number(s)

   L Visa Applicants – If you are included in an L blanket petition, you must bring Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, to your interview.

   All visa applicants, except H-1B and L, will generally need to show proof of compelling ties to your home country to demonstrate your intent to return after your temporary stay in the United States. Examples of compelling ties include:

   • A residence abroad which you do not intend to abandon
   • Your family relationships
   • Your economic situation
   • Your long term plans
4. Schedule an Interview Appointment – Click here to book your appointmentPlease make note of your appointment day and time; we are unable to confirm your appointment details.  If you miss your appointment, you will be responsible for rescheduling a new appointment.

   If you have urgent travel and there are no available appointments that coincide with your desired travel date, please book the next available appointment.  After booking the next available appointment, email us at HamiltonConsulate@state.gov outlining the need for an expedited appointment.  Please attach a copy of your DS-160 to the email and include the date you would like to travel.  If the circumstances warrant, we will do our best to accommodate your request.  If we are not able to accommodate your request and you do not see any appointment availabilities, please continue to monitor the appointment schedule as appointments will become available if other applicants cancel as well as when we add additional appointments.

   The following is a list of circumstances that may be considered for expedited appointments:

   • an immediate relative’s death, grave illness, or life threatening accident requiring travel to or via the United States.  Please include the name, relationship place and description of the situation, and contact information for the attending physician or funeral home;
   • urgent medical treatment for the applicant, family member, or their minor child;
   • urgent travel to resume employment or studies in the United States.
5. Submit Your Passport and Visa Application Forms – Submit the below items via email to the Consulate one week before your scheduled interview date:
   • copy of the I-797 (or I-129) – Notice of Approval from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS);
   • copy of the current work visa in the passport;
   • current employment contract;
   • DS-160 confirmation sheet (if not already sent).

   L Visa Applicants – If you are included in an L blanket petition, you must bring Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, to your interview.

6. Pay the MRV Fee – Payment for visa applications is CASH ONLY, with U.S. or Bermudian currency, or a combination of both, acceptable.  Please consult the Department of State’s Fees for Visa Services website and be prepared to pay the appropriate fee, in cash, for the visa you are applying for on the day of your visa interview.  Nonimmigrant visa applicants from certain countries may be required to also pay a reciprocity fee at the time of their visa interview which can be paid by cash or credit card.Other Fees:
   • L visa fraud prevention and detection fee – for visa applicant included in L blanket petition (principal applicant only): $500.00
   • The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-113) increases fees for certain H-1B and L-1 petitioners.  Consular sections collect this fee for blanket L-1 visa applications (principal applicant only) filed by petitioners who employ 50 or more individuals in the United States if more than 50 percent of those individuals are in H-1B or L-1 nonimmigrant status: $4,500.00.
7. Interview for your visa with the Consular Officer – During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel.  You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process.
8. Pay a Reciprocity Fee – If your visa is approved, you may also have to pay a reciprocity fee, depending on which country you are from.
9. Return to Collect Your Passport and Visa – If you are issued the visa, you will be given a date and time to collect your passport.