Select a visa category below to find the visa issuance fee, number of entries, and validity period for visas issued to applicants from this country*/area of authority.
Visa Classification: The type of nonimmigrant visa you are applying for.
Fee: The reciprocity fee, also known as the visa issuance fee, you must pay. This fee is in addition to the nonimmigrant visa application fee (MRV fee).
Number of Entries: The number of times you may seek entry into the United States with that visa. "M" means multiple times. If there is a number, such as "One", you may apply for entry one time with that visa.
Validity Period: This generally means the visa is valid, or can be used, from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for travel with that visa. If your Validity Period is 60 months, your visa will be valid for 60 months from the date it is issued.
| Visa Classification |
Fee | Number of Entries |
Validity Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| A-2 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| A-3 1 | None | Multiple | 24 Months |
| B-1 | None | Multiple | 120 Months |
| B-2 | None | Multiple | 120 Months |
| B-1/B-2 | None | Multiple | 120 Months |
| C-1 | None | Multiple | 120 Months |
| C-1/D | None | Multiple | 120 Months |
| C-2 | None | Multiple | 12 Months |
| C-3 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| CW-1 11 | None | Multiple | 12 Months |
| CW-2 11 | None | Multiple | 12 Months |
| D | None | Multiple | 120 Months |
| E-1 2 | $125.00 | Multiple | 48 Months |
| E-2 2 | $125.00 | Multiple | 48 Months |
| E-2C 12 | None | Multiple | 24 Months |
| F-1 | None | Multiple | 12 Months |
| F-1 | $350.00 | Multiple | 60 Months |
| F-2 | None | Multiple | 12 Months |
| F-2 | $350.00 | Multiple | 60 Months |
| G-1 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| G-2 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| G-3 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| G-4 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| G-5 1 | None | Multiple | 24 Months |
| H-1B | $140.00 | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| H-1C | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| H-2A | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| H-2B | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| H-2R | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| H-3 | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| H-4 | $140.00 | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| I | $350.00 | Multiple | 60 Months |
| J-1 4 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| J-2 4 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| K-1 | None | One | 6 Months |
| K-2 | None | One | 6 Months |
| K-3 | None | Multiple | 24 Months |
| K-4 | None | Multiple | 24 Months |
| L-1 | $330.00 | Multiple | 48 Months |
| L-2 | $330.00 | Multiple | 48 Months |
| M-1 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| M-2 | None | Multiple | 60 Months |
| N-8 | None | Multiple | 36 Months |
| N-9 | None | Multiple | 36 Months |
| NATO 1-7 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| O-1 | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| O-2 | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| O-3 | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| P-1 | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| P-2 | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| P-3 | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| P-4 | None | Multiple | 48 Months 3 |
| Q-1 6 | None | Multiple | 15 Months 3 |
| R-1 | $93.00 | Multiple | 36 Months |
| R-2 | $93.00 | Multiple | 36 Months |
| S-5 7 | None | One | 1 Month |
| S-6 7 | None | One | 1 Month |
| S-7 7 | None | One | 1 Month |
| T-1 9 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| T-2 | None | One | 6 Months |
| T-3 | None | One | 6 Months |
| T-4 | None | One | 6 Months |
| T-5 | None | One | 6 Months |
| T-6 | None | One | 6 Months |
| TD 5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| U-1 | None | Multiple | 48 Months |
| U-2 | None | Multiple | 48 Months |
| U-3 | None | Multiple | 48 Months |
| U-4 | None | Multiple | 48 Months |
| U-5 | None | Multiple | 48 Months |
| V-1 | None | Multiple | 120 Months |
| V-2 | None | Multiple | 120 Months 8 |
| V-3 | None | Multiple | 120 Months 8 |
Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information provided, please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you plan to apply if you believe this information is in error or if you have further questions.
The validity of A-3, G-5, and NATO 7 visas may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the person who is employing the applicant. The "employer" would have one of the following visa classifications:
An E-1 and E-2 visa may be issued only to a principal alien who is a national of a country having a treaty, or its equivalent, with the United States. E-1 and E-2 visas may not be issued to a principal alien if he/she is a stateless resident or national of a country without a treaty. *When the spouse and children of an E-1 or E-2 principal alien are accorded derivative E-1 or E-2 status and are themselves a national of a country that does not have a treaty with the United States – the reciprocity schedule, including any reciprocity fees, of the principal alien’s country of nationality should be used. **Spouse and children of an E-1 or E-2 visa principal applicant, where the spouse and children are also nationals of a country that has a treaty with the United States – the reciprocity schedule, including any reciprocity fees, of the spouse and children’s country of nationality should be used.
*Example 1: John Doe is a national of Country A that has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the U.S. however his wife and child are nationals of Country B which has no treaty with the U.S. The wife and child would, therefore, be entitled to derivative status and receive the same reciprocity as John Doe, the principal visa holder.
**Example 2: Mike Doe is a national of Country Y that has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the U.S. however his wife and child are nationals of Country Z that also has a treaty with the U.S. The wife and child would, therefore, be entitled to derivative status and receive the reciprocity issued to nationals of Country Z.
The validity of H-1 through H-3, O-1 and O-2, P-1 through P-3, and Q visas may not exceed the period of validity of the approved petition or the number of months shown, whichever is less.
Under 8 CFR §214.2, H-2A and H-2B petitions may generally only be approved for nationals of countries that the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as participating countries. The current list of eligible countries is available on USCIS's website for both H-2A and H-2B visas. Nationals of countries not on this list may be the beneficiary of an approved H-2A or H2-B petition in limited circumstances at the discretion of the Department of Homeland Security if specifically named on the petition.
Derivative H-4, L-2, O-3, and P-4 visas, issued to accompanying or following-to-join spouses and children, may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the principal alien.
There is no reciprocity fee for the issuance of a J visa if the alien is a United States Government grantee or a participant in an exchange program sponsored by the United States Government.
Also, there is no reciprocity fee for visa issuance to an accompanying or following-to-join spouse or child (J-2) of an exchange visitor grantee or participant.
In addition, an applicant is eligible for an exemption from the MRV fee if he or she is participating in a State Department, USAID, or other federally funded educational and cultural exchange program (program serial numbers G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-7).
However, all other applicants with U.S. Government sponsorships, including other J-visa applicants, are subject to the MRV processing fee.
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadian and Mexican nationals coming to engage in certain types of professional employment in the United States may be admitted in a special nonimmigrant category known as the "trade NAFTA" or "TN" category. Their dependents (spouse and children) accompanying or following to join them may be admitted in the "trade dependent" or "TD" category whether or not they possess Canadian or Mexican nationality. Except as noted below, the number of entries, fees and validity for non-Canadian or non-Mexican family members of a TN status holder seeking TD visas should be based on the reciprocity schedule of the TN principal alien.
Since Canadian nationals generally are exempt from visa requirement, a Canadian "TN' or "TD" alien does not require a visa to enter the United States. However, the non-Canadian national dependent of a Canadian "TN", unless otherwise exempt from the visa requirement, must obtain a "TD" visa before attempting to enter the United States. The standard reciprocity fee and validity period for all non-Canadian "TD"s is no fee, issued for multiple entries for a period of 36 months, or for the duration of the principal alien's visa and/or authorized period of stay, whichever is less. See 'NOTE' under Canadian reciprocity schedule regarding applicants of Iranian, Iraqi or Libyan nationality.
Mexican nationals are not visa-exempt. Therefore, all Mexican "TN"s and both Mexican and non-Mexican national "TD"s accompanying or following to join them who are not otherwise exempt from the visa requirement (e.g., the Canadian spouse of a Mexican national "TN") must obtain nonimmigrant visas.
Applicants of Iranian, Iraqi, Libyan, Somalian, Sudanese, Syrian or Yemeni nationality, who have a permanent resident or refugee status in Canada/Mexico, may not be accorded Canadian/Mexican reciprocity, even when applying in Canada/Mexico. The reciprocity fee and period for "TD" applicants from Libya is $10.00 for one entry over a period of 3 months. The Iranian and Iraqi "TD" is no fee with one entry over a period of 3 months.
Q-2 (principal) and Q-3 (dependent) visa categories are in existence as a result of the 'Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998'. However, because the Department anticipates that virtually all applicants for this special program will be either Irish or U.K. nationals, the Q-2 and Q-3 categories have been placed only in the reciprocity schedules for those two countries. Q-2 and Q-3 visas are available only at the Embassy in Dublin and the Consulate General in Belfast.
No S visa may be issued without first obtaining the Department's authorization.
V-2 and V-3 status is limited to persons who have not yet attained their 21st birthday. Accordingly, the period of validity of a V-2 or V-3 visa must be limited to expire on or before the applicant's twenty-first birthday.
Posts may not issue a T-1 visa. A T-1 applicant must be physically present in the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or a U.S. port of entry, where he/she will apply for an adjustment of status to that of a T-1. The following dependents of a T-1 visa holder, however, may be issued a T visa at a U.S. consular office abroad:
The validity of NATO-5 visas may not exceed the period of validity of the employment contract or 12 months, whichever is less.
The validity of CW-1 and CW-2 visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (12 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest.
The validity of E-2C visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (24 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest.
Available
Fees: approx. 25 Swiss francs
Document Name: Geburtsschein (German); Acte de naissance (French); Atto di nascita (Italian)
Or CIEC
Issuing Authority: Local cantonal officials: Zivilstandsbeamter (German); Officier de l'Etat Civil(French); Ufficiale dello Stato Civile (Italian)
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: The document has a round impression or ink seal of the individual canton
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Zivilstandsbeamte
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for Obtaining: The document can be ordered on the website of the individual civil office.
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are available
Alternate Documents: CIEC Extracts are also accepted
Exceptions: None
Comments: Records are complete since 1876. Prior to 1876, records were kept by church authorities and are available for all living persons.
Available
Fees approx. 25 Swiss francs
Document Name: Todesschein (German); Acte de deces (French); Atto di morte (Italian)/ Death announcement - Todesmeldung (German); Avis de décès (French); Avviso di morte (Italian)
Issuing Authority: Local cantonal officials: Zivilstandsbeamter (German); Officier de l'Etat Civil (French); Ufficiale dello Stato Civile (Italian)
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: The document has a round impression or ink seal of the individual canton
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Zivilstandsbeamte
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for Obtaining: The document can be ordered on the website of the individual civil office
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are available
Alternate Documents: CIEC Extracts and Death announcement are also accepted
Exceptions: There is no general document information
Comments: The "Family Book or Family Certificate" (Familienbuechlein/Livret de famille/Libretto di famiglia or Familienschein/Acte de famille/Atto di famiglia) are also available, but only accepted as secondary evidence of birth, marriage and divorce, since formal certificates are readily obtainable.
Available
Fees: approx. 25 Swiss francs
Document Name: : Eheschein (German); Acte de mariage (French); Atto di matrimonio (Italian)
Issuing Authority: Local cantonal officials: Zivilstandsbeamter (German); Officier de l'Etat Civil(French); Ufficiale dello Stato Civile (Italian)
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: The document has a round impression or ink seal of the individual canton
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Zivilstandsbeamte
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for obtaining: The document can be ordered on the website of the individual civil office.
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are available
Alternate Documents: CIEC Extracts are also accepted
Exceptions: None
Comments: Marriage certificates are not issued to same sex couples.
Available
Fees: The fee varies from case to case
Document Name: Scheidungsurteil (German); Acte de divorce (French); Atto di divorzio (Italian)
Issuing Authority: Local cantonal officials: Zivilstandsbeamter (German); Officier de l'Etat Civil(French); Ufficiale dello Stato Civile (Italian)
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: There is no special seal(s)/color/format
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Judge of the individual canton
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for Obtaining: There is no procedure for obtaining
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are not available
Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents
Exceptions: None
Comments: Family Certificate (Familienausweis) are not accepted
Available
Fees: Minimum Swiss francs 400
Document Name: Adoptionsverfahren/Procédures d'adoption/Procedure di adozione
Issuing Authority: Cantonal Court
Special Seal(s)/Color/Format: There is no special seal(s)/color/format
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for Obtaining: There is no procedure for obtaining
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are not available
Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents
Exceptions: None
Comments: None
Available
Fees: Sfr. 65 adults / Sfr. 30 minors up until 18
Document Name: Identitätskarte/Carte d’Identité/Carta d’Identita
Issuing Authority: Cantonal Passport office
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Format of a Credit Card
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for Obtaining: There is no procedure for obtaining
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are not available
Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents
Exceptions: None
Comments: None
Available
Fees: Sfr. 20.00
Document Name: Auszug aus dem Schweizerischen Zentralstrafregister(German)/Extrait du casier judiciaire (French)/Estratto del Casellario Giudiziario (Italian); an extract from the Swiss central police records
Issuing Authority: Schweizerisches Strafregister (German)/Casier Judiciaire Suisse (French)/Registro Penale Svizzero (Italian)
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: The document is issued on A4 Paper size
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Swiss Federal Police
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for Obtaining: A legalized standard private extract is required unless your professional activities involves contact with minors or vulnerable people, then both, standard and special extracts are required.
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are available
Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents
Exceptions: None
Comments: Additional information available at https://www.e-service.admin.ch/crex/cms/content/strafregister/strafregister_en
Available
Fees: The fee varies from case to case
Document Name: Gerichtsurteil (German); Jugement du Tribunal (French); Sentenza del Tribunale (Italian)
Issuing Authority: Issued upon request by the Clerk of the Court where the conviction occurred.
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: There is no special seal(s)/color/format
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for Obtaining: There is no procedure for obtaining
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are not available
Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents
Exceptions: None
Comments: None
Available
Fees: There are no fees
Document Name:
Issuing Authority:
Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports, Armed Forces Personnel (Pers A)
Eidgenössischen Departement für Verteidigung, Bevölkerungsschutz und Sport, Personelles der Armee (Pers A), Wehrpflicht
Département fédéral de la défense, de la protection de la population et des sports, Personnel de l’armée (Pers A), Obligations militaires
Dipartimento federale della difesa, della protezione della popolazione e dello sport, Personale dell’esercito (Pers A), coscrizione
Rodtmattstrasse 110, 3003 Bern (tél. 800 424 111) attest.persa@vtg.admin.ch.
https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/mein-militaerdienst/allgemeines-zum-militaerdienst/doppelbuerger.html
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: There is no special seal(s)/color/format
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for Obtaining: Your Swiss military booklet must be enclosed with your request.
Diesem Gesuch sollten Sie Ihr Dienstbüchlein beifügen. (German)
Le livret de service doit être joint à la demande. (French)
La domanda deve essere accompagnata del libretto di servizio. (Italian)
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are not available
Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents
Exceptions: None
Comments: None
Types Available (Regular, Diplomatic, Official, etc.): Regular and Diplomatic Swiss passport look similar. Both are red with different title.
Fees: Varies on the document
Document Name: Aufenthaltsbewilligung/Permit de residence/P
Issuing Government Authority: Cantonal immigration authorities
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Format of a Credit Card
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title
Registration Criteria: There is no registration criteria
Procedure for Obtaining: There is no procedure for obtaining
Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents
Exceptions: None
Comments: None
Other Documents Available:
Comments: All three travel documents contain the following: "This document is issued solely with a view to providing the holder with a travel document which can serve in lieu of a national passport. It is without prejudice to and in no way affects the holder's nationality."
Information on Swiss travel documents can be found here.
Not applicable.
Post Title: U.S. Embassy Bern, Switzerland
Address: Sulgeneckstrasse 19
CH-3007 Bern, Switzerland
Phone Number:
Tel.: +41 31 357 7011
(41) (31) 357-7777 - 24-hour emergencies only
Fax: (41) (31) 357-7280
E-mail: BernNIV@state.gov (Nonimmigrant visa); BernIV@state.gov (Immigrant visa)
Comments / Additional Information: None
All categories for all of Switzerland.
Note: The Geneva and Zurich Consular Agencies handle ONLY limited ACS matters; they do not handle visas.
Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information provided, please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you plan to apply if you believe this information is in error or if you have further questions.
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